A brief summary of the approach that we adopted to grow vegetables more sustainably and productively on rocky terrain in Goa, India

1. Growing food organically
on hard rocky terrain
Yogita Mehra and Karan Manral at
the International Centre Goa, Dona
Paula

2. We started with building raised beds on what was
virtually hard rock
2011 Adding soil , sand &
compost to create
raised beds of 8”
height, bounded
with laterite stones
Laterite plateau with
only 3”-4” of soil in
most places

3. 2011
Shallow rooted crops begin growing on heavily
composted beds
Planting complete,
growing underway
Soil left bare to the
elements. Bakes in
the hot sun and dries
out fast

4. First round of crops had some pest and disease
but were healthy
2011 Soil too clayey; sun
too hot; soil dries
quickly

5. 2012
Growing required regular addition of compost
Heavy doses of
kitchen-waste
compost regularly
added to beds to
increase organic
matter in soil

6. 2012
Companions added to help with pest
management
Marigold border
keeps pests away
while attracting
beneficial insects

7. 2013
Introduced mulch with magical effect on soil
health and moisture retention
Heavily mulched
beds require less
water, reduce
unwanted growth

8. 2014
Modifying layout to enable shade, vertical
growing space and more mulch production
Dense glyricidia live
fencing to create
shade, provide
mulch and support
for creepers
New walking paths
created, thick
mulching continues

9. 2014
Soaking glyricidia stakes in panchagavya to
improve survival and growth rates
Panchagavya is a
growth promoter
made from cow’s
milk, dung, urine,
ghee and curds
Soaking stakes in this
before planting
increase chances of
rooting

10. 2014
Glyricidia established creating shade and ample
mulching material for the beds
Live fence or stakes
for creepers like
passion fruit and
gourds
Shade in different
parts at different
times of the day
creates micro-
climates

11. 2014
Change in layouts (more curves) and denser
mixed planting confuses most pests
Additional
precaution using
sticky traps
Thick mulch to keep
soil cool and reduce
water needs

12. 2014
Taller perennials create a cooler microclimate
that allows leafy vegetables to thrive
Shaded sections
accommodate plants
that prefer cooler
conditions
Companions planted
together grow by
filling in spaces

13. 2014
Plants continue to grow well with virtually NO
regular addition of compost
Soil seemed in great
condition after rains,
so negligible
addition of extra
compost this year
onwards
Mulch needs to be
added from time to
time to continue soil
protection

14. 2015
Plant yields increase with virtually no problems
with pests, soil's water retention gets high
Increased yields, less pest
attacks due to mixed
planting

15. 2015
By year 4, what started as just 8 inches of soil is
supporting a forest
Post monsoon-growth
in Year #4.Glyricidia
reaches up to 15ft.
Inside, papaya,
banana and tapioca,
little gourd, brinjal
and chillies thrive
with no attention.
Clearing underway
for planting seasonal
annuals

16. Summary points
• Mulch to maintain soil fertility
• Grow companion trees to help build soil – they
form an important framework
• Plant diverse varieties to prevent pests –
perennials AND seasonal crops
• Use compost/cowdung etc sparingly
• Adapt the microclimate depending on what you
want to grow
• Stack plants vertically and horizontally for greater
productivity

17. Before vs After

18. Green Essentials (Karan & Yogita)
Goa, India
99606-43245 (Yogita)
www.greenessentials.in
yogita@greenessentials.in