{"id":3301,"date":"2016-06-24T09:00:34","date_gmt":"2016-06-24T16:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/seewhatgrows.flywheelsites.com\/?p=3301"},"modified":"2016-07-26T16:34:01","modified_gmt":"2016-07-26T23:34:01","slug":"matrix-gardening-place-community-gardens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seewhatgrows.org\/us\/matrix-gardening-place-community-gardens\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Matrix Gardening Have a Place in Community Garden Programs?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Matrix<\/p>\n

Matrix planting is a form of self-sustaining gardening that focuses on diverse, aesthetically pleasing plants over food-bearing (herbs, fruits and vegetables) varieties.<\/p>\n

This gardening method is steeped in natural balance between plant species occupying the same space. This balance, and opportunity for growth, includes the sharing of resources. \u00a0The controlled environment chooses and maintains\u00a0plants that allow the\u00a0formation\u00a0of a\u00a0garden\u00a0grid where which plants complement the existence of one another. No weeds are allowed to enter the picture. Simply put, matrix gardening\u00a0is a concept where plants grow in unison\u00a0naturally, yet not in a manner\u00a0directly\u00a0imitated by nature. Given matrix planting’s focus on aesthetics, does it apply to our Foundation’s goal to support self sustaining communities? Can it be used to complement your urban farming initiative? Let’s find out.<\/p>\n

Why Matrix Planting is Important to Your Community Garden Plan<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

Matrix Planting Boosts Biodiversity<\/strong><\/p>\n

Natural vegetation in practically any climate will have a diverse make-up of plant species. This biodiversity sets the scene for your plants to grow as nature intended. Diversity minimizes risk. The more singular your garden make-up the more susceptible you are to losing your garden to\u00a0disease or infestation. Polyculture<\/strong> (the use of\u00a0multiple crops in the same agricultural space) is a core component of permaculture<\/strong>, which dictates\u00a0a system of\u00a0agricultural\u00a0and social design principles that are focused\u00a0on simulating and\/or harnessing\u00a0the patterns and features observed in nature. Polyculture is conducive to improved soil fertility and the comprehensive cover provided by a matrix grid helps the garden retain moisture. A matrix garden neighboring your food-bearing garden can only encourage the harmonic and sustainable existence of the entire plot.<\/p>\n

Matrix Planting Attracts Beneficial Bugs<\/strong><\/p>\n

Beneficial bugs are essential<\/a> to the health of any food-bearing community garden. Without them, pests (which beneficial bugs prey on) can wipe out your crops in a single season. They (as primary pollinators) are also needed to pollinate your plants. Decorative plants and flowers used in matrix gardening attract the types of insects you want near your urban farm. From this purely functional perspective one can consider matrix planting an essential part of a truly sustainable community farming project.<\/p>\n

Matrix Planting Creates Community Green space<\/strong><\/p>\n

Incorporating a matrix garden at the same site of your food-bearing garden will bring together\u00a0the local community. It creates a green space that is not only functional, but visually attractive, encouraging visits and participation from neighboring households. It will also add to these initiatives to get local children more\u00a0more engaged<\/a> in the project. Matrix gardens require less maintenance and are multi-seasonal, which means it becomes a destination point throughout the four seasons.<\/p>\n

Matrix Planting Can Help Secure Additional Community Support<\/strong><\/p>\n

By creating a more visually appealing atmosphere around your garden you enhance public perception. Since garnering support from media, municipal, corporate and organizational interests\u00a0is necessary to the long-term success of your project, you want to add aesthetics to your current\u00a0public relations plan<\/a>. Municipalities will require that your garden\/farm fit the visual criteria of a given locale. A well-planned matrix can make this happen. Local media is more likely to take notice and spread the word and the corporations and organizations looking to sponsor your project with supplies and funding are more likely to do so. Incorporating the matrix planting initiative into your community garden and urban farming plan may indeed\u00a0help your project grow.<\/p>\n

Thanks to our friends from Fix.com<\/a> especially @EmilyNeil_MSVU<\/a> who shared this lovely infographic; you can view more of the benefits of matrix gardening below.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\nSource: Fix.com Blog<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Matrix planting is a form of self-sustaining gardening that focuses on diverse, aesthetically pleasing plants over food-bearing (herbs, fruits and vegetables) varieties. This gardening method is steeped in natural balance between plant species occupying the same space. This balance, and opportunity for growth, includes the sharing of resources. \u00a0The controlled environment chooses and maintains\u00a0plants that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3334,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[30,157,137],"class_list":["post-3301","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blogs","tag-community-gardens","tag-matrix-gardening","tag-urban-gardens"],"yoast_head":"\nDoes Matrix Gardening Have a Place in Community Gardens?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Defining matrix planting's role in sustainability and how it can complement your urban garden program, from the Plant a Seed and See What Grows Foundation.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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