One of the cornerstones of sound agricultural practice is companion planting. In his book How to Grow More Vegetables, Willits local, John Jeavons, suggests that companion planting is the constructive use of plant relationships by gardeners, horticulturalists, and farmers. Indeed, the aim of companion planting is to build mini-ecosystems of positive interrelationships that enhance plant growth, enrich the soil, and provide a habitat for beneficial animals and insects.

Many different aspects of plants and the ecosystem interact to form helpful, symbiotic relationships. Consider the following:

• Combinations of deep rooted and shallow rooted crops do not compete for nutrients in the soil
• Nitrogen fixing legume plants may be sown in combination with crops that are heavy nitrogen feeders
• Certain herbs and flowers are planted in close proximity to attract beneficial insects and animals that feed on garden pests (Ex. Ladybugs or Birds eat Aphids)
• Fast maturing crops can be intercropped with slower maturing crops (Ex. Radish matures faster than Carrots)
• Crops that prefer shade can be sown with taller plants (ex. Cucumber is shaded by Corn)

I will be searching for appropriate symbiotic plant and animal relationships to manage pests, recuperate the soil, control weeds, and simultaneously grow combinations of food and energy crops. Companion planting is one method in a basket of agricultural practices that we will use on present and future energy farm sites to grow healthy crops without the use of herbicides, pesticides, or petrol based fertilizers. Below is a list of resources that can be used to find more information.

Online:

http://www.ghorganics.com/page2.html

http://www.seedsofchange.com/enewsletter/issue_55/companion_planting.asp

http://www.minifarmhomestead.com/gardening/companionplant.htm

Books:

How to Grow More Vegatables by John Jeavons

The Gardener's A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food by Tanya Denckla