INDIAN APPROACHES
Arguably the best known Natural Farming system in India is Zero Budget (Spiritual) Natural Farming (ZBNF) developed by Subhash Palekar. The system is based largely around the abundance of dung and urine from India’s sacred cows. Sacred cows are conspicuously absent from the streets of suburban Australia, nevertheless with some compromise it is possible to replicate some of the benefits.
Recipe: Jiwamrita (Liquid Microbial Solution)
2.5kg Cow Dung (Fresh is Best!)
500g Jaggery (Indian Sugar)
500g Besan (Chickpea) Flour
50 Litres of Water
1 Litre of Cow Urine*
Handful of Soil/Compost
* Refer to compromise ingredients
Mix ingredients together and stir vigorously three times a day for 2 days. Dilute at a ratio of 10% and apply directly to the soil.
* As cow urine is largely used to add nitrogen this can be replaced by experimenting with other high nitrogen inputs. Bokashi Liquid, Worm Leachate, or Fish Fertiliser are some examples. If you are game you may even wish to use your own urine!
INDIAN APPROACHES
Recipe: Ghan-Jiwamrita (Dry Microbial Innoculant)
10kg Cow Dung (Fresh is Best!)
200g Jaggery (Indian Cane Sugar)
200g Besan (Chickpea) Flour
Handful of Soil/Compost
250ml Cow Urine*
Some water if the dung is too dry.
* Refer to compromise ingredients
Mix together. Spread out to dry in shade.
Powderise and sprinkle on the soil and mulch.
* As cow urine is largely used to add nitrogen this can be replaced by experimenting with other high nitrogen inputs. Bokashi Liquid, Worm Leachate, or Fish Fertiliser are some examples. If you are game you may even wish to use your own urine!
