Where it is realized
Summary description of agroecological practice
Bio-intensive Gardens (BIG) is an agro-ecological approach to gardening which makes the best use of available natural resources and does not rely on any chemical inputs. BIG is an excellent example of climate smart agriculture. It puts a premium on environment, health and nutrition considerations
Type of agroecological practice
Bio-intensive Gardens (BIG) is an agro-ecological approach to gardening which makes the best use of available natural resources and does not rely on any chemical inputs.
Implementing the practice
Bio-intensive Garden (BIG) has a low carbon footprint because very few external resources are used.
BIG relies on locally produced seeds, locally produced fertilizers and it does not use any chemical pesticides. Thus, the carbon footprints of food
produced using this approach is small. Moreover, the food products are safe and free of pesticide residues.
A deep-dug bed is essential when there are frequent droughts or flooding (12 inches deep or more is essential if you want to trap water in the soil).
Why you use and what you expect from this practice?
The advantage of using green leaves as fertilizer is that it is a way of storing carbon in the soil, unlike when one uses chemicals where we contribute to the greenhouse gases (trees absorb carbon).
Land size
Substitution of less ecological alternative
Details
The planting of trees around the periphery of the garden (Kakawate or Gliricidia sepium or Cassia
siamea) is an absolutely essential element. Leaves of these nitrogen fixing trees serve as source of green fertilizer. Green leaf manure trees are
also grown between every two sets of plots to provide sufficient green leaf fertilizer.