Organic Gardening 101, with Alejo Mendez Guerín

By now you’ve become well aware that your lifestyle could use a bit of greening up, but you’re reluctant to make the changes. So many of the changes demanded of living in a more environmentally friendly manner require renouncing elements of our daily lives that we have grown utterly accustomed to: driving less, flying less, eating less meat, using less electricity, using less gas.

But there are other changes we can make that actually  augment our lives: they save us money, encourage us to eat healthier, spend more time outside, reconnect with nature, give us a sense of agency. One of the most beneficial changes we can make, for both our own and the environment’s well being, is to start our own organic gardens.

This proposition, however, can be daunting, especially for those of us with poor track records in the green thumb department. But that’s where Alejo Mendez Guerín comes in. Alejo offers two day, intensive workshops that cover the basic theories and practices of organic cultivation. The workshops are very reasonably priced and Alejo speaks perfect English and will be able to clear up any questions you may have along the way. He says of his intentions for the workshops, “I try to demystify what organic cultivation is really all about so that people will fell as though it is something that they are very capable of doing.”

Alejo, a tall, spindly young man of 25, mature well beyond his years, is a wealth of knowledge on sustainable agriculture. His eyes brighten as he hurtles through information ranging from explanations of soil varieties to strategies for chemical-free pest prevention. No question goes unanswered, no theory explained without the inclusion of a practical use.

Alejo has been teaching these workshops for over a year. He also offers private consulting to individuals and groups who are interested in growing organically, but don’t know where to begin. He recently completed his degree from the School of Agricultural Economics and Management at the University of Buenos Aires. While working on the degree, he spent a couple of summers at the Centre for Research and Education of Sustainable Agriculture (CIESA) in the Chubut province of Patagonia studying “biointensive” agriculture methods.

Biointensive agriculture is an method of growing crops organically in a small area, such as a vegetable garden in one’s backyard, or on one’s terrace as is more common here in Buenos Aires. The efficiency of space is the central theme, and most techniques were created to be used in a 10m2 plot of land. The method focuses on producing healthy, high-quality soil by using compost rather than fertilizer, companion planting (growing plants that complement each other) and best utilizing the unique attributes of the given ecosystem. CIESA says that the biointensive method is able to produce, from one 10m2  plot, 40-60% of an annual vegetarian diet for a family of four, and will allow the family to save approximately $1000 a year on groceries.

Enticing statistics like these bring many different types of people to Alejo’s workshops, some with gardening experience, others with strong commitments to a sustainable lifestyle, and still others who are just beginning to dip their toes into the stream of information on how to live in more environmentally friendly ways.

Alejo divides the workshop into two days: the first dedicated to theory, the second devoted to putting the theories into practice and getting dirty in the garden. The theory session begins with a discussion of the true and unnerving nature of modern industrial farming: the effects of genetically modified seeds, the exhaustion of soil by monoculture farming and the dangers of chemical pesticides. After this unsettling presentation Alejo offers a taste of the fruits of choosing a different path: quiches of organic pumpkin and spinach from his own garden. Refreshed and inspired, the participants are now ready to hear about the alternatives.

The second half of the day introduces the participants to the basics of biointensive agriculture. The method’s primary theme is the most efficient utilization of soil. Thus, the different properties and varieties of soil are explained, as well as what crops are best grown in each. The biointensive method teaches a technique called “double-digging”, in which plant beds are raised to allow for a total depth of just over 60 centimetres. This allows the vegetables to send their roots deeper into the soil and access a wealth of nutrients as well as permitting the crops to be planted more closely together. Thus, one is able to produce more food in a smaller area.

Alejo also expounds on such topics as compost varieties, natural methods of pest prevention and “companion planting”, which involves choosing plants that complement each other’s growth. For example, some plants will produce odours that deter certain insects, while others will change soil composition in manners beneficial to their neighbours.

The manifestation of these theories is exhibited to participants when they join Alejo at his personal vegetable garden on the outskirts of La Plata, in Buenos Aires province, for the practical day of the workshop. But they don’t just marvel at Alejo’s work, they mix compost, dig their pitchforks into the soil and sow seeds.

After completing the workshop, participants have a strong foundational understanding of organic agriculture and are ready, and usually highly motivated, to start their own organic vegetable gardens. Alejo says of his teaching method, “it’s important not to assign people specific formulas to follow, but rather to give them the tools to understand and work with what they already have.”

To find out when Alejo will be offering the next workshop and to register to participate visit: http://alejomendez.com/. The two day workshop costs $150.