Benefits of Sustainable Natural Farming

1. Understand and balance the soil, (through testing & observation) giving attention to its chemical, biological, and physical components.
2. Balance soil chemistry and provide crop nutrition using life-promoting, non-toxic fertilizers.
3. Use a relatively short rotation and inter-seed row crops whenever possible.
4. Manage tillage to control the decay of organic materials while optimizing soil aeration and moisture levels. Avoid tillage-induced damage to soil life or soil structure.
5. Feed soil life with green manure crops and other sources of organic matter.

Converting to Sustainable Natural Farming

There are two primary kinds of conversion from conventional farming to Sustainable Natural Farmin (SNL): horizontal conversion and vertical conversion.

1. Horizontal conversion involves converting an initial portion of farmland to SNF, and then enlarging the SNF area in stages.
2. Vertical conversion entails a gradual reduction of the volume of conventional inputs, such as chemical fertilizers or other agricultural chemicals. These two methods also can be used in combination.

Both these methods fall under the rubric of transitional farming. No matter which method is adopted, soil improvement must be effected in a way that is appropriate for the particular soil conditions of the farmland under cultivation.

Finally, conversion is facilitated when commonplace crops are grown, such as sorghum or wheat, crops used for green manure, root crops like potatoes, and legume crops like field peas or Lab Lab. These crops absorb the chemical residues that conventional farming imparts to the soil. Such crops, however, would be considered "transitional," until the remaining residues have been extracted.