Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[tradingpost <tradingpost@lobo.net>]

I'm all for new ideas in growing, and I use some myself, some from 
successful growers like Eliot Coleman/Barbara Damrosch (Four Seasons 
Harvest book). But we need to hear how some trending systems actually 
work out in practice - minus the hype about them. Like community 
gardens, how many participants stayed with it to harvest anything 
worthwhile. And biochar - where's the scientific analysis of inputs and 
effects? Organic hydroponics - but don't they find the organic solutions 
need changing too often? How about aquaponics? Do startup costs doom any 
hope of profitable outputs? Or not?

What almost all wannabe experts skip over is the basic principles of how 
to grow sustainably and profitably, whether for home use or market. Not 
surprising if they just don't know how themselves. It's called getting 
the cart before the horse. Like anyone else we've had to refine 
marketing strategy for ourselves, little good advice out there to be 
had. I have a whole library on growing and see endless articles online, 
but only a very few turn out to be very useful for my own work. Top two 
techniques for us: growing in permanent beds, from Jeavons, and covering 
winter beds (with plastic sheeting) INside a greenhouse, from Eliot 
Coleman. I've added one trick of my own just now, light bulbs under 
cover to add a little heat at low cost to inside beds. So far the 
spinach, kale, arugula and Asian greens look luscious. Test comes this 
week when outside hits single digits (or lower by New Years).

paul tradingpost@lobo.net