John Jeavons
John Jeavons is a leader in the field of Biointensive agriculture. He developed the small-scale, high-yielding, resource-conserving “GROW BIOINTENSIVE Sustainable Mini-Farming” method—an approach that allows small farmers to increase yields, build fertile soil up to 60x faster than nature, and use 66% less water per pound of food, compared with conventional practices. This comprehensive cropping system enables people everywhere to grow a complete, balanced diet, significant income, and sustainable soil fertility using very little land. As a result of Ecology Action’s demonstration, teaching and research activities in biologically intensive farming over the last 43 years, John’s methods are now being used in 143 countries in virtually all climates and soils where food is grown.
John believes that each person has the capacity to make a profound difference in the sustainability of our agriculture and through it, our world; and that if we each learn to take care of our part of the Earth – our garden – then we can change our situation from one of scarcity to abundance: of enough for everyone.
He has been nominated for the Pew Scholars Award in Conservation and the Environment (1995). He is also one of those featured in the PBS-TV documentary “The Living Land” (1999) and in the documentary film “Fall and Winter” (2013). He has given numerous presentations and workshops in the U.S., and has taught in Kenya, Mexico, South Africa and Canada. He taught at the 1st World Meeting on “Family Organic Agriculture with the Biointensive Method” in the Dominican Republic, with representatives from 50 countries present.
If you grow soil, you have to grow crops, so you don’t lose anything. The reason for growing crops isn’t just to eat; it’s to grow soil. If you grow soil, the soil will provide for you abundantly.
“Man – despite his artistic pretensions, his sophistication, and his many very real accomplishments – owes his existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains.”
Location: Willits, California, USA
Organization: Ecology Action – Biointensive Mini Farming
Website: 1) https://johnjeavons.org/blog/
2) http://www.growbiointensive.org
Article: Interview with Mother Earth News
Books: How to Grow More Vegetables and Fruits, Nuts, Berries, Grains, and Other Crops Than You Ever Thought Possible With Less Water On Less Land Than You Can Imagine. He has authored, co-authored or edited over 40 publications on Biointensive agriculture, including a five-part, peer-reviewed article that appeared in The Journal of Sustainable Agriculture.
Video 1: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDuJ-JoRGyHhc0EgwFkb8JA
Video 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTLnHgdr-ao
