“Crop rotation was practiced by farmers in ancient Rome, Greece and China. Ancient Middle Eastern Farmers rotated crops as early as 6000 BC. Crop rotations improve soil tilth, reduce pest, weed and disease pressure and increase biodiversity on the farm.” (bioneers.org)

Over ten years in the making, the Veggie-Bed is a no-till, raised-row, organic garden in which the vegetables are rotated seasonally.

Located in the suburbs of the Western Branch area, the property is only 3/4 of an acre, and we use approximately 450 square feet in the backyard. The garden is section-off into two 20 by 10-foot gardens. Each section is divided into two ten by 10-foot plots where vegetables are grown according to their type (root, leaf, legumes, fruit).

Concentrating on quality and not quantity, we give each plant plenty of room to grow and increase its yield.

We mix organic compost from our compost pile into each row during the winter months.

No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides are used in the gardens.

Writer: Tom Myrick