SOIL IS A COMPLEX LIVING ECOSYSTEM THAT KEEPS PLANTS ALIVE, HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE. WORK WITH IT FOR AMAZING RESULTS
![Get The Soil To Do The Work](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/8091/283679/5b17b485ec874/Get-The-Soil-To-Do-The-Work.jpg)
There’s a saying: “Gardening requires lots of water, most of it in the form of perspiration.” Without doubt, digging through heavy, wet soil in cold weather can dampen any gardener’s enthusiasm, but it really doesn’t have to be that way. Gardening can be energy efficient and enjoyable if we undertake the right tasks and share the work with nature.
We often overlook how amazing nature really is. Plants have been growing on this planet without human intervention for the past 460 million years, so clearly nature has evolved some rather remarkable systems to support plant growth. If we want to work with nature, we need to ask ourselves how we can support these existing natural processes that support plant growth, and leverage them for our benefit.
TEAMING WITH NATURE
In the ecological design system of permaculture, we aim to use biological resources to do work or conserve energy. If we can use a plant or animal to perform a certain function or task, rather than our own effort or non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels, this is our preferred approach.
So what do we need to garden more sustainably? Conventional gardening and agriculture are energy and resource intensive, but permaculture is not; it’s information and imagination intensive instead. If we want to work with nature, we need to first understand how natural systems work and then get creative.
In permaculture, one of the central teachings is “feed the soil, not the plants”, because it’s physically impossible to naturally feed a plant directly. We’ll look at the science shortly. By understanding how plants feed, we can give them precisely what they need to achieve optimal plant health and vigour.
THE SOIL–FOOD WEB
Denne historien er fra July - August 2018-utgaven av Good Organic Gardening.
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Denne historien er fra July - August 2018-utgaven av Good Organic Gardening.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![Glamour girls](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c409ab4dc93/crp_Glamour-girls.jpg)
Glamour girls
EVERYONE LOVES A HARDWORKING ISA BROWN BUT GET A LOAD OF THESE CHIC CHICKENS AND FEATHERED FASHIONISTAS
![FRIED VEG](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c41411ea417/crp_FRIED-VEG.jpg)
FRIED VEG
IT’S POSSIBLE TO ENJOY A FRY-UP IN A DELICIOUSLY HEALTHY WAY BY TURNING TO SOME FRY-FRIENDLY PLANTS
![BEYOND BIG RED](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c41a6eb04df/crp_BEYOND-BIG-RED.jpg)
BEYOND BIG RED
TOMATOES COME IN ALL SHAPES, SIZES AND COLOURS, SO NOW’S THE TIME TO EXPLORE THEIR INFINITE VARIETY
![EVEN MORE TROPPO](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c32491c5ad8/crp_EVEN-MORE-TROPPO.jpg)
EVEN MORE TROPPO
ANOTHER SENSATIONAL SIX TO CONSIDER FOR YOUR GARDEN — OR YOUR FRUIT SALAD
![LET'S STALK RHUBARB](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c40f021899b/crp_LETS-STALK-RHUBARB.jpg)
LET'S STALK RHUBARB
JUST AS TOMATO IS A FRUIT USED AS A VEGETABLE, RHUBARB IS A VEGETABLE COMMONLY CONSUMED AS A DESSERT
![FOOD OF THE GODS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c4058e00ced/crp_FOOD-OF-THE-GODS.jpg)
FOOD OF THE GODS
THE FLESHY FRUIT OF THE FICUS WAS MUHAMMAD’S FAVOURITE AND BUDDHA FOUND ENLIGHTENMENT UNDER A FIG TREE
![MAKING GOOD BETTER](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c41d9eb93a1/crp_MAKING-GOOD.jpg)
MAKING GOOD BETTER
THE IRREPRESSIBLE TV PRESENTER WRITES ABOUT HOW SHE, WITH HUSBAND ANTON AND DAUGHTER FRIDA, TURNED A STEEP HOBART BLOCK INTO A PRODUCTIVE GARDEN
![True lily](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c417732dad4/crp_True-lily.jpg)
True lily
MANY PLANTS ARE CALLED LILIES BUT IT’S THE MEMBERS OF THE GENUS LILIUM THAT ARE THE REAL DEAL
![SALTY BUDS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c403da6a8e1/crp_SALTY-BUDS.jpg)
SALTY BUDS
THE CAPER BUSH PRODUCES TWO DISTINCT BUT EQUALLY DELICIOUS, TANGY MORSELS: CAPERS AND CAPERBERRIES
![Ducks on duty](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/768731/6171113ae4f17/crp_Ducks-on-duty.jpg)
Ducks on duty
BUSY, VIGILANT, HARD ON GARDEN PESTS AND GENEROUS LAYERS — YOU’VE GOTTA LOVE A DUCK!