Last Saturday, we were lucky enough to host a workshop led by one of the leading teachers and authors in the field.John Jeavons author of "How to Grow More Vegetables: Than You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land Than You Can Imagine", thought of as the bible on growing bio-intesively. Mr. Jeavons was in town, holding a 3 day workshop on the principles of growing bio-intensively, which attracted participants from as far as DC and New Orleans as well as many NYC residents.
We follow many of Mr. Jeavons growing principles on the Youth Farm. Meeting him in person and having him visit our farm was truly an honor.
Heres a little description of BIO-INTENSIVE Growing:
The Biointensive Method is an organic agricultural system which focuses on maximum yields from the minimum acreage, while simultaneously improving the soil. The goal of the method is long term sustainability on a closed system basis. It has also been used successfully on small scale commercial farms.
Many of the techniques that compromise the biointensive method were present in the agriculture of the ancient Chinese, Greek, Mayans, and of the Early Modern period in Europe. Alan Chadwick brought together the Biodynamic and French intensive methods, as well as his own unique approach, to form what he called the Biodynamic-French Intensive Method. The method was further developed by John Jeavons and the group Ecology Action into a sustainable 8-step food raising method known as "Grow Biointensive." The method is now widely practiced. The technique is preferable because it grows large amounts of food for both local sale and donation.
.... and check out a little article about the workshops in the Lower 9th Ward Newsletter, from the Center for Sustainable Engagement & Development.
