Soil
Soil is the source of all life on earth: 30 centimetres of fertility in which plants grow.
Humanity depends on soil for its food. We hence dedicate all our efforts to feed the soil first to increase its fertility, then to restore to the soil the nutrients that have been removed through harvesting.
At Laferm Coco, the soil is sacred, and soil restoration is done as follows:
- Humus is produced on the farm through the composting process
- Biochar is produced from dead farm wood
- Liquid fertilisers are produced from vegetable scraps and manure
- Mulching
- Cultivation of a large diversity of plants
- Seasonal cultivation of legumes
Organic seeds
With our target of self reliance, we favour the production of seeds from our gardens. This enables us to use organic seeds adapted to the specific soil, climatic conditions and environment of our farm.
Vegetable garden
Some forty vegetables and herbs are cultivated at the farm. These cultures are 100% natural: no pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or synthetic chemical fertilisers.
We have put in place the fundamental elements for an appropriate natural environment which has enabled the regeneration of the ecological system: water, flowers, trees, scents, "wild" zones, insect hotels and hedges.
Cultivation is done on raised beds for the finer vegetables and partly on open ground for more robust vegetables and creepers.
The watering of the beds is done by infiltration, using the slopes: swales have been put in place throughout the gardens to allow watering at root level. This practice, together with a good layer of mulch, also enable us to water less often and hence save water.
Fruit trees
To date, some 450 fruit trees have been planted, partly in a tiny forest and partly in the vegetable garden in order to combine the growing of vegetables and fruit trees. The association of trees and vegetables enables cooperation at root level with fungi and bacteria. Of the 450 trees planted there are some 45 varieties of fruits.
In 2022, we started planting a tiny 'dense' tropical forest over 10,000 m², in order to improve the farm ecosystem and create a cooler environment for the vegetable gardens during summer months. We have planted some 800 trees to date. This plantation will also enhance the biodiversity and the natural ecosystem.
Tiny Forest
Vegetable garden and Orchard
FRUIT TREES
FRUIT VARIETIES
M² FOREST
TREES
The coconut grove
The first plantations at Laferm Coco were… coconut trees!
From January to March 2016, we planted some 1,200 young coconut trees over an area of 4 hectares.
The variety is Malaysian Dwarf, yellow, green and red.
Coconut trees are grown here without any chemical fertilizers. However, we have implemented the application of natural liquid fertilizers produced on the farm to nourish the coconut grove soil.
Livestock
Our layers are bred on free range in a spacious area.
In addition their grains feed, their are given organic fruits and vegetable from the farm to improve their health as the as the quality of the eggs.