Organic farm work day in Zsambok
- by Susana Guerreiro
As part of the course Organic Gardening II – the practical component of the learnings developed during part one of the course – a group of students had the chance to experience first-hand how some of the principles of agro-ecological farming play out on the ground. There is no better way to understand principles like integrated pest control, crop rotation and natural soil fertilizing through compost than actively engaging in its practise. In a full working day at the Zsambok organic farm (near Godollo, around 1 and half hours from Budapest) the students participated in the full cycle of the farm’s activities: from sowing and planting, hoeing and weeding, to pest control (removing the Colorado beetle from potato plants), harvesting, and the final preparation of the organic produce to be sent and sold to consumers in Budapest.
During our time at the farm the students also had the opportunity to hear from Matthew Hayes – who runs the 3.5 hectare farm – how the bio-dynamic principles defended by Rudolf Steiner guide his farming activities and the success he has experienced. Following the principle of the farm as a self-contained unit, Mathew tries to run his farm, as much as possible, like a closed system, using the farm’s own resources and avoiding external inputs. The students observed how the chicken in the farm not only provide a source of income, but are used for preparing the soil by providing manure for compost and participating in the crop rotation. Indeed, soil preparation is key, not only in the bio-dynamic approach but in all agro-ecological approaches – organic, permaculture or bio-intensive - and one of the secrets to successful ecological farming.
Post date:
26/05/2014