Balance, beauty, respect, simplicity

Rodale’s emerging Natural Agriculture demonstration garden shows elegant ways to honor, respect nature in a small space.

By Eileen Weinsteiger

The new Natural Agriculture garden at the Rodale Institute showcases the elements of a small homestead nestled in the Siegfriedale Valley of northern Berks County. The paths and structures are surrounded immediately by agronomic research fields and, further out, by family farms.

Rodale Institute staff and local craftsmen worked from an integrated site and building design by William Heasom, P.E., who developed the plan as part of a team comprised of Institute staff and Shumei representatives. Heasom is president of Down to Earth Design Foundation, a non-profit organization focusing on engineering for regeneration. Workers excavated the site, planted the garden area and constructed two buildings: a wooden, living-roof work and education room, complemented by a geodesic dome greenhouse.

The garden beds and paths cover about an acre and have the potential to supply a family of four with food during most of the year. The bio-diverse landscape around the garden is alive with flowers, herbs, trees, shrubs, birds and wildlife. The inspiring philosophy of this space introduces and demonstrates a new way of looking at gardening methods.

Mokichi Okada, founder of Shumei, developed the principles of Natural Agriculture through his own personal experience in farming in the later 1930s in Japan. Natural Agriculture is a spiritually based form of growing crops that is both a developmental discipline and practical vocation. Farmers using this approach supply a number of Shumei centers in Japan and other countries with many kinds of wholesome food that is greatly valued by the members.

The Rodale demonstration site follows the essential Natural Agriculture concepts of pure and sustainable gardening methods that preserve the diversity of life in each location by drawing from the techniques and designs of both past and present to produce wholesome food, while at the same time nourishing the human spirit.

Welcoming paths

Blue stones peek out of the earth on one of the meandering paths of the Natural Agriculture demonstration garden.

From any of the garden’s entrances, visitors can meander along the stone paths among beds and vertical plantings. Stop at the gazebo to pick up a brochure that explains the ideas behind the design. During the summer months you will see interns, volunteers and children working, learning, teaching and playing in this interactive garden.

In keeping with Natural Agriculture values, we want to emphasize a deep respect for nature. We will teach children to observe the beauty of insects, and that all creatures are part of the balance in the garden. We do not destroy anything in this sacred space, and will not use any soil-enrichment and insect-management products, adhering to Natural Agriculture principles that contrast with most other agricultural approaches. Compost is made from leaves, grass and garden materials.

Natural Agriculture principles emulate nature. Compost is used to keep the soil warm and moist. Seed saving, sustainability, beauty, the gardener’s intention and spiritual relationship with the environment, as well as trusting the inherent power of the environment are simple and economical Natural Agriculture principles that are easy to follow once you see them in action.

The Natural Agriculture garden also showcases energy-efficient garden components. A passive-solar geodesic dome greenhouse designed for year ‘round gardening will be used to start our seedlings in spring, grow heat-loving plants in summer and then nurture cold-hardy crops during the winter months.

Domes strong, solar

Some background on the dome: a geodesic dome is a sphere or ball-type structure that was invented by the American engineer Richard Buckminster Fuller in the 1940s. Domes are very strong and aerodynamic so they withstand high winds. With proper placement they also lend themselves well to solar gain.

Our 22-foot dome complements the garden with many elements that support energy efficiency and sustainability, supporting the Institute’s mission and philosophy. Features include:

• A reflective insulated north wall that spreads light throughout the dome, providing shade and preventing overheating in summer and keeping plants warm during the cold winter months.
• Four solar-powered window vents positioned strategically to draw air from the base of the dome and then circulate the air to the vents at the top to minimize overheating and optimize air circulation.
• A large water tank to contribute to the overall synergy of the system. It is designed to collect solar heat to warm air in winter, then store water cooled by ambient soil-temperature air to condition the dome’s interior in the summer. It also can be used to raise fish and grow aquatic plants.
• Under the soil floor, a solar- powered fan supports the efforts of the water tank to geothermally condition the dome’s air temperature. It is managed to blow hot air from the top of the dome through the soil when heating is needed, and to cool the dome by pulling air from through the soil pipes during the summer when the soil is cooler than the inside air.

The geodesic dome and the "green roof" of the educational building both under construction.

The natural insulation of the roof plants warms the building in winter and cools it in summer. Relative to standard roof materials, the useful life of the roof is increased, storm water run-off is reduced and wildlife habitat is increased.

The foremost principle of Natural Agriculture is an overriding respect for nature. The system has developed a gentle, non-controlling approach to raising food based on careful observation. The goal is to discover what each piece of land and its natural systems can do to yield its sustainable level of sufficient, healthy and safe food as farmers and customers also see the beauty of the place.

Eileen Weinsteiger has been gardening at the Rodale Institute, and enjoying the natural beauty of our farm, for more than 30 years. She leads gardening activities in the Natural Agriculture garden.