This statement should become a standard. I've added it to my garden quotes file, with proper attribution, of course. :-)
Ok, this has me thinking about what I have been doing, which is loosening the soil with a garden fork, or better if I had one, a broadfork. I'm certainly not arguing, just looking for the easiest and most beneficial way of improving and maintaining my soil.
My thinking, and others too, is that loosening the soil with a fork allows for aeration and sifting downwards af soil amendments...compost, ash, powdered stone, whatever. Is this too a waste of my energy and time and not that beneficial? I do raised beds and containers, so compaction from foot traffic is not an issue. One thing for sure, I haven't used a tiller for several years. Shooting rabbits in the garden doesn't trouble me, or pinching caterpillars of the bad kind, but the sight of chopped worms is just wrong.
Is what you are describing also described as "The Stout Method"? I thought the biointensive method as espoused by Jeavons sounded best and it was beginning to produce great results. One thing I didn't do, was the double (or even triple) digging that is recommended in some of the biointensive methods.
This whole business of food production is appearing to be more simple than I had imagined, and I am continually deconstructing my methods and knowledge. I guess the old KISS acronym applies.
Thanks for the re-direction.
Charlie