This is an introduction to growing your own organic food. Naturally in such a short space it is impossible to share all the necessary information, but hopefully this will inspire people to begin the journey to becoming an organic gardener. Remember organic gardening is hard work and it requires patience and perseverance, like most of the great things in life.
The first thing you will need in your garden, or lot, is fertile soil. Alejandro and Francisco, at Temazcalli, ‘Spacio Meditativo’ (corner of Calle Temazcalli and Avenida Infraganti), have developed a superb system for making rich soil. You will need this to give new plants a chance to survive, without using common, harmful, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Avoiding the use of these products is an integral part of organic horticulture.
Begin by getting five sacks of nutrient rich soil from the banks of the Colotepec river. Spread it out evenly over two or three square meters of soil in your garden. Then spread a layer of cow or horse manure. New manure is more acidic and may overheat the soil mixture. One-week-old manure is more suitable. You can get this at a ranch with a pick-up. Next mix three kilos of molasses in ten liters of water and pour it over the mix. Add three big shovels of corn flour. Then get two sacks of ashes from your local tortillerias and spread it on top. To complete the mix add three bags of carbon. You can cover the mound with palm fronds to protect it from the sun.
It is very important to move the mound with a shovel twice a day. If you don’t it will overheat, become too acidic and consequently useless. It will be ready for use after two weeks. Prepare your garden by loosening a depth of thirty centimeters of soil, then dig furrows at a depth of twenty centimeters leaving the dug soil beside the furrows. Fill the furrows with the new soil and mix both soils by raking it vigorously. Then flatten the soil evenly, but don’t compact it.
Some good plants to start your garden are basil, lettuce, tomato, cauliflower, eggplant, peppers and chilies. Chilies are an important insect plague repellent. So are Neem trees, which don’t need much water and grow quickly. An excellent natural insect plague repellent is a 50/50 mix of horse manure and water, which has been allowed to ferment for three weeks. Spray on the plants every two weeks if necessary. You will need a mosquito net fence around your garden to keep hungry iguanas out. When it’s not raining, water the plants every three days in the evening, until the soil is wet. Good luck!
Alejandro is available for advice at Temazcalli – 954 5443086,oshocalli@yahoo.com.mx (speaks English)
Patrick Sheehy