Being a natural farmer, I try my best to follow the course determined by nature. Setting aside my own interests in terms of what I want to grow, I aim to choose only that which naturally grows in the area. I call this non-discriminating and natural farming.
My farming attempts to reduce human interference and I do not used any adulterated formulae. I grow only what my land is naturally designed and best suited to grow.
For example, some plants like cauliflower or lettuce, just do no like heat. Any attempt to grow these on my farm in summer would be futile. Other plants like tomatoes and most Mediterranean plants, cannot stand humidity. If it is too hot or humid for them, then the plants experience unnecessary stress. Because of this, they attract bugs, just like we humans attract colds and flus when we are stressed out.
A stressed plant will not have the immunity to fight the bugs of this unfavourable environment it is forced to grow in. Their condition is further aggravated when we humans, meaning well, attempt to counter the attacks of pests, with unnatural and violent means, like spraying chemical fertilizers. But for us, this would be the easiest and most obvious way to protect our crop.
I do agree that all vegetables and fruits face the danger of being attacked and they all need precaution and care. But when they are grown in their natural rhythm and environment, the chances of attack are far lesser than on the ones which are artificially grown. The plant itself is stronger and therefore, much better equipped to fight the pest attack.
Having said that, vegetables that are biologically closet to their wild abcestors are the best in terms of flavour and highest in nutritive value. Owing to this fact, itis ideal to know the natural or seasonal plant cycle for the entire year and plan your annual farming calendar accordingly.
There is a rhythm to everything. In the universe, everything is in perfect unison until the human mind interferes. For example, the Ratnagiri alphonso mango, tastes best when grown in Ratnagiri. It is naturally sweet and at its nutritional best. The problem begins when people want to grow it in another place, where neither the soil nor the weather compliments its natural growth. In such unfavourable conditions, one starts playing around with the soil and also giving rise to an artificial environment.
We try to control everything. We infuse chemicals, enzymes, and artificial enhancers and yet we can never match what is originally grown in Ratnagiri! Without realising it, we do more harm than good. What happens in the process is that what we want to grow, in this case the Ratnagiri mango, is not itself anymore. It is a modified version of itself, raised with chemicals or in a controlled, artificially created environment. This imbalances the natural state, (condition) of that fruit or vegetable and it is no more healthy and nutritious. Upon consumption of such fruits and vegetables, there is an imbalance in our body chemistry.
The greater this imbalance, the more one craves for unnatural foods. This is a vicious cycle and completely hazardous for health! Hence, it is important to keep all these factors in mind while picking what to grow.
It is advisable to check with your local nursery or gardener on which plants are good for the season you plan to start your garden. While deciding which plant to grow, it is also “essential to choose the root type,” depending on where you will be growing your plant. In case the location for your project is a balcony or terrace, where you plan on growing the plants in pots, it will be a good idea to pick plants with “Fibrous roots” as they are softer. At the very least, avoid “Tap roots” as they may crack the flooring and cause leakage.
