Sustainability
Sustainable Farming Models – When Smaller is Better.
Like everything else Cuba does, it is the center of a revolution taking place in agriculture. The method of 'organoponico' is something great for the world, whether they are on the grid or as Cuba, off the grid.
I visited Cuba ten years ago and spent time touring the different farms there that were created out of the need for Cuba to thrive while under a many decades long US boycott.
Todays farms in Cuba were modeled from a lack of commercial materials from industrialized countries. That includes mechanical farming equipment and fertilizers and food.
As a result, Cubans were forced to developed their method of agriculture that relied on low tech, science and organic based methodologies.
What they gained from this was pretty fantastic. Not having heard of it before was impressed with their use of biochar in seedling trays. The farms were very homey and approachable. Instead of mono-culture there were diverse ranges of plants inter-cropped for beneficial results with soil, insects and ground coverage.
Small scale farming as with the 'organoponica' method in Cuba is very important. It supports smaller growing entities, allows for business to be conducted on-site selling direct to customer and provided a rounded assortment of produce available markets and consumers throughout the immediate neighborhoods that they serve.
Designing for Farm Success by JEAN-MARTIN FORTIER
Smart video on successful sustainable farming -based on the essential element of Small Scale. This is certainly the only means of creating sustainability and restoring the quality of the soil from season to season.