What is Natural Farming?
The basis of Natural farming is limiting human intervention and leaving nature to work. An environmentally sustainable way of growing food. Natural farming was first coined by “Masanobu Fukuoka” in his book “The One-Straw Revolution”.
Natural farming works. It only works if you observe and mimic nature.
Have you ever added fertilizer, pesticide or tilling to the forest? As far as I know its a big “No”.
Still, forest bears fruits that are of high quality. Much tastier than the ones in your chemical farm. I do not do anything, still, nature works at its best then why don’t you follow it rather than altering. READ MORE
Principles of Natural Farming
- The cost of the production of the main crop should be compensated by the income of inter-crops. The main crop income will be a bonus.
- Nothing should be purchased from the market(outside of the farm).
- Inputs to your farm should be produced inside the farm.
- Inputs that we use for the crop should be Eco-friendly. Should not affect/ destroy the environment.
- No need to till the land.
- Farm biodiversity – Bugs and weeds are not enemies
- Symbiotic farm
The microorganisms which are present in the soil are responsible for increasing the fertility of the soil and the productivity of the crops. In order to increase the microorganisms in the soil Jeevamrutham is used.
READ MORE: What is Jeevamrutham and how to make it?
One of the best and oldest farming practices that is part of Natural Farming practice is Mixed cropping. In this farming practice, the sowing two or three crops together on the same land will always keep your soil healthy, free from pests, and also various sources of income to farmers.
READ MORE: Mixed Cropping and its benefits
Know more about Farmer’s Best friend
The only one who works more than the farmer on this land is Earthworm. Without Earthworms, the soil will never be fertile. In order to follow Natural farming, increase the count of Earthworms on your farm.
Earthworms feed on deeper soil, dead grass, rock, small stones, limestones, sand which had an abundance of nutrients. These get ground in the intestine of Earthworms and when they come up they cast. The Earthworm castings have a lot of nutrients, which are directly available for the roots of crops. Nutrients help crops to grow better and healthy Naturally.
This continuous process of drilling holes will create ventilation and also pores for the water to seep in. Water retention of that farm will be high and even the water table will be increased.
READ MORE: Natural Farming Labor Free or zero-budget ?
How to treat seed by Beejamrutham
The Natural way of Seed Treatment can be achieved by using Beejamrutham. A complete chemical free treatment has many advantages on the crop and ecosystem.
READ MORE: Why should we treat Seeds Chemical free
What is Mulch and why do you need Mulching?
The main purpose of mulching is to create humus in the soil, which helps plants overall growth. Avoids soil erosion and protect the soil from heat & rains.
READ MORE: Advantages of Mulching
How are nutrients replenished?
The plants absorb all the essential nutrients like potash, phosphates, nitrates and other nutrients from the soil. These nutrients will be deposited in the plants.
READ MORE: Ways to replenish the nutrients in the soil
What does Regenerative Agriculture mean?
The regenerative agriculture is focused on improving soil health through increased soil carbon, which feeds the soil life below. READ MORE
