II. GARDEN PLANNING

While our main focus is on growing healthy soil, an additional goal is to make a garden reflect nature’s diversity. Even weeds have a role to play. Beginning gardeners are often inclined to worry about getting rid of insects and weeds. It is much more enjoyable to think of insects and weeds as part of nature’s contribution to a diverse ecosystem. The information and charts of companion planting, crop rotation, beneficials and record keeping in the following chapters help to fully plan a BIA garden while managing pest and disease issues. Here for now are some early considerations in your planning your garden:

Considerations when mapping out your garden:

Size of land available- number of beds, nurseries, and compost piles you can build- beds are ideally 1.5 meters wide. The length is whatever you wish, though 20 meters is ideal for planning harvests - nurseries are ideally 4 by 10 to 20 feet, and compost piles are ideally 1.5 by 1.5 meters
Location and abundance of water supply- a garden close to the water supply is ideal
Shade and sun availability
Shade is useful to protect sun sensitive crops, nurseries, and compost piles, but be careful not to plan near crop-unfriendly trees such as eucalyptus and avocado2
It is easy to forget that tiny seedlings can turn into tall plants. Crops such as corn can be put where they will shade a plant that enjoys less sun, like peas or potatoes or cucumbers. Sun-loving tomatoes can provide a cooler mini-climate for onions or parsley. Cool weather crops, like lettuce, carrots, onions and potatoes will do well in partial shade in warmer weather.
Growing seasons, and which crops grow well in each
PH of your soil, and which crops grow well in it
Animal pests like chickens, goats, monkeys or dogs, to address
Goals of this garden, for example:
Nutrition
Income
Training
-what portion of the garden will you devote for each?

The sustainable BIA garden includes a ratio of compost, calorie, and nutrition crops:
Grain and seed crops, to provide green material for compost
root crops, to provide calorie rich food sources
fruits and vegetables like dark leafy greens, to provide vitamin and mineral rich food sources

Jeavons, in Grow More Vegetables, suggests 60% grain and seed, 30% root, and 10% vitamin rich vegetable crops. Planting a winter compost crop that includes both grains, with their extensive root systems, and legumes, is a way to plan for your compost while feeding yourself and the soil at the same time (legumes, with their nitrogen fixing ability, feed the soil).

Planning a day in your garden:

It’s good, first thing each morning, to get an overview of your garden. Stroll through your garden from end to end; you’ll see your compost supply, nurseries, how are your beds are doing, what plants look under- hydrated, which beds, pathways, or compost piles need weeding, any disease or pest problems, crops ready to harvest, and so forth. Check for garden pests and insects like snails, slugs and grasshoppers. Killing them and dropping them on the garden beds will make a smell to frighten away other pests. Keep a close eye on any new transplants. Some may have died off, and need quick replacement. You may see beds ready for planting, or which need gaps filled in. Once you’ve been through the entire garden you will know what is most urgent, and can map out a plan for the day.