Building Terraces to Farm on a Hillside | Sage Hill Ranch Gardens

Spencer talks about how he terraced his farm to build beds. He also talks about the challenges of growing on the north side of a hill.
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No-Till Growers
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[@bluetube3081]

Finally a real conversation about terrace farms. Everything I watch is so glossed over its frustrating. NEED THE DEETS. What an amazing farm, Thank you!

[@seccondmousegetsthecheese4205]

Most would say you can’t farm on that slope. I love people that don’t take no for an answer. Good on ya mate. Wish you every success.

[@agri2924]

who said that?

[@seccondmousegetsthecheese4205]

@agri2924 My neigbour Mr most.

[@lifeandliberty0172]

I have a book about subsistence lifestyles that shows farmers in the Alps, back in the 30s or 40s, when plowing their very steep fields they would take the soil form the last furrow at the bottom, put it in a wagon and take it back to the top to counter the erosion.

[@annermose0936]

Very interested.what's the title?

[@triciac1019]

That sounds so cool!

[@kirby7960]

Hearing this guy talk about growing crops is inspiring.... It's clear to see how much he loves what he does. Stay passionate and stay blessed dude!

[@nickedmonton8223]

It's amazing that no college, university or governmental institutions has made an animated video for people to see how to terrace farm. What about rock and sand under each bed to help with drainage (like what they did at Machu Picchu)?

[@triciac1019]

I have been looking for this type of video for years now. Such great explanations. This is all just beautiful.

[@alphonsobutlakiv789]

I'm farming an active railway mound myself, like 20 feet tall, good soil, South facing. I use day lilies at the edges of my terices, ground is ash like

[@derrickpoorman6413]

Keep'em coming Jesse, love these videos.

[@MistiClectiCisM]

It s interesting how when you weigh up the factors based on some sort of scale of permanenence and other pattern to details type design, you can end up with an unusual layout that is however still the Best option you can make. Fascinating case, many thanks!

[@SD-co9xe]

I have a similar area that I'm terracing. I find that the native grasses combined with the clay soil, form a secure wall on my terraces. In some steeper areas I will likely need some additional retention. This winter, the area has been an excellent sponge .

[@triciac1019]

That's so cool!

[@naturesmoments1297]

Just about to start terracing my own small corner of the planet, thanks for the useful info.

[@Anonymous-ip4qx]

Same

[@watereverywhere]

Farming a north slope myself I followed a similar evolution of terracing and tunnel layout. Even shaping low tunnel hoops with a flattened apex instead of rounded so they are lower profile.

[@jerrywiget307]

What and outstanding farm project, how wonderful your farm is turning out !!!! Good job and thank you for sharing aloha from hawaii

[@karltraunmuller7048]

Super interesting, thanks for sharing.

[@cavettishihara1062]

the shadow cast topic is very interesting - thanks!

[@simd510]

Your videos are soooo informative. I definitely will be buying your book to support you. Getting real good information out there.

[@shakejones]

great video and knowledge! well done, thanks for sharing mate!

[@iiNkyyOndaDot]

This video was very helpful for my assignment

[@SaveTheAyeAye]

Great information, thank you 👍

[@gabrielhickman3908]

This really helped. Good video

[@MistiClectiCisM]

Fascinating case of intelligent adaptation, thanks!

[@petarogers4324]

Awesome! Thanks for talking about the how-to's of terrace gardening...very practical and necessary on my new block!

[@Pauuanthakali]

nice plot & pointers.. wish i had a mini skid to steer grade terraces.. a grade a day should have me done in 20.. yup gunna hoe down manually.. was thinking water wash issue would be beneficial if terracing rice puddle paddies.. himalaya hills once seasonal moonsoon rain is dammed/preserved on irrigating stepped slope over months to water crop.. socal soil along bayside hills is sandy so native nurseries for a salsa/chutney forest for a steady start.. inspired by accomplishment fellow farmer..

[@rebeccajosteelman563]

Awesome, a kind of farming practice which takes special planning and study of the land. Larger trees at the bottom of the terraces, and smaller woody fruit bearing bushes/trees such as avocado and moringa, at certain spots spread across the terraces, would help prevent erosion as well.

[@yomama1254]

Good idea.

[@GDKLockout]

Im also on a hill, i use the north side for mushrooms. But im further north in a maritime climate. For example right now, its 10am and i have the lights on in the ktichen becauase its the north side of the house.

[@thefarmtrepreneur-building6539]

This is very interesting. I also farm on terraces on a slope and its a challenge to build beds but after built its just farming as usual.

[@TheVigilantStewards]

My Dad does dirt work in North Texas, always wanted to get into earthworks but couldn't find anyone wanting them

[@yomama1254]

I want to see from below the bigger platues. How does that engineering work?

[@MrPerennial]

This might be the most "California" thing I've ever seen. That's a compliment. Questions tho: 1) where can I find more info on this Fortier permanent bed system? (Hope I spelled that right) and keeping the streamline in them? I am trying to start a small farm on a slope and have been thinking I need some form of reinforcement on the terraces. Soil alone will erode for sure. But I don't want to go through the hassle or cost of building a retaining wall for every terrace.

[@thefarmtrepreneur-building6539]

I have beds built like that since the land I have for growing is steeper than this. You have to make it work with what you have I guess.

[@nobrakes7247]

Cool

[@jamessang5027]

Does terrace farming collect a lot of rainfall?

[@peterlawrence738]

Vetiver grass to stabilise the terrace

[@yomama1254]

Idk this breed of grass, but grass generally can be really invasive to the surrounding ecosystem. Be mindful

[@williamhad]

I'm sure there are native bunch grasses that serve the same purpose but also better. Vetiver doesn't like even the slightest shade so I don't think it should be used in this application.

[@chrisl7608]

Joel Salatin had an insightful remark a pig farming video that he would like to use pigs to terrace some day. You train them to an electric fence and set it out a couple feet to where you want your terrace and have them penned and they will naturally level the area they are penned. Here's a visual example that popped up recently kzbin.info/www/bejne/hn_XimCvYsaSp6s

[@nc4801]

This is an awesome setup. My question is how much would this cost a team of landscapers of contractors to do? I'm looking at a property about the same size and really have no idea how to do this kind of earthshaping. If anyone has any sort of idea let me know. Seems like it is a big undertaking and could be anywhere from 10-100k. No idea though.

[@mleonard3163]

I know asked this quite a while ago but my answer may help you out someone else. Cost all depends on your building materials, how permanent you're needing (wood vs concrete vs metals), extras you're wanting added in such as fencing and trellises, whether you can find those materials used or discounted, etc. Plus there's the cost of labor which is often equal to the cost of materials unless you're using stone/concrete and then labor is often more. There's also the cost of design services if you don't feel you can tackle that yourself. I'm doing mine myself and the heaviest equipment I have is my husband's muscles compared to mine with a shovel. I'm terracing a decent slope but I also live in the woods so as I thin the woods I'm harvesting the 6-8 diameter trunks to use for terracing in the main garden area. I'm using T-posts sunk 1.5-2 feet deep as the supports and angling the logs into the hillside a little as I build. Smaller areas I'm using dry stacked rocks again angled in at roughly 45 degrees for stability. Nicer areas such as the terracing in front of the house I'm using a mix of 2 x 8 to 2 x 12 lumber and for the driveway and areas with taller terraces I'm using homemade terrace blocks that I purchased molds for. The ones I've made have held up beautifully for several years now.

[@dantescanline]

interesting there's no mulch or weed proofing in the isles, thinking about some other farms like richard perkins where he's in love with woodchip mulch for his isles. wonder if it's less of an issue in californias dry climate?

[@SD-co9xe]

Definitely less weed pressure in drier climates.

[@jerricroft937]

Where is this?

[@dietrevich]

It says right in the video not even 10 seconds into it!