On the one hand, we conquer nature, on the other, it does not really obey us. We have vegetables and fruits all year round, but they taste like cotton wool. We can transform any landscape, but for some reason after that it turns into a desert, and pesticides, which were supposed to destroy all pests, destroy at the same time the pickers themselves. If it's already becoming daily for you, it's time to move on to the next level. We will tell you what permaculture is and why the main skills of a permaculture gardener are laziness, observation and reflection. By the way, it is applicable not only for the vegetable garden!
How did it all start?
It all started with a man named Bill Mollison. He spent his youth in his native small village in Tasmania, having worked as a forester, miller and hunter, and then worked as a biologist in different parts of Australia and taught at the University of Tasmania.
What he observed during his work, he did not like at all: forests, fish and algae disappeared near the coast, crops fell, despite the chemicals used. In pursuit of super-yields, a person approached the limit of those resources that seemed inexhaustible to him. Bill Mollison wondered why existing systems are depleting the land - while traditional cultures around the world have long lived in the same area without depleting it.
Permaculture- the answer to the same question, is it possible to combine nature and civilization. Yes, it is possible - and for this you do not need to return to primitive life.
Bill Mollison and his collaborator David Holmgren decided to study how these traditional cultures work and put it into practice. From this generalized experience, the concept of permaculture emerged - permanent agriculture, permanent agriculture, a design system based on environmentally sound models.
Later, in the 1990s, Sepp Holzer became famous - in Russia it is mainly his permaculture that is known. The difference between him and Bill Mollison is like that between a physician and a surgeon. Sepp Holzer is a surgeon, he himself creates the landscape that he needs. In Belarus, among those who follow the principles of permaculture, most adherents of Bill Mollison.
Irina Sukhy, then the chairman of the public association "Ecodom", was at his seminar in 1994 - she brought this idea to Belarus. After that, EcoDom held seminars for those wishing to learn permacultural design and created a team of permacultural designers and trainers. Below is about Bill Mollison's permaculture.
What is permaculture?
How to explain what jazz is? One musician replied, "Jazz is what everyone knows, it's jazz." It's the same with permaculture. It is an approach that has its integrity, and it shows. She considers not only the elements, but also the connections between them, the entire system as a whole. It is not possible to create a showcase plot with a permaculture bed. This is the opposite of permaculture: take an element, put it in an empty space and say that it is permaculture. Permaculture is a systematic approach, and it is impossible to dismember it into parts.
For experienced gardeners, a permaculture plot can look odd. In nature, there are no straight lines, bare soil and monocultures, so in permaculture there are no usual straight beds filled with plants of the same species. The beds twist in spirals, vegetables grow interspersed with flowers, and weeds from hated enemies turn into plants that protect the soil.
Permaculture is a design system that deals with plants, animals, buildings and infrastructure (this includes water, energy and communications). The challenge for permaculture is to design systems that are economically viable and environmentally sound. This means that they must provide for themselves, not deplete or pollute the environment: this way they can exist for a very long time.
Permaculture includes philosophy, practice, ethics and economics. Everything is based on common sense and the laws of nature: if you go against them and stubbornly plant heat-loving plants in a cold climate, you will only waste your energy and strength. The ethics of permaculture speaks of the value of any life, not just the one that is useful for a person.
What do the permacons look like?
Plant-protected soil, not deep plowing and constant weeding
Mixed plantings instead of monocultures
Biological protection of plants (other plants, birds, predatory insects) instead of pesticides
Using the existing relief and natural forms instead of reworking the site and rectilinear beds
Use of indigenous resistant species and varieties
Energy efficient planning and use of renewable energy sources
Principles of Permacultural Thinking
Learn from nature
Cooperation instead of struggle
Minimum effort - maximum result
Turn obstacles into helpers
The harvest is not limited by the size and quality of the site
Start small
To take responsibility
How to start applying the principles of permaculture?
Invest in surveillance
First you need to spend time observing and studying. If it is a site, the observation should be one year to cover all seasons. You need to understand how the sun moves, how the snow melts, where the wind blows from. This is for people who have time, but this time, as if wasted at the beginning, will return to the efficiency of the system. This is your investment.
Then analyze your needs and possibilities - and try to combine them. It is important not just to come with the conviction that you need something, and try to reshape everything for it. It is important to make a sustainable system. This includes the reuse of resources, and savings, and the fact that we not only take energy, but also return.
Plants cooperate
Another important principle is not competition, but cooperation. Inside, communication systems are built so that the elements do not compete, but help each other. For example, for plants that can be competitors, you create such conditions that each has its own niche. If the plant shades, plant one next to it that needs shade.
Plant potatoes, beans, and marigolds in the same garden. These plants will help each other: marigolds and beans will scare off the Colorado potato beetle. At the same time, you do not kill beetles and at the same time other insects, do not pollute water and earth, do not poison yourself with pesticides - and as a result you get a larger harvest than if only potatoes or only beans were growing in the garden - the plants cooperate.
This is for the lazy
Another important principle is that each element has many functions, and each function is supported by several elements. For example, if your property needs water, it can come from a pond, groundwater, and rainwater. The pond stabilizes the temperature, provides water and makes the environment diverse. The water attracts birds and dragonflies, which eat pests in the garden, and increases the variety of plants so that pests cannot destroy all of them. The ecosystem balances: the more heterogeneous elements, the more stable it is. This is the goal of permaculture - to make a balanced ecosystem that works without human intervention. Permaculture is for the lazy. There is less physical work here due to mental work.
Slow decisions
Permaculture recognizes slow decisions. If the trees in your garden are sick, you can spray them with chemicals, or you can simply wave your hand at them and cut them down. The slow solution is to look at the roots of the problem and how it relates to other elements around you. It may take some time to do nothing and just watch what is happening. Plant other plants nearby. Attract birds of prey or insects. This solution will not work instantly, but the results will be long lasting.
Spiral bed and patterns
Visually, permaculture has its own recognizable chips, for example, a spiral bed. It allows you to create different zones for different plants on a small plot of land. Usually there is a small reservoir below, and from it a garden is twisted in a spiral. It is humid below, shade on one side, sun and dry on the other. Plants can be planted so that each one finds its place and grows with minimal human intervention, so that they don't even need to be watered.
Another famous feature is patterns. Patterns are patterns, repeating patterns found in everything. They can be visual or auditory. All nature is permeated with them, they are repeated at different levels. The simplest example is the same branching of a river bed, human veins, roads, tree branches, lightning. These are processes that have something in common. Patterns are used in planning and design: they are ready-made templates. It can be a snail pattern that compactly combines boundaries, a branching pattern, or networks.
Where to study permaculture?
In almost all countries there are organizations that promote permaculture: look for thematic communities in Sweden, UK, USA. Often you can come to the permaculture specialists for practice and see how everything works in their farm. You can also find seminars in neighboring countries - Ukraine, Russia and Poland. In Belarus, contact the environmental institution "Agro-Eco-Culture": they regularly conduct educational events for farmers and summer residents and advise upon request. There are also online trainings: for example, the Swedish-British permaculture "star" Richard Perkins teaches a special course. Start on January 12th.
Visual www.ridgedalepermaculture.com
The appearance of most vegetable gardens does not change over the years - each of the crops has its own place, from which it practically does not move. Such an agricultural technique gives stable yields, but does not take into account the fact that the composition can change, and it is necessary to alternate, placing them on a more suitable "patch". Those who want to reap a large harvest are trying to put into practice new concepts of dacha farming. Let's learn more about one of these approaches, considering what permaculture is, how to implement such a direction.
What is it?
This method involves designing a site based on natural ecosystems. Its goal is to create a harmonious system, each of the elements of which is linked to the other. An important role is also assigned to observation, the results of which suggest what changes to make in the usual layout. Yes, it sounds like some kind of philosophy. To put it simply, in permaculture or vegetable garden the role of a kind of constructor made up of the most suitable plants is assigned. To them, adherents of this method also add animals and various buildings. And all this should not interfere with a friend, but, on the contrary, complement.
Important! It will be useful to determine the acidity of the soil. There is a simple way: put the glass on a dark surface, pour 1 tsp on it. earth, lightly with 9% vinegar. Acidic soil will not foam, while alkaline soil will give itself away with a rich and thick “cap”.
The cornerstone of this approach is an understanding of the local conditions and the characteristics of the garden itself. That is, all factors are taken into account - the number of sunny and rainy days, the duration of summer, the presence and habits of animals.
We also note the emphasis on the use of biomaterials - all kinds of chemistry are excluded. 
Origin story
Biologists and agronomists were interested in the idea of continuous culture in agriculture at the beginning of the 20th century. It was then that the question of abandoning plowing was raised, which found many followers. They argued that such cultivation of the land in this way will inevitably lead to the appearance of deserts in the place of fertile fields.
Did you know? One of the first ecovillages is Akrovil back in 1968. At the moment about 1200 people of 30 nationalities live in this "City of Dawn".
The turning point was the turn of the 1960-1970s. At that time, plowing rates as well as use were at their peak. Opposition formed among agronomists, which began to revive the half-forgotten principles of permanent cultivation and develop a stable system.
The first principles of productive organic farming were outlined by the Japanese farmer and microbiologist Masanobu Fakuoka. In the book "The Revolution of One Straw" (1975), he summarized his experience - at that time the author had not plowed the land on his site for 25 years. This work is considered fundamental for the entire direction. 
In 1978, the first volume of Permaculture was published, by Australian authors David Holmgren and Bill Mollison. The publication found a wide response, already in the 80s the first ecovillages appeared - the idea went beyond agriculture and began to touch upon the issues of design and construction.
New works devoted to the issue of "eco-processing" appear regularly. Permaculture based on the experience of Sepp Holzer is very popular in our area. The Austrian farmer was the first to draw attention to "heavy" soils and farming in adverse weather conditions, having written a number of books.
Basic principles
Now let's find out how this theory is implemented in practice, on what principles this "agro-teaching" is based. Note that for a person with traditional views on the garden, such postulates and techniques will look somewhat unusual, but there is still a rational grain in them. 
Balanced ecosystem
The main role is assigned to the streamlined interaction of all components of the site. Permaculture relies on:
- The most productive combination of all elements. A simple example is the location of a chicken pen. It should be placed closer to the vegetable beds. As a result, some parts of the plants will be fed to birds, and the droppings produced by them will be used as.
- The principle of natural diversity - all elements complement each other, not separate.
- Multifunctionality. If we take tree branches, they will not only be fuel, but also enrich the soil.
- For a better layout, you need to know all the agrotechnical characteristics of a particular site - how often and with what it was fertilized earlier, what varieties were planted, what is the situation with the weather and similar nuances.
- Rational use of solar energy (therefore, there are many greenhouses in such areas) and collection of rainwater with minimal losses. We'll have to consider the location of the large storage drums and gutters.
Important! The strategy of continuous farming does not provide for autumn harvesting of leaves, much less burning it.
As you can see, permaculture is unthinkable without a competent combination of available resources, including natural ones.
Use of natural resources
Of course, it should be as effective as possible. Only renewable resources are used. This largely explains why such ecovillages are densely planted with trees and grass.
Did you know? For a long time, the World Eco-Settlement Network has been functioning, which has regional offices in Europe, Asia and America. Both national associations and individual large settlements can join there.
They yield crops, provide shade in hot summers and purify the air. Old or diseased specimens are used as material for the manufacture of chairs and other items. By putting them on mulch, you thereby contribute to the transformation of the soil.
This has a beneficial effect on the grass growing nearby - the so-called border effect is obtained. 
And there are many such examples. They try not to use non-renewable types of raw materials or to minimize their use. The same coal, for example, is taken in extreme cases.
No waste
Everything is simple here - everything that can be recycled is reused. Dried grass, branches, paper, cleaning from the kitchen are put into business "in a new way", but in a different hypostasis. This is a rather laborious process, but the result will be a clean area without garbage "islands".
In addition, many of the waste obtained during the season can be stored in, where they will be processed by worms and after some time will be used as fertilizer for the beds. This is how another principle is realized, namely the use of natural circulation.
Let's not forget more complex cases. Inhabitants of ecovillages throw away only finally broken equipment that cannot be repaired anymore. 
Site design and zoning
Design must combine beauty and practicality, and a permacultural approach will be no exception. The layout is thought out in such a way as to exclude unnecessary movements, thereby facilitating the work. This is convenient, especially in large areas.
Important! Mixing woody and herbaceous crops is a must. We can say that Japanese gardens are ideal in this regard.
The entire garden is conventionally divided into five zones, which differ in frequency of visits. Here they are:
- Vegetable garden and chicken coop (1 and 2) near the house. Most of the work is done here. Greens are planted on their border, which can be used to feed poultry.
- On the borderlands of zones 2 and 3, garden trees are planted, which are replaced by “industrial” species that provide forage and materials.
- Pastures for (zone 4) are taken out “behind the fence”.
- Zone 5 is rarely visited. These are hayfields located near forests.
Another feature of this method of farming is manifested here - it is more designed for large communities with vast lands. A private trader on 6 acres is not threatened with such a scale, although he, if desired, can pull up the dacha to the level of a natural ecosystem.
Then you can equip the local area, plant beds and a garden in accordance with all the principles of permaculture.
Buildings from natural materials
We already know that only natural resources are needed, and first of all - wood. 
It will be the basis for building a house, barn or. For large-scale construction, a timber is taken. Most often these are pine raw materials. It has many advantages, among which the prevalence and low cost stand out.
With spruce it is a little more difficult - the wood is looser, although it keeps heat better. And the best available option would be larch, which is durable. For additional thermal insulation, replace glass wool.
Did you know? One of the first ecovillages of the communal type in Russia was the village of Kitezh, which they began to equip in 1992. Together with him in the first wave of the early 90s were Tiberkul, Grishino and Nevoekovil.
There may be other objects on the site, when laying them, they try to avoid the use of synthetic materials. This concerns, first of all,. Ideally, they should be purely grounded, without concrete "soles" and foil covering. 
Refusal to dig
The main agrotechnical technique, which provokes heated discussions. It implies the refusal of any overturning and loosening of the soil, no matter in what way - or.
Proponents of this method see it as an opportunity to restore the balance of the soil, which is impossible with traditional processing. They have reasonable arguments, including the fact that over time, the natural loosening of the soil is being established through the activity of worms.
Add to this the problem of weeds, which fade away over time, and the benefits of this technique will become apparent.
This is true, but it will take more than one year to get the right balance, which frightens off many. Although for a subsistence (that is, a small household) economy, such radical changes are often imperceptible - the yields remain at the same level. 
But the labor intensity of cultivation is gradually decreasing, which is also a plus.
Using straw
It is widely used.
First of all, it is an excellent mulch material. It decomposes rather quickly, so it can be laid in a thick layer. At the same time, moisture and oxygen pass to the ground without difficulty. In summer, it is placed on vegetable or berry beds, and in the cold season, it is covered with trunks of shrubs and trees.
In addition, straw also acts as a "building material" for vegetable beds. They do them like this:- They take bales harvested from the summer without hay admixtures (there may be weed seeds in it).
- In autumn, bales tied with twine or twine are laid out in rows, with a row spacing of 55-70 cm. Cardboard or old paper is placed under them.
- The straw is watered abundantly, maintaining humidity until the first frost.
- In the spring (about a couple of weeks before planting), the bales are watered and fertilized with a composition of, or droppings, mixed in equal proportions.
- Before planting, holes are made, sometimes adding a few handfuls of soil for better rooting. Sprinkle seeds or seedlings in a small layer.
- It remains to water on time and, if necessary, put trellises for winding varieties.
After harvesting, the straw will be rotted, it can be left on mulch or sent to the compost pit. Important! This method is distinguished by the flexibility of crop rotation - the "composition" of the plantings, if necessary, changes immediately, and without any particular complications. The loss of several species is compensated by the general riot of the site.
Where should a beginner start?
Having become interested in permaculture, many are thinking of using it from scratch.
Let's make a reservation right away - you'll have to be patient.
This is due to the fact that it will be necessary to radically change not only the style of housekeeping.
One refusal from plowing will not do here, you need to thoroughly prepare the site itself. Agricultural technology "according to Holzer" is reduced to the use of tiered terraces and beds of complex shapes (most often spiral). Think about whether you can equip them in a small garden. 
To soberly assess your strength, pay attention to the following points:
- Even before switching to a new technique, take a closer look at the neighboring dachas - what exactly grows there, and which varieties are reluctant to accept. Pay attention to what forms of "neighborhood" between different varieties are found most often. This will allow you to choose the right material for planting.
- Think over to the smallest detail the future layout with reference to specific conditions (area, relief, location of buildings and drainage).
- Don't be afraid of the diversity that sets the ecosystem apart. This is unusual, because many traditional for ecovillages plants are considered weeds.
- Carefully calculate all water supply options, paying attention to the minimum fluid loss. The same goes for warmth.
- If there are chickens or livestock, adjust the location of the beds for them. This will make it easier to apply the resulting fertilizer.
Did you know? Eco-villages "with a philosophical bias" are gradually being replaced by family estates, which provide a good income. This trend has been observed for the past 15 years.
Before proceeding to the implementation of all the mentioned principles, think again, is it worth taking on such a troublesome business. To do this, you will have to take into account all the pros and cons of such a decision. 
Advantages and disadvantages
Proponents of the mixed planting idea put forward the following arguments in its favor:
- obtaining environmentally friendly products;
- reduction of anthropogenic load on the land;
- almost complete "self-regulation" of the soil, which allows you to do without abundant fertilization for a long time;
- no waste, everything goes into business.
- less labor intensity;
- good and stable yields;
- minimal costs for plant care.
- finally, it is very beautiful.
Important! It is better to introduce such an innovative method in a well-guarded area, which excludes the appearance of uninvited guests.
But there is also another point of view. Many believe that the practical use of "pure" permaculture in our conditions gives a dubious effect for the garden and vegetable garden. Among their arguments, the most common are:
- the complexity of the transition to a new model on a small "patch";
- high labor intensity at first;
- long wait for a bountiful harvest;
- inability of many varieties to prolonged cold weather and early frosts;
- the need for frequent presence at the dacha, which is not always realistic.
Whether to use all these developments or not is not so much a matter of taste as of possibilities. There is one more, purely psychological moment. If you are nevertheless determined to arrange a "forest" in the middle of a dacha cooperative, try to explain to your neighbors that such lush vegetation is not weeds. Thus, it will be possible to prevent possible conflicts.
You have learned the difference between green permaculture and traditional farming.
We hope this data will clarify and help you decide on the most suitable type of farming. More variety and record harvests!
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In recent years, more and more mini-farms and individual landowners supply the market with environmentally friendly and healthy products grown without the use of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and other drugs that have a negative impact on human health and the environment. With the advent of the opportunity to have their own piece of land (dacha, house on the ground, cottage in the countryside, etc.), amateur gardeners, gardeners also began to intensively introduce farming methods in their small farms that exclude partially or completely the use of chemicals for the purpose of preserving and raising soil fertility and obtaining healthy products. Agriculture was divided into two areas of agricultural production:
- classic or industrial,
- traditional (since the founding of agriculture) or organic farming.
Industrial agriculture
The classic direction is the conduct of agricultural production, in which all the achievements of science and practice are used, which ensure the preservation and increase of soil fertility, and obtaining high yields of good quality. It is suitable for agricultural production in large areas. Provides the possibility of high mechanization of labor with obtaining sufficient harvests, but with such a management of the economy, in a year you can lose the entire fertile soil layer, which is formed as a result of natural soil processes at a rate of 1 cm per 100 years.
The humus reserves produced in the fertile layer are restored (according to research results) in the 0.5 cm layer after about 250 years and directly depend on the climatic conditions of the regions. Complex destruction of vegetation cover (plowing, drainage, pollution of natural reservoirs and soil with chemicals, etc.) leads, by and large, to the degradation of ecosystems. The use of new agricultural production technologies, causing a temporary outbreak of an increase in soil fertility, and hence crop yields, does not lead to an increase in natural soil fertility - this is a ghostly well-being.
With the systematic application of fertilizers, the organic matter that forms humus, the basis of plant nutrition, does not decompose. On the contrary, humus decomposes and the liberated salts, used by plants, provide a temporary burst of crop yields. With this method of farming, hundreds of thousands of hectares of fertile land are lost annually.
Organic (biological) agriculture
The second direction, officially called traditional or organic farming, is more suitable for small areas. This is due to high labor costs, the use of manual labor. The yield of crops grown with organic or biological technologies is lower than with classical farming, but the resulting products do not contain substances that reduce the quality of life of the population.
This direction is associated with the use of different methods of growing agricultural products without the use of substances unusual for the soil, up to mineral fertilizers. Bits of knowledge, collected together, allowed to develop a technology for natural restoration of soil fertility, its treatment and "revitalization". Many methods have been proposed and developed for preserving and increasing the natural microculture of the fertile soil layer (beneficial fungi, bacteria, earthworms, etc.), processing it with minimal damage.
So, according to the results of the research, they came to the conclusion that the southern soils need deep cultivation (25-27 cm) with a seam turnover. The warm autumn period contributes to the strong growth of weeds and their insemination, the preservation of pests in the upper layer, which actively attack cultural plantings in the spring. Prolonged rains cause the development of fungal diseases. And, conversely, in soils with a small humus reserve (chestnut, brown), the order of the arrangement of the soil horizons must not be disturbed by turning the lower layer outward and moving down the upper fertile layer.
The developed technologies recommended the annual introduction of organic and some part of mineral fertilizers, but without the use of herbicides and pesticides, the use of crop rotations in large areas and crop rotations in small summer cottages, which had a positive effect on the condition of the soil, relieved soil fatigue, and slowed down destructive physical and chemical processes ... The developed technologies of organic agriculture, as a rule, affect only work “on the ground”, without involving the rest of rural life in a single system.
Over time, supporters of agricultural production according to the permaculture system began to appear and are gaining more and more.
Vegetable garden in permaculture. © Caroline Aitke What is permaculture?
Against the background of the two methods of agricultural production discussed above, a third direction appeared, called by the founders - permaculture. Translated from English means permanent agriculture. Permaculture has combined and uses the methods of traditional farming and modern technologies, non-violent interference in natural processes, in a single system.
The main principle of permaculture-type farming is to create a system of biological farming involving all types of farming in a single circulation. This is a type of agricultural production, where the components of a single system are all the elements that surround a person (his family): a house, a vegetable garden, a garden, a fence, a subsidiary farm, pets, an irrigation system, natural fertilizers, etc.
The main task of permaculture is the non-violent return to the created system of all spent energy losses. So, according to the concepts of permaculture, the introduction of mineral fertilizers, pesticides is violence against the natural ecosystem. The use of waste from domestic animals and poultry, humans (manure, chicken droppings, compost, other household waste) is the return to a single cycle of substances that have gone beyond the boundaries of management.
For example: kitchen waste is processed into compost, which is added to the soil as fertilizer. Decomposing by microorganisms, it in the form of humus turns into affordable food for vegetable, garden and other crops, which will go to feed animals and poultry, and they will serve as food for humans, etc. Waste of sanitary places after treatment with effective microorganisms (EM culture), become suitable for irrigation and soil application. After refining, the natural bakeries will turn into ponds with lovely resting places and a supply of water for irrigation.
Vegetable garden in permaculture. © Chrystel Vultier The main differences between permaculture and other farming methods
1. Lack of classical culture circulation. Plants grow in natural conditions on the basis of good neighborliness (potatoes with beans, strawberries with garlic, peppers and eggplants in the same field, etc.) with herbaceous plants, shrubs, fruit trees.
2. A design solution for the entire plot with the most convenient placement of crops, which helps to minimize labor costs for planting, care, harvesting, etc. tomatoes, strawberries and other water-loving crops), which reduces the time and labor required for water delivery and irrigation.
3. Providing the site with moisture without using artesian tanks, wells, wells. Moisture accumulates in reservoirs built by changing the surface of the site (natural pool, pond, elevation from which water will be supplied to the field by gravity). When constructing such reservoirs, it is allowed to use heavy equipment, but without the use of concrete and plastics when decorating the banks (only natural fencing).
4. Construction of housing and other utility rooms only from natural materials.
5. The use of established varieties of plants and animals with the provision of the possibility of their symbiotic interaction.
6. The farm must have a variety of plants and animals in order to obtain a wide range of products and the necessary nutrition for plants.
Practical use of permaculture technology
Permaculture is the use of natural "fertilizers" to increase the natural fertility of the soil and provide plants with nutrients. To do this, it is necessary to provide in such an eco-farm:
- Place of bookmarks for reheating manure, compost, cleaning sanitary waste (dry closet, water after taking a shower, bath, washing, washing dishes).
- Construction of a chicken coop (obtaining poultry manure for fertilizers and meat for the diet). In a large farm, this is the maintenance of cattle, horses (manure, milk, meat, driving power).
- Independent production of biofertilizers using dung or red Californian worm - vermicompost.
In the creation of biofertilizer and its distribution, 2 types of worms are involved: the creators of humus and its eaters-distributors. Representatives of the first group live under the topsoil. They use in food all organic waste and some part of the soil (respectively in parts 9: 1). As a result, vermicompost is formed, from which humus is formed with the help of beneficial fungal and bacterial microorganisms.
The second group of worms lives in the lower layers of the soil. They are called humus-eating. They make a large number of strokes in the soil, thereby increasing its aeration. Using recycled organic matter, biohumus is mixed with soil, deepening the layer of fertile soil. Ready vermicompost is applied under garden crops in the form of top dressing or basic fertilizer.
- Protection against diseases and pests using the obtained infusions, decoctions, extracts from plants with fungicidal and insecticidal properties. The developers of the permaculture system deny the possibility of using artificially obtained drugs. I believe that the use of biological products can still be allowed for use at least at the beginning of the launch of such an ecosystem.
Vegetable garden in permaculture. © Marianne Mercier It is safer and safer to protect plants from diseases and pests with biological preparations, biofungicides and bioinsecticides, made on the basis of beneficial microorganisms (fungi and bacteria). Biofungicides include Fitosporin, Barrier, Zaslon, Fitop, Integral, Baktofit, Agate, Planzir, Trichodermin, Gamair-P. Glyocladin and others.
Of the biosecticides, the most popular are Bitoxibacillin, Boverin, Aktofit (Akarin), Fitoverm, Lepidotsid, Metarizin, Nematofagin, Dachnik, Verticillin.
They are safe for plants and family members, animals, birds and fish. Some biological products can be used to treat plants up to harvest.
Of course, their use would, to some extent, violate the requirements of permaculture. But, since they are biological products, their use will not be opposed to natural farming. The use of decoctions, infusions, extracts from herbs, roots, leaves of wild and cultivated plants recommended by permaculture does not always bring the expected effect. For example: orange peels, onion peels, heads of garlic, tobacco dust, calendula flowers and others are powerless with severe damage to plants in epiphytotic years.
Please note! Decoctions and infusions of some herbs have strong toxic properties. Be careful and careful when using hemlock, aconite, hogweed, black henbane. After spraying with such a natural broth, it is enough to eat an unwashed fruit or vegetable to get severe poisoning.
Parsley in permaculture. © beyondvitality
In conclusion, I want to warn the reader that not every owner can manage the economy according to the closed system of permaculture. This requires knowledge, skill, the habit of working in the agricultural sector and, of course, permanent residence in a closed, sustainable system that is able to meet its own needs and recycle its waste. Arriving at the dacha 1-2 times a week or only on Sundays will not give the desired result.
The choice is yours, reader. Of the three proposed systems, you are free to choose any, but if permaculture attracted your attention, then you can start with any separate method on the farm and gradually extend it to the entire system (for example: from the garden, fertilizers and fertilizing, plant protection, etc.). etc.).
Permaculture in translation means sustainable farming. In a permaculture system, different species work symbiotically for each other. In permaculture farming, the ratio of energy expended to energy received is 1: 100 or more, while in traditional intensive farming this ratio is from 1:60 to 1:20.
farming and agriculture: biodynamic, organic and its varieties, using humus preparations (humates), earthworms (vermiculture or worm composting - obtaining vermicompost using compost worms: Californian, "prospector", etc.), green manure (growing plants on green fertilizer), mulch (organic and inorganic), EM biotechnology (using microbial preparations) and others that exclude the use of mineral fertilizers and deep plowing of the land.
In essence and in meaning, all these directions are correct and each is only a part of one common and unifying concept - Natural agriculture.
This is something that the supporters of the listed directions do not want or do not want to understand and admit, refining themselves in the terminology of taken separately processes of one common and whole - soil life, wisely invented by Nature itself.
A person cannot come up with something more perfect than created by Nature itself.
A person only at different stages of his development studies these processes of soil life in parts, builds on his guesses and discoveries "theories" and, due to his limitations, "dwells" on this, considering his theory the most important and indisputable, rejecting all others, not realizing that his “guess” and the “theory” built on the basis of it is only a part of a single whole process in Nature, called “Life”.
And I will try to show this point of view to the readers by examples, in order to finally point out the way of joining efforts in this direction, and not separating them into separate theories.
The goal is one - to find a unifying link, to bring all disparate theories and concepts together, as it is in nature itself.
And this link can be an understanding of the processes and natural laws of soil life.
Only a complete understanding of the general picture of soil life in interaction with the forces of nature (cosmic and terrestrial energies) can become a unifying factor for the supporters of individual alternative directions of farming and agriculture.
I am not trying to take on such an unbearable burden - to describe in detail this "picture" of life, I will only try to show the path that will lead to universal understanding and agreement.
And we will begin our excursion with the fact that only with some examples taken from individual theories, I will try to show you their inextricable connection between themselves and the soil life itself.
Let's start with the most difficult thing for a simple layman to understand - with the concept of "Biodynamic farming and agriculture".
Let me briefly remind readers what it is. The founder of this philosophy in agriculture is Rudolf Steiner.
It originated in Germany in 1924 as an alternative direction, as opposed to mineral, with its negative consequences.
The essence of this theory boils down to the fact that all living beings on the planet, including humans, animals, plants and the microcosm of the soil, are exposed to cosmic and terrestrial energies.
And that this process of impact on living organisms can be controlled by the proposed "drugs", which were assigned a certain numbering: 500-507 ... In addition, they were subdivided into "field" and "compost".
All of them are used in such minimal quantities that they cannot serve as a source of substances for plants.
Field preparations are so named because they act directly on plants and stimulate metabolism, and also "correct" adverse factors (drought, for example).
In addition, applied in the smallest doses to the fields, they activate soil life, enhance humus formation (and we already know what it is), and as a result - plant nutrition.
Compost preparations are used to stimulate composting processes and direct these processes in the right direction (under their influence, decay processes are excluded).
For clarity, it should be remembered what it is - biodynamic drugs and what they are made of.
Preparation 500 (another name is horny manure). The cow's horn is filled with fresh cow dung, buried in fertile soil at a depth of 60 cm in autumn and left until spring.
During the winter, manure is exposed to winter forces, which are especially active in winter. By the spring, the manure turns into a well-decomposed dark mass with a pleasant smell of earth. The drug 500 activates earthly forces (energies).
Preparation 501 - horny silica - activates cosmic energies. These are field preparations.
Compost preparations are prepared from dynamic plants: yarrow flowers (preparation 502), medicinal chamomile flowers (503), dioecious nettle (504), oak bark (505), dandelion flowers (506), valerian flowers (507) ...
The supporters of this theory reduce everything to the action of biodynamic drugs through the regulation and activation of earthly and cosmic forces (energies) in the direction necessary for the gardener and farmer.
At the same time, they argue that the action of these drugs has no effect if mineral fertilizers are used.
In addition, organic matter in the form of composts should be used instead of mineral fertilizers.
And at the same time, some supporters deny the active role of the soil microworld in this, focusing only on the energetics of the process of activating plant nutrition (Michael Glöckler).
Others, on the contrary, believe that biodynamic drugs, both field and compost ones, activate the soil life of worms and microbes and, in fact, are biostimulants, not fertilizers and additives (I.S. Isaeva).
Some admit partial use of fertilizers such as phosphate rock (Zhirmunskaya M.N.).
All this introduces confusion into the heads of inexperienced inhabitants, creates the impression of an "outrageous" science, which seems to be good, but difficult to do in practice, because it is incomprehensible.
And this whole theory is nothing more than a part of Natural Agriculture.
Now many people can object to me: “Where in Nature have you met biodynamic drugs? These are “man-made” preparations ”.
Let me disagree with such arguments. We forget about the natural forces of nature, manifested in everyday life.
For example, everyone knows the "stimulating" effect on seeds, rooted cuttings and the plants themselves of melt water or, in another way, its energetically pure and active phase - the "cluster" state.
The “holy” water has the same state and its action is similar: introduced in a minimum dose into a large volume, instantly transforms the water of this volume into a “cluster” - energetically charged state.
What about dynamic plants? It's not just chamomile and valerian ...
There are many other examples of the energetic effect of plants with their energetics on humans, animals and other plants ...
In addition, there are other drugs that have exactly the same stimulating and activating properties as the classic biodynamic drugs and they really are.
For example, the drug "Biostim", various decoctions, infusions and extracts of plants or compost liquid.
But all of them are ineffective without the main factor - the use of organic compost, i.e. processed organic residues by worms, microbes and fungi (which we talked about earlier) into humus - the basis of natural plant nutrition.
Biodynamic drugs are just "stimulators" and "activators" of soil life, or the microworld of the soil.
With the same success, you can activate the terrestrial and cosmic energy with the help of various combinations and structures of biodynamic structures: pyramids, hemispheres, orgone accumulators, etc.
The effect is the same everywhere - the activation of plant growth and protection from diseases.
There is only one basis - direct or indirect impact through the activation of the entire ecosystem, including the microcosm of the soil, regardless of the way we act - biodynamic drugs, natural forces of nature or biodynamic structures and plants.
In understanding this issue, it is not the impact of energies that is more important, but the restoration of the soil life itself and its maintenance, using the knowledge of natural agriculture.
Thus, biodynamic farming is just a part of Natural Agriculture.
With other theories, things are even simpler.
Few would argue that organic farming is just a part of natural farming.
What could be simpler here: see how organic residues in the form of leaf or grass litter or cow "cake" in the nature around us turn into the soil itself and its nutrient component - Humus.
Copy this on your site, it will not only feed our plants, but also heal the soil and the very ecosystem in which we live together with our plants.
Natural farming is a creative process, it is more important to understand the essence of this concept than to remember a specific "recipe".
After all, the soils are different, the climatic conditions are different. Sources of organic matter are also different. And besides, the theories of the supporters of organic farming are also different.
Sepp Holzer is a legendary man. He is the brightest representative of the agrarian trend, which received the name "permaculture" - permanent, that is, natural, agriculture. Today they say so: not just permaculture, but Sepp Holzer's permaculture. The Austrian farmer is confident that with the help of the so-called permaculture, the entire planet can be fed. Very little is needed for this: not to interfere with Nature.
For a long time, Sepp Holzer was called a rebellious farmer in his homeland in Austria, and what he does was wild agriculture. For abandoning traditional agricultural practices and experiments, he was forced to pay fines, moreover, he was threatened with prison. Now Holzer's know-how - the creation of land ridges, crater gardens, the arrangement of reservoirs - is admired by many specialists and amateurs.
Sepp Holzer's secret is simple. He observes nature and tries to live by its laws. As a boy, Sepp grew various plants on his father's farm. Then he summoned all his acquaintances to his garden and gladly shared his discoveries with them. Roughly the same thing is happening today. Only now it is not children from the schoolyard who come to Holzer - professional agrarians from all over the world come to him. Holzer's farm is located in the mountains, at an altitude of 1300 meters above sea level. There are harsh climatic conditions, for which his estate in Krameterhof is called Austrian Siberia. Even in July-August, Holzer's grounds can be covered with snow, but at the same time plums, apricots ripen, kiwi and grapes are fruitful.
“Everyone comes to me and looks: what can grow on these steep slopes in bad weather and without fertilizers? - Sepp Holzer says with a smile. - And when they see the variety of exotic plants, they generally lose the gift of speech. Someone from a Russian group that recently came to me asked: "How is it that you have the most beautiful rhododendrons that can be in nature here, right up to the very top of the Alps, but they don't grow in our suburbs?" They also ask: “Why do you have such long ponds on the slopes - 80–100 meters each, how can water linger in these depressions, and besides, even without a film? We are unable to preserve water even on a plain ... "Then I begin to explain to them that this is a normal natural process, that nature will do everything, it is only important to stop interfering with it."
Sepp Holzer Manor Krameterhof
Three agricultural routes
Sepp Holzer: “Permaculture can provide food for at least three times the population of the world today. You just need to come to an agreement with nature about this. "
When in 1998 one of the Austrian students evaluated the economic performance of Sepp Holzer's farm in Krameterhof in his thesis, the tax office immediately visited the farm. Conducted a complete audit of the farm, revised the baseline performance, which is usually set every 10-15 years. As a result, the regulatory authorities almost tenfold increased the amount from which taxes were previously calculated - from 24 thousand Austrian schillings at that time per year to 200 thousand.
When asked why his farm was ten times more efficient than the average farm, Sepp Holzer replied that it was all about permaculture.
Today, when people talk about agriculture, as a rule, they mean its industrial and traditional directions. As you know, in industrial agriculture, for the rapid growth of plants, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, genetically modified organisms, as well as heavy agricultural machinery are used. Thanks to this, farmers get a high yield and profit, but chemicals are harmful to the environment, and vegetables and fruits grown with their help are often tasteless.
The traditional, or biological, type of farming is characterized by closeness to nature, a complete rejection of chemical means of protection and plant nutrition, the use of crop rotation. Its main advantage is getting healthy products, the disadvantage is low yield and high labor costs.
Permaculture offers a new type of agricultural business based on the relationships that exist in natural ecosystems. From traditional agriculture, permaculture took the rejection of chemical fertilizers, and from industrial - large agricultural machinery.
Sepp Holzer calculates his costs, and, he says, they turn out to be much more modest than in industrial and traditional agriculture. “Firstly, I have less labor costs, which affects wages,” he explains. - Secondly, I do not waste time growing plants - they help each other. Thirdly, the quality of my products is higher, because I do not need to fight against weeds - everything is regulated by nature, and I try not to interfere with her. "
The main difference between permaculture and industrial and traditional agriculture is its respect for all living things. Trying to change the world around them, adherents of permaculture always think about how their decision will affect other participants in the ecosystem.
“Use your brain to walk towards nature, not against it,” Holzer teaches. - Do not try to fight with weeds, as such a fight is extremely harmful to agriculture. You need to think: can you take responsibility if you change something? My secret: put yourself in the shoes of a pig, a sunflower, an earthworm, and the person in front of you. Would you feel good about it? If so, then you are doing everything right. If not, then guess what's wrong. "
Sepp Holzer at the Krameterhof
Mixed planting theory
Sepp Holzer: “Become curious. Sow lots of seeds and watch what happens. What grows well is right here. "
In modern agriculture, it is customary to grow one type of cultivated plants in the fields. Such monoculture crops, according to Holzer, is only harmful: plants develop and bear fruit at the same time, require the same nutrients, which makes them compete with each other. Holzer goes the other way, promoting mixed plantings. He is sure: when different types of plants live side by side, symbiosis arises between them. Representatives of different species require different nutrients, moreover, they feed each other - the soil is fertilized by fallen leaves, dead parts of the roots.
Sepp Holzer talks about his estate in Austria. He, like his parents, grows crops. But along with them, Holzer grows fruit trees, shrubs, vegetables, flowers. “Many people think that grains are a monoculture, but they are not,” he says. - On my site, they get along well with other plants. When I harvest grain with a combine harvester, I leave 10 centimeters of stalks so as not to damage other plants during harvesting - radishes, lettuce, carrots. "
Holzer is sure that a narrow specialization for an entrepreneur in the agro-industrial complex is too risky business, not only in biological, but also in economic terms. In his youth, he tried to find a certain niche in order to deal only with it. One of his hobbies was growing mushrooms - the Austrian produced, processed and even sold them to other countries. But one day, mushroom sales plummeted, and he nearly went broke. By contrast, Holzer believes multilateralism creates confidence in today and tomorrow.
Mixed planting in Krameterhof
Terrain change
Sepp Holzer: “Land is the largest capital in the world. When used correctly, the land will always bring wealth. "
Competent formation of the landscape can increase the productivity of cultivated plants - this is another postulate of the doctrine of permaculture. Holzer's favorite landscape features are land ridges (high hilly or flat) and crater gardens. The peculiarity of both is in the form: different plants are planted one above the other in steps, due to which not only the sown area increases, but also different microclimate zones are created.
The land ridge is made in the form of an embankment with a height of about 1.5 meters. It is ideal for wet regions where there is a lot of rainfall - the land dries out faster on it than on the plain. On the top floor, light-loving plants such as sunflowers grow well. Fruit trees are planted there, but not apple trees, whose roots creep along the ground, but with deep roots, like those of cherries - such trees will protect the plants planted below from the wind. Any vegetables are planted in the middle of the ridge. And at its foot, where a lot of moisture collects, there are cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkins, watermelons.
The crater garden is built on the same principle as the land ridge, only it goes into the depths. For the arrangement of such a garden, the lowest place on the site is selected, where aboveground and underground waters can be collected. Crater garden, very convenient for arid places where additional moisture is required, increases the cultivated area, protects plants from the wind, creates a heat trap and is ideal for moisture-loving vegetables. In winter, the plants in such a garden are protected from wind and frost.
Crater garden in Belarus built by the method of Sepp Holzer
Water lock
Sepp Holzer: “Water is the most important thing on Earth. There is no life without water. There is enough water everywhere in the world, even in the desert. You just need to learn how to find it and use it correctly. "
Restoring water balance is Sepp Holzer's favorite theme. Holzer opposes mechanized irrigation systems and explains that while springs and groundwater are not available everywhere, there are many ways to attract water to your site. The easiest way is to collect the rainwater from the surface into depressions to store water, and then send it to water the plants. An even better option is to create a reservoir on your own where such water will accumulate.
“The Moscow region receives an average of 550–650 millimeters of precipitation per year,” says Holzer. - This is six thousand cubic meters. What happens to this water? It flows into ravines, carrying away the top fertile soil layer. Soil erosion begins, which increases due to the wind. Add in the bright sun. Cracks appear on the ground, plants dry out, there is a danger of fires. Who is to blame - nature or the owner of the site? Of course a man. Try to retain the water available in your area, and you will save yourself a lot of problems later. "
It is important to choose the right location for the future reservoir. Each owner knows all the heights and depressions of his site, so he can easily determine where the sediment water will eventually drain. If the site is on a plain, Holzer advises observing the plants. For example, alder usually grows where there is groundwater. So, next to it and other moisture-loving plants, you can safely arrange a pond.
The Austrian farmer proposes to create reservoirs, excluding from the construction process film, concrete and other materials that are usually used to retain moisture. “I do not want to disrupt the water cycle in nature, so I suggest filling the water reservoir in a natural way. In the future, such a pond will not only promote plant growth - it will be possible to breed fish, crayfish, waterfowl in it, ”he explains.
In his ponds, Holzer retains water exclusively with the help of natural materials. “Water always wants to find a loophole to seep through, so you have to find that bottleneck and seal it. To begin with, clear the place of the future pond from that which allows water to pass through - sand, small stones. Then dig a ditch two to three meters deep and fill the bottom with denser material, tamp it with an excavator. If you make a good lock, then the water will not flow down the sides. "
Sepp Holzer oversees the construction of the dam at one of the permaculture seminars in the Moscow region
Shamanic trail
Sepp Holzer: “Russia has vast territories and the best soils in the world, but you do not know how to use them correctly. Otherwise, you would have overtaken the West long ago. "
Interest in permaculture is great and growing all over the world - from the owners of large farms, small farmers working in the field of biological production of agricultural products, as well as from those who seek to be closer to nature. The Austrian farmer conducts seminars around the world and they are very successful.
Of course, Holzer takes money for his seminars, and he makes good money on it. However, seminars in Russia are cheaper than in European countries. Holzer's interest in our country did not arise by chance. One day about ten years ago, he came to the council of elders of chiefs and shamans of Indian tribes in North America. The meeting discussed the changing world and its destinies. And what was discussed there influenced Holzer's worldview quite strongly. “I can’t tell you exactly what the shamans were talking about, as I pledged to keep a secret, but it was then that I began to take an interest in Russia. Unfortunately, I heard a lot of terrible things about Russia that I didn't want to believe in, so I started to study your country, ”recalls the Austrian farmer.
Today Holzer has a more positive opinion: he is sure that Russia can be not only a country of oil and gas, its future belongs to the agricultural sector. “The wealth of your country lies not in minerals, but in huge areas of high-quality fertile land, where you can cultivate a wide variety of crops,” he said. “Moreover, the relative conditions in Russia are better than in other countries. For each person you have 8 hectares of land. No country in the world can offer this to its citizens. But I am extremely surprised by the attitude of Russians themselves to the land: I am often told that farming is unattractive. Such a statement is fundamentally wrong, and by my example I want to prove the opposite. "
Not everyone needs to prove the attractiveness of agriculture in our country. The Sepp Holzer Permaculture Center already exists in Russia, which popularizes Sepp's ideas and helps him conduct his seminars here. The seminar participants can be divided into two conditional types. The first dream of moving or have already moved with their families from city to village. Their goal is to get closer to nature, to establish ancestral settlements; or they just love nature and want to live in harmony with it. The second type is entrepreneurs, and they are the majority. Some also want to build a family estate, raise children and grandchildren in it. But in addition to the spiritual component, these people are also worried about the material side of the issue, the practice of life.
“It is very difficult to find pure products, the only guarantee of quality is the products that he has grown himself,” says Anatoly from Samara, who once trained as an astronaut, but always worked in a private business. Recently Anatoly accidentally discovered the idea of permaculture and realized that this is exactly what he was looking for for a long time. Now, together with his family, he chooses the land on which he will grow vegetables. In the future, she plans to engage in private consulting.
The stories of the rest of the participants are very different - and similar at the same time. Musician Vladimir from the Kaliningrad region dreams of relocating his family to the land, and then founding a company that will help everyone to get settled in the village. Renaldo from the Ulyanovsk region studied the principles of building settlements for a whole year, and now he plans to create a brand under which residents of the ancestral estates will be able to sell surplus grown products. Gleb from the Krasnodar Territory has been managing an enterprise in the field of tourism for ten years - he has an aqua farm with trout and carp, now he is building a mini-hotel in the forest, where he is also going to apply his knowledge of permaculture.
Holzer says that he has many successful projects in Russia - in the central part of it, in the south and in Siberia. “I recently started to cooperate with Tomsk Agrarian University: this is a large-scale project, but our experience can be useful to everyone,” says Sepp. - We planted medicinal herbs in a box, which we installed on a tree, it turned out to be like a nest. Plants began to climb up the trunk of the tree. I think landscape designers and gardeners can take advantage of our idea. But the most important thing, to summarize, is that every city dweller can create a similar garden of his own, with the help of which one can heal. A balcony is perfect for this, but if it is not there, then a box with plants can be fixed on the outer wall or do as we did: install a green pharmacy on a tree. "
The Austrian farmer has few unsuccessful projects. “I would not want to discuss them,” says Holzer, “because first of all I explain the failure not by my mistakes, but by the fact that projects were not given enough attention. People need to understand that it is impossible to do a permaculture project once a five and then forget about it. Nature is a living organism that is constantly evolving and does not allow us to rest. Therefore, you need to work hard, analyze your mistakes and correct them. "
Intuition and self-organization
Holzer himself is ready to work on mistakes constantly: his main goal is to correct mistakes of the past with the help of the laws of nature and the principles of permaculture, to prevent new natural disasters. Such a philosophy, of course, cannot but find a response from caring people, and, having learned about permaculture, many of them begin to actively follow the teachings.
Most people, however, are skeptical about what Holzer is proposing. The representatives of the Russian agricultural business interviewed by us say that they are impressed by Holzer's ideas. But, they point out, the practice of permaculture is only suitable for small niche farm projects or hobby gardeners. Despite the declared scale, which Holzer dreams of, it is difficult to apply his principles in large farms, and therefore permaculture cannot become the main one for agriculture and compete with industrial and traditional farming.
There are several reasons for this. Mainly, agricultural producers are worried about the unpredictability of Holzer's management. The agricultural business is generally high-risk: it is very difficult to calculate the annual harvest. If you follow the principles of permaculture and rely only on the mood of nature in everything, then it will be even more difficult to predict the economic results of future activities. The implementation of innovative permaculture projects costs a lot of money, so if the outcome is unsuccessful (what demand is from nature), farms can go bankrupt.
A number of our respondents are confused by the fact that Sepp Holzer is an Austrian peasant, his experience is limited by the space where he grew up. At Holzer's farm in the mountains, the temperature is constantly changing, the sun is shining brightly, and snow can fall in summer. And the knowledge on which farming on his farm is based is not universal and cannot be spread to other territories.
Much depends on the human factor. A large economy built on the principles of permaculture should be headed by the same highly qualified specialist, who has a keen sense of nature and knows its laws, like Sepp Holzer. Unfortunately, there are few such people. In order for them to appear, you need to go all the way Holzer from the very beginning. It is important that a person, in addition to logic, has a good intuition. Many techniques need to be specially learned, and not only from nature. This requires communication with like-minded people. Who will take responsibility to follow the principles of permaculture, to be a teacher? Now there is such a guru - Sepp Holzer. But if it does not, then permaculture itself runs the risk of disappearing.
Another question: how to motivate hired personnel who will work on a large agricultural enterprise so that ordinary workers follow nature as well as farm managers? Permaculture attracts many with its simplicity. Indeed, in nature everything grows by itself, it would be good to learn not to interfere with this. But not everyone can do such a teaching - they need high self-organization, enthusiasm, patience. This is the highest stage in the development of agriculture, which can only be reached independently and consciously. And "intellectual agriculture" Sepp Holzer, despite all the popularization, by and large, remains a piece. Although very tempting.