Biointensive gardening
The Amazing Potential
Biointensive Gardening offers so many benefits when it comes to growing food. The methods make the most of even very small spaces and produce more per square foot than most commercial farms. By deeply preparing beds, starting seeds in flats and closely spacing the seedlings in beds, the garden is super water efficient. Because the system includes composting and compost crops, the garden is self-sufficient in fertility. By having simple methods and using small spaces, basic tools and utensils are all that are needed.
Core Biointensive Practices
While there are as many ways to practice Biointensive growing as there are growers, don't feel held to some perfect standard. But the core practices work together to achieve more than each one alone. Close plant spacing in deeply dug beds tends to define this system as "biointensive", meaning a lot of biology in a tightly packed space. Growing this intensively needs paired with fertility building, usually by way of an organic system including compost.
Examples of Biointensive growing
John Jeavons & Ecology Action
John Jeavons drew on the methods of French intensive agriculture, combined with his relationship with the famous gardener, Alan Chadwick, to develop a systematic approach to feeding the world. His most famous book, How to Grow More Vegetables *(and fruit, nuts, berries, grains and other crops) Than You Ever Thought Possible On Less Land Than You Can Imagine, describes in detail a closed loop system for Biointensive vegetable production. This remains the best reference book on the topic.
Ecology Action, http://www.growbiointensive.org, continues John's work as a demonstration and education organization, supporting teachers and projects worldwide to improve access to healthy, fresh food. While this site draws information and inspiration from the work of John Jeavons and Ecology Action, it is not affiliated with them.
Biointensive Commercial Farming
While John Jeavons focused on personal food production, the Biointensive methods can also be used for market farms. The most famous farmer to use these methods is Jean-Martin Fortier, who teaches his methods of farming through the Market Gardener Institute. https://themarketgardener.com/