People who are busy working may never think of trying new things, such as gardening because gardening can be very time consuming to take care of. Moreover, with a busy schedule, gardening sounds impossible. However, with the new method of taking care of the garden, time is not a reason for you not to try gardening. You can create a self-sustaining garden!
The concept of a self-sustaining garden is a garden that can support itself with the minimal help of a gardener. Self-sustaining gardens are quite popular these days. This is because self-sustaining gardens can take care of themselves as long as the soil is healthy, the seeds can be reused, and produce organic materials.
Self-sustaining garden will certainly make you easier in gardening. But you need a little time to make it the beginning. Absotutely, keep in mind that if you make it right at the beginning, it will all pay off with the benefit of using the self-sustaining garden method. If you are interested in creating a self-sustaining garden, here are five things you need to know:
Natural Soil is The Key
In the making of self-sustaining garden, natural soils are important because productive gardens are always dependent on soil quality. Good and healthy soil will produce many nutrients for plants and can maintain the amount of water and addition to organic matter. Organic materials produced, certainly very good for the soil because it can produced worms that can optimize the soil and produce a tunnel maze to drain the ground flow and not become waterlogged. Moreover, to improve the quality of organic matter on your soil, you can make composting and use plant cover.
Learn to Make Compost
You may buy compost! However, if you want to focus on self-sustainability garden, you should learn to make your own compost. Not only is it more natural but it can also create a sustainable system for your land. You can start by making compost from waste produced from your home, such as grass or falling leaves. By trying different methods of composting, as time goes by you can find compost that suitable for your soil. By using compost, organic matter in your soil will increase, provide better water retention, and drying ability. In addition, the plant will also get additional nutrients from the compost.
Use Cover Crops
If you have a large garden, you should try using a cover plant. Planting cover crops such as clover, alfalfa, and annual rye can also optimize the production of organic matter in your garden. Not only cover corps are easy to obtain, but also seed cover crop is cheap. Other advantage of using cover crops are to help control weeds, prevent soil erosion, and improve nitrogen in the soil.
Grow Plants that are Suited in Your Personal Preference
A self-sustaining garden not only sustain itself, but also supports the family as well. Self-sustaining garden should supply your family with fruits and vegetables during the summer and a plenty of preserved food during winter. That is why plants in a self-sustaining garden usually adjust the needs of your family. Some plants that nearly all gardeners should grow are potatoes, berries, onions, carrots, cabbage, peas, herds, broccoli, spinach, and even herbs.
Know The Best Method of Water Recycling in Your Own Garden
If your garden is indoors, then you can use a closed system. Otherwise, if your garden is outdoors, then you are using an open system. Usually on an open system, you can use rainwater as one of the water sources to irrigate your garden. But you have to be brilliant in managing the amount of water because it depends on the season. If in the rainy season, then the rainwater tend to overflow.
Therefore, during the rainy season, the rainwater should be directed to the storage tank, then flowed through your garden drainage system, so that water does not excessively enter and damage your garden.
Indeed, self-sustaining garden is quite hard in the beginning. You have to take some time to put the techniques to apply in your garden. But, once you know the benefits of this method, you will try to make it yourself!
