No-Till Intensive Vegetable Culture: Pesticide-Free Methods for Restoring Soil and Growing Nutrient-Rich, High-Yielding Crops

In this passionate debut, farmer O’Hara merges science with the spiritual, detailing “no-till, pesticide-free, high-yielding” growing practices. Offering an approach that combines “biodynamics, with its spiritual and holistic view of agriculture,” and “Korean Natural Farming” which “improves soil function... through biological treatment of fertilizer materials,” O’Hara cites benefits that include “greater ease of planting, less need for irrigation, far fewer weeds to be controlled, crops that show better disease and pest resistance and increased cold tolerance, speedier harvests, and higher-quality produce.” Less tangibly, he writes, by “bringing out the fullest expression of [plants’] potential... they in turn help us bring out the fullest expression of ourselves.” O’Hara gives instructions on creating beds, germinating seeds, and transplanting plants, along with creating compost and potting soil recipes, all with the aim of producing vegetables year-round. While some ideas are pretty out there (O’Hara advocates working barefoot to “allow water, nutrients, and earth energies to flow into the individual,” and hints at conspiracy theories, such as government control of weather), his enthusiasm for nurturing a harmonious relationship between agriculture and the natural world is admirable. Not for the casual hobbyist, O’Hara’s manual will appeal to those interested in balancing economically sustainable agriculture with environmentally responsible practices. (Feb.)