Victory Gardens for Peace Mini-Farm Report
by Matt Drewno, VGFP Mini-Farm/Seedbank Manager

Greetings from the Victory Gardens for Peace Mini-Farm on the coastal bluffs of northern California! We have been busy and focused, working with our on-site interns—Philomena Njeri Njoroge and Teresiah Nyambura Njai, both from Kenya—and continuing our programs and efforts in our community and abroad. I am in my 14th year of working with the GROW BIOINTENSIVE (GB) Method here at our site and as with each year, I am excited and steadfast in understanding how this method can improve soils and increase yields.

Last winter’s rainy season brought significant rain for the first time in years and with that, we have seen an increase in vitality in the garden that we haven’t witnessed in years. The healing rains helped leach excessive salts which have been increasing over time due to the poor quality of our irrigation water. Careful conservation methods and application of GB techniques such as close plant spacing, composting, carbon farming, hand-watering and crop selection have demonstrated that even in situations where the irrigation water raises boron and sodium levels to toxic proportions, we can obtain reliable and decent yields, almost always above US and global averages and contrary to what is believed possible in many circles. In fact, we have seen boron levels exceed 15ppm in some parts of the garden, compounded with high levels of chlorine and a pH of 10 in our irrigation water.

(See the Soil Science Spotlight article for a discussion of how mineral salts affect soil health.)

The combination of the water system and what is likely a little saltwater intrusion in our well (a common occurrence in a coastal environment) have made growing challenging, but also highlighted what is possible with this important agricultural technique. What we have learned is that deep soil preparation facilitates leaching in the rainy months, helping balance levels of boron. Careful and timed application of gypsum in combination with deep soil structure helps us leach sodium. The regular application of compost grown on site helps buffer these toxicities and aid in the maintenance of deep soil structure and soil biology, despite the challenges. Close plant spacing creates a living mulch, reducing evaporation and concentration of salts in the soil horizons while also creating an increase in yields of both biomass and roots, which further feed the soil biology and reduce the impact of salts on what would otherwise be struggling seedlings. We have also learned when and how to water most efficiently given the challenges on site, helping ensure that salts remain dispersed rather than concentrated, furthering plants’ abilities to overcome the challenges and establish themselves.

This garden has taught us many lessons and it is a joy to work with folks old and new to the garden. Matthew Gammett is in his second year as a fulltime staff person and consistently surprises me with the depth of understanding and insight he has into the garden we work. Adrian Jung is our most recent staff addition, coming to us with a wide perspective of farming experience, and growing fast in his capacity as a biointensive farmer. Teresiah comes to us from Garden of Hope in Voi, Kenya near Mombasa. We have been working with her family over the years, helping their team grow and expand their capacity. They have helped us grow too: Mlesh, her husband, was with us in 2018, her niece Clarice graduated from Ecology Action last year, and now Teresiah is here. Their family brings such wonderful energy and dedication to the movement of GB efforts in their home country and abroad, and their kind and joyful attitudes have left an imprint on many friends here in the states. Philomena works with our partner G-BIACK in Thika, Kenya and impresses me on a daily basis with her sharp attention to detail and intelligence. She is a dedicated and hard worker and a strong asset to the G-BIACK team. We are grateful for everyone’s contributions to another amazing year.

In the garden this year we are seeing greener plants, higher yields and healthier life compared to years prior. I know part of it has to do with the rain helping flush our soils of salts, but also with the warmth and care of our staff and interns. And we wouldn’t be here without you: so thank you also. It’s the family of people globally that care about the Earth, its inhabitants and life, that keeps the f lame alive and the great hope that we are creating a better future. A return to the Earth is necessary. A love for life is necessary. To be present and in the company of good friends is a blessing. Thank you for being a part of Ecology Action, together we are a vehicle for inspiration, demonstrating a new way forward based on timeless traditions of working with each other and nature to bring about paradise on Earth.

Bless you all! 

♥

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