7 Things I Wish I Had Known Earlier About Gardening (20+ Years in Permaculture Gardening)

[@trigelrice7291]

I think everyone in gardening of any kind is guilty of buying too many seeds. Lol. It feels like Christmas when that package of seeds comes in the mail!

[@1Lightdancer]

It does!! And yes - guilty!

[@peony7967]

This is so true 😂

[@amyjones2490]

I had to quit weeding my flower garden today because there were so many bees, wasps and butterflies working…a nice “problem” to have. This is only the 2nd year for this garden and so much wildlife.

[@d.shermandesantos3570]

Excellent advice. Thank you. You summed up the process perfectly; being a gardener is a constant learning process. IMO your channel is one of the best. When I moved to my "forever home" here in NH goutweed became our biggest challenge - it was taking over a couple of acres. I tried pulling it - one person can't possibly keep up. I mulched it heavily - it grows right through mulch! I tried burning it - it came right back. I broke down and tried that popular herbicide - everything died, and the goutweed came back the next year stronger than ever with no competition. I tried seeding competing plants to crowd it out - turns out goutweed inhibits the germination of other seeds, so nope. In desperation I tried sheet mulching a small area with multiple layers of cardboard covered with straw. Some goutweed managed to poke through, but I patrolled daily and pulled it the second a leaf showed up. I didn't expect success. Amazingly that worked in just one season; it literally is the only thing that has worked. One problem I ran into the next year with the straw - some hay and straw has aminopyralids (the herbicide from hell) used on it and I nearly lost a hundred bare root hedge plants I'd mulched with affected straw. I was lucky it was hedges, and not my veggie gardens, I caught it quickly and was able to remove all of it in time. From the info I've found so far on aminopyralids, it appears some people have had their whole garden destroyed and rendered unable to grow anything that isn't grass because they used mulch or compost with that chemical in it. Hookay, so woodchips it is. I'm 72 and have been gardening since my 20s and it's still an adventure. Sometimes I get discouraged, but gardening is my joy and my solace - it's better than meds and it's a persistent and patient teacher.

[@sobova1703]

Absolument passionnant et très pédagogique, merci beaucoup !

[@williamgair3230]

:) I have a couple more tips. My first is to de program ourselves on our garden chores (this is actually easier when your gardens become larger). Gardening needs to be fun and fulfilling. If you charge out on a day with the intent of "I'm attacking the weeds today" in an hour or two you are not to happy with gardening LOL. BUT in a larger garden there are always many tasks. Sooo.... when you start to get "grumpy" just switch to a different task that also needs doing. You will probably then work on 3 or 4 tasks in a day. You may not complete them all in a day but if you keep this momentum you get it done and you have a nice time. In other words "little battles, no wars." Second, like you I love Apricots! We can grow them here in Boise but what I have seen it many have put in Apricots that bloom to early and get zapped by our last frost. So two things on that. One, plant a later blooming variety. Second if you have had this problem and you still want an Apricot. Cut yours down and plant a better one. My neighbor has a big beautiful Apricot that never makes it to fruit. Every year for the past 10 years she has complained about this. If she had cut it down and replaced it then today she would have a nice "grand" tree that gave her Apricots. Don't be afraid to "Back Up and Punt!" :)

[@peterwadham9788]

I am so glad you mentioned the attitude of some, I have problem X, what spray potion or other thing can I do to make it go away. It is one problem that I have with many beginner gardener groups. To the extent that I no longer answer those questions immediately as I have gotten into flame wars where those recommending pesticide solutions have got very angry with me for suggesting other solutions. There is on every group even the organic groups someone who will recommend this magical potion or another. Without recognizing what it does to the total eco system. Even so called organic solutions such as neem have ecological effects. And equally chemical solutions used with thought and consideration are valuable tools. I have gardened since I was born. My mother would have me in a pocket slung across her front while she attended garden tasks. Both my mother and step mother had large gardens even by local standards. many people consider my small garden to be large. After 60 years I am still learning about gardens and garden matters. Life to me is an ongoing learning experience. I got into permaculture in my late 20's when Bill Mollison had just published the designers manual. I agree with everything you spoke about in this video and to wished that I had avoided similar mistakes. I still make some of them even though I know better. Keep up the videos I enjoy them. Can you do a video on changes you have had to make to your garden because your garden changed because of how you are doing things.

[@jon.554]

Thanks!

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

Thank you!

[@sarahluchies1076]

I have an over abundance of spiders in my shed, so I used raid in the shed one year. I didn't realize the local ant cleanup crew would eat the dead spiders, and I inadvertently half wiped them out. I'm still trying to keep the spiders in check, but I don't want to use raid again.

[@tanyadraper7588]

Our area is having a problem with aphids this year after seeing so many posts about it in a local gardening group I decided I better go look at everything a little more closely .... all of my aphids were congregating on my salsify the Weed my mother keeps telling me I need to pull. I think this is teaching me I need to let more weeds grow in my garden :)

[@1Lightdancer]

I love Salsify!! I grew up with the yellow flowered, here in W Oregon they have purple flowers. I have eaten the root - but mostly love to see them grow!!

[@monicacruz4407]

I just love your attitude, let he garden be the teacher 😊 more gardens need to be like yours ❤

[@katiecannon8186]

Hi Angela. This is my 3 rd year gardening. I do mostly natives. No food for me, only for the critters. And let me tell you, I just dove right in!!! Lol. But I’m older, so it’s either now or never. And a BIG, giant thank you for teaching me so much about plants. Even though we don’t garden in the same way and even though I live in FL, your channel has been just fantastic for me. I really appreciate you.

[@melissamybubbles6139]

Oh good. I'm a new gardener so I need to know whatever I'm currently clueless about.

[@Lemonz1989]

Omg the seed shopping. I’m a total seed hoarder 🙈 I used to buy my heirloom seeds from Baker Creek, but they’ve stopped shipping to the European Union, so now I’m scrambling trying to plant my old seeds that I want to preserve, so I can restock the seeds with new and fresh ones.

[@shleegar]

Yes! Flipping through seed catalogues is a definite throw back to the 80s looking at the Sears Wishbook as a kid, except I get to buy whatever I want as an adult... it's dangerous!

[@shleegar]

Great points. I learn something everyday in my garden.

[@deborahcoyle7612]

A resounding yes to every one of your points!

[@ecocentrichomestead6783]

The only "failure" in gardening is not learning from something that didn't work. I am experimenting with different plants. Finding what grows and what doesn't. What doesn't and why is just as important as what does. So I report on it all. I don't have pests in my garden. Occasionally I have to control the numbers of some animals or block them out, but I never get angry at them and consider them "pests".

[@trishoconnor2169]

An experience you learn from is not a "failure," just an "experiment"!

[@LK-3000]

I am so guilty of wanting to do (and buy) too much too soon. It's a tough lesson to learn to be patient and gradual with planning and planting a permaculture garden. Thanks for your video!

[@jjayneartworkx]

Yes and thank you! I work weekends at a garden center and I am always offering alternative information to our customers. I often take folks to the natives and try to teach them about what insectory plants can bring more beneficial insects to their gardens. I also try to remind folks that pests and disease are purely symptoms of imbalance and if they can figure that puzzle out, the rest will follow. 💚 gardeners are life learners 🙌

[@aussiebushhomestead3223]

Fortunately/unfortunately we don't do seed catalogues here in Australia so the temptation isn't quite so great to overdose on seeds. 😄 Great video with much wisdom.

[@barbarasimoes9463]

I think I'm "guilty on all counts!" I got a great tip from another channel where the gardens seemingly cover acres. (She's not a Permie, and I've not watched in a while...) A viewer asked how she kept everything looking so well kept up. Her answer was so simple and obvious after she said it, but it was something I never would have come up with in a thousand years. She said that she had broken down the various areas and assigns certain parts of her garden a day of the week. That way, if she didn't quite finish a section, she knew that she would be back to work on it the following week on that same day...and for the rest of the season on that same day. I tried this; I have a chart on my fridge that outlines all of my gardens and where I should concentrate my efforts each day. I even set up Wednesdays as a weather catch up day. When I finish a section, I know that I don't have to keep going and try to do the whole property. One day is mowing; another is weeding the blueberries, another is weeding the fence line. I swear, most of my problems stem from neighbors on all sides doing nothing and letting everything go nuts. Wild grapevines, sumac and thorny blackberries are the bane of my days! They pop up everywhere and are trying to tear down my fences and shrubs that I naively planted close to the property lines. Anyway, having a limited list for the day, rather than just heading out and working until exhaustion sets in, has been a very liberating way to broach the tasks requiring attention! I know I'll be back to work on the same area the following week, and if kept up, it won't require much time at all. I'd like to say that I've been faithful to this, but the reality is I haven't, but I will say that it has taught me how to limit what I think I can accomplish. I've found that if I'm gathering equipment to prune then that is what I want to do everywhere, so that I don't have to haul out so many tools for every day of the week. In one garden, I might have to prune, mulch, weed and harvest. Now I have a way to limit what I think I can accomplish. I find spring the most hectic season because everything needs to be done yesterday. Now that it's mid June, I should be able to do the maintaining using the daily schedule idea. I hope this helps someone!

[@AJPemberton]

Wild grapevines and blackberry and sumac... that sounds lovely. I have a lot of blackberry, mulenbeckia ( a native vine) and gorse ( introduced pest species) on my little block. The 3 combined means most tress and shrubs are overwhelmed and literally pulled over. But they do make lovely ground cover while I slowly replant the forest that was originally there. I wonder if it would be easier to shift your shrubs/fences and let the boundary go wild a little? 'Free' food, good shelter for wildlife, and a very effective fence if you aren't trying to keep cows or goats out. ( or perhaps bears and deer in your area?)... I know from experience that a few meters of blackberry is difficult to traverse! Then all you'd need is a strip of lawn you run a mower down every few months to keep the encroaching plants in check.

[@1Lightdancer]

I love your idea of a calendar for tasks of the day - my mom did that with her household chores. Here in W Oregon we have invasive Evergreen and Himalayan blackberries - i wish I had some of our small native Dewberry instead!! Sigh. And my border is guilty - I get some clipped back, and there are more elsewhere .... Our wet spring has enhanced the growth ....

[@melissamybubbles6139]

I have decided against growing stone fruit in my climate. My extension agency says that stone fruit just don't grow well along the Front Range. Instead, I'm focusing on berries. I am dreading replanting the dahlias in 100 degree weather today. I didn't realize how much drainage they need. I need to plan around spending less time in the garden during the heat of summer.

[@stellaaustria6421]

Thank you ❤👍

[@cordeliadinglehopper5993]

So very wonderful and helpful… thank you so much!

[@lizv3634]

Well, too late for number 2!! 😅😅 I’m on an accelerated learning course this year. Next year I’ll plan better.

[@1Lightdancer]

I love buying seeds, lol!! Seeing up a good storage system can help extend their life (and help us remember what we already have!!

[@rchic09]

So much wisdom here. Thank you so much for putting it out.

[@paige.eats.plants1887]

I so appreciate your content. I’m in my first year of my permaculture garden in Tacoma, WA. I am learning so much about caring for my small space and the many wonderful plants that are already here. I did go a little overboard with seeds, though I didn’t buy many. It was still more than I could realistically handle, especially since my space isn’t yet fully set up and organized. My very young service berry (must have been planted just before I bought the house) seems to have some sort of rust, possibly cedar apple rust, and I’m not quite sure how to deal with that one yet. I read that it can be difficult to get rid of it entirely, especially because I have 2 mature cedar trees and 13 arborvitae’s around my 4000sf plot. I’m still mostly observing before I interact, but I think most if not all of the arborvitae’s are coming out in the next year or so. Hopefully that will help some.

[@EastxWestFarms]

Great advise on changing our perspectives from manicured lawn to permaculture. Nature can be messy sometimes but it works.

[@jackiek4159]

Great advice! Your food forest is absolutely stunning and goals! 😍🙌

[@rosaarias7128]

another great 'talk from the heart'. thank you. 🕊

[@thatsalt1560]

Great video! Thank you! (Apricots are delicious, but they are sensitive. We grow them here in SE Europe, but the tastiest varieties are also the most sensitive.)

[@tashashaback]

this is very encouraging and helpful i will also try

[@chellybarnard6394]

Great video. Would you please make a video that shows us your favorite resources? I really want to learn more.

[@rainepanda]

Fantastic video! I love the philosophy of permaculture gardening and I know I need to take my time growing the garden I truly want and that's healthiest!

[@sweetpeasbackyardgarden1236]

Totally agree. It's so tempting to order a lot of seeds. It's almost thrilling lol. Gardening is a process and one of exploration for sure. I love your content. Keep up the great work!

[@realtide]

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and knowledge.

[@loradow5543]

This is so helpful… especially start small. While I’ve gardened for years this is my second summer in my new house / garden and first time gardening in the PNW vs the Midwest. I have a lot to learn and limited time and budget. I keep having to remind myself that it’s all going to take time.

[@rhondawelker6742]

Thank you, Angela. You shared a lot of good advice. I always love seeing your garden areas, so as you’re talking I’m always looking at what you have going on around you in the garden. 😃

[@flowerpixel]

this is one of your best videos. Every point is awesome

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

What a kind thing to say!! You totally made my day!!

[@hollyleehallalabachian6966]

U said everything so well I feel and try to explain . Thank U! I try to explain these things to the people who pay me to make them gardens. But they look at me cross eyed! Fluoride stare; u know the one! 😂 This is something I can share with them to my the method to my madness into perspective and keep up with what I have established and able them to hopefully maintain there garden effieciently on there own!

[@rescuemay]

Great video, thank you for sharing your wisdom

[@Vixxiegurl]

Thank you! I agree with what you say but it is hard understanding the work vs. actually doing it. I agree with the balance as well. Can't remove everything but work toward a favorable balance

[@juliadupree2277]

I had for a couple of years this weed I couldnt identify. Turns out it was lambsquarter I was disposing nutritiouseafy greens. Just one example.

[@joolsmonash9855]

Such great advice, wonderful. Also, your hair looks fabulous!

[@v.mishrasart43]

Good👍👍👍👍

[@davros666]

Thanks Angela.

[@chelbynermoe5868]

Thank you for all of the information! Do you sell your seeds? I'm planning my perm garden now, and I'd love good wholesome starter seeds.

[@JS-jh4cy]

Water, there never enough in the well now that I have drought in my area

[@lwjenson]

What is the overlap between permaculture and urban homesteading? Are the two compatible? (This is what I have been thinking about recently as I have been designing and building my backyard.)

[@gardenreel]

Great upload 👍

[@nanasabia]

Hello community! I wann to Start Permaculture gardening, do I have to take a PDC? Do you recommend taking it? Thanks!

[@laurietaylor7622]

We are in a pre-Depression situation. meaning some things are different from years gone by. Buy everything you need for gardening now. Buy seeds and other needs before we are unable to find stuff next year. Get all your seeds now.

[@gregorymorse7990]

I was Mr buy to much early on and lost so many plants that way

[@ChessKombat]

If a plant does feel threatened it will ask for help from the soil. So we need to have those threats in our gardens. The plants produce more antioxidants to help defend themselves meaning more nutrition for us from harvest.

[@brianmorris364]

Exactly why gardeners sometimes add chitin to their soils in the form of shrimp or crab meal, and insect frass. I sometimes use dried shrimp tails and lobster shells ground as small as possible for a free source of chitin. Chitin triggers a defense response from plants that makes them stronger and more resistant.

[@whatbringsmepeace]

Starts at 2.30

[@aromaofhope]

Good video. You know, about buying too many seeds (and other stuff,) it seems to me to be almost unethical to buy more than you can use. Because what if someone else wanted those seeds, and would plant them, but I got the last packet? And then didn't plant them? I actually feel guilty about seeds I get in my exuberance and then never use. I have a question about feeding the soil. I started the year with a plan to do something to feed my soil (like put some homemade comfrey fertilizer on it or whatever) about twice a month. Is that too often? It's hard to keep up with.

[@laurietaylor7622]

what other ppl do is not your problem. buy what you need now....We can stop pretending and start taking care of ourselves now. I want the ability to plant new stuff and the knowledge to harvest my own seeds as part of my gardening experience. Also, a way of helping other gardeners by sharing seeds. Our lives are changing, we need to change with it. God Bless from Georgia.

[@permiebird937]

My biggest issue, is I do all sorts of planning, buy and get the plant planted, only to have some sort of overwhelming health issue take over my life, and when I am finally well, the plant has either been swarmed by blackberries, or dead from lack of water. That is the biggest problem for me, and I still haven't figured out how to plan for that.

[@Iris_van_Vulpen]

I recognize this. It's why my garden has a lot of perennial and deep rooting plants. Most of them don't need much water and care. Maybe you can install an automated irrigation system (drip pipe) to resolve the watering issue?

[@permiebird937]

@@Iris_van_Vulpen It's the getting the plants established before something goes wrong that is the problem. I select for things that can take a lot of neglect, but how do you plan for allergic reactions to meds that leave you unable to manage your garden for 2-3 years? I've had a few episodes like that over the past couple of decades. The fact that I have an uncanny knack of dropping loads of money on edible perennials, then having a health crisis right after, sucks.

[@1Lightdancer]

Ugh - that does suck!! In our art community we call those 'unavoidable tragedies' ...

[@laurietaylor7622]

Hire help? Ask family to help as well. Our groceries will be dependant on us next year.

[@permiebird937]

@@laurietaylor7622 During that time, we were broke, and other than my spouse who until the pandemic usually worked 60 hours a week, I didn't have anyone to help. A variety of things have improved since, going gluten free has solved most of the reasons doctors would try new meds on me, for which I am grateful. I still grieve all the poor plants I couldn't save.🥺

[@kathleenwhite241]

Total seed hoarder

[@shinnam]

8B means nothing to your international audience. It would be helpful to give last frost date/first frost date or length of growing season ;)🐓