Our experiment with farming.
We are just getting started! Over the last few years, we met with many farmers trying to crystallise why and how we want to farm. From the start it was clear that the main reason to farm would be to give back to the planet. Hence, no bore-wells and renewable energy were non-negotiable. Also, crucial was that we will not grow anything that is harmful, therefore Arecanut, for example, was not an option. As we talked to others with similar passion, we learned about farming techniques that involve minimal intervention. This was the spark that led us to double down on owning a farm and making it a carbon/climate positive, self-sustaining, fruit orchard. Below are the main techniques that inspired us:
Subhash Palekar Natural Farming
Subhash Palekar’s Natural Farming is a zero-cost agricultural movement designed to make farmers self-reliant. It rejects expensive chemical inputs, asserting that nature itself provides all necessary nutrients for crops to thrive. This philosophy is ideal for rejuvenating the dry, red soils of Urdigere, Tumkur.
The technique rests on four pillars. Jeevamrutha, a microbial culture from local cow dung and urine, unlocks existing soil fertility, rather than adding external fertilizers. Bijamrita treats seeds, protecting them from disease without chemicals. Crucially for dry regions, Acchadana (mulching with crop residue) and Waaphasa (creating an optimal soil air-moisture balance) drastically reduce water needs. By mulching the farm can conserve vital rainwater, improve soil structure, and ensure crop resilience against frequent droughts, thus moving towards profitable, sustainable agriculture .
Miyawaki afforestation
This is a Japanese method of afforestation is an approach to create a dense, fast-growing forests. The core of the Miyawaki technique involves planting a dense mix of native trees and shrubs to mimic a natural forest ecosystem. For a fruit orchard in Urdigere, this translates to selecting a variety of local and well-suited fruit-bearing trees, species such as Mango, Jackfruit, Guava, and Pomegranate. These are inter-planted with smaller, faster-growing fruit trees like Papaya and Banana, along with supportive nitrogen-fixing and pollinator-attracting plants.
The Miyawaki method emphasizes enriching the soil with organic matter like compost, cocopeat, and farmyard manure to improve fertility, water retention, and aeration. This is particularly crucial in areas with alkaline soil and low nutrient content, as observed in parts of Tumkur.
The planting strategy involves high-density spacing, typically 3-4 saplings per square meter, which encourages rapid vertical growth as the trees compete for sunlight. Taller fruit trees would form the upper canopy, with smaller fruit-bearing shrubs and ground-cover crops occupying the lower layers, creating a self-sustaining and productive orchard ecosystem. Regular watering and mulching for the initial 2-3 years are crucial for establishment, after which the orchard will become largely self-sufficient.
Fukuoka Method
The Fukuoka technique, an approach to natural farming developed by Japanese farmer and philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka, offers a sustainable and low-intervention path for agriculture.
The core principles of the Fukuoka technique revolve around four key tenets: no-tillage, no chemical fertilizers, no weeding, and no pesticides. To begin, fruit trees well-suited to the local climate and soil were carefully selected. Instead of clean weeding, a living mulch of drought-tolerant legumes and other beneficial plants is established between the trees. This cover crop is needed to protect the soil from erosion, fix nitrogen, and attract beneficial insects. It needs to be periodically slashed and left to decompose, which further enriches the soil.
Pest management will rely on a balanced ecosystem. By avoiding chemical pesticides, natural predators like insects and birds will be encouraged to thrive, controlling pest numbers. The diversity of plant life is expected to create a more resilient system. Pruning will be kept to a minimum, primarily for removing dead or diseased branches, which will allow the trees to grow in their natural form.
