Citizen Farmers: The Biodynamic Way to Grow Healthy Food, Build Thriving Communities, and Give Back to the Earth
224
Citizen Farmers: The Biodynamic Way to Grow Healthy Food, Build Thriving Communities, and Give Back to the Earth
224Paperback
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Overview
Biodynamic farming, with its focus on ecological sustainability, has emerged as the gold standard in the organic gardening movement. Daron Joffe—known as Farmer D—has made it his mission to empower, educate, and inspire people to become conscientious consumers, citizens, and stewards of the land.
In this engaging call to action, Farmer D teaches us to not only create sustainable gardens but also to develop a more holistic, community-minded approach to how our food is grown and how we live our lives in balance with nature.
Illustrated with photographs of gardens designed by Farmer D as well as line drawings, the book is packed with advice on establishing a biodynamic garden, composting, soil composition and replenishment, controlling pests and disease, cooperative gardening practices, and creating delicious meals with your home-grown produce.
In collaboration with a James Beard Award-nominated food journalist, Farmer D offers an indispensable resource for anyone who wants to make the world a greener place.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781617691010 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Abrams |
| Publication date: | 03/18/2014 |
| Pages: | 224 |
| Sales rank: | 654,825 |
| Product dimensions: | 7.70(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d) |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
COMPOSTING = STEWARDSHIP
Every successful venture begins with a healthy foundation. Before we can grow food, we have to grow soil — and lots of it.
I make good dirt for a living. I also make it at home, every day, beginning in the morning when I toss the grounds from my coffee and the banana peel from my smoothie into the compost caddy by the sink. When it's full, I dump it into the backyard compost bin. Over a period of weeks and months, billions of bugs, bacteria, and fungi will convert these stinky, rotten kitchen scraps mixed with yard debris into fertile, sweet-smelling, life-giving earth.
Soil is the skin around our earth and the source of our sustenance, where life starts and finishes. Yet most of us take this vital resource for granted. Much of our earth has been degraded, overfarmed, and undernourished for many decades. We are currently losing topsoil faster than we can regenerate it. Millions of tons of organic materials that could be composted are taking up valuable space in landfills, rather than being returned to farms to grow healthy food.
Replenishing soil is just one of the many positive outcomes of composting. This practice can also drastically reduce, if not eliminate, the need for petroleum-based fertilizers, which pollute soil, air, water, animals, and humans. Compost builds the organic matter in soil, which helps plants grow strong and increase resistance to pests, disease, and drought.
Composting is a daily reminder of our individual tasks as citizen farmers: contributing to a healthy planet and being a responsible steward of the land. In this chapter, I hope to inspire you to make composting as essential to your daily routine as brushing your teeth. I want to share with you some very important tips on how to make your soil thrive so the food you grow helps you to thrive, too.
LOVE AT FIRST SCOOP
Until college, I never thought twice about tossing table scraps anywhere other than in a trash can or down a garbage disposal. It was shortly after my turkey sandwich revelation when someone I met at a party told me about an introductory workshop on biodynamic farming that was coming up at the Michael Fields Institute, about an hour from Madison. Founded in 1984, this nonprofit organization is one of the cornerstones of the biodynamic movement in the United States, with the mission of promoting sustainable agriculture through education, research, and outreach. There, I studied under several composting gurus who changed the way I thought about "dirt" forever.
Under their guidance, about a dozen farming newbies, including myself, learned how to build a biodynamic compost pile with garden refuse, dairy manure, spent hay, and a little soil from the garden. We spent a grueling day shoveling and spreading layers of this organic matter as if making a monster-size batch of lasagna. As the pile grew taller, we leaned a huge wooden board against the pile so we could run the wheelbarrow up to dump more materials on top. By the end of the day, our pile had grown to the size of a pickup truck. We covered it all with a layer of straw and doused it heavily with water, using a hose with a shower nozzle to replicate falling rain. Then we put holes in the pile at the locations specified in the biodynamic agriculture lectures by Rudolf Steiner, and added the requisite biodynamic compost preparations. The workshop was over, and now it was time to let Mother Nature work her magic.
I had dipped my toe into biodynamic farming and was now officially on my way to becoming a true citizen farmer.
DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE
Back at school, I scoured a list of local organic farms put out by the university's agriculture school and started calling them to see which ones offered apprenticeships.
Then I met Greg David, a former commercial builder turned organic farmer who occupied a bubble of biodiversity in the midst of an endless, sterile monoculture of corn crops about forty-five minutes from Madison. Greg hired me, and for the next six months I rose at the crack of dawn every day to drive from Madison to Greg's farm to work until dark — for fifty bucks a week.
Greg was especially passionate about restoring what had been a monoculture field of corn into a vibrant native prairie in order to create a sanctuary for wildlife in this agricultural desert. I helped him do this by preparing the ground and seeding it with a nurse crop of sunflowers that would provide shade and eclipse the weeds. Once the prairie was established, we would burn it periodically to maintain the revitalized soil.
Greg also had cutting-edge ideas about composting. He formed a relationship with the Department of Natural Resources and they would bring him truckload after truckload of fallen leaves and mucked-up lake weeds that would get dumped on the farm into long windrows. He was essentially harvesting all the organic matter from the region, composting it, and building up the soil fertility of his farm.
Once the mountains of leaves and lake weeds reached a certain size, he would fence his fifteen or twenty Tamworth pigs in around these piles. One of my jobs was to walk across each pile with a can of dried corn kernels and a shovel handle, and every 10 feet or so make a 3-foot-deep hole and drop a handful of corn down it. The pigs would root for the corn, and turn the compost in the process. When the pigs weren't being used to turn the piles, we would set them out to plow the fields by uprooting and eating the quack grass, which they could do better than any tractor. Not only did the pigs completely clean the fields of this pervasive weed, but they simultaneously fertilized the fields, saving us from driving the tractor all over them, compacting the soil, and burning fossil fuels.
I have a memory of walking the compost piles in the rain, collecting a bumper crop of the most beautiful volunteer tomatoes, peppers, and squash — plants that had sprouted voluntarily from the seeds of rotting fruit that had been turned by the pigs in this unbelievably fertile compost pile.
I had never before seen composting in action on that scale, and it was revelatory. This was biodynamic farming at its best, where animals were integrated into the agricultural organism in a humane and productive fashion, and the spoils of fallen leaves and rotting vegetables could be transformed into fertility for the land and an abundant harvest of food for the CSA.
BIODYNAMICS: A VEHICLE FOR ACTION
Armed with the basic tools for becoming an organic farmer, I was beginning to see a career path for myself that did not involve academia. After my awe-inspiring internship with Greg, I decided to withdraw from school and take on another apprenticeship instead, this time on a full-blown biodynamic farm in the North Georgia Mountains, run by Hugh Lovel.
Hugh had been farming this valley for more than twenty years and had turned a rocky creek bottom into one of the most fertile farms in the country — with compost, biodynamics, cover crops, and permanent grass and clover pathways between his vegetable beds. In the spirit of a true biodynamic farmer, Hugh produced everything he needed to sustain himself on his land, and I tried to follow in his footsteps. I managed the farm for most of my time there; I learned how to hand-milk cows and goats, make cheese and yogurt, grow rice, raise pigs, pickle okra, and save seeds. Hugh showed me how to build doughnut-shaped compost piles with manure and bedding from the animals. Compost from chickens would go to fruiting crops; cows, to leafy greens; goats, to herbs and flowers; pigs, to potatoes. I learned about radionics: influencing energetics through frequencies.
Prep making, planting with the moon, stirring, spraying, and sharing knowledge with others are some of the actions that biodynamic farmers take to make their farms and communities thrive. While many of these techniques may seem pretty unorthodox, one thing that is very clear is that the farmer's intention is the key to a well-managed farm. The goal is to be a good steward and leave the earth in better shape than we find it. Through Hugh, I became convinced that biodynamics provides a handful of very powerful tools for doing this and, at the same time, gives the citizen farmer's intention a vehicle for action.
COMPOST MEDITATION: COMPOST FOR THE SOUL
I have learned that, when applied metaphorically, composting can help us thrive in any environment we are planted in — be it the boardroom, classroom, or family dinner table. When building a compost pile, I like to turn the rhythm of shoveling into an internal meditation that allows me to compost negative thoughts into positive ones: fear into faith, judgment into compassion, insecurity into confidence, and anger into love.
Composting for the soil is the process of breaking down organic materials, while composting for the soul is the process of breaking down personal struggles (grudges, frustration, stress, anger). You bring the problems to the surface, add the good stuff to the heap (honesty, communication, support, nurturing), and give it time to "cook."
Building a compost pile is a meditation unto itself. Identify the location for the new pile by scratching a circle or square to mark the periphery. Loosen up the soil with a digging fork and add a sprinkling of lime, ash, and blood meal. As you build the pile, let your mind go and just tune into the rhythm of shoveling back and forth. It is an active meditation that results in a radiant pile of decomposing organic matter.
Even after this compost meditation is over, I use composting imagery frequently to dispel the mental clutter that may be holding me back in areas of my life beyond the garden. It has helped me make peace with business partners I've fallen out with, move on from stagnant relationships, remove obstacles impeding the creative process, and replace stress and anxiety with joy and gratitude — just like composting turns stinky raw manure and rotten vegetables into rich, sweet-smelling, fertile soil.
As the old Chinese proverb goes, a bad farmer grows weeds, a good farmer grows crops, and a great farmer grows soil. Be a great citizen farmer and make compost for a better life and a healthier planet!
MOST COMMONLY USED TOOLS
Don't know the difference between a dibber and a digging spade? Thought a hori-hori was a type of sushi, not a garden tool? Never knew that a small hand shovel was called a trowel? Don't throw in the towel on tools! I'll help you learn what's what, and what you really need, from indoor gardening to market farming.
INDOOR GARDEN: If your idea of gardening is a few pots of herbs by the kitchen window, you really just need a dedicated spoon for adding a little organic fertilizer every now and then, and perhaps some little scissors for snipping herbs for your culinary creations or morning teas. (If you're into indoor hydroponics, however, that's a different story!)
BACKYARD GARDEN: If you've made the move outside your kitchen door, you could use a few gardening tool basics. These include a trowel, a garden fork (for tossing compost or digging potatoes), a spade, a hoe, a cultivator (that curved-tine tool), pruners, a wheelbarrow or big bucket for removing garden debris and moving compost, a garden rake for smoothing beds and raking leaves for mulch, and let's not forget gloves! In fact, two pairs would be best — one light pair for general garden work, and a heavier pair for handling things with thorns and tougher chores.
COMMUNITY GARDEN: If you're helping start a community garden, you'll need all the backyard tools listed above (and probably several of each) as well as basic building tools — a power drill, a saw, a hammer, a level, and a tape measure — to build garden beds, trellises, benches, sheds, and fences (add a post-hole digger for those). If you are growing food directly in the existing soil (rather than in raised beds), you will probably want to loosen up the soil with a tiller. Depending on how big your community garden is, you may find a direct seeder handy as well, especially if you are growing in long rows.
MARKET FARM: Once you move up to a market farm, where you are selling what you grow, you will probably have less community help and will want to automate things more. Now is the time for a tractor with attachments to create and turn rows quickly and easily, as well as specialized harvesting tools, depending on your crop mix and growing system.
Good-quality gardening tools and equipment are an investment. Get the best you can afford and take good care of them. Wooden handles need regular lubricating with linseed oil, mechanical parts need regular checking, and all tools and equipment should be stored properly so they don't age prematurely from exposure to the elements. See if your city offers free or affordable access to a shared tool bank, or work with your network to establish one so that more people can take advantage of helpful small-scale gardening and farming tools.
TOOLS FOR COMPOSTING
Composting requires a great deal of tossing and turning, as well as spreading and incorporating. Having a few heavy-duty tools will make this process less backbreaking and more productive and enjoyable. There are some very cheap, shoddy tools out there in the mass market that are tempting because of their price, but I encourage you to make an investment in quality tools that will last. You will find that not only is it a better investment in the long term, but it also makes the job at hand easier and more fun.
SHOVEL: For the most part, when making compost, any old shovel will do. For tumbler composting, I prefer a short-handled shovel to make it easier to get into tight areas, especially those with small openings. A long-handled shovel works best for bigger piles and wood bins. It is important to jab at the veggies in the compost pile to cut them into smaller pieces so they can break down faster. A standard hardware store shovel can cost between $15 and $40. If you want to invest in one that will last decades and inspire you to get more done in the garden, I recommend spending closer to $100 on a shovel with a forged-steel head and a sustainable hardwood handle with a T-grip.
COMPOST/MANURE FORK: Also called a hayfork, this tool is great for tossing and turning compost, as it allows you to grab a large amount of material per scoop. A digging fork, which is a more common home garden tool, will get the job done but will require more effort.
LAWN AND LEAF RAKE: A rake is useful for many tasks around the garden. A good leaf rake is a must for gathering the leaves that fall on your property so you can collect them for compost or mulch. It is also important to rake leaves so they do not kill off the grass below.
SOIL RAKE: A steel-head rake is useful for spreading compost out over your garden beds and for raking up mowed cover crops or garden refuse. This tool is great for preparing the soil in a bed before planting.
WHEELBARROW: There is no more efficient way to schlep compost and mulch all over the place than a good old-fashioned wheelbarrow. If a standard wheelbarrow is too much to handle, try a two-wheel wheelbarrow or a garden cart for more stability.
COMPOST CADDY: I know all of you are already collecting or are about to start collecting the kitchen scraps you accumulate from the yummy veggies you are eating every day. When you pick them yourself from your garden, there is even more to collect, such as the tops of carrots and excess leaves and roots that are cleaned off of grocery-store produce. An easy way to collect your kitchen scraps is on the counter near your cutting board and sink — this is where a compost caddy comes in. There are small, large, metal, ceramic, and even bamboo types available nowadays. I recommend metal or ceramic, definitely with a replaceable filter. If you eat a lot of veggies like we do, or have a family of four or more, I suggest a large size. These range from $20 to $60. For a more economical approach, a coffee can or bucket will do.
COMPOST AERATOR: Aerating your compost pile is important for speeding up the process and keeping the pile from going stagnant. While aerating can be done with a shovel or digging fork, a compost aerator is a handy tool for burrowing down deep in the pile with less effort. It is basically a long handle with some folding wings at the bottom. It is quite effective for home-scale composting and only runs about $20.
COMPOST THERMOMETER: If you are serious about making good compost, you need to get your pile up to at least 130°F. The best way to know if you are getting close is to use a compost thermometer, which is a thermometer on a long rod. A decent one costs between $20 and $30. You can also poke a deep hole into the pile with a tool handle and reach down with your hand to feel the heat.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Citizen Farmers"
by .
Copyright © 2014 Daron Joffe.
Excerpted by permission of Abrams Books.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION,
1: COMPOSTING = STEWARDSHIP,
2: PLANNING = VISION,
3: TILLING = INITIATIVE,
4: SOWING = FAITH,
5: GROWING = PATIENCE,
6: HEALING = COMPASSION,
7: REAPING = GRATITUDE,
8: SHARING = GENEROSITY,
9: SUSTAINING = PERSEVERANCE,
RESOURCES: FARMER D'S TOOL CHEST,
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS,
INDEX OF SEARCHABLE TERMS,