Making Soil Blocks: #1 Method For Starting Seeds (w/ Jim Kovaleski)
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- There are countless reasons soil blocks are the best option for some of our favorite vegetable starts. This special seedling method has been a large part of Jim Kovaleski's garden success, especially when it comes to planting out his lettuce varieties. We are keeping our promise to bring you a lot more great content with our dear friend Jim, as he transitions into the next succession of veggies for his local farmers market circuits. Jim has been an inspiration to many of us for a decade now. His market garden is a work of edible art, filled with our favorite annual vegetables that are always so sought after by the local co-ops & markets.
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Jim Kovaleski is known for growing vegetables & fruits year-round for the farmers' markets of the Tampa Bay area of Florida & coastal Maine.
From now until April, you can join Jim & the other vendors at the Sunday Farmers Market in New Port Richey, FL, at the Wright's Natural Market & Cafe at 5800 Main Street from 11am - 2pm.
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USE A HOE TO MIX BOSS
So sad it turns out to be an internet business... It's incoherent with Jim's speech.
What is that metal device he uses to make the squares called?
@@rebeccagabay4164 soil block maker
Thank you, Pete, for sharing so many vids of Jim. Very inspirational, and I love to see his work. I now use both sturdy cel-trays and soil blockers and love them both. Have tried to find a source for the greensand, but haven't found that much.
What I wonder is about the blue trays Jim uses. I love how sturdy they seem and that they are stackable. Are they (or something alike) still available somewhere you know?
The mesh trays from Johnny's seems nice and affordable too and I know they are recommended by some, but when I tried to buy them by the 50's I found Johnny's added about 300 dollar markup for EU customers, so I think they want to reserve them for usa customers only.
Just wondering what kind of trays the blue one's are, so I can look for them. Thanks.
I don't know how many times I've watched this video, I just watched it again. Never get tired of watching how Jim makes his own soil and creates his soil blocks. 😊👍😍
Sweet!!
Must be nice with all the temperatures just right, yeah know. But, yeah know, it's like a roller coaster, don't you know?
This man is the Bob Ross of gardening
Nononono that title goes to sean with edible acres
Pete and jim are badasses though haha
All gardeners are the bob ross of gardening lol
You gotta check out Charles dowling. Crazy soothing gardening voice.
@@devonolsen1331 even when he broke that chickens neck with a shovel.
Ya he is!!
If you are having trouble understanding what he said as per the amendments, here is a list:
*small block mix*
peat
compost
greensand (aka glauconite)
colloidal phosphate (aka soft rock phosphate)
*big block mix*
peat
azomite - a type of rock dust
perlite (he said Elliot Coleman uses coarse sand instead of perlite)
greensand
colloidal phosphate
blood meal
compost
Thanks you. Do you know the amounts on the small block mix?
Oh, I appreciate this comment! ;) I tried to use CC and that didn't help either. This was very helpful!
@@rebbecastenzel2587 Glad to help!
THANK YOU
@@charlesterrizzi8311 You're welcome. :)
A tip, I use a cheep cement mixer to mix the amendments. No dust in the face and mixes real well. Then while it's done and still rotating dump it out into the wheelbarrow or cart.
Nice! That’s what I used also. Jim does it the old fashioned way 😊
That's nice. I use a large compost tumbler to mix and also store the mix.
Talking about a guy that uses a scythe for multiple acres.
Just saw your comment, I do the same thing!
I used to use the cement mixer when I showed giant leeks saved a lot of hard work🇬🇧🏴
Soil block Mix
Bucket = 10 quarts
(2) buckets peat moss
(2) cups azomite
Mix
(2) buckets perolite
(1) bucket peat moss
(1) cup azomite
(1) cup of green sand
(1) cup rock phosphate
(1) cup blood meal
(1) bucket compost
Mix
Add water
Mini Mix:
(3) quarts peat moss
(1 1/2) quarts compost
(1/2) cup rock phosphate
(1/2) cup green sand
Mix
Add water
If need bigger batch - double recipe.
Thanks for the summary.
thank you for this. noticed though that there is no limestone!!! mygreathanks and blessings😇
Not all heros wear capes
Thank you Sweetheart
thank you so very much....blessings
A process that pays off in the years to follow. Beats the heck out of buying plastic trays that go bad every other year!
I found trays that are heavy duty & last as long as they don't fall onto stone from a height. Yes they cost more, but worth it.
Saw another video where the couple said they used do mixes for blocks but they found 100% potting soil works out perfectly.
That's the first time I have seen start to finish soil block prep and plant. Really awesome. Jim's plants look so great! Thank you for the video!
Before I got my soil blocker I saw someone use one off to the side - no explanation. I just used mine for the first time & had some trouble so decided to search UA-cam University. Out of 4 or 5 videos, this one is by far the best. Thank you!!
Awesome 😎
Jim has always brought me into the energy to farming. Thank you Pete
🙌
Regarding 14:20, if your container has too much soil for the stage of plant, it will hold more water than the plant can use which gives opportunity to soilborne diseases. Roots need oxygen just as much as water as he said as well. Hope that helps everyone - size your container for the plant size, and pot up into larger containers as it grows (or something else will use that free water).
best explanation I've heard about this issue. thank you
Mind blown.... use just enough for the plants needs. Makes perfect sense and honestly, with soil blocking, potting up is childsplay, its so easy!
Jim is an inspiration gardeners everywhere!! Got my soil blocker on its way!
One word for this: MAGICAL!
Thanks to the both of you.
🙌
Jim works for every penny he earns. Great video.
Have watched this video so many times just for the absorption of info, but also the recipe and method for soil block making.
Just invested in a pair of Soil Blockers made by the original - Ladbrooke. I got the Mini 4 and the Micro 20. Got all the ingredients for the soil mixture and I'm mixing it up and making blocks while watching this video. Tonight I'm starting Onions, Peppers, Tomato and Salad Greens.
Thanks Pete and Jim for sharing this info.
We love to see Jim. Thank you for such great content. ❤
Thanks Jim, Pete and Mel. I like Jim's small into big block method, makes a lot of sense. I have both sizes so nothing stopping me. Great video.
Stepping up your block game Trish 👊
I really want to try this. Where can one find the small block maker?
@@daviddeane3163 Johnny's carries them.
First time I will start seeds in mini soil blocks this January. Thank you for inspiration
Trish, where did you find the mini soil block tool?
Hey former neighbor! I used to go to the market and get your stuff all the time. I lived off mass and rowan area lol
Awesome! Jim just got back in town two weeks ago.
Such a beautiful garden Jim. I hope someday my husband and I can do this too.
Pete, it would be awesome of you'd start a program for city youth to emulate what you do. I'm sure it would get funding.
So many wasted lawns out there. So many young folks could get off the streets and into the yards.
That would be amazing!
Bring in younger generation to save the future or else everything is stuck in robotics state help keep general labor cheap and easy and be happy about it and garden is another good way to learn from mistake and fix the problem on their own term
@Dr. Giggles Like Joel Salatin says, "Everything I Want To Do Is Illegal."
I was part of a neighborhood farm in Boulder CO. City Ordinances are a big hurdle. But sadly, this does not have any traction with younger people. Take it from me I'm one of them (I'm just now getting older and making time for it). Youth outreach is a hard nut to crack. Doesn't mean we should try, but it would be more so to expose them so that they might take it up when they get older.
@KeepitSimple, you are right about the "so many wasted lawns:. I'm about to start my permaculture urban garden in TX. My side/back yard is just a big waste of lawn (0.23 acre with a 1680 sq ft house)....I have the materials to build a 22 ft x 34 ft [12 ft high] greenhouse. I have found some videos today where I will go about building raised beds ua-cam.com/video/rmgAqYwFFA8/v-deo.html and self contain hoop houses [that are not inside the greenhouse ua-cam.com/video/ef_TS19TRQg/v-deo.html.....and the raised beds [inside the greenhouse and the hinged hoops I will put these SIPs to irrigate [and set up some rain catchment to facilitate the watering: ua-cam.com/video/Lp9Jdyno9hI/v-deo.html.
I am mapping it all out. Practice in TX while looking for land to purchase in the Caribbean *Jamaica) to go live off-grid rurally. Not certain when the plans to start in Jamaica will take off the ground....but the TX bit will take off before Summer 2020 is out.
Those that fail to plan....plan to fail. The pandemic should be a wake up call....but many people will ignore the warning signs and then duke out to trying to get toxic food from the stores to eat.
But to each their own.
This guy doesn’t mess around, wow!
I replay this every spring. Such great info in a helpful format. This year we're adding blood meal to our soil mix.
Gosh Jim I LOVE That Shed! Of course those soil blocks are amazing too, but the shed is cool.
Privacy, natural lighting, ventilation and minimal materials 👍
Those gardens are gorgeous ❤
Thanks for this Pete and Jim!
🙌🙌🙌
Thank you both . Jim I very much appreciate your willingness to show how u mix & what u mix. I am very new at gardening so I need to learn to do this the best way.
Thanks for sharing how to make the mini-blocks! I love watching Jim step by step taking us through it. Keep pounding dirt! 🌴
Glad to share 🙌
@@PeteKanarisGreenDreamsFL guess I missed the mini block making part, gonna watch it again. Is there a mini block making press?
David Deane yes
@@lifeinthemudlane1846 David, where did you find the press for the mini?
thank you
You make the most beautiful soil blocks. I love your neat and functional garden very much. Thanks.
wow your garden so green
I saw your cool Pepsi bottling crate, and thought they would work great for me, too. Got 10 on ebay today!
Spend $50.00 for reusable trays. That way you don't spend all day making block cakes! LOL
Brilliant.. Thanks.. great to see the master at work..
Top shelf video. Cheers, Pete and Jim. This one’s a keeper.
What a plethora of education😮 & I love his tools, we must shop at the same gardening tool store 🌱
That's a very cool technique, thanks so much for sharing it with us!
Thank you Pete.
You guys are wonderful and I'm absolutely envious of everything you all do. Thank you for sharing!
Much love! Thanks for the support
Thank you Pete & Jim!
At 3:22 I found myself holding my breath.. 😂 anyone else or was that just me haha
Yes, I would wanna do that outside...
I just came across your videos. This guy is amazing. I like gardening...wow.
Jim has an extreme wealth of knowledge 🌱
I love all what Jimmy does!!🤠‼ thankfully for sharing ‼🤠
I have been binge watching your videos w Jim, how educational! Thanks!
Interesting. We do a lot more compost than peat just to make the blocks a bit more solid. Though our mix is 7 parts sifted black kow compost to three parts peat. Have watched this soo many times, still love watching it as we have done soil blocks for 7+ years and still enjoy learning.
Got my maker today because of this man!
@ 8:32 That's some beautiful mix!! 😍
I always learn so much from both you and Jim. Thanks
his front yard garden gives me goals....serious goals. He can teach you so much...Needs to make an instructional video.
We have a course we offer with Jim
That's some wonderful January weather..
What a beautiful yard!!!
Great another video with Jim. Thanks pete your awesome... it made my morning more productive, mae here from Philippines... 6am my time
Love it!
Thanks Jim, my christmas loquat fruit was great. You said it was your favorite. Thanks Pete for selling little trees. My tree had alotta fruit but the squirrels snd birds loved them. I got to taste one and another is ripening on the counter.
Nancy Fahey...you can make tea with the leaves!
We all love loquat!
I used to have an old loquat tree. Once tree hits maturity, you'll have so fruitage that birds, squirrels, you, & the ground will all be enjoying.
ty
so fun to see the whole process! Thanks so much from showing us!
Wow that is awesome thanks. I use boiling water to minimize the criters that otherwise hatch out of the peat.
Finally have discovered a viable purpose for those totes that are in storage from old vending route. Nice 💡
jim's voice is like "alright alright alright" - Matthew McConaughey
they get older and i stay the same age...
So jealous!!! That yard!
Thank you Both for soil formula!,!
Typically IMPOSSIBLE to find...
✌️❤️😁🌿
Thank you so much
This guy does one hell of a job.
Yes he does
Great video Pete! You ask the best questions of Jim! THANK YOU
🙌
Jim Kovaleski what a legend
He’s a pro for sure! Always learning from your videos. Thank you Pete and Jim!
Thanks 😊
Superb. I just ordered my Soil Block Maker. This fella knows he's stuff. Thanks Pete.
Planting is easy in your place ..you have complete materials..I hope soon I can have a garden...
Love the trays.
You appeared in the side bar. I'm soon to build a raised bed garden. I will want to build a double canopy cover also, We have to grow our own food now. Thank you for teaching your food growing strategies. I hope you get rich from this since people are waking up to the solar minimums leading in to solar cycle 25. Social Distancing just might keep farmers from getting the crops in the ground on time Global.
Gardeners are cool people! 😎👍
I am envy of those Sun shine in FL. ☀️🌸☘️
Thank You
I struggle with well water and that tip was wonderful
Love the Loquat tree. Used to eat bowls of them. Makes my mouth water.
Brilliant video - thank you. What a stunningly beautiful garden - makes me excited to get mine going. Good to see Jim's method of filling the soil blockers - I just got mine - thankful to get plastic seedling trays out of my life. Off to look at the other videos. Cheers
Thank you! Happy gardening :-)
Thanks for the video.
Thanks Jim!
Great vid Pete. Do you have a video of making the mini blocks? I had to take notes in this one because it was so informative. And i live that Jim lives 3 mins from me.
Yes please I wanna see minis!
Yes....me too. He ran thru these ingredients very quickly. Azomite, yes, perilite or vermiculite, yes, peatmoss, yes, but wha else......
@@keithbeal1214 he also mentioned greensand, colloidal phosphate, and blood meal
@@eklectiktoni Yes, thank you. I caught everything else, but Collidel Phosphate. I live about 15 minutes from Jim garden, but I don't stop and chat to a working farmer. ha! Very impressive set up. Do you garden thru this method also? If so, where are you located? Thanks again!
Oh man, that's a blessing for you to live so close to him. I would be a "garden stocker" if I live that close...lol.
Thanks for sharing ! You work really hard !!
Thanks I bought the blocker yr or so ago and didn't know how to use. Grateful!
looking good best of luck for coming season
Thanks gentleman, I've been waiting for this one
G'day and Peace to you,
Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Much
Appreciated
Thanks for the great video. lots of useful tips. I'd love to know where he got the cool blue trays the 2" blocks went into?
Wondering the same thing! Does anybody know?
Thank you so much for these videos! You and Jim are so inspiring!
Thinking about moving to florida within the next 3 years from Arizona... Super excited to see all the green everywhere and actually grow things that hopefully won't die of heat stroke. Hopefully find some gardening classes around that area too that would be cool.
Awesome!! We need more like-minded people
Great Video! I now have both soil blockers and love them.
Thanks! That's awesome
*_JIM, YOU'RE THE MAN!_* Gonna start soil blocking very soon... (also...my wife just got USDA High Tunnel Initiative application approved!! YooHOO!!)
A couple hours south & where I'm @ it's 3 + growing seasons. All of the states small tents & fruit stands buy there produce from the homestead area. Thousands of acres. Nice when u don't have to pay attention to the season. But water is always needed. I enjoy the early details to green house starters for a head start to planting outside. U have to appreciate the incredible hard work involved before it ever goes outside to grow. We had an open garden one year where we let folks in the country come & pick what they wanted. Big mistake.....lol
Too many folks stepped all over the vines & plants & no respect for the hard work or property. Appreciate your sharing your hard work with us.
thanks
Thank you, I will definitely do this for my heirloom organic seed starting in January next year!
Awesome!
That is awesome!
Great video. Jim's place is always inspiring!
Thanks 😊
So cool!
Great information . Thanks for sharing guys 👊
Jim's garden looks AMAZING! 2nd time I'm watching this, and I wonder how Jim is doing.
Great information thanks
than u for info
Jim is so healthy ❤️❤️❤️❤️
New subscriber here today! Very interesting channel. Thank you for sharing your growing with us!
Love you Jim - Beautiful! Thank you!
Seed startng.. take the blocks place them on a "bed barrier sheets" for small children(they used to have dried gel embedded in the mat/fiber side up)..elevate it with part hanging over the side in the tray with a reservoir of water...it filters the water & gives you just the right amount of moisture to the blocks w/o flooding it...also then you do not have waste time by paying attention to the moisture in the blocks especially arid areas and no water wasting...capillary siphoning
thank you for confirming this - I was just looking online to see if including a capillary mat in my propagation set up would be a good idea. Cheers