You are on the only site of Elementary Farming
the Elementary Farming (Elementary Agriculture, Elementary Horticulture), also known as "Cappello Non-Method." The site aims to collect existing material, augmenting it as it goes along and providing all the reference links for those who wish to learn more.
The Elementary Farming is a simple and revolutionary new agricultural practice, founded and popularized by Agrotechnician Gian Carlo Cappello after a lifetime of experimentation in the field and on himself. The Elementary Farming makes it possible to obtain raccolti sani, safe and abundant harvest without fatigue, without wasting water and without environmental pollution, while fully respecting the natural growing conditions of plants.
It is not a reform of agricultural practices, but a revolution che chiude il capitolo della scienza agronomica e sposta il fulcro del coltivare dalla mentalità materialista al riconoscimento della nostra innate competence, which is enhanced by practice and experience.
The land is never tilled, weeded, fertilized or amended, but is always kept mulched exclusively with meadow hay. The coexistence of cultivated plants and wild grasses is valued. No pesticides are used, no animals or their derivatives are used, water consumption is negligible, and revisited artisanal hand tools are used. The soil profile is not altered with raised beds, pallets or other shaping, no crop rotations, green manure, cover sowing, varietal associations, composting, space planning, work scheduling. No soil testing is done. The choice of ancient or modern horticultural varieties is free from dogmatic positions, and self-produced seeds are preferred. The Elementary Farming adapts to any non-extreme soil and climate situation. Simplification of practices should not be confused with ease or abandonment of the vegetable garden.
With the full expression of natural processes, le piante crescono strong and give us nutritious fruit, condizione essenziale per concretizzare una svolta sociale ed economica che sia orientata al superamento del sistema capitalista. For this instance of change, the Elementary Farming is not aimed at farms, but at families and communities seeking food self-sufficiency to return to living not "in" the countryside, but "of" the countryside.
The Elementary Farming is not just an agricultural practice, it is above all an attitude of the heart and mind as it promotes the inner growth of those who cultivate and those who feed.
" The Elementary Farming puts agriculture back to where it was found: in the generous hands of Nature."
THE "DON'T DO" IN THE ELEMENTARY FARMING
- We Do NOT work the soil, even superficially or even once at the beginning of cultivation
- WE DO NOT alter the soil profile by raised beds, benches or other shaping
- WE DO NOT use fertilizers, pesticides, soil conditioners, herbicides or other chemical, organic, homeopathic preparations
- WE DO NOT practice crop rotations, green manures, cover sowing, varietal intercropping, composting, space planning, calendaring
- WE DO NOT use irrigation systems even in large areas
- WE DO NOT use animals or animal products
- WE DO NOT perform soil testing
- WE DO NOT use technology and machinery produced by industry
- WE DO NOT take dogmatic positions in the choice of new or old horticultural varieties, preferring self-produced seeds
- WE DO NOT believe it is possible to make the principles of the Elementary Farming coincide with the sale of garden produce
- WE DO NOT confuse "not doing" with abandonment.
THE "DOING" IN THE ELEMENTARY FARMING
- We get stable, healthy, tasty and nutritious crops
- We keep the garden mulched with meadow hay all year round
- We sow and transplant in "Nests" or rows following orthogonal lines and without mixing varieties
- We consider the natural balance of the growing environment an essential condition for healthy plant growth
- We consider so-called "diseases" as natural processes useful for maintaining the balance of cultivation
- We promote inner growth, the development of intuition and feeling, innate wisdom, creativity, foresight, common sense and self-discipline of the cultivator
- We identify strong and healthy nutrition as a prerequisite to the attainment of one's freedom.
THE ELEMENTARY FARMING: Utopia Realized
This site is for educational and dissemination purposes only. Since it is non-profit, it does not feature advertising banners of any kind. All material present both written and photographic is subject to Copyright and may be reproduced only with the prior consent of the Author.
To teach the Elementary Farming requires decades of specific practice in the field as well as humanistic training and an appropriate personal dimension. To explain simplicity, one must start from a distance. Anyone can practice The Elementary Farming, but to date the popularization can only be carried out by founder Gian Carlo Cappello as there are currently no other people who can convey the message and content in its entirety. To protect those who approach The Elementary Farming, no one is allowed to offer courses, meetings, conferences, interviews, sites, publications or anything else.
The Elementary Farming is intended for individuals, families and communities. No companies, foundations, corporations, parties, or movements are granted permission to use it.
