GROWING BANANAS
By Alyona Potapovai
Syntropic gardening proposes that the soil always remains occupied by growing species – where trees, grains and vegetables grow harmoniously. Photosynthesis and soils are stimulated, organic matter is constantly added, and above all, there is complete independence from herbicides.
With mango season over, New Govardhana is looking towards greener pastures for breakfast fruit.
To create an abundance of future fruit, Jack Ruhle, inspired by Jiva Jago and Tiago, and with help of volunteers, is revolutionising our banana plantation and turning it syntropic.
Krishna Village’s Eastern garden has already been transformed into a syntropic farm, and now our banana plantation is getting a similar make-over.
Instead of growing bananas in isolation, Jack is introducing companion plants, such as kesava, turmeric, avocado, sweet potato and mango to create diversity in the life cycles growing in the soil.
This diversity feeds the soil instead of depleting it, which occurs in traditional farming. Most plants being introduced will serve to enrich the soil instead of being grown primarily to produce fruit.
Eventually, Jack would appreciate help from our four-legged friends – our farm’s cows and goats – to graze the grass and massage the soil with their hooves. Even the animals’ natural habit of scratching against tree trunks will be useful to strengthen the banana trees.
At the moment, however, Jack hopes that our escape-artist calves, Braja and Harine are kept in escape-proof fields, so as not to damage the newly planted crops.
The banana plantation transformation will take a few months and a lot of work, so if you’d like to help, please ask The Conch for Jack’s contact details.
More info: https://conch.org.au/