We started our natural farming experimental gardens to:

1. Understand natural farming principles,
   
2. Develop the sense of humble and mindful observers of nature
   
3. Try new natural farming techniques
   
4. For interns and garden workers to learn natural farming through experience
5. No till, No fertilizers, No pesticide and No weeding

We also have natural farming production gardens to supply foods for ohana and neighborhood community.

Here are some examples of what we see in the experimental gardens and production gardens.  What works is quite different in what macro- and micro- climate you live in so humble observation of your changing garden is very important.

Timing and succession of plants

This is one example of different plants growing in succession although it may look like a patch of weeds. One plant

Buckwheat is initially planted.  Snap peas are planted when buckwheat is starting to flower.  First buckwheat grows fast and smother other weeds.  soon it goes to seeds.  While buckwheat is sending all its hope and energy to next generation of seeds, the leaves start to wither slowly.  This slow process opens up space and gives enough light for peas to grow.  This transition allows peas to emerge, but not other weeds.  When buckwheat is all brown and went to seeds, peas climb up the buckwheat stems to get up into the open space. 

 
Peas growing through and above the buckwheat that is going to seeds.

Another example is beans going to seeds while brassica or cabbage family is starting underneath.  (Oops, no photos.)

Learning the timing of sawing seeds and transition of plants takes a bit of experience for different plant combination. 

Planting in cover crop and weeds

Alfalfa, clover and other weed species (that I don't know the names of) maintains low growing cover crop.  Cabbage, broccoli and brussel sprout are planted directly in this ground cover by just cutting back some of alfalfa and clover where you plant cabbage, not pulling them out.  Put the top part of weeds, clover and alfalfa as mulch to cover cabbage.  This keeps moisture.  At first cover crop and weeds may grow faster than cabbage.  If so, just cut back cover crop and put it down as mulch again, or just step on them to keep them low.  This usually gives enough momentum for plants like cabbage to grow passed above cover crop.  Once cabbage is big enough they stay above the cover crop.

Scattering seeds in weed patch

Some plants like pak choi, mustard and daikon grow relatively strong and easy.  Mr Fukuoka also emphasize the use of these plants to build soil.  We keep experimenting with different seeds to see what other plants work. If you know the timing of rain and weeds going to seeds, then you just need to scatter seeds directly in the weeds.  Sometimes if weeds  flowering tall, just lay them down by walking on them helps to keep the site clear and also makes nice mulch.

 
Left: lightly scratch the surface with hoe and drop seeds.  Just lay the weeds over then once they go to seeds, they become nice mulch.  By the time the weed seeds are ready to germinate, your plants are big enough to cover the weed seeds.  Right: Bok Choi naturalized in tea field comes back year after year.

This photo shows mustard, daikon and clover seeds are scattered before the weeds died back during the dry period.  Weeds and your veg seeds are germinating at the same time.  What is going to happen now?  It's all experiment.