Page 25 - Simply Vegetables Autumn 2020

Veganic Growing
Firstly the aim of this article is not to convert members to vegetarians or vegans but to inform them about veganic growing and whether they may want to consider
it. The word veganic is a combination of vegan and organic and is considered the next stage on from organic growing. It is also called stock free system and vegan gardening. So what is veganic growing, basically it is growing your vegetables
or for that matter all your plants without any input from animals; this includes both manures and fertilisers. Most growers who are veganic want to minimise the cruelty and harm done to animals so the use of fertilisers like hoof and horn or dried blood conflicts with their philosophy.
Veganism has increased over the last
few years and although not mainstream
yet is becoming far better known and most people have heard of it. As it becomes more widely known more people will progress on to veganic growing as this is the next stage. As climate change becomes a bigger issue it is likely that more people will reduce their meat consumption and convert to organic and possible veganic growing. It is claimed that organic / veganic growing makes more efficient use of land than animal farming
and better use of water as well as a lower carbon footprint. Animal farming is said to be responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions.
So what does veganic growing involve? It is basically growing your vegetables and fruit using organic methods (which many members already do) but without using any animal manure whether it be horse, cattle, sheep, chicken, etc. or the use of any organic fertilisers based on animals or their by-products. This therefore excludes
hoof and horn, dried blood, chicken pellets, bonemeal and blood, fish and bone. This is a big chunk of the fertilisers used by organic growers and reduces the range of products available to them.
Veganic growers also do not use any artificial fertilisers such as sulphate of ammonia, superphosphate, sulphate of potash or any of the slow release products on the market. Many of these are based on materials that are mined and transported thousands of miles around the world, therefore having a high carbon footprint. Many nitrogen fertilisers are manufactured using the Haber-Bosch process which uses large amounts of energy to produce the nitrogen. It is likely that fertiliser prices will increase over the years owing to the high energy consumption.
As veganic growing is an
organic method of growing it
has a similar philosophy; that is
feed the soil and this will feed
the plants. Apart from animal
manures the same types of
organic matter are used to feed
the soil but they are all plant
based; it includes homemade
compost, leaf mould, mulches,
green manure, straw, bracken
and municipal green waste.
Where possible good growers
will produce their own organic
matter to save importing
material into their gardens / plots. But it is permissible to bring municipal compost, and spent hops (if animal product free), unfortunately spent mushroom compost is made from horse manure so this rules it out.
The aim is to be self-sufficient in organic matter by producing as much compost as possible and the wide use of green manures whenever ground is vacant or even as an intercrop between crops; or by under sowing crops such as some of the Brassicas where space is available.
The veganic movement has done quite a
Phacelia green manure
few trails using woodchip as organic matter and you could also use bark although this tends to be expensive. The woodchip is best if composted for a year and then applied. If you know a tree surgeon and can get it free
or very cheaply it is well worth considering.
All plant waste unless it
is diseased, pest ridden or
a perennial weed should be composted with the aim to produce as much as possible, even acquiring material from other sources if practicable. There may be neighbours, local greengrocers, market stalls
or other companies where organic matter for composting can be obtained. The nutrient level of compost is claimed
to have a better balance of
nutrient to feed plants than some manures, although it will not be as high as good quality manure. Compost production should be
at the centre of your growing and should continue all the year round.
Veganic growers can be dig or no-dig although most appear to be no-dig and it seems to fit that system of growing best. Usually low raised beds are made and the organic matter spread on the surface then the soil fauna like worms take it into the soil. No-dig methods also encourages many soil inhabiting creatures as well as mycorrhizae
Mulched bed
All plant waste unless it is diseased, pest ridden or a perennial weed should be composted...
Simply Vegetables 25
KELVIN MASON FNVS