What was in BioCultura for my garden?

Last week, the XXX Edition of BioCultura, the great international fair for Organic Products and Responsible Consumption, was held at the Feria de Madrid. Countless activities of more than 700 exhibitors dedicated to fashion, cosmetics, construction, therapy and organic food showed us their products and projects, claiming that there is an alternative to traditional methods. But, what was there in BIOCULTURE for my garden?

Visiting the Biocultura fair

Organic seeds and seedlings

At the 2014 Biocultura fair we were able to see several companies that sold organic seeds and seedlings for our garden. Among them we find the following:

• KIMUAK: This company from Bilbao offers a wide variety of organic seeds, sprouts and sprouts, including germination kits for them.
• Mother Earth: Showed a wide catalog of biological seeds of vegetables, flowers and aromatic plants. To obtain it, they use the Vibrational Cultivation system, which activates and enhances the energies of the earth, preventing and healing plants and fruits.

• Spores: Markets mushroom growing kits with recycled coffee grounds as a substrate. Each kit is one kilo less waste to take to the landfill converted into food.
• Hortiaroma: A Madrid company responsible for producing organic seeds and plants that allows us the option of making a purchase in person at your farm or making it by phone, email or online. It couldn’t be easier to acquire your organic seeds!

Composters, Humus and Ecological Fertilizers in Biocultura Madrid

For an organic garden, organic fertilizer is essential, and it is much better to make the compost ourselves by recycling pruning or food waste, for which we will need a composter. In this sense, two companies showed us their alternatives:

• Brushes Díaz: This company located in Madrid, offers a model of composter made with 100% recycled plastic materials and that has grooves inside that avoid having to move the waste frequently, ensuring good decomposition. In addition, its design is very aesthetic and adapts perfectly to the garden, as can be seen in the photograph, since it has a cavity for ornamental or cultivated plants that allows it to be in harmony with the environment.

• Aerobin: Allows you to take advantage of organic remains from the home, the orchard or the garden to create a high-quality compost quickly, cleanly and easily. It incorporates a leachate tank with a tap to easily collect the liquid part of the fertilizer.

Humus is a substance made up of organic products and very beneficial for our orchard because it helps to increase porosity, aeration and water retention capacity, providing long-term nutrients. On the other hand, the earthworm humus comes from the activity of earthworms in the soil that provide a magnificent fertilizer with their excrement.

• Humus + Fértil presented us with its products: pure earthworm humus, substrates for gardens, worm boxes and compost. They also taught us how to make our own hummus at home. Really interesting!

• Fertigar: A plant fertilizer that can be considered the latest generation Humus due to its high content of humic and fulvic acids that regulate plant nutrition, serve as support and food for microorganisms and increase the resistance of plants, in addition to improving the properties ground.

Many times it is difficult to combat pests in an organic garden since it is not easy to find commercialized products of natural origin that make our task easier. At BioCultura we come across Biomac, a company that offers a series of fertilizers, stimulants and phytosanitary products (against pests) of natural origin and, therefore, suitable for organic farming.

Rental of Urban Gardens

Every day more organic gardens are created near urban areas for those who do not have space in their homes or, even though they have it, prefer a larger area to cultivate. At BioCultura we were able to get in touch with some of them:

• Huertea: Proposes a different farming style: cultivating from a distance. How? They provide orchard rentals and they take care of applying all the necessary care to the crops themselves, harvesting and sending the harvest home to us. In addition, it is possible to follow the development of the crop online in an area enabled for users on the network, where the work that has been carried out is detailed and photographs of it are provided. An alternative for those who do not have time but are aware of the importance of organic farming.

• Cultivalia: Offers leisure gardens 24 km from Madrid, a different way of enjoying free time. In addition to renting organic gardens, you can find courses to learn how to manage your garden, food transformation workshops, craft workshops, birthday celebrations and activities for the little ones. A sustainable leisure alternative!

Magazines and Associations present in Biocultura

We also find several associations dedicated to organic farming such as SEAE (Spanish Society of Organic Agriculture), Demeter (Association of Biodynamic Agriculture), Ecológicos CAEM (Center for Organic Agriculture of the Community of Madrid) or the Association of Ecological Producers Tierra Sana de Castilla – The Stain.

In addition, we attended the presentation of the book Plagues and diseases in organic vegetables and fruit trees published by the organic farming magazine La Fertilidad de la Tierra, also present at the Fair.

In short, a really attractive event, as well as fun, for those who are interested in ecology, and which allows an approach of it to those who still do not know its benefits. That is why I recommend that you do not miss the next edition of the BioCulture fair that will be held in Valencia from February 27 to March 1, 2015.