HIGH YIELDS AND HIGHER HOPES

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Biodynamic/French intensive agriculture:
A report by Ecology Action of the Midpeninsula

The world's population is off and running and crying, "Feed me if you can!"

"OK. But give us more ," answer the spokesmen of agribiz. "More money and more machinery and more fossil fuels and more chemicals." "Wait a minute," interject a few thoughtful souls. "There isn't any more. Not for long, anyway. We're going to have to do the job with less."

And that's just what John Jeavons and the folks at Palo Alto's Ecology Action of the Midpeninsula in California are doing.

WHO WE ARE

Ecology Action of the Midpeninsula is a non-profit, tax-exempt, California-based organization that was formed in the early 70's to promote and carry on environmental research and education. In 1972, we began experimenting with biodynamic/French intensive food production techniques on a 3-3/4-acre community garden called "Common Ground".

Our findings thus far indicate that the method may soon make it possible to grow an entirely balanced human diet on 1/4 to 1/20 of the area presently required by conventional means . . . and that such yields can be accomplished using as little as 1/2 to 1/16 the nitrogen fertilizer, 1/2 to 1/16 the water, and 1/100 the energy expended today by mechanized agriculture.

Considering the current state of the world (overpopulation, widespread malnutrition, diminishing availability of land, dwindling fossil fuel supplies, and all the rest) we feel that such findings are vitally important. We also suspect that many of MOTHER's readers will be interested in sharing our discoveries. Who knows? Maybe some of you will even want to start similar experiments of your own!

THE BASICS

The biodynamic/French intensive method is really a synthesis of a number of techniques developed by European schools of agriculture during the past century. It was all brought together into one system by Alan Chadwick, an inspired English horticulturist who now lives in Covelo, California. Mastery of the concept requires a good bit of acquired skill and knowledge, but—generally speaking—here is what's involved:

[1] DOUBLE-DUG, RAISED BEDS. Plots three to five feet wide and of varying length are laid out, and a temporary wooden form (see photos) is staked around each one's perimeter. The soil is thoroughly dug up to a depth of one foot, and then loosened an additional 12 inches manually with a shovel. This preparation enables plant roots to penetrate easily and deeply, and promotes a steady flow of nutrients to their stems and leaves. Such beds retain moisture well, erode hardly at all, and are very easy to weed (there's no need for two-handed, heave-ho pulling here!).

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