Vision
The vision behind Allure Greens is to establish a sustainable farming model that generates multiple streams of revenue—both short and long-term—while championing the restoration of soil health and resilience. This includes reducing dependency on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, building water and soil sustainability, and demonstrating the potential of regenerative agricultural practices.
Key Components Included
- Baseline assessment of soil using ph, npk sensor, soil microbial activity and water TDS
- Planning using space-time, crop rotation, green manure, microclimates, shifting beds, mulching, and food forest approach
- Analyzing soil using Soil Food Web microbial analysis approach
- Testing and tracking of financials and practices, included metered doses of compost with moniored parameters
- Measruing harvests, changes in soil
Produce, including greens and fruits, is marketed through platforms like Farmizen, demonstrating the viability of small-scale, sustainable farming as a replicable and profitable model.
A Little About Allure Greens
In October 2022, Allure Greens began as a small experiment on a 7,000-square-foot plot. By 2023, it grew into a collective food forest encompassing 12 plots, abundant with diverse crops like chickoos, mangos, butterfly pea, beans, greens, okra, corn, and tomatoes.
The land, once a large commercial farm, transitioned to “green” zoning as Bangalore expanded. Homes now occupy two-thirds of the property, leaving the remaining land untended for nearly a decade. This untouched soil allowed fruit trees like mango and chickoo to thrive, yielding exceptional harvests.
The foundation of Allure Greens’ practices lies in rigorous soil analysis, incorporating Soil Food Web microscopy alongside testing for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), pH, and water total dissolved solids (TDS). These measurements guide practices that improve soil health and fertility.
Tracking the Impact of Farming Practices: A Data-Driven Approach
Measuring the impact of farming methods without frequent lab testing posed a significant challenge. Inspired by local farmers who intuitively assessed soil health through touch and observation, I adopted similar practices to gauge soil readiness. However, even after nine years of using biological inputs and maintaining chemical-free soil, the persistence of weeds revealed the need for more systematic tracking and management, even on a small plot like mine.
Connecting Inputs to Outcomes
Recognizing the importance of linking yields with managed inputs, water usage, and human resources, I developed a streamlined system using Google Forms for quick and accessible data collection. This enabled me to record:
- Quantities and types of inputs applied (e.g., compost, mulch, bioteas).
- Water usage across different plots.
- Labor hours spent on specific tasks, such as weeding and harvesting.
- Crop yields and pest occurrences.
Optimizing Planting Practices through Data-Driven Insights
Over time, tracking daily harvesting times, quantities, inputs, and seed or sapling usage enabled me to identify which sections of my farm were best suited for specific crops—and vice versa. This detailed record-keeping provided valuable insights that helped refine and streamline planting practices, improving both productivity and efficiency.
Intercropping and Rotational Planning
The practice of intercropping, along with cover and green manure crops, requires meticulous planning and timing. By carefully sequencing crop cycles, I was able to optimize yields while maintaining soil health. For example:
First Cycle:
- Spinach was planted alongside saplings of lettuce and tomato.
- After 35 days, spinach was harvested, and fenugreek seeds were sown. Lettuce saplings were transplanted into the soil, while tomato saplings were moved into larger containers.
Second Cycle:
- Thirty days later, lettuce and fenugreek were harvested, clearing space for the tomatoes to be planted directly in the soil.
Third Cycle:
- Tomatoes were harvested over the next 60 days, providing a valuable yield while contributing to soil remediation through their root systems and organic matter.
This rotation not only maximized the use of available space but also generated multiple income streams by staggering harvests of different crops.
Recent Posts
A Beginner's Guide to Using NPK Sensors for Soil and Compost Testing
Food Forests in Small Spaces Fast
BeForest Coorg
Composting Experiments
Creating microclimates
