There are a lot of different small, medium and large-scale agroecological practices that improve the impact of food production. In the past few years we have tried some (and will continue to do so!). Here is a short list.
Cultivated pots
If you have little space, you live in the city or you do not want to try in a larger scale, planting in pots is an optimal solution.
Some advice on this technique:
- Use large and deep pots, if possible, to prevent the plant from suffering from water stress;
- Choose associations of plants that grow in harmony: in the images you can see tomatoes grown with cauliflower and chilli, or in the graph you can see two classic intercropping schemes.
- Place the pot well exposed to light, but if you are in warm areas look for a partially shaded position during the day. Same thing goes for the wind, avoid exposing the pot to strong winds in both summer and winter.
- Pay attention to the soil: use good soil but mix it with expanded clay and arable soil, preferably not too heavy (like clay). The superficial part is covered with leaves and thin branches, to imitate the humus layer of a mature soil. - The best pots to use are the terracotta ones!
Some advice on this technique:
- Use large and deep pots, if possible, to prevent the plant from suffering from water stress;
- Choose associations of plants that grow in harmony: in the images you can see tomatoes grown with cauliflower and chilli, or in the graph you can see two classic intercropping schemes.
- Place the pot well exposed to light, but if you are in warm areas look for a partially shaded position during the day. Same thing goes for the wind, avoid exposing the pot to strong winds in both summer and winter.
- Pay attention to the soil: use good soil but mix it with expanded clay and arable soil, preferably not too heavy (like clay). The superficial part is covered with leaves and thin branches, to imitate the humus layer of a mature soil. - The best pots to use are the terracotta ones!
MEDITERRANEAN FOREST GARDEN
Taking inspiration from the traditional domestic gardens of Southern Italy and from now rediscovered agroecological practices, such as the "Food forest", we try to restore dignity (and productivity) to small spaces included in the urban fabric. We associate vegetables for home consumption under fruit trees such as plums, persimmons, figs , medlar and many others, . The soil is held in high regard and tilled for few centimeters, only when it's needed. Spaces like these become places of food production, but also of leisure and relaxation for the inhabitants who enjoy them.
Passive rewilding
Passive rewilding aims to reduce human intervention in ecosystems, returning the land cultivated by man to nature and restoring its processes. It involves the passive management of ecological succession and the reduction of human influence on landscapes.
URBAN GARDENs
Even small home gardens can become productive and biodiverse if designed correctly. It is necessary to observe the space and define the purposes of cultivation before starting any operation, taking into consideration the needs of the people who inhabit the space. Garden cultivation is a slow process of transforming the land and the people who cultivates it. It's common to make mistakes and change ideas, but these are necessary steps for the creation of a garden that is sustainable for the domestic economy.
DEAD HEDGE
The "Dead Hedge" is an ancient Anglo-Saxon practice, which consists in collecting and arranging dry branches and cuttings of various sizes, to form a barrier (probably created to stop wild animals). The dead hedge can serve as a shelter for various species of insects, other beneficial invertebrates, small mammals and even plants that need moisture and shelter from wind and sun. It can perform an aesthetic function too. From a cultural point of view, especially in Southern Italy, the dead hedge could be difficult to get accepted by other farmers and land owners, due to its peculiarities, so it is necessary to understand what the criticalities related to its construction may be. For example, the structure in the photo has been repeatedly set on fire and then destroyed over the years.
Synergistic Garden
The synergistic vegetable garden is a permacultural technique (coined by Emilia Hazelip starting from the work of Masanobu Fukuoka), which consists in the construction of raised benches, where numerous vegetables, flowering plants and shrubs are combined to intensify production and imitate natural processes like: regeneration of soil, interactions between pollinators, beneficial insects, plants and humans. The technique, however, must be applied very carefully: for example with clay soils and hot dry climate (as in Southern Italy), this practice require high maintenance. As with any technique it is necessary to experiment, make mistakes, improve, evolve in the field.