P

1

DEEP SOIL CREATION

AND MAINTENANCE

GOAL: Develop soil structure so the plants will have a
“living sponge cake” in which to thrive

reparing the raised bed is an important step in GROW
BIOINTENSIVE gardening. A correctly prepared bed
facilitates proper soil structure. Proper soil structure
and nutrients allow uninterrupted and healthy plant
growth. Loose soil with good nutrients enables roots to
penetrate the soil easily, and a steady stream of nutrients
can &ow into the stem and leaves. How di)erent from a
situation in which a plant is transferred from a &at with
loose soil and proper nutrients into a hastily prepared
backyard plot or a chemically stimulated +eld. The plant
su)ers not only from the shock of being uprooted, but
also from an environment where it is di,cult to grow.
The growth is interrupted and the roots have di,culty
getting through the soil and obtaining food. As a result,
the plant produces more carbohydrates and less protein
than usual. This imbalance attracts insects. A debilitating
cycle can begin that ends in the use of pesticides which