We are preparing an area of approximately 10 x 22 metres to implement Syntropic Farming methods. The area we are preparing used to be grazing land which had been a riverbed years ago. Subsequently, we have had to remove grass, grassroots and clumps and rocks in order to make the area suitable for growing vegetables.
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- Making the Syntropic garden beds
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- Adding and raking in compost
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- Raking and smoothing out the mound
Garden beds were dug, shaped and composted with large amounts of compost produced on our Farm. The beds measured approximately 500mm (wide) by 9-10 metres (long). Contrary to Syntropic recommendations we shaped the beds on contour, as this is more in line with Permaculture methodology. The area is North facing.
We planted approximately 350+ seedlings per bed (a few less in each tree line). The seedlings were plants that were in season and varied from slow to fast growing, small to large species.
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- Left centre row, plenty of diversity! Around 350 seedlings per 10 metre row
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- Centre row and right tree row
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- Close up of a centre row
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- Tree row (left) and centre rows
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- Planting one of the 3 centre rows
We will be watering once or twice per day with wobbler sprinklers. The seedlings were watered in immediately after planting, followed by a 3 hour watering with the sprinklers. Date of planting: 19 & 20 August 2019. Plants planted in the 5 beds are as follows:
Leucena
Banana
Coffee
Avocado
Eucalypt
Cassava
Pidgeon Pea
Comfrey
Parsley
Strawberry
Brazilian Spinach
Rocket
Radish
Coriander
Capsicum
Eggplant
Celery
Endive
Basil
Lettuce (6 different varieties)
Cabbage
Kale
Beetroot
Bok Choy
Dill
Zucchini
Bush Bean
Spring Onion
Leek
Updates will follow on amounts of produce harvested, timelines of plants and other information.
