For years, we at Lehmann Natur have been gaining experience and expertise in biodynamic farming and farming according to permaculture principles. Our vision is to help shape a world with a healthy future, where agriculture is practiced in a sustainable and ecological manner. That is why we are sharing our knowledge with you.
Organic and biodynamic seeds were grown and propagated naturally—that is, without chemical pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Most of our biodynamic seeds are Demeter-certified. Demeter, the oldest farming association in Germany with the strictest guidelines for producers, sees itself as a holistic circular economy that unites people, nature, and animals.
Open-pollinated varieties—or, as we call them, “open-source” varieties—are much hardier than conventional hybrid seeds. Open-pollinated means that you can harvest new seeds from the plants, which is not the case with F1 hybrids. They are more resilient to climate change and do not require synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, as the seeds adapt to the climate and soil conditions. Unlike hybrid seeds, open-pollinated varieties offer a wide range of diversity. Breeding occurs naturally and without genetic engineering, as is common with hybrid varieties. Furthermore, open-pollinated varieties produce flowers, thereby helping to preserve and protect bees and other beneficial insects.
This way, you can design your garden step by step using permaculture principles to make it climate-friendly and close to nature.
Mulching provides the soil with a cover, i.e. an organic layer, which prevents the soil from drying out, reduces water evaporation and increases the capture of rainwater. Why not try mulching your bed with e.g. grass clippings!
A colorful garden delights many insects, especially wildbees. Plant a row of flowers in your bed to encourage bees and other beneficial insects.
Soil is a living organism. It is important to not damage the soil structure by rough plowing. Why don’t you try to gently plow your garden with a digging fork or similar?
Plants have friends too. These can be planted particularly well next to each other because they benefit from each other’s presence. Before sowing, it is best to check which plants can be placed next to each other and which are not suitable as neighbors.
Compost is the decomposition of natural garden and kitchen waste. Not only is it very easy to make, but your soil and plants will benefit immensely. It is well known that the fertility of the soil is increased, beneficial organisms are attracted and the water retention capacity of the soil is promoted due to compost.
Plants have a favorite place where they grow and thrive particularly well. Some may prefer to be pampered in full sun exposure, while others are happiest in the shade or partial shade. Pay attention to the needs of your plants and look for the best location.
Crops are classified into the three categories—light feeders, moderate feeders, and heavy feeders—based on the nutrient requirements of each crop.
Low nutrient demanding plants only have to be supplied with compost and are not very picky about it.
In addition, legumes such as i.e. peas or beans, add additional nitrogen into the soil, which is an important factor for plant growth.
Typical representatives: legumes, various flowers
Plants that fall into the medium feed category require compost.
In addition, depending on the plant species and only in special periods, they require a higher supply of nutrients in the form of organic fertilizer.
Typical representatives: beetroot, salads, peppers, some herbs
Plants that fall into the high demanding category require adequate fertilization and good bed preparation for successful cultivation.
Bedding preparation should begin in the fall.
Like the medium demanders, heavy demanders need organic fertilization in addition to compost. This can further get supplemented with stone flour, for example, to optimize the supply of trace elements.
During the growth period, the cultures should be regularly fertilized additionally with so-called “Brennessel Jauche” ( a high nutrient concentrate made out of nettles).
Typical representatives: tomatoes, melon, zucchini, eggplant
To help you get the most out of your gardening, here are some additional tips and tricks. These tips and tricks cover not only growing plants, but also starting them from seed and preserving them.
Open-pollinated seeds allow you to produce your own seeds. This ensures a more sustainable and ecological cultivation and is also very easy to implement as long as a few basic aspects are observed:
Seed production presupposes flowering and subsequently also fruit development. Therefore, seed production occurs in annual plants in the first year and biennial plants in the second year.
The seeds are obtained from the pulp of fruits and vegetables. The fruit is harvested for this as soon as it is ripe.
There are various ways to preserve food harvested from your own garden. This depends, on the one hand, on the desired shelf life and flavor, and, on the other hand, on the specific suitability of the different types of fruits and vegetables, particularly with regard to nutrient retention. Popular preservation methods include drying, canning, and freezing.
Pre-cultivation is particularly useful if the conditions at the cultivation site are not optimal or for plant species that require long cultivation periods, e.g. pumpkins.
With the lead achieved in this way, the fruits manage to fully ripen by the time of the planned harvest (usually in autumn).
It is important that the young plants already have good root growth and at least two to three developed leaves when they are planted out.