Square Foot Gardening
True or false: square foot gardening has a lower, more precise planting density than "conventional" planting methods.
FALSE
It has a HIGHER density of plants than conventional calculations
Fill in the blanks: In an ideal permaculture setup, each plant contributes ______ to the total ecosystem than it would if it was planted in isolation.
More
What is one reason you might prefer a raised bed compared to in-ground gardening?
Accessibility
In-ground area has poor soil
In-ground area sporadically floods
In-ground area has toxin contamination
Soil nutrient or other texture control
No access to ground space (on concrete)
Define Compost
Define biochar
Biochar is a form of charcoal which has been created at high temperatures which is no longer easily digested by microbial life
Why do we put a lattice over the top of the square foot garden beds?
To visualize the square footage of the raised bed and help us calculate how many plants to plant in the area we have
What is the word for a specific ecological "role" a plant plays in the ecosystem, ranging from its light and water needs to the depth its roots grow?
Niche
Describe the difference between raised beds and in-ground gardening in terms of structure and soil management.
Raised beds have an elevated structure which is above the native soil level in an area. Soil medium and amendments MUST be added to the elevated structure to raise it up from the native soil level, and soil within a raised bed can be more closely controlled and monitored than that in an in-ground garden
What is compost created with worms called?
Vermicomposting
What is the name of the burning process used to make biochar?
Pyrolysis
What are the 3 components of Mel's Mix, and at what ratio do you mix them if you are creating a square foot garden?
1/3 Compost
1/3 Vermiculite
1/3 Peatmoss or cocopeat
What is the word used in permaculture to describe a grouping of plants that synergistically have a higher net productivity than those planted individually?
Guild
or plant guild
What are two positives and two drawbacks of concrete as a raised bed building material?
Pros: Very durable and permanent (won't degrade), thermal mass for more even temperature, easy to make beds you can sit on without damaging for accessibility
Cons: Potential chemical leaching, can be difficult to move if any design modifications must be made
What organism is responsible for compost heating up after you build the pile?
Acceptable phrasing: Actinomycetes, actinobacteria, thermophilic bacteria
Why is it necessary to charge biochar?
Charging biochar has the following benefits (and more):
reduce pH if alkaline
improve cation exchange capacity
increase microbial activity
stop raw char from stripping nutrient from soil
reduce hydrophobicity
leach salt if possible
How many "small" plants (such as radishes) should be planted per square foot according to the guidelines for square foot gardening?
16
What is one of the benefits of burying wood in the hügelkultur mound we made at LEAF urban Farm?
Moisture retention in mound
Slow, passive soil amendment with decomposing wood
Keeping large woody waste products and nutrients on site rather than having to ship them
Feed fungal decomposers in soil
What is an important protective measure to take in your raised bed construction if you have a lot of burrowing pest animals such as gophers or voles?
Place a bottom layer of chicken wire at the time you first construct the raised bed to prevent root-feeding creatures from eating your crops.
What are three benefits cover crops can provide to soil?
Prevent erosion
Loosen compacted soil (e.g. daikon radish)
Stimulate microbial activity
Fix nitrogen (legumes such as bean, pea, lupine plants)
Sustain pollinators necessary for future fruiting plants
Why can't we as gardeners simply use wood chips instead of biochar?
Wood chips are almost completely digestible to soil microbes, and therefore will break down relatively quickly (within 10 years) if added to soil. Biochar is much more biologically inert, and is therefore a more permanent source of soil carbon that can improve soil characteristics.
Why does square foot gardening advise to use closer spacing than "conventional" garden advice? Do plants from "conventional" or square foot methodology typically have the highest PER INDIVIDUAL PLANT yield?
This is to maximize space and get the greatest number of pounds of TOTAL yield from the square footage, not to actually get the most pounds per individual plant.
Plants from "conventional" spacing yield higher weight per plant on average, but square foot methods will yield you more food for your space.
Give an example of a permaculture guild with at least 3 plants. Explain why these are good choices.
Example: apple tree (canopy), comfrey (understory), strawberries (groundcover)
When selecting lumber for a raised bed, what is one type of lumber to avoid and one type of lumber which is particularly good?
Avoid treated wood and wood composites, which may contain toxic chemicals.
Look for redwood or Cedar, which are very rot-resistant and durable
What is the difference between psychrophiles, mesophiles, and thermophiles?
Psychrophiles: most active at low temperatures
Mesophiles: most active around room temperature
Thermophiles: most active at hot temperatures
Name 3 different ways of charging biochar
1.Add urine to biochar until saturated and allow to sit for at least two weeks (preferably months) while kept moist
2.Combination 1:1 with manure and let sit for at least two weeks
3.Combine 1:1 with FINISHED compost and allow to sit for at least two weeks
4.Use biochar as chicken or hog pen bedding and remove when soiled; wet bedding and allow to break down for a month
5.Use as a filter for aquaponics systems until soiled
6.Add fertilizers to biochar and allow to sit for at least two weeks
7. Compost with biochar as no more than 50% of the pile