Page 59 - Climate Compliance

Using support species

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Complementary organic material

The lasagna bed, mulch and compost systems require a lot of organic material.
For this reason, support species are grown in and around the intensive garden.

Support species are trees and vining
beans that are capable of fixing

nitrogen from the atmosphere.

They release nitrogen from the nodules on their roots into the soil to benefit
surrounding plants. The organic matter, deriving from them, is also noted for its
high nitrogen content. Therefore, these plants provide the soil with additional
nitrogen value when they are pruned and their cuttings are used in mulch and
compost.

Another example of support species is Vetiver Grass, which is used for erosion
control as well as for mulch and material for composting.

Dispersed shade systems

Banana plants, Neem, Gliricidia and Moringa
trees have been planted around the garden to
provide filtered light into the garden and to hold
moisture. This dispersed shade system (DSS) is
an important part of the garden as it lowers the
ambient temperature in the understory, creating

an environment more conducive to the planting of
vegetables; particularly during the hot dry months
of March and April.