Congratulations on completing your first two segments! You are well on your way to getting a great foundation in this important gardening method.
I’ve been quoted as saying that the BI (bio-intensive) method is the most efficient method of all the gardening styles. In this part of the expedition you’ll learn how the BI method starts seedlings in small flats and then transplants them out into the bigger garden once they have grown to a decent size.
This really economizes on the amount of soil you need.
And water too.
Personally, I don’t like transplanting that much. It’s just not my favorite activity. And I’ve wondered, is it really worth it to do it this way? But there have been some time and motion studies that show that overall, it is more economical to transplant out seedlings that were grown in flats than it is to thin out seedlings that were established in bed.
You know what I’ve found to make an unpleasant task like transplanting more enjoyable?
Do it with a friend.
Having a good friend over and catching up on all the news while working in the garden is delightful.
Watch the video and you’ll also see pointed out how much time is saved; while you are starting seedlings in flats, your main garden beds are still producing food. So it is more efficient time-wise.
Homework:
This is going to be fun! If you haven’t done so already, plant some seeds into the flats you constructed in the first segment of this series.
You know, I don’t always start all of my plants from seed – I often buy starts from my local organic nursery. If you don’t have any seedlings ready yet, get a few from a local nursery and transplant them into your new garden bed.
You did dig a garden bed from your homework in the 2nd segment of this expedition, yes?