Alternative Agriculture Methods
Learn About Alternative Agriculture & Heirloom Crops
Finding Alternative Agricultural Techniques to Maximize Yield
Today, more Americans are taking control of their health and their food supply and enjoying all of the benefits of growing their food. As more of us choose to live more sustainably and reduce our impact on the environment, producing at least some of our food is one way to lower our carbon footprint and improve our health.
Farming might seem a bit overwhelming or something that can only be accomplished on a massive scale. Still, with some planning, the truth is that even small-scale efforts can produce significant results by incorporating some innovative alternative agriculture techniques!
In this article, we're going to define precisely what is meant by alternative agriculture and look at some alternative techniques you can use to maximize your yield with minimal space. These techniques will work whether you're growing in the city, the suburbs, or on a small rural homestead.
Alternative Agriculture Defined
Alternative agriculture is basically a systematic approach to farming that intends to reduce pollution, enhance sustainability, improve efficiency, and increase yield. It is a management practice that leverages natural processes like nutrient cycles, nitrogen fixation, and pest-predator relationships. It makes very selective use of fertilizers and pesticides to ensure the production and conservation of soil, water, biological resources, and energy. Alternative agricultural examples include crop rotation, soil and water conservation, animal and green manures, and naturally genetically improved and heirloom crops.
Like sustainable agriculture, alternative agriculture includes farming practices that go well beyond traditional agricultural practices. However, it doesn't exclude those traditional practices if they are consistent with the overall philosophy.
Alternative Agriculture: Methods To Be Aware Of
There are many different alternative agriculture techniques, methods, and practices that a homeowner can master to improve yield and increase sustainability. Here are a few of the top alternative agriculture methods to consider.
Organic Farming
The organic movement helps to prevent water pollution and other environmental damage while working naturally to increase yields. Studies have shown that organic farming can significantly increase output over conventionally grown crops. You not only get improved results, but you also get them without jeopardizing the environment.
In a smaller garden, focus only on proper organic farming methods. Some methods, claiming to be organic, rely on dangerous chemicals. While derived from chrysanthemums, organic pesticides like pyrethrins are just as hazardous and toxic as non-organic chemicals, sometimes even more so.
Vertical Growing
Vertical growing is a method of farming or gardening that focuses on growing crops stacked vertically in layers. It's a very efficient method for using space and an excellent choice for a small plot of land. It's a promising method that can produce a large number of fruits and vegetables.
Vertical growth offers a stable yield and can be used to grow year-round. It uses water and land efficiently. You'll enjoy fewer crop losses and can grow virtually any kind of plant.
Crop Rotation
This is an ancient practice that is having a bit of a renaissance. Old farmers didn't have the tools and chemicals we have today, so they understood natural healthy growth methods. Crop rotation came from this.
Back in the day, if a field began performing poorly, they couldn't run down to the feed store for potassium supplements. Instead, they would practice crop rotation. In the same area, they would grow different crops in a specific sequence to maximize yield while continuously improving soil fertility.
Regenerative Farming
This is another older concept that takes crop rotation to the next level. Instead of treating soil as disposable, regenerative techniques treat agriculture as a part of the land rather than something separate. Along with crop rotation, regenerative farming minimizes tilling, relies on natural fertilizers like manure, and takes all necessary steps to ensure the local environment's safety.
Hydroponics
Hydroponics is a relatively new method of alternative agriculture. It is a Greek term consisting of two parts – hydro, meaning water, and ponos, meaning labor. So it translates as " working water," and that is a good description.
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil using mineral nutrient solutions in an aqueous solvent. By feeding nutrients directly to the plant's root system, you can keep plants healthy and improve yields significantly.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Pests are a part of farming, but modern chemical control tends to be dangerous. Treatment typically consists of spraying toxic chemicals, leaving residue on the food grown in those areas. Integrated pest management is designed to help farmers manage pests without damage to the environment.
IPM relies on a four-tiered approach that sets actionable points. When a threshold is reached, a decision is made. It also focuses on prevention rather than elimination.
Growing Toward Sustainability With Alternative Agriculture
Traditional agriculture is effective, but it is not sustainable. Relying on harsh chemical pesticides to control pests and using artificial fertilizers rather than natural compost will deplete the soil and leave us with barren fields.
Many alternative agriculture methods are things that our ancestors used and lived by, and we have set them aside to embrace modern, industrial, and unsustainable practices. As we move back toward awareness and begin growing on urban homesteads and suburban gardens, we need to step back and look at the past. By taking the time to relearn the things we've forgotten, we can move toward a sustainable agricultural future.
With In Green Living, Joni Keefe shares nature-based design choices for urban greenspaces and Interior Design. Her interests follow sustainable agriculture, eco-friendly building products, and the latest trends in green design. She is a published writer with horticultural design work featured in national publications, this is her newsletter.