Page 113 - Vegan Food & Living (February 2020)

Vegan gardening

n
i
u
a

e
q
n
Y
d
.

o
c
a
u

l
l

s
t
v
n
e
e
r
i
s
x
e
c
e

l
a
e
e

f
s serves as an excellent liquid feed. You can
d
serves as an excellent liquid feed. You can
use spirulina or kelp meal to increase the
use spirulina or kelp meal to increase the
use spirulina or kelp meal to increase the
iodine content of their veggies – an important
iodine content of their veggies – an important
iodine content of their veggies – an important
mineral often found lacking in UK diets.
mineral often found lacking in UK diets.
mineral often found lacking in UK diets.
omfrey leaves can be used as a mulch
Comfrey leaves can be used as a mulch
C omfrey leaves can be used as a mulch
under tomatoes, cucumbers and fruit trees
under tomatoes, cucumbers and fruit trees
under tomatoes, cucumbers and fruit trees
for the slow release of nutrients. Covering
for the slow release of nutrients. Covering
for the slow release of nutrients. Covering
the earth around plants with a thick hay
the earth around plants with a thick hay
the earth around plants with a thick hay
mulch also feeds the soil with organic matter
mulch also feeds the soil with organic matter
mulch also feeds the soil with organic matter
as it breaks down, suppresses weeds and
as it breaks down, suppresses weeds and
as it breaks down, suppresses weeds and
encourages worms.
It’s best done in winter.
encourages worms. It’s best done in winter.
encourages worms. It’s best done in winter.
h
s
V
o
e
n

w
u
e

y
o

Vermiculture is when you use worm
r
m
u
i
r

e
c
l
t
u
u
m
e
ermiculture is when you use worm
w

ermiculture is when you use worm
i
r
s
You can
castings to improve soil quality.
castings to improve soil quality. You can
castings to improve soil quality. You can
help re-establish worm populations in your
help re-establish worm populations in your
help re-establish worm populations in your
garden by providing the right habitat to attract
garden by providing the right habitat to attract
garden by providing the right habitat to attract
them. Worms love cool, dark and damp
them. Worms love cool, dark and damp
them. Worms love cool, dark and damp
environments, like in a large compost bin
environments,
like in a large compost bin
environments, like in a large compost bin
or under a thick layer of hay mulch. Worm
Worm
or under a thick layer of hay mulch. Worm
or under a thick layer of hay mulch.
castings provide a rich source of organic
castings provide a rich source of organic
castings provide a rich source of organic
As well as
matter packed with nutrients. As well as
matter packed with nutrients.
matter packed with nutrients. As well as
aerating the soil and incorporating dead
aerating the soil and incorporating dead
there’s a lot to be gained by going stockfree!
aerating the soil and incorporating dead there’s a lot to be gained by going stockfree!
there’s a lot to be gained by going stockfree!
worms also improve soil
u
n
t
–

t
s

d
l
e
h
c

t
u
o
plant matter into it, worms also improve soil Then there’s that old chestnut – what about
plant matter into it, worms also improve soil
plant matter into it,
b
a
h
w
a

t
o
t

h
r
e
h
Then there’s that old chestnut – what about
hen there’s that old chestnut – what about
n
e
h
t
a

t
’
e
s

structure, which can improve resistance to
land where you can’t grow crops? Trees can be
structure, which can improve resistance to
structure, which can improve resistance to land where you can’t grow crops? Trees can be
land where you can’t grow crops? Trees can be
erosion. It’s a win-win situation, you provide planted on poorer soils to provide fruit, nuts
you provide
s a win-win situation,
planted on poorer soils to provide fruit, nuts
planted on poorer soils to provide fruit, nuts
erosion. It’
erosion. It’s a win-win situation, you provide
e soil
they help improv
and timber and enhance the landscape. Trees
and timber and enhance the landscape. Trees
the right habitat, they help improve soil and timber and enhance the landscape. Trees
the right habitat, they help improve soil
the right habitat,
structure and fertility.
structure and fertility. also provide a valuable service
also provide a valuable service
also provide a valuable service
structure and fertility.
by locking up carbon they
by locking up carbon they
by locking up carbon they
a
e
c
c
S Stockfree organic
o
Stockfree organic remove from the atmosphere
i
t
n
r
o
f
r
g
e

k
remove from the atmosphere
remove from the atmosphere
e
i
ain Tolhurst has been
Iain Tolhurst has been during photosynthesis.
a I
during photosynthesis.
n
during photosynthesis.
u
t
s
o
h
h

l
T
a
e
r
n
s

b
Forests store more carbon
Forests store more carbon
growing organic vegetables Forests store more carbon
growing organic vegetables
growing organic vegetables
than any other type of plant
for more than 40 years and than any other type of plant
for more than 40 years and
for
more than 40 years and
than any other type of plant
ecosystem, either above or
is considered a pioneer of the
is considered a pioneer of the ecosystem, either above or
ecosystem, either above or
is considered a pioneer of the
below ground.
below ground.
UK organic movement. His
UK organic movement. His
UK organic mov ement. His below ground.
farm in south Oxfordshire was
farm in south Oxfordshire was
farm in south Oxfordshire was

o
p
b
a
n
c
r
u
t
S Storing up carbon
r
o
g

i
n

rst to attain the Stockfree
the fi rst to attain the Stockfree Storing up carbon i i is only going to o
the fi
the first to attain the Stockfree
o

t
n
o
o
s
i
i
n
o
s
is only going to
o

n

g
g
g
g

l
n
t
y
y
l

l
o
a
n
r
g
S
Organic symbol in 2004.
Organic symbol in 2004.
Organic symbol in 2004. Soil organic carbon is the get worse in the
i
oil organic carbon is the
o
i

t
i
s
get worse in the
get worse in the
h
e

c
a
c

o
n
r
b
current climate
There hav e been no grazing carbon stored below ground current climate
current climate
carbon stored below ground
carbon stored below ground
There have been no grazing
There have been no grazing
emergency. In short,
emergency. In short,
animals and no animal inputs in plant and animal materials at various stages emergency. In short,
animals and no animal inputs
animals and no animal inputs
in plant and animal materials at various stages
in plant and animal materials at various stages
of decay.
on the farm for over 25 years. He says: “We of decay. An estimated 10 billion tonnes of it’s a no-brainer, stockfree
of decay. An estimated 10 billion tonnes of
He says:
on the farm for over 25 years. He says: “We
on the farm for over 25 years.
An estimated 10 billion tonnes of
it’s a no-brainer, stockfree
it’s a no-brainer, stockfree
“We
‘veganic’ farming is the future and
eganic’ farming is the future and
‘v
see a big future in stockfree organic systems carbon are stored in UK soils, 50 times the ‘veganic’ farming is the future and
carbon are stored in UK soils, 50 times the
see a big future in stockfree organic systems
carbon are stored in UK soils, 50 times the
see a big future in stockfree organic systems
you can start in your back garden
carbon stored in UK vegetation, other than
carbon stored in UK vegetation,
as they use considerably less land than carbon stored in UK vegetation, other than you can start in your back garden
as they use considerably less land than
you can start in your back garden
other than
as they use considerably less land than
livestock dependent systems, have a much
livestock dependent systems, have a much trees. The UK’s Committee on Climate Change today! Giv e it a try.
trees. The UK’s Committee on Climate Change
trees. The UK’s Committee on Climate Change
livestock dependent systems, have a much
today! Give it a try.
today! Give it a try.
says that due to losses of soil organic carbon
says that due to losses of soil organic carbon
lower carbon footprint and lower energy
lower carbon footprint and lower energy
lower carbon footprint and lower energy says that due to losses of soil organic carbon
uirements. We are pleased to have been
from intensive farming, around 12 million
from intensive farming, around 12 million
req
requirements. We are pleased to have been from intensive farming, around 12 million
requirements. We are pleased to have been
is
at the forefront of developing this important
at the forefront of developing this important
tonnes of the potent greenhouse gas CO 2 is
at the forefront of dev eloping this important tonnes of the potent greenhouse gas CO is
tonnes of the potent greenhouse gas CO 2
food growing system.”
emitted to the atmosphere each year from UK
food growing system.
emitted to the atmosphere each year from UK
food growing system.” ” emitted to the atmosphere each year from UK
till,
Still, the idea that animal manure is soils. We need more trees!
till, the idea that animal manure is
S
soils. We need more trees!
the idea that animal manure is
soils. We need more trees!
here has to be a massive reduction in
c
t
o
There has to be a massive reduction in
n

n
i
i
a

s
e
e

essential to crop production persists. With

essential to crop production persists. With
s
a
s

i
a
m
v
h
e
h
u
b
d
e
t
essential to crop production persists. With T here has to be a massive reduction in

o
r
e
r
animals there are many additional costs, such
animals there are many additional costs such
livestock farming, not just for environmental
livestock farming, not just for environmental
animals there are many additional costs , such livestock farming, not just for environmental
reasons, but also to feed the growing global
as fences, buildings,
as fences, buildings, water supply, plus all
water supply, plus all
reasons, but also to feed the growing global
as fences, buildings, water supply, plus all reasons, but also to feed the growing global
population.
The argument that we need
population. The argument that we need
the bureaucracy and vets bills. You simply
You simply
the bureaucracy and vets bills.
the bureaucracy and vets bills. You simply population. The argument that we need
animal manure for crops just doesn’t stack up.
don’t get something for nothing! Animals use animal manure for crops just doesn’ t stack up. Viva!Health is a part of f
animal manure for crops just doesn’t stack up.
don’t get something for nothing! Animals use
don’t get something for nothing! Animals use
l
e
a
h

i
t
p
s
a
H
v
t of
a
o

a
V Viva!Health is a par
!
i
rt

Viva!.
egan charity
W

energy, they produce methane and lots of
energy, they produce methane and lots of Stockfree farming uses less land, less water, the vegan charity Viva!. We
less water,
energy, they produce methane and lots of
the vegan charity Viva!. We
the v
Stockfree farming uses less land,
e
Stockfree farming uses less land, less water,
monitor scientifi c r esear ch
monitor scientifi c research
monitor scientifi c research
waste and if they need additional feed such has a much lower carbon footprint and lower
waste and if they need additional feed, such
waste and if they need additional feed
,
has a much lower carbon footprint and lower
has a much lower carbon footprint and lower
such
linking diet to health and
linking diet to health and
linking diet to health and
as soya, grains or other crops, it defeats the
as soya, grains or other crops, it defeats the
energy requirements than livestock farming.
energy requirements than livestock farming.
as soya, grains or other crops, it defeats the energy req uirements than liv estock farming. provide accurate information on which you can make
provide accurate information on which you can make
ormation on which y
pr
ou can mak
e
o
vide accurate inf
ers increased

In warmer countries, it off
In warmer countries, it offers increased

informed choices about the food you eat.
informed choices about the food you eat.
whole object of keeping them for their manure
whole object of keeping them for their manure
whole object of keeping them for their manure In warmer countries, it off ers increased inf ormed choices about the f ood y ou eat.
www.vivahealth.org.uk
www.vivahealth.org.uk
w www . .vivahealth.org.uk k
v
a
w
.
u
a
h
l
w
r
h
o
e
v
g
.
i
t
to help grow crops.
to help grow crops. Farmers are realising
Farmers are realising
to help grow crops. Farmers are realising resilience against drought – a problem that
resilience against drought – a problem that
resilience against drought – a problem that
VEGANFOODANDLIVING.COM 113