GROW BIOINTENSIVE®

Sustainable Mini-Farming
 GROW BIOINTENSIVE’s Roots
In 1966 Alan Chadwick, English gardening master tutored by Rudolf Steiner, brought his synthesis of
the biodynamic/French intensive method to the US and converted a barren slope at the University
of California-Santa Cruz into a flourishing garden. Chadwick’s garden is still an active part of the
UCSC, and the school is a leader in the regenerative agriculture conversation through their Center
for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems.

Inspired by the Chadwick’s bio-intensive gardening methods, California-based non-profit, Ecology Action’s (EA) Board
approved a research and education project in 1972. The project’s purposes was to teach regular bio-intensive classes,
collect data, make land available for gardening and publish information on the method’s techniques. John Jeavons
became the project’s director.

With growing concern about worldwide starvation and malnutrition, EA hypothesized if the smallest amount of land
and resources needed for one person to supply all of his or her needs in a sustainable way could be determined, we
might have a personal solution to the world’s challenges. GROW BIOINTENSIVE® (GB) was born, and EA has been
working on this goal ever since.
Ecology Action’s Team
John Jeavons
Executive Director
Author How to Grow More Vegetables
Domestic and International Technical Advisor

Steve Moore Matt Drewno

Elon University Mini-Farm Director, NC Green Belt Mini-Farm Manager, CA
Director of AgroEcology, Elon University Ecology Action Board Member
Soil Scientist Certified Permaculturalist
Ecology Action’s Work
GROW BIOINTENSIVE Sustainable Mini-Farming
Deep soil preparation, plus compost, makes possible close plant spacing.
The use of open-pollinated seeds to grow carbon/calorie crops for calories
and compost materials as well as special calorie root crops for area-
efficient calories with good companion planting provides sustainable soil
fertility and a complete balanced sustainable diet within a whole system.
 The Problem:
As a result of many factors
—agriculture, population growth, and the loss of the farming skill base—

most of the world’s soils have become significantly demineralized and

contain little organic matter
unless these elements have been imported.
We’re losing soil…
...due to wind and water erosion
as the result of
agricultural practices being used.
It’s probable that
organic farming
indirectly results in
the loss of 3 to 5 ¼
pounds of farmable
soil per pound of
food eaten, because
of need for inputs of
compost, manure and
organic fertilizer
which are taken from
other soils.
 The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture
Organization has noted that about 10 years from now,

in the year 2025,

about three-quarters of the world

—5.5 billion people—
 …will probably not have sufficient
water available for food growing
to live a life with reasonable nutrition
—if at all.

This means a situation of

PEAK WATER
and PEAK FOOD.
70% to 80% of all water used by people
is utilized in food production.
 The Opportunity Now:
Figuring Out how to Grow More Food in Less Area
—With
Less Water Less Purchased Nutrient Less Energy Less Work
per pound of Food Produced and Dollar Earned Per Unit of Time
With GB it’s possible to grow complete diets in
4,000 sq. feet or less

A standard US diet currently requires 101,000 sq. feet.

Biologically-Intensive Food Production uses as little as 33% the water per pound
of grain and seed produced and 12% per pound of vegetable and soft fruit
produced—compared with standard practices.

In Addition, GB uses ~94% Less Energy Per Pound of Food Produced

Compared with Standard Agricultural Practices.
GROW BIOINTENSIVE builds soil
According to a Masters thesis from the University of California – Berkeley,
GROW BIOINTENSIVE has the capacity to build soil up to
60 times more rapidly than in Nature…
…up to 6 inches of farmable soil in as little as 50 years

On average, around the world and in the U.S.

it takes nature 3,000 years to do this.

In some places it takes longer.

In California, it takes 12,000 years.
How does GB do this?
• Deep Soil Structure creation for quadruple nutrient cycling.
• Compost for microbe nutrition, soil water retention and soil antibiotic development.
• Close Plant Spacing for improved plant environment and water conservation.
• Companion Planting for crop enhancement and pest minimization.
• 60% growing area in Compost/Calorie Crops that produce large amounts of compost materials, plus a significant quantity of
calories, such as wheat, oats, corn and amaranth.
• 30% growing area in Special Root Crops, such as potatoes, garlic and leeks—that can produce 5 to 20 times the calories per
unit of area and time.
• Using Easily Available Seeds.
• Using the Whole System—it does not work well if only some of its elements are used and may even become unsustainable.
GB is skill-
intensive,
rather than
labor intensive.
 “I’ve learned more in the first four weeks of
my internship with Ecology Action than
We developed a systems approach… I learned in six years at the university."

— An Ecology Action intern

from Latin America, 2010

…enabling people to learn faster,

grow more effectively
and take
more efficient action.
 Over 200 “how to” books, booklets, topical
articles and DVDs — including how to grow
complete nutrition and soil fertility in the smallest
area.
We’re teaching in the Field and on the Web
• 5 training sites in the U.S. with International Partner training sites in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

• Ecology Action’s website’s Self-Teaching Section: www.growbiointensive.org/Self_Teaching.html

• Inexpensive Webinars at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/ecologyaction

• New World Interactive, Multi-Lingual Website with Educational Animation, Classroom and Library at:
www.biointensive.net
• International mail order service at: www.bountifulgardens.org

• Urban youth education teaching at: www.commongroundgarden.org

• John Jeavons site, www.johnjeavons.info

GROW BIOINTENSIVE
vs.
Holistic Rotational Grazing
Why GROW BIOINTENSIVE?
Veganic on 2.5k acres
• Annual Soil Production: 20.4M lbs
of compost
• Annual Carbon Sequestration: Up
to 2 Mg (megagrams or metric
tons) of carbon can be
accumulated in the soil per acre
per year
• Annual Food Production: 22.36M
lbs of food to feed 12,251 people
sustainably while regenerating the
soil w/ ½ the acreage set aside for
wildland habitat
Rotational Grazing on 2.5k acres
• Annual Soil Production: Less –
being researched
• Annual Carbon Sequestration: Less
– being researched
• Annual Food Production: 2.63M
lbs of food to feed 1,078 people
with a global population loss of
91% due to inefficient land, water
and nutrient use (unless existing in
a small-scale, closed-loop system)
Veganic on 2.5k acres
• Initial investment: infrastructure &
tools, people & training, soil tests
& amendments
• Ongoing investment: some micro-
nutrient soil amendments, hand
irrigation
• Job Stimulation: 1.25k
• Annual Gross Profit: $56M
• Expenses: Minimal
• Risks: drought, fire, flood, pests
• Limiting Factors: recruiting and
training people, access to land
Rotational Grazing on 2.5k acres
• Initial investment: infrastructure &
tools, people & training
• Ongoing investment: animals,
large-scale irrigation, transport for
slaughter
• Job Stimulation: 215
• Annual Gross Profit: $5.5M
• Expenses: Significant
• Risks: drought, fire, flood, disease,
accident
• Limiting Factors: initial investment,
access to sufficient farmable land
 Paradigm Shift!
Cooperative Small Farming
Agricultural Land Trust Communities

Leverage Economies of Small-Scale,

Small Can Be Beautiful,
More Productive and Less Work!

The Diets Might be Different than

the Ones Eaten Today, Yet they
Can be Tasty and Nourishing!
What kind of future do we want to create?
Ecology Action - Opportunities
There are many opportunities to support the evolutionary work of Ecology Action, including:
• Direct Funding – Ecology Action’s annual budget is $1.8M. We are seeking eight new major donors to
contribute at the $50k level to maintain the strength of the program and build on the resources available to
the public.
• In-kind Donation – Web platforms are an invaluable tool for reaching and empowering GB farmers around
the globe. We need a near-term upgrade of our platforms to continue providing a well-functioning service.
• IFOAM Sponsorship – IFOAM’s 19th Organic World Congress will convene 3,000 organic food growers from its
800 affiliated organizations spanning 117 countries for three days in New Delhi, India, November 2017. EA has
answered IFOAM’s call for Farmer Presentations and has written a budget to send 17 GB representatives from
7 countries to offer 17 presentations spanning farming and science.
• Special Program Proposal: Farm Sanctuary GB Mini-Farms – Ecology Action is interested in partnering with
Farm Sanctuary to sequentially develop GB Mini-Farms on FS’s animal sanctuaries. Mini-Farms would be open
to the public, provide demonstrations, food for FS-GB farm and FS staff and visitors, and compost and
sustainable soil fertility for the farm. It would serve as a replicable model of carbon farming and veganic
regenerative agriculture.
Proposed Budget - Overview
We hope you’ll consider funding one or all of these projects, listed in order of the Ecology Action’s hierarchy of needs.

Date Project Budget

NOW Ecology Action Programming $50k
Near Term Ecology Action Web Refresh $10k
August 15 Ecology Action IFAOM Participation $47.5k
November 1 Farm Sanctuary GROW BIOINTENSIVE Project $165.5k
TOTAL BUDGET $273k
IFOAM World Congress
Ecology Action is preparing 17 presentations for the 19th International Federation of
Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) World Conference in New Delhi, India,
November 9-11, 2017. Three-thousand participants are expected to attend the
Conference from IFOAM’s almost-800 affiliated organizations spanning 117 countries.

EA will introduce the very effective GB system to farmers around the globe. This
opportunity holds the potential of accelerating global organic agriculture so that it can
attain:
• higher yields,
• a 50% to 100% reduction in purchased organic nutrients,
• as little as 12% to 33% less water usage in an increasingly desertified world, and
• fully sustainable soil fertility creation and maintenance.
 IFOAM Budget
Ecology Action is working to raise the funds to send 17 GB experts from IFOAM EXPENSES COSTS
around the world to IFOAM World Congress in New Dehli next November.
Airfare $22,300
Registration $5,170
Lodging (4nights) $1,080
Meals $0
Medical $3,550
Travel Insurance $4,530
Workshop Fees $2,000
Trade Show Booth $1,200
10% Contingency $4,303
Biointensive Presenters at 2016 National Conference and Global Forum on Science, Policy
and the Environment – Food-Energy-Water Nexus – Washington, DC January, 2016 TOTAL BUDGET $47,333
Special Project Proposal:
Farm Sanctuary GROW BIOINTENSIVE Mini-Farms

As we, and allies, work to eliminate human, animal and environmental

suffering caused by industrial agriculture, it is imperative we simultaneously
expand and invest in efficient, effective, sustainable, accessible solutions to
feeding the world’s people while regenerating the soil.
Ecology Action proposes a climate-, animal- and social-justice joint-project
in partnership with movement allies, Farm Sanctuary and Dr. Bronner’s. The
partnership would take form by way of incorporating GB mini-farming on all
three FS locations. The Partnered Project: Farm Sanctuary GB Mini-Farms
Project Goals
• Expand veganic, regenerative carbon farming through decades and diversity
tested GROW BIOINTENSIVE Sustainable Mini-Farming
• Increase public awareness around regenerative agriculture and the importance
of regenerative carbon farming
• Showcase the accessibility of GB and empower individuals, communities and
organizations to learn and practice the method
• Expose the GB community to FS work to grow support of the sanctuaries and
vegan lifestyle
• Evolve the conventional animal- and agricultural- industry paradigm into an
equitable, compassionate, human-scale sustainable and regenerative culture
Project Scope & Timeline at a Glance
• Over a 5-year period, a GB mini-farm would be introduced to all three FS
locations, starting in Orland, CA
• 3x full-time farmers would be recruited, trained and assisted in
implementing the farm in Orland, establishing the farm in the first 2 years
• In years 3 and 4, 1x proficient farmer would spin off to FS location in LA,
CA, then a second farmer would spin off to Watkins Glen, NY FS site
• The Mini-Farms would include 1x 40-bed unit, 1x 10-bed unit, and 1x 1-
bed unit – to showcase the optimal and survival square-foot diet plans
which grow 100% of one person’s food, compost, and eventually income
for the year
Project Scope Cont.
• Farmers will plan and execute annual farm plans, public tours and
demonstrations, and eventually workshops and internship opportunities
• During all stages of programming, farmers will follow GB research
methods; record, track trends, summarize and draw conclusions from
research data; and run trials for the 40-bed and 10-bed farming units
• The Mini-Farms would be an easily replicated model for domestic and
international organizations and individuals
• Opportunity to expand GB Mini-Farming into a ‘lifestyle model’ that
includes on-site small-scale cob farmer housing and a fully sustainable
wood lot
Project Team – Green Belt Mini-Farm
• Ecology Action Farm Sanctuary Technical Administrator – Matt Drewno
• Project oversight, responsibilities includes: manage 2-month immersion and 3-
year apprenticeship for FS farmers, actively participate in and sign-off on Mini-
Farm planning, provide ongoing technical assistance
• Farm Sanctuary GROW BIOINTENSIVE Managing-Liaison - TBD
• Work closely with Technical Administrator; responsibilities include: garden
planning, bed preparation, planting, composting, weeding, watering, harvesting,
data collection and record keeping
• Additional responsibilities: coordinate weekly check-ins with Orland farmers to
include 2x per month inter-farm face-to-face working meetings, coordinate
research and analysis
Project Team – FS Orland Mini-Farm
• Farm Sanctuary Mini-Farm Farm Manager - TBD
• Work closely with whole FS Mini-Farm team; responsibilities include: garden
planning, bed preparation, planting, composting, weeding, watering, harvesting,
data collection and record keeping
• Additional responsibilities include: coordinate with FS sanctuary staff and
volunteers, coordinate with Managing-Liaison for technical assistance, quality
assurance, and weekly check-ins; coordinate farm tours and demonstrations
• Farm Sanctuary Mini-Farm Site Farmer - TBD
• Work closely with Site Manager; responsibilities include: garden planning, bed
preparation, planting, composting, weeding, watering, harvesting, data collection
and record keeping
Timeline – Year 1
• August 1 – finalize: • September 30
• Partnership Agreement • 9x applicants selected to attend 3-day
• Farmer Job Descriptions workshop
• Applicant Screening Guidelines • November 4-6
• August 15 • GB Sustainable Mini-Farming 3-day
• Partnership Agreement signed workshop
• Simple Mini-Farm prep can begin • November 15
• Farmer recruitment begins • Prospective farmers 2nd interviews
• September 1 • December 1
• Applicant screening begins • 3x farmers selected and offered positions
Timeline – Year 1 Cont.
• October – January • March – November
• Applicant and farmer self-study period • Active farming season
• January – February • Launch FS GB Mini-Farm
• 2-month GB immersion • August
• March 3-5 • Next year planning begins
• GB 3-day workshop • November – February
• Quarterly Partner check-ins begin • Slower farming season
• Partner reunion and project review
Year 2 Goals
• Plan for Year 3 farmer spinoff to next FS site
• Fully sustainable wood lot project initiates
• Farmers live on site in cob small-housing as to demonstrate new-paradigm
lifestyle

Year 3 Goals
• FS GB Mini-Farm launches at 2nd FS site
• Graduated 3-year GB apprentice plans to spinoff to 3rd FS site
• Plan for GB Workshops and / or Interns at 1st FS site
Year 4 Goals
• FS GB Mini-Farm launches at 3rd FS site
• GB Workshops and / or Interns launch at 1st FS site
• 2nd FS site launches sustainable wood lot and farmer cob-housing
• 2nd FS site plans for GB workshops and internships
• 1st FS site plans for marketing 5-bed unit produce for $60k annual profit

Year 5 Goals
• Sustainable wood lots and farmer cob-housing at all 3 FS sites
• 2nd FS site launches GB workshops and internships
• 3rd FS site plans for GB workshops and internships
• 1st FS site achieves $60k annual profit
Annual Production and Regeneration Goals:
Food Production: 2,365 lbs from 6,120 sq ft planted surface plus paths @
3x sites: Complete diet for ~4 people
Compost Produced: 3,060 lbs from 6,120 sq ft planted surface plus paths
x 3 sites: Intermediate-Yield GB amount
Water Saved: 70% PER POUND OF FOOD PRODUCED
Purchased Fertilizer Saved: 50%+ PER POUND OF FOOD PRODUCED
Carbon Sequestered from the Atmosphere: Up to 2 Mg (megagrams or
metric tons) of carbon can be accumulated in the soil per acre per year
Partner Responsibilities
• Dr. Bronner’s would be the initial primary funder of the Project, and
promote the Mini-Farms and their activities through all communications
channels
• Ecology Action would take the lead planning the Project; recruit, screen
and train farmers; promote the Mini-Farms and their activities; and
provide technical assistance throughout life of the Project
• Farm Sanctuary would dedicate space for the Mini-Farms; coordinate the
relationship between the FS staff, animals and environment, and the GB
farmers; and promote the Mini-Farms and their activities
 FS Mini-Farm Budget – Year 1
Farmer Training Farmer Salaries
• 1x 3year apprentice tuition $12k • Hourly rate $90k
• 2x 2month interns tuition $2k averaged @ $15/hr
• 2x 3day workshops $4k • Benefits @ 25% $22.5k
• 3x study libraries $1.5k Insurance Rider $1k
• 2x monthly inter-farm travel $8.5k Administrative Rate $11k
Tools, Infrastructure, Seeds & Supplies $15k TOTAL YEAR 1 BUDGET $167.5k
Questions & Follow Up:
John Jeavons
johnjeavons@icloud.com
(707) 953-7640

There are realistic

SOLUTIONS
 Thank you!

Small is bountiful and there truly

are economies of small scale.
We need to become more “farming” literate!