Energy input and outputs of your garden

The Quest for the Good Life web site . . . sharing ideas with others

Last updated

05 February 2012

Inputs & Outputs - energy flow in your garden

If you think of your garden as a seesaw. On one side there’s the food you harvest, energy removed. On the other side there’s the compost you put back, or the fertiliser you add. Energy put in. The balance between this input and output determines whether your garden gains fertility or loses it over a few years.

It is more complicated than that though. Think of where you get all of the energy for the garden from. Compost, straw or local horse manure. Then note all of the things where energy is taken out like vegetables, fruit, eggs or weeds.

Inputs into our garden

Rabbit manure - including wood shavings and processed food

Chicken manure - including straw and processed pellets

horse manure - from nearby sources

Imported soil or compost - bagged or in with plants

Pondweed - if you have a pond where you have to remove weed

septic tank soak away - your processed waste drains on your land

Grass cuttings if they are from another part of the garden or outside boundary (like verge)

Straw if you add it to the garden

Wormery if you have one

Outputs from our garden

Vegetables - you remove these and eat them. Some returns if you have a septic tank

Eggs

Rabbits as meals

Food given away or sold to visitors

Plants given away or sold

Pests & diseases destroying crops