To: "permaculture" <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [permaculture] Global Food Supply Near the Breaking Point || Double-Digging and John Jeavons' methods and books
Date: Tue, 30 May 2006 16:46:18 -0500
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.