Spring Prep in our "No-Work" Garden, and an EASIER way to Spread Mulch
Вставка
- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- NEW! Consider supporting our channel on Patreon, to help us create more frequent videos. / backtoreality
---
It's finally starting to look and feel like Spring, so we headed outside to check out how our garden fared through the long frozen winter. Then we chopped and dropped last year's plants and laid out some mulch. Or in other words, EVERYTHING we do to to clean up after our final harvest in Fall and prepare for our first planting in Spring.
---
Preparing our Hugelkultur Garden for Winter: Chop and Drop
• GGC - 73 - Preparing o...
The Ruth Stout Method of Permaculture
• The Ruth Stout Method
337 lbs of Potatoes! NO digging, NO watering, and VERY LITTLE work!
• 337 lbs of Potatoes! N...
Planting Potatoes in a Ruth Stout Permaculture Garden (QUICK and EASY)
• Planting Potatoes in a...
Results from our NO DIG and NO WATER potato experiment (Ruth Stout Method)
• Results from our NO DI...
Companion Planting Carrots, Radishes and Onions in a Ruth Stout (HAY-ONLY) Garden
• Companion Planting Car...
Results and Lessons Learned from our Carrot, Onion, and Radish Experiment
• Results and Lessons Le...
Plant Hardiness Zone, Rainfall, and Other Important Information
• Plant Hardiness Zones,...
Winter Ruth Stout Permaculture Update and HAY vs STRAW
• GGC - 76 - Winter Ruth...
Ah shoot! Anyone notice the typo in the video?
It's ok Gardning gives it more of that country vibe ;)
yup, 'No wok gardning'
lol, true. Perhaps I should just embrace it then ;)
Didn't notice it... I was too busy being in awe of how simple that process can be... I'm so glad I found you... Thanx for sharing.
Nope!
Hi you guys !
Hope this finds you well and happy. I googled “lazy gardener” a while back because I wanted the food without the work. Consequently I found you guys and got hooked on your vlogs. Then I got inspired ! Then I got to work ! Long story short, in February I had a lawn and now at the end of May I have enough food in my garden to feed us every night for months ahead. I can’t thank you enough for sowing that seed. All my previous efforts had been half hearted, half productive and hard work. I wish I could send you some pictures of what you’ve help create. I’m even cooking my own compost for next year to feed the whole garden.
If ever you hit the road again and end up in the UK there’s a mobile home looking over the veg garden and you’ll be very welcome any time 😊
Wow you master the art of clarity in your speach my friend. So well done, not just on the content but on the way you present and say/show it. All of the videos I've seen from you guys (didnt watch all of them yet) are top notch, full of valuable info and with a great attitude. Thank you again
this. he's seriously good at de-mystifying all of it ... while giving really valuable visuals.
You have a talent at narrating videos. That is no easy feet. Congrats.
Thanks so much!
Finally! Been waiting for what seems like forever!
As a somewhat lazy person that likes the outdoors, this video is so much yes for me. lol
I had the results of growing my potatoes in mulch in 2 different beds this year. They were about 5 m by 50 cm. One had a wheelbarrow worth of compost so around 1 cm, potatoes placed on top, and a thick mulch of chipped Christmas trees from the city, about 15 cm. Then the other bed had double the compost, same mulch. Without any surprise, the bed with more compost produced more (but not double). Taste was about the same IE very good, a lot better than I expected for this Mona Lisa variety which is pretty standard. The "normal" potato beds, dug and without any mulch, produced more, without surprise again. It had a lot of horse manure the previous year so it was rich. But it was a lot more work for sure, also a lot of work to dig out the potatoes, and more to make the ground ready for planting again. For the mulched potatoes, I simply removed a bit of the mulch to plant leeks, and put the mulch back in. The leeks are going fine. I'll try it again next year, with more compost. Also, we had an unfortunate late frost, in early May, which hadn't happened in 15 years, and hit the mulched potato beds the hardest to its unsheltered location, so that affected yields IMO. I planted in mid April.
Thanks for the video. So glad to hear from you guys! Great trick with the round bale. I do a no till method sort of. I live in a town with a small yard and use wood chips for mulch. I can't wait to start planting. We are zone 3/4.
I miss you guys!
You guys are awesome. Brilliant idea. I’ve been gardening the old fashion way. Gotta try your was. Thank you for sharing. God bless.💕☀️🌈🙏🏻🌎
Bought a farm in Ontario as well and you folks are absolutely our model. Its really excellent to be working with similar conditions and views. Thanks for the videos and inspiration! Cheers to year 3!
I looooove using hay. Round bales are so much cheaper and that rolling trick we learned from listening to Gabe Brown give a talk about how he planted potatoes. He literally drives along, plops the potatoes down from the bag in the truck, then rolls out bales of hay on top. I was sold.
Gardening can be very stressful. All the do's and don't cause me to pause and say "nope, not this year" but your series has given me such a buzz that I am absolutely going to get a a few beds ready for next spring. I am hoping that the Ruth Stout method will kick some royal bootie for my grapes I wanna grow, and some watermelon tho I am thinking the hugelkultur method would be divine for those tough vines.
Hey you two... happy Easter/spring.
Thanks Paul, same to both of you!
Well my dears, my Ruth Stout garden has had a problem. I didn't start it soon enough last year and we had a very dry winter so the hay just wouldn't rot. I am also having a problem with weeds that are coming up through the thick hay. South Carolina weeds are apparently quite tough to kill - especially the Dollar weed and wild Blackberries. I will keep plugging on. So enjoy your videos.
Oh no, sorry to hear that Ann. We do occasionally get some grass that just won't take the hint, so some pulling may be required. Sounds like your's is a bit tougher than ours though. Good luck, and please let us know how it turns out over the season.
GREAT VIDEO!!! Full of Wonderful information!!!! Very useful!!! 🍅🌽🌶🥒🌱🌿🌾~ Ms K
You inspire me to do gardening
Nice to see you both for a change. Love your videos!!!!
Hi thought I would check on you guys. We have watched all your videos and were wondering if your planning on uploading any more content. Hope all is well.
Glad you guys have things started... can we get a garlic update. Mine started sprouting back in March.
Ours have just started sprouting over the past week or so.
This is my fav! Best episode yet. Cheers!
BRAVO!
thanks for the video.
I really enjoy your videos -they are very informative and THANK YOU for the clear way you speak... listening to you is a pleasure ;-)
Awesome Possum ! Now all I need is a plot of Earth. Thank you. Great fun learning here !
Happy Spring!! Like you, we have a source for "spoiled hay", and we're thrilled. We only have a 1/4 yard - including the house - so our 'garden' is small, and we plant in other areas around the yard. We do have straw bales...under the roof where the rain pours off the metal, but only hay goes on our garden. The hay breaks down so much easier and better, and my understanding is it has more nutrients than straw. However, if straw was all I had...I would use it. Well done!
When can we expect your next video?
I really miss your cheerful hellos at the beginnings of the videos.
Aloha! We love your channel! :) Hearing you talk about a blank canvas I wonder: Have you considered a sun scoop? Piles of rocks to encourage small creatures? Larger hugelcultures (6 ft?) Do you need to plant trees for windbreaks or does your forest go all around you? Thank you so much for the wonderful videos! My 5 yr old can tell people the Ruth Stout method and is so excited when there is a new video. And, actually, I am too! :)
good idea:)
0:36 awwww. ♥
So glad to have a vid from y'all. Been hibernating? Smile.
Wonderful video! Really enjoy watching your progress, I'm starting my own project this summer :) might start a fresh youtube channel just for that! Thank you for spreading inspiration!
Your channel is my favorite!!!!!!
Only issue w hay in Texas is majority will have been treated w chemicals of some type
If you don't mind my asking, what lavelier microphone and recording system do you use? Crystal clear :)
So glad to see a video, thank you! Looking forward to your summer garden. Have you thought about wearing masks while spreading spoiled hay? Or is your limited contact with the mold spores not long enough to warrant the inconvenience?
I was wondering..have you perhaps heard of a wheel herb grinder? I found your channel while looking for how to dry garlic for making garlic powder and I got to thinking when I saw your video. You mentioned how you could use a mortar and pestle if you wanna do it off grid style, but I think that the type of grinder I'm thinking of would do a good job, it has a trough that you place your item you want to grind up in and then you have a wheel with a handle through it so it can roll back and forth. You roll the wheel back and forth and if it runs up the sides you use the wheel to scrape them down and keep doing this till it's done. I've seen a few made of wood but the most common are made of cast iron but nobody really talks about them outside of Eastern Medicine where in Japanese they are called Yagen (have to be careful looking them up as there is an anime character with the same name). I think that type of grinder might be something you could look into for not only your garlic powder and garlic salt but any nuts or the like you wanna grind up too.
love your new content...very interesting....but ya's should take another trip in the Van lol
Can you please do an video with another update on root cellar
We're working on it ;)
Are you guys done making vids?
After watching 1/2 dozen videos, you finally answered my question. Hay is very seedy, so I assumed you meant straw. No weeds or clover grow from the hay?
Can you make a video about what plants don't work in a Ruth Stout/Mulch Gardening plot? Curious, as to what your research/experience is!
So far, all of the plants that we've tried have been successful in a Ruth Stout garden. However, some do better than others in a brand new garden that was created using the Ruth Stout method. For example, carrots did not do very well, because the soil was still too compacted and the previous year's sod layer was still too thick during the first season.
@@BackToReality
That's really interesting. Here's a better question. Have you tried any non-root vegetables with no dig and with just sowing the seed on the soil surface and covering it up with the hay mulch? I'm curious as to how different varieties do with no dig in Canada (I'm based in Toronto).
Great graphics as normal. Are you a graphic designer?
Thanks Ian!
I'm not, but I dabble ;)
@@BackToReality well impressed.
@@ianmorris4468 Yes, love the graphics.
Thanks for sharing! Would it be more beneficial to wait to add the mulch until just before planting? I would think adding it now insulates the cold ground and keeps the sun from warming it up sooner?
Do you happen to know what the farmer bales those rounds in typically? It’s my understanding 6ft dia. is typical but at that size no way are 2 people going to be able to handle that safely. The one dropped to y’all appears to be 4ft? 5max? How was unloaded and how strenuous was it to handle? Thanks 😊
I'm currently working on turning a large plot into a Back to Eden/Ruth Stout garden. I wanted to get your opinion on planting in the Ruth Stout conditions on year 1. I should have access to some good old hay. The soil is already pretty good underneath. Do you think I will experience any benefits this year or is the method ineffective without having settled from Fall to Spring? Thanks for your reply.
Hello there, we have lots and lots of slugs here in Switzerland... Do you have many slugs at all? Because my concern is, that this method will be a perfect habitat for slugs then eating away all vegetables...
Straw takes longer to break down , and does not appear to feed the soil as well as hay. Timothy hay being the best so far.
1:12 Nice shot! Someone's got some camera skills.
Hey guys. I've been watching your videos for a few months now and I'm actually quite interested in the "no-work" method. I live in Ontario and I'm trying it out this year. Last year I added woodchip mulch for the first time and I checked it and its degrading like you guys said in your "Back to Eden" video.
My questions are, when is/are the best time(s) to mulch and is using a combination of topsoil, compost, and woodchips/bark sufficient to create a "no-work" garden? I don't want to hurt my mom's roses and I know that weed seeds can germinate after long periods of no sunlight but some weeds are coming up now and I'm not sure if its a good time to use my cedar mulch (I'm not sure if its better than black dyed mulch).
We tend to buy topsoil as although our soil is good, it isn't as soft and crumbly as yours and to be honest it can get quite heavy if we don't dig into it.
Would you be willing to caption your videos? I love your work so much!
Thanks Ariel! Just to confirm, do you mean closed captioning? If so, yes, that's a really good idea!
Back To Reality yes that’s exactly what I mean!
Round bales much cheaper too
maybe. The transportation can be tricky if you are doing it, and delivery can add to the cost (not free). You need to have a place to drop it off close to the garden and the right weather to prevent ruts. You probably need a partner to work with you do use it, at least at first. I can move a fresh (not water logged) square bale, but not a round bale. I am an older woman, so your story is likely different, ha. If you have a lot of space to cover and manpower and the bale is conveniently located, then yes, it is probably less expensive. We make both, but the pastures or orchards get the old round bales and the gardens get the old square bales :)
So you prefer the Ruth Stout method over the back to Eden method?
Great question! For the most part, we consider Ruth Stout and Back to Eden to be essentially the same thing. The only MAJOR difference is the type of mulch used. So, I guess the best way to say it is that we love deep organic mulch! :) However, so far, hay has been easier for us to find and work with, so Ruth Stout wins out most of the time. But if we suddenly came across a huge pile of wood chips, then B2E would probably be the winner that day. We figure it's best to stick to basic principles, and then remain flexible on the details :)
@@BackToReality Thank you.
What about slugs?
Looks like a lot of work to me. No getting around work when it comes to Farming and Ranching no matter how small the area is. But it beats wasting away in front of electronic gadgets.
Guys, you are the best. Ever look into a real cash crop other than garlic? American gingseng is ‘supposed to grow in eastern Canada & down the eastern USA. Look it up on youtube. Seeds and rootlets are pricey, but mature plants go for quite a bit. Worth looking into as a young couple. Especially if you have shady areas from deciduous trees. Find a local supplier or source to market to. Best wishes! Hows the leg?
Awesome tip, thanks!
My ankle is still a little sore and stiff, but all things considered, it's doing really well. Thanks for asking!
What state do you live in
You've been quiet ... things okay??
What ever happened to your van.
☕☕👍👍❤❤
Actually the 'no work' concept is bull. What it is is a 'less work' system that allows you to get other work done. So actually is is a 'same work' but more productive system......(!)
I used a round bale too, way cheaper than squares and i have plenty to spare. That said some people fund my huge round bale pretty amusing sitting in my yard.
Rolling is easier than lugging. A wet or damp bale is quite heavy.
This is the best channel
It’s well made interesting and fun to watch
Keep up the good work
Hope all is well, missing your videos.
I started gardening about 2 years ago and have been maintaining an small orchard since 2011. Your channel is a virtual gold mine!! I had been wondering what to do with all the branches and limbs I have after pruning my trees each year. PROBLEM SOLVED!...now I can try this Ruth Stout method. I have quite a few palm trees (Pindos) as well. This will be interesting.
What happened to you guys. No garden or garlic updates this year.
I think they are busy gardening and living, in this busy spring-summer season, let's give them some time and hopefully, they will come up with something new when there will be less work outside ;-)
Also as the notice under the video says, we should consider to support them on Patreon to give them more motivation to create more frequent videos ;-) I am not on Patreon and being from Czech republic a.k.a. country with quite lower average income then Canada I am still not convinced, but if will something convince me to register to Patreon, it will be these "guys" ;-) Keep up the good spirit, both of you, you are lovely couple with nice energy ;-)
Any updates?
You do an incredible job with the voice-over work -- AND -- you gave us great content in the video. Thank you! (👍#335 and comment #45). Best wishes from Kate in Olympia, WA
Can you work an "And I'm Paula" in there sometime for old times sake?
Otherwise, garden looks great!
We sure can ;)
New favorite channel. I learned the Ruth Stout method by accident. Mulched my forsythia bushes with straw. Best mulch ever (until I bought some that still had the seed heads, which of course grew oats. Pulled up easily, but still not happy.) it sure made the ground beneath soft and nutrient dense.
Finally! A new video from Back to Reality! -I've been just waiting for one of these....a sure sign of spring to see another one of your videos! I live in Minnesota and it looks like you are ahead of us-bud cases are just now falling off the new leaves. I can't wait to see how your chop and drop worked-I'll be looking forward to that video.
Libby Jensen ....hey I live I’m Minnesota too !!!
I’m between Park Rapids and Bemidji....zone 3 :(
My favorite gardeners. Always a pleasure to see your channel pop up. Really like the garden area. Hay rolling over the rows sure would save time and energy. Looks perfectly ready now. Just need some warm spring days. Looking forward to your next video. Thanks. 😊👍
Hey guys? Nothing new?
Just saw the new one! Have to see it again
Every time I hear the ending, Deep down i know its over.... But i hope the video will just last a little longer
I love the round bales rolling clips and the summary of your experience with different mulches over time. I'm working on cleaning up a burnt 60 foot trailer on 3/4 acre of woods, conversation to Ruth Stout & Digger style garden. No till over Rocky clay. I've also worked with wood chips (Back to Eden style) and leaves. Hay is so easy to transport, spread, and affordable. Breaks down faster than chips and leaves it seems. Seems higher in nitrogen also. Thanks y'all! ♥️🙏🐾
when is there a new video coming out ???
It’s time for another video!!!
Very good video wow I thought when parked the camper no one would watch wow I was wrong congrats on 100# 🛠🛠🛠🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
With respect to using the round bale of hay that you guys unroll... Just reinforces for me how many times I have procrastinated about using something or trying a new method that I think will work but because it's in a slightly different form... I hesitate a bit... And to my delight it sometimes works out to be even more of a fulfilling method because I used it even though I procrastinated before... summary point... Just try using it without too much mental input
Upload more frequently!!
Nothing new happening?
Great job guys. But add only hay restrict the nutrients There are returning to the soil. Considering add different type of materials together, like hay-greenleaves-rotten wood-, in long term ur soil must be richier.
With diversity of cover soil materials ur soil Will increase nutrients passing years. Permaculture methods include produce ur own cover-soil material by planting them together with foodplants to chop'em down be4 planting seasos to maximize sunlight
cheers from brazil
I have a more classic garden bed this year, one i tilled and hoe up to plant.(might no-work next year) Problem is this year it won't stop raining!! ahh! my garden is nothing but a mud puddle! I want to build it up and make it higher then the lawn around it, but how do i add volume without to much money? I got 2 bails of that spoiled hay, should I toss it all in there? or wait till fall to cover the entire thing? help?
You need new posts
Dang! Pretty sure I've been keeping up on your videos, but was surprised to see how extensive your space is, and how many hugelkultur mounds you have. Probably operator error while attempting to access memory banks. :) Love how you figured out the most efficient way to utilize the round bale. As long as you have easy access to them, and they aren't a pain to collect & haul, I'd keep using the deep leaf mulch technique too. I use loads of leaves in the garden, mulching foot paths, and feeding them to the compost pile. They're eventually going to become some wonderful humus, which goes well on whole wheat crackers.
Wait - that's hummus!
Great seeing you guys back at it!!! I might try a round bale when I start my back orchard. I am wanting to build up my soil because it's heavy clay and I don't want my tree roots to drown. But I'm a year or two away from planting. Dirt work first!
I can't stop laughing at your delight in finding that round bales simply roll out. Something that seems simple to someone who grows up with it is a process of discovery for those new to the lifestyle. Its the only way we truly ever learn... by doing. Enjoy watching your journey. And yes... spoiled hay should be free for the asking... just ride some back roads and you are sure to come across some sitting beside the road. Just track down the owner and ask... its almost always yes... and many are happy to help you load it with their tractor if its not too big an inconvenience for them at the time.
Love it! I am going to plant 20 lbs of seed potatoes in straw like you guys did. I'm so excited to see our harvest!
can potatoes be planted mid April in Southern Ontario
Derrick we think your terrific but it was very nice to see Paula . I hope she feels better.
Awesome video. Did you find it easier to find spoiled hay from the growers or from farms that purchased it and had extra?
Good question! So far, we've only gotten spoiled hay from farmers who grew it for their own use. We like to get it straight from the source, so that we can be more confident about how it was grown (ie. chemical free)
Back To Reality thanks for the reply. I reached out to a hay farm yesterday. I guess they sell spoiled bales for mushroom growers, but were willing to let me take whatever they had sitting around in loose piles. I have learned to grab whatever organic matter I can get for free.
Thanks for sharing your adventure. You are inspirational and I can't wait to start my garden!
Amazing! Year 3 already!
More please.
Is it weird to ask a local farmer for spoiled hay or straw as a 17 year old?
Hmmm, as long as you're polite a friendly about it, I think you should be ok.
@@BackToReality wouldn't it be a bit of a strange question though?
@@starshot5172 As a farmer who has spoiled hay, no, not really a strange question. But, the conversation might not go the way you think. Generally, my easy answer would just be "no", for the reasons I said in another comment. BUT! We are always looking for helpers during the haying season, as we are older and busier. If you were looking for a creative barter, you might have yourself a deal. (and no, there probably isn't enough $ you could pay, haha) At that point it isn't free, but it is still valuable. What you should never ever do is imply that the farmer should give you his/her hard work. Unless, of course, if the farmer is your parent (haha, but not really).
You could start the conversation with your story: " I am looking to start my first garden and I'd like to build good soil.... I wondered it you had some old hay or other soil builders that you would like to be cleaned up.... or do you have some advice for me to get started on my journey...." etc. Some folks (like me) would like to know how they could help someone out, not just give a handout. They might just become a good resource and mentor, who knows?
Lastly, make sure you know what you are getting. Some fields have been sprayed with stuff you do not want in your hay, and some livestock have been fed with stuff you don't want in their manure. Gardens have been killed with this stuff :(
Hey there; just a tip from a 'Ruth Strout" er from the 1970's........ The only limiting factor in the whole system is the availability and affordability of mulch. My 'free' mulch disappeared the third year. AND the amount of bulk required to keep the weeds in check was mind boggling.
Hello :D ! Fellow Canadian here, but on the Quebec side. I'm enjoying your channel tremendously, and learning LOADS !! I am won over by your gardening philosophy, and your channel ;-) Given how you guys are located in Eastern Ontario, we probably share similar climate conditions, and that makes me hopeful that I could replicate your incredible results. May I ask a question? I see that you are planting in a field, which entails that the 'base' soil was probably ideal for cultivating. Do you know whether the Ruth Stout method can be applied to a regular urban lawn? Since the method creates rich soil, I am thinking of trying it on land that is either of poor soil, or as mentioned earlier, an urban backyard. >> I definitely need to read and watch more on the Ruth Stout method ^_^ Any resources you'd recommend? Thank you for uploading such great videos. You've got me hooked and thrilled !
Well spoken, but.... It would seem that you have mistaken work, for no work. That mulch and toppings didn't spread themselves.
To me, this channel seems oddly similar to this one:
ua-cam.com/users/ponysmasher
But about gardening instead of filmmaking.
Hi, just started watching your videos quite recently, have picked up a lot of good ideas, thank you. I do have a question about the heavy mulching. Do you not find that rodents are attracted to these piles of hay/leaves, etc? I live in southwest Saskatchewan, and we have a LOT of voles in the garden. I'd like to try your mulching method, but I worry about providing extra "homes" for the voles.
Love this system. Last summer I grew Potatoes under a Thick straw layer, and this spring broad beans are growing in the same place. My "mistake" is that I dug it before broad beans were planted , nut results are so good.
But I have a doubt, where is nitrogen? Ideal compost Has 1 portion of Nitrogen and 30 of Carbon. Straw ratio is 1 of Nitrogen per 500 Carbon. This suggests that green materials should be mixed with straw or hay.
I just discovered your channel because of your 337 lbs of potatoes episode. I live in New Bruunswick and it is so nice to see a Canadian Content show like this that deals with our colderclimate. Your programs are fantastic and so infromative. I subscribed and I am now binging your past episodes. Since I retired I took up beekeeping and love it. With the land you have and your love of the land you should get a couple of hives to both pollenate your gradens and produce your own honey. If you do get into bee keeping do not both with the Top Bar system, your bees will freeze over winter.