The Biointensive Approach to Agriculture
It is an organic agricultural system which focuses on maximum yields from the minimum area of land, 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.
Biointensive is frequently is referred to as mini-farming. It is not meant to be used on a large scale. The idea is people to grow their own food and retreat from large-scale farming. Monocropping is not good for the soil. Variation is vital. Biointensive farmers rarely use mechanized equipment, such as tractors. Not only does machinery use too much energy and leave the bare soil susceptible to erosion, but it also compacts the soil, counteracting the effect of double digging.Whole farming systems give emphasis to diversity and offer both a sufficient amount and quality food which generates profit to buy other provisions. It further provides the family with a year-round supply of food and income together with a year-round source of employment.
One major objective of biointensive farming is to improve the soil, which generally takes quite a few years to accomplish.
Benefits of Biointensive
- Possibility of 200-400% increase in caloric production per area
- Decreased water consumption
- Increased soil fertility
- 99% reduction in energy used per area
- In order to achieve greater productivity, the biointensive method uses double dug raised beds, intensive planting, and companion planting.
The biointensive method includes the raising of animals. A diet which incorporates animal products can be raised biointensively, without graze. Although this uses the land less efficiently than a vegan diet raised biointensively, it is more space efficient than typical methods of raising animals.
Edible Boulevards
The City of North Vancouver is considering an innovative plan proposed by the Green Skins Lab of the University of British Columbia to create edible boulevards. The idea is to combine commercial vegetable farms with social spaces within the city. Some features include biointensive farming, on-site energy generation and rainwater harvesting.
Rainwater harvesting and conservation
Rational use of water for watering the mini-farms.There are three major categories of activities aimed at the rational use of water. The first is harvesting water during the season of plenty, for use when water availability is being stretched - roof water harvesting, ponds and artificial lakes are some examples. The second is to conserve the available water (mulching, shading, precision planting, etc). The third is recycling water or reusing it for a second and third time depending on your previous use.
Benefits:
- Inexpensive
- Sustainable
- Especially beneficial for areas where there is no plumbing system or any sort of water system
Water Wells are also a good resolution to the water harvesting and conservation issue.
There are three common types of wells: dug, bored and drilled.
Dug and bored wells (60 – 120 cm/24 – 48 in. diameter) are commonly used to produce water from shallow surface aquifers (less than 15 m/50 ft. deep); and are prone to contamination from surface water infiltration and to water shortages (see Figure 1). An aquifer is an underground formation of permeable rock or loose material, which can produce useful quantities of water when tapped by a well.
Drilled wells (10 – 20 cm/4 – 8 in. diameter) are commonly used to penetrate deeper aquifers (15 to greater than 60 m/50 to greater than 200 ft. deep), are more costly to construct, but generally provide a safer source of drinking water.(5)
Settlement
Derinkuyu Underground City
Being the largest excavated underground city in Turkey, Derinkuyu is one of many of its kind. It is located in the region of Cappadocia and the first level was built by the Phrygians in the 8th–7th centuries B.C according to the Turkish Department of Culture,[2] the underground city at Derinkuyu was enlarged in the Byzantine era. The city could be closed from inside with large stone doors. With storerooms and wells that made long stays possible, the city had air shafts which are up to 100 feet (30 m) deep. The complex has a total 11 floors, though many floors have not been excavated. Each floor could be closed off separately. (6)
The city was connected with other underground cities through miles of tunnels. The city could accommodate between 3,000 and 50,000 people.
It was opened for visitors as of 1969 and to date, only ten percent of the underground city is accessible for tourists. (7)
Its eight floors extend at a depth of approximately 85m.
The water wells were systematically placed throughout the city in order to service everyone every few families.
References:
(1) Yilma Getachew, "The Living Garden," April 2002, http://www.ruaf.org/sites/default/files/The%20Living%20Garden.pdf (Accessed November 4, 2009)
(2) "Biointensive," Wikipedia, April 17, 2009, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biointensive (Accessed November 4, 2009)
(3) The Pennsylvania State University, "Biointensive farming," Crop and Soil Sciences, 2005, http://watershed.allegheny.edu/comps/04-maureencopeland/biointensive_ag.htm (Accessed November 4, 2009)
(4) Palmsundae, "North Vancouver and Edible Boulevards," Vancouver's Olympic Vegetable Garden, August 11, 2009, http://tokyogreenspace.wordpress.com/2009/08/11/north-vancouver-and-edible-boulevards/ (Accessed November 4, 2009)
(5) Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, "Buying a House with a Well and septic system," About Your House — General Series, July 2008, http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/buho/buho_003.cfm?renderforprint=1 (Accessed November 4, 2009)
(6) "Derinkuyu Underground City," Wikipedia, September 14, 2009, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derinkuyu_Underground_City (Accessed November 4, 2009)
(7) "Derinkuyu Underground City", Capadocia, Turkey, http://www.cappadociaturkey.net/derinkuyu_underground_city.htmhttp://www.cappadociaturkey.net/derinkuyu_underground_city.htm (Accessed November 4, 2009)
(1) Yilma Getachew, "The Living Garden," April 2002, http://www.ruaf.org/sites/default/files/The%20Living%20Garden.pdf (Accessed November 4, 2009)
(2) "Biointensive," Wikipedia, April 17, 2009, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biointensive (Accessed November 4, 2009)
(3) The Pennsylvania State University, "Biointensive farming," Crop and Soil Sciences, 2005, http://watershed.allegheny.edu/comps/04-maureencopeland/biointensive_ag.htm (Accessed November 4, 2009)
(4) Palmsundae, "North Vancouver and Edible Boulevards," Vancouver's Olympic Vegetable Garden, August 11, 2009, http://tokyogreenspace.wordpress.com/2009/08/11/north-vancouver-and-edible-boulevards/ (Accessed November 4, 2009)
(5) Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, "Buying a House with a Well and septic system," About Your House — General Series, July 2008, http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/buho/buho_003.cfm?renderforprint=1 (Accessed November 4, 2009)
(6) "Derinkuyu Underground City," Wikipedia, September 14, 2009, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derinkuyu_Underground_City (Accessed November 4, 2009)
(7) "Derinkuyu Underground City", Capadocia, Turkey, http://www.cappadociaturkey.net/derinkuyu_underground_city.htmhttp://www.cappadociaturkey.net/derinkuyu_underground_city.htm (Accessed November 4, 2009)
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