About Sepp Holzer and permaculture. High yield - no fertilizer

Man has yet to learn and learn from Nature. First of all, what she does best. For example, plants themselves create and maintain the soil, and if this land is not mutilated by the plow and not poisoned by chemicals, then there are many living organisms that can loosen and fertilize it. In fact, plants can protect themselves, and if their strength is not enough, they will call helpers - spiders, bats, lizards, birds and other wonderful creatures.

Plants strengthen the fertile soil layer, cover it from the wind and the scorching sun, smooth out the destructive aspirations of the elements. Plants delight us with friendly shoots in spring and a rich harvest in autumn. However, this joy can only be appreciated in harmony with nature. And if you “stuff” it in spite and in spite of it, you can hardly feel it.

We are starting a series of articles about organic farming. Today we will make a brief overview of its principles and methods, consider its distinctive features.

A bit of history

The history of the emergence and development of agriculture has more than eight thousand years. At its very dawn, man still did not know how to extract iron, and all work on the earth was carried out with the help of wooden hoes and spades - the structure and fertility of the soil were not violated. With the emergence of large settlements and an increase in the population, field cultivation arises, and people invent the first arable tool - a wooden plow, which was intended for cutting furrows, and oxen or horses were used as traction. From the moment that a person learned to extract and smelt iron, a metal plow replaced the wooden plow.

On the territory of Russia, the massive use of moldboard plowing with a plow began under Peter the Great. And that was the beginning of the end. Massive deforestation and moldboard tillage quickly caused soil destructuring in central Russia.

The first harbinger of upcoming environmental disasters caused by large-scale plowing of virgin lands was severe erosion, dehumification and drying of soils in the south of the Russian Empire in the middle of the 19th century. And even then, some Russian scientists (V.V. Dokuchaev, I.E. Ovsinsky) began to sound the alarm, saying that moldboard plowing adversely affects the structure of the soil and its fertility. Even then, instead of a plow, Ovsinsky began to use a horse flat cutter, while receiving wonderful harvests, even during the drought of 1895-1897.

The next ecological catastrophe occurred on the plains of the USA and Canada in the 30s of the 20th century. The plowing of millions of hectares of virgin land in the prairies led to terrible wind erosion, and the locals perceived the dust storms of that time as the end of the world.

In the 60s of the twentieth century, the same catastrophe broke out in the USSR, on the lands of Kazakhstan, the Urals and Siberia. In the period from 1954 to 1962, 42 million hectares were plowed here by the method of moldboard plowing. A grandiose cloud of dust hung over the entire expanse of the steppe fields. And there are dozens of such examples.

The invention of mineral fertilizers played a colossal role in the destruction of fertility and the reduction of the humus layer of the soil. And there is no need to talk about the danger of eating vegetables and fruits grown with the help of such dressings.

Albert Howard (1873-1948) is considered the founder of modern organic farming. This English scientist spent most of his life in India, where he developed a system for composting and fertilizing the soil with organic matter. He outlined the basic principles of his method in the book The Commandments of Agriculture. This work made a great impression in its time and attracted many supporters from all over the world.

At the same time, biodynamic agriculture appeared in Germany, the main principle of which was the complete rejection of the use of mineral fertilizers and pesticides. In this case, special biodynamic preparations are used to fertilize the soil and control pests, which we will discuss in the following articles. The founder of biodynamic agriculture is Rudolf Steiner (1861-1926). These two directions provided the basis for the development of modern organic farming methods. This system has long been successfully used in many countries. This is especially true, given that the environmental situation in the world causes serious concerns for many.

Seeing the world through the eyes of an organic farmer

To become an organic farmer, it is not enough just to abandon the use of pesticides and deep tillage. This scientific approach is based on a deep understanding of the processes occurring in nature. And it is not necessary to perceive nature as some kind of abstract concept. Nature in organic farming is the soil and plants that we grow on our plots.

Organic farming (also called natural or biological) is fundamentally different from traditional farming. Here, the earth is not dug or plowed, but only loosened with the help of special devices, such as Fokin's flat cutter. We will talk in more detail about this unique tool in the following articles. Gardeners-organists use only organic fertilizers and special biological products to fertilize the soil and control pests and plant diseases.

The main goals of natural farming are to increase soil fertility and obtain environmentally friendly products. The methods and techniques that adherents of this approach use make the work of a gardener easy and enjoyable.

The basis of organic farming is a special relationship with the soil. The soil is perceived as a living being that needs to be protected and take care of its health in every possible way. Because if the soil is healthy, then the crops growing on it should not be afraid of anything.

It is this attitude that determines the rejection of deep tillage, since constant digging kills all living creatures that create the basis of fertility - humus. Humus is a complex complex of nutrient organic compounds that are formed in the soil as a result of the vital activity of worms, fungi, microbes and other soil living organisms.

To improve the structure of the soil, "advanced" gardeners use the mulching method, which allows you to suppress the growth of weeds and keep a sufficient amount of moisture in the ground. In nature, the ground is always covered with a layer of leaves and grass - the mulching method helps protect the soil from overheating and erosion.

To increase humus and improve soil structure in biological farming, only organic fertilizers are used, the main of which are compost and green manure. Green manures are green fertilizers, which can be used as various herbs and crops (mustard, clover, lupine, rapeseed, rye, oats and others). We will talk about all this in detail in the following articles.

About permaculture

The long-term practice of some modern farmers proves that, observing certain conditions and having enough knowledge and experience, you can grow vegetables and fruits to provide for your family without the use of various fertilizers (even organic ones). Most of the agricultural practices will not be mandatory at all - loosening, weeding, watering, mulching, composting, sideration.

This was actually proved by the famous Austrian agrarian revolutionary Sepp Holzer. His estate is located at an altitude of 1100 meters above sea level, and the average annual temperature here is plus 6 degrees. And in these difficult climatic conditions, Sepp Holzer manages to successfully grow such heat-loving trees as cherries, apricots, sweet cherries and others. The Austrian professor's gourds and grapes grow well. It should be noted that all this grows here contrary to the canons of traditional agriculture.

Sepp Holzer and his wife only do planting and harvesting. They do not have agricultural equipment, and only one hired worker works on their estate (50 hectares). Here they do not loosen, do not spud, do not water and do not mulch. Insects and birds fight pests on Sepp Holzer's estate. The revolutionary Austrian agrarian created a unique ecosystem on his land, where a person lives according to the laws of nature in complete harmony with it. This wonder of the world is called today permaculture, which in English means “long-term”, “permanent”. We will discuss the experience of Sepp Holzer and the concept of permaculture in more detail in the following articles.

So, let's sum up. The ecological situation on the planet requires every person to think and take measures in order to preserve what is left. And the use of organic farming methods can help us a lot in this.

The main postulates of natural farming include:

1. Do not loosen the soil deeper than five centimeters.
2. Always cover the ground with a layer of organic matter.
3. Protect and take care of soil living creatures, which are the main producers of humus.
4. Be afraid of bare land, do not leave the soil without plants, and sow green manure on the vacant soil. These basic rules will also be the topics of our next articles. Observe nature, live in harmony with it - and then labor on earth will bring you not only good harvests, but also bring you maximum pleasure and positive emotions.

There are thousands of farmers in the world, but only one of them is known in all countries. His name is Sepp Holzer. It took this unique agrarian about five decades to create a biosystem on 45 hectares. He did this contrary to all the rules of agronomy, and the benefits of civilization did not come close to his economy. The Holzer lands are a kind of challenge to modern agriculture: only one small tractor works from equipment; Sepp does not use pesticides or chemical fertilizers. And only the wife and one hired worker helps the farmer!

From Disillusionment to Authorial Principles: Sepp's Biography

Sepp Holzer is a farmer's son. He was born in 1942. By the time he was 20, he was running his parents' mountain farm. The orthodox methods of agricultural development disappointed the young man. He began to develop his own ecological economic approach, which later became known as "permaculture".

For his non-standard methods, Holzer was repeatedly fined, and once he was even threatened with imprisonment for refusing to cut fruit trees. According to his research, unpruned trees withstood snow loads, unlike those that were pruned.

Today, the Krameterhof farm of this agrarian revolutionary is located in the Alps, at an altitude of 1100-1500 meters above sea level. In a place where untouched nature reigned, Sepp managed to create a productive eco-farm. The farm is open to tourists, moreover, lectures for gardeners are regularly held here! In addition to excursions, Holzer publishes books.

Permaculture by Sepp Holzer

In encyclopedias, you can see the following definition: permaculture is not only a long-term agriculture, but also a long-term culture. Permaculture is engaged in plants, animals, as well as buildings and infrastructure integrated into the habitat of living organisms.

According to the research of Sepp Holzer, permaculture plants do not need watering and fertilization, because they are in a natural symbiosis. Animals and birds participate in the ecosystem - they are able to independently obtain their own food. That is, permaculture saves effort and money, while allowing you to get high-quality products.

Basic principles of permaculture

As Holzer argues, any farmer can organize "sustainable" agriculture. For this you need to follow certain rules. Sepp shares the principles of farming in his books and interviews.

"Agrarian revolutionary"

Sepp Holzer writes about his unique experience of managing according to the principles of permaculture in books. For example, in the publication "Agrarian-Revolutionary". Here he talks about growing chestnuts at the age of six, watching the growth of various crops. The author also writes about the traditional methods of agricultural development, which he opposed for a long time and eventually won.

"Permaculture" in two parts

This edition is simply amazing with such an amazing organization of space where animals, plants and people coexist. At the same time, all of them not only peacefully coexist, but also complement each other. The author explains: permaculture is quite feasible both on a plot of several hectares and on six acres.

In the first and second parts of this book, Sepp Holzer shares practical experience and observations with readers.

"Desert or Paradise"

How to plan a site? How to bring the ideas of permaculture to life? Is it possible to recreate permaculture on your own balcony?

The answers to these and many other questions should be sought in the book "Desert or Paradise" by Sepp Holzer. Suitable edition for both beginner gardeners and experts in this field. After reading the book and applying the tips in practice, you will be able to get high yields and learn to live in harmony with Nature!

Sepp Holzer (Austria) is the most famous farmer in the world, the author of his own organic farming system, which is called Holzer permaculture. The technology is based on the cultivation of fruits and vegetables without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, using only natural factors and organic fertilizers.

We have already talked about Holzer permaculture (here). Judging by the numerous responses, this advanced farming system is gaining more and more support among both smallholders and farmers.

What is the essence of organic farming? First of all, it is the use of natural, natural factors that positively affect the development of plants. In second place - minimal interference in the existing

ecosystem. Holzer believes that digging, weeding, etc. disrupt the structure of the soil, impoverish it. In a properly organized economy, he argues, plants interact, help, and do not interfere with each other. As a result, you can get a high and, importantly, environmentally friendly harvest! The main thing is to choose the right crops and plan the landing. In other words, the basis of permaculture is the creation of a harmonious ecological space where one nourishes, enriches and protects the other.

How is this done in practice? Through many years of experimentation, Holzer has found many ways, which he willingly shares both in practical seminars and in his books. For example, he suggests planting plants in special hilly beds. This is a bed of a special form, at the base of which moisture-loving crops are planted. On the ridge, more drought-resistant plants are planted, less demanding on the presence of moisture.

Another important point is watering the plants. It would seem that there is something special here - you take a hose or a watering can and water it. However, water plays an important role in the development of plants, it nourishes plants like blood. Therefore, do not treat irrigation as a normal water transfusion. With insufficient watering, the plants will not receive the required amount of substances from the soil. Excessive watering can also adversely affect the development of plants, in addition, water will wash out nutrients from the surface layer deep into where the plant roots can no longer reach them. It is also necessary to take into account the time and method of watering.

Holzer's book, Desert or Paradise, has many other helpful tips: how to grow your own seeds; how to restore soils whose composition has been disturbed by many years of applying chemical fertilizers; how to protect plants from frost... and much, much more. Practical seminars held by the farmer in different regions of Russia and Ukraine showed that permaculture is applicable in any climatic zone. For example, the climate at Holzer's farm, located in the high Alps, is reminiscent of Siberian - sharp temperature fluctuations, harsh winters, an abundance of snow. Nevertheless, he grows oranges, and eggplants, and even avocados! The size of the plot is also not decisive: it can be a classic 6 acres, a household plot and even a balcony in a city apartment.

If the book "Desert or Paradise" can be considered as a kind of textbook on the basics of organic farming, then the books of the Organic Farming Club are their practical application, a guide to growing various crops, based on many years of experience in applying the ideas of Sepp Holzer in home gardens. They tell about the cultivation of various garden crops and berries in an organic way, from soil preparation and seedlings to harvest; about pest control; about the use of green manure and much more ...

Sustainable farming: In recent years, the topic has been constantly raised about how as little as possible ...

How I stopped hurting trees

The question of when to plant seedlings in the garden - in autumn or spring - does not have a clear answer, since everything depends on specific crops, the region and, of course, the experience of gardeners. But what is the right way to plant? And here there is no time for fantasies, because here everything is really in the hands of the summer residents themselves.

The easier it is to plant a tree, the better.

Yes, they write a lot about how to care for garden plantings, how to prune them, what needs to be done to remove pests or prevent them from appearing. And this is very good, even for a venerable gardener it is useful to test your knowledge. But for some reason, the authors of the letters prefer not to expand on the subtleties associated with planting young trees.

Back in the late 50s of the last century, as a primary school student, I helped my father prepare planting pits for apple trees: I carried sand and clay with a stretcher. At the same time looked closely, as there and what. And it turned out that the work itself seemed to be simple: work with a shovel and observe the dimensions of the pit (and, of course, the landing site should be with a minimum level of groundwater).

In the early 1980s, I got my site, did all the same things. And what is the result, you ask? But indefinite: some seedlings took root and grew without any problems, others after planting got sick, suffered, but still then came to their senses, and some died.

Listening to other summer residents is a normal process. I also thought so for the time being. It was not even embarrassing that when digging out planting "pits", innumerable billions of aerobic and anaerobic organisms died, and while all this microflora was restored, the plants stood neither alive nor dead, crucified between pegs.

But this is how all gardening publications taught and advised by "knowledgeable people."

In recent years, the topic has been constantly raised about how to disturb the structure of the soil layer as little as possible. And this was exactly the opposite with respect to the landing pits.

How so? We treat one, and we cripple the other?

In the meantime, the need to plant new fruit and berry crops rose for me in all its glory: the “old-serving” apple tree of the first planting died, its peers also approached their threshold of life (and their productivity decreased), and the last attempts to resume plantings in the old familiar way did not always bring the expected result. In winter, I saw on the Internet how the famous Western European botanist Sepp Holzer demonstrated planting a tree.

I was struck by the simplicity of the process. I also remember the phrase that sounded there: “Blessed is the Lord, who made the necessary simple, and the complex unnecessary”.

Well, I have nothing to lose. Moreover, it is necessary to thin out the thickened plum plantings (at least cut down almost three-meter trees), and one of the apple trees, planted three years ago, still stands in the twig phase, and rootstock shoots make their way from the roots. He started his transformation just from her.

He transplanted her directly into the trunk circle of the deceased and asked the neighbors not to offend their baby sister. And she literally changed before our eyes - less than a month later, shoots-growths of 20 cm each grew out of the rod in all directions. And most importantly, all the symptoms of post-planting ailment disappeared. Then I bought two pears, a sweet cherry, a number of shrubs in the nursery, even brought a young oak tree from the forest - everything took root, as they did not disturb them.

Full handful of worms

Well, now I’ll tell you how I put into practice the lesson of a scientist with a world name, it turns out. I make a very small depression in the ground, just so that the roots fit there, I do a fitting and, if it’s not enough, I deepen it a little more. I mainly plant on turf - carefully remove as much as necessary and deepen; if long lateral roots stick out, I cut it with a shovel and open the gap. Having laid the spine in it, I compact it with my foot.

Holding the stem with my hand, I again rake up the excavated earth with my foot, shake the trunk slightly, and rake up the rest. I trample moderately and put the turf in place on top so that outwardly traces of my economic activity do not even catch the eye. Sprinkled with a little fallen last year's foliage and dry grass, watered a little.

Then I launch a handful of earthworms, dug up in the nearest bed, and press down on top with two or three stones or fragments of bricks.

Who has not seen, turning away a stone or a log, an accumulation of worms there? This means that under my shelters they will be fine, they will not crawl away and will regularly do their job - to create ideal conditions for the roots.

Another purpose of the rocks is to condense dew and keep the planting area moist. And finally, they press the roots, allowing the seedlings to bow in the wind on all four sides without falling. Even my tall plums stood up under the strong winds that stood out.

But this is not all trifles, because the plants unwilling between the stakes lose the elasticity of the bark, which coarsens and, after removing the fetters, begins to crack under the winds, from which the trees can die.

And I adopted one more trick: if you drive a small plank into the ground next to the seedling, on the south side, it will shade the tender stem from the midday sun. Indeed, everything ingenious is simple.

Even Holzer does not recognize pruning, arguing that the vegetative development of a tree should take place as nature intended for it. I don’t know what to do yet, time will show and tell, but at the moment I’m glad that my seedlings live, while the underground inhabitants suffered minimal and, I think, easily replenishable damage.published

Hello, dear readers of the blog of organic farming "All in the garden". Sepp Holzer, who is he? The answer lies on the surface, Sepp Holzer is an agro-revolutionary. You can't say otherwise. At the time of reflection, formation, of his theory of farming, Sepp Holzer, because of his convictions in the principles of farming, almost lost his freedom. In the literal sense of the word. Imagine Holzer refused to prune his fruit trees, which is strictly forbidden in Austria.

Holzer official website

Holzer has an official website. For a person who is not familiar with foreign languages, Holzer's site is of no particular interest. Although he, the official site, has an English version. But, nevertheless, some information can be extracted.

For example, date of birth. Sepp Holzer was born on July 24, 1942 in the province of Salzburg, Austria. Holzer's permaculture began by inheriting a farm from his parents. Holzer's mountain farm. She got it in 1962. The official website defines permaculture. This is from the phrase permanent culture. Continuous culture. Culture is not only in the cultivation of vegetables, but also in the organization of space. The use and formation of the relief and reservoirs, rock outcrops. From the information located on Holzer's official website, it can be understood that the farm is located at an altitude of 1100 to 1500 meters above sea level. Which is generally high. Climatically, very close to native Western Siberia. 45 hectares of forest. Seven dozen reservoirs. Terraces. Created microclimate. Nevertheless, fruit trees do very well in such harsh conditions.

It's funny that on the website of Holzer there are conditions for contacting him regarding the language. It is written that Holzer does not understand English. You need to apply in German. At the very bottom of the main page of Zepp's official website there is an introductory video.

Of course, as a world-class popularizer, Holzer wrote many books. There are a lot of Holzer's books for download in Runet. For obvious reasons, I don't post links. Google to the rescue…

Holzer crater garden

Now the main direction of Holzer's research is to explore the possibilities of building a crater garden. This idea of ​​landscape organization should be of particular interest to us, in Western Siberia. Just ideal conditions should be created in the crater, for almost any plant. On the terraces you can place plants with different demands on water. The most demanding will be at the very bottom. Closer to drainage waters. Again, playing around the slopes relative to the cardinal points. Heat-loving plants can be grown on the southern slope of the crater. The wind is essentially absent. microclimate, however. And the animals will feel more comfortable in the crater-garden. Here is a visual representation of Sepp Holzer's permaculture. This is the development of the Holzer garden. It just got bigger. Holzer's method lives and wins.

Sepp Holzer videos

Sepp Holzer - Permaculture - Full-fledged agriculture