permaculture

["E. E. Mitchamore Jr" <emitch@att.net>]

Three comments about double-digging:

1) My soil is single-dig deep (then rock).
2) In the absence of mechanical disturbance (introducing air) there is little 
nutrient-producing biological activity below a foot of depth.  Thus it's not 
very "natural".
3) It's HARD WORK!

So, if Jeavons' concepts are based on double-digging, it's not for me.

E. E. "Mitch" Mitchamore
www.hillcountrynatives.biz
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Lawrence F. London, Jr. 
  To: permaculture 
  Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 1:40 PM
  Subject: Re: [permaculture] Global Food Supply Near the Breaking Point || 
Double-Digging and John Jeavons' methods and books



  Double digging a garden plot may be the best way to improve soil without 
using
  any power equipment. Alan Chadwick and John Jeavons developed the method
  and popularized it through lectures, workshops and publications. This method
  began being widely used during the 1960's-1980's as many companies marketed
  imported English-style garden tools that worked best when using this 
gardening method.
  The basic array included short D-handled tools such as a digging spade 
(straight point),
  a digging fork and a spade fork. You could do it all with these three 
tools. A rake,
  garden spade, pitchfork or compost fork and manure fork or potato digger 
were also used.

  A few references:

  Ecology Action
  http://www.growbiointensive.org/biointensive/GROW-BIOINTENSIVE.html
  Jeavons' Books, Seeds and More:
  http://www.bountifulgardens.org/
  John Jeavons' books:
  "How To Grow More Vegetables That You Thought Possible On Less Land Than 
You Can Imagine"
  New 6th Edition
  http://www.growbiointensive.org/biointensive/book.html

  Alan Chadwick lectures
  http://www.ibiblio.org/ecolandtech/orgfarm/permaculture/Alan.Chadwick/

  Gardening Hand Tool SOurcelist
  http://market-farming.com/gardening-hand-tools.faq



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