Biological Farming Methods
Biological farming methods are available for farmers to use to avoid spraying chemicals on their crops. Here, we will discuss five different methods of farming that use the soil, animals, insects and microbes to help grow healthy, flavorful food.
Rotational Grazing
Rotational grazing is a strategy used by livestock farmers to strategically maneuver their animals through different areas of their fields to improve the livestock’s health and diet. A livestock farmer may take their animals out into the field and allow them to graze on a select, grass pasture for a certain amount of time.
The farmer will follow a circular path of grazing allowing the animals to eat healthy, nutrient filled grass until they are able to complete the circle and return to their first, now fully grown, pasture for grazing to complete the cycle again.
After the land has been grazed by the livestock, the farmer will then herd the livestock to a different pasture of the field that has not been grazed recently where the animal can continue to eat. This rotation allows the previous pasture to grow again and reduce soil degradation from overgrazing.
Compost & Compost Tea
Compost is formed when scraps of discarded food waste or crop residue is recycled into a pile, allowing small microbes to grow and thrive creating a biologically active substance. While leaves and old plant parts create the compost pile, it is the microscopic microbes and fungi that create the helpful properties of compost.
A compost tea is created from a liquid extract from compost and can be used as a foliar spray on the plant's leaves to promote stronger immune support and resistance to pests.
In a garden, applying compost to the dirt can allow these microbes to create a soil which is rich in nutrients and biologically active materials to promote better photorespiration and photosynthesis for the plant.
Aquaponics
Aquaponics is a variation of hydroponics using fish manure as the source of nutrients. Instead of creating and mixing your own hydroponic solution, fish (like coy or tilapia) are farmed in order to create nutrient rich flocculants that will feed the plants.
Using a separate tank for the fish, an aquaponic farmer can create a cycle of growth from the fish to the plants by using the plant waste to create fish food in order to create a regenerative cycle of growth.
Companion Planting
Companion planting is the process of strategically planting certain crops alongside each other to promote better growth, resistance to pests and diseases, and even unique flavors of food.
In an at home garden, basil can be used as a natural pest repellent because of its odor and can be planted alongside tomatoes and peppers to help reduce pests. Along with this, there is opportunity for the roots of these plants to intermingle in the soil, allowing the fruits of the plants to have a basil aroma when harvested.
A Native American strategy called the ‘3 Sisters Technique’ utilizes corn, beans, and squash to grow their food together for better yields. The corn allows a structure for the beans to grow, the beans release nitrogen into the soil to promote better growth for the corn and squash, and the squash provide large leaves to shade and promote a higher moisture content to the soil.
Bugs for Good
Not all bugs are bad bugs. While many pests can attack crops and use it as their own food source, there are insects that are natural predators to some of the pests in a farm.
When you see a spider or other helpful animals in your garden, that is a good sign that your garden is thriving because life breeds conditions for more life meaning your garden is providing an ecosystem for other animals to thrive in a help the yield of your crops.
For instance, ladybugs eat a variety of different pests like aphids, fruit flies, thrips, mites, and even the eggs of the pests. Spiders are another arachnid that can help remove flying pests like flies and mosquitoes to help protect your crops.