How to Build a No-Dig Garden Bed and the Benefits of Composting

[@lyndaturner6686]

I love your no dig approach it’s meant I can still garden in my mid seventies,digging would be to hard for me now, but using your methods I’ve managed to grow vegetables and flowers for the last few years and I love it. So thanks again Charles you are my gardening guru.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

So nice to read this, go you Lynda!

[@logsentertainment9281]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig is

[@HeavenlyLights]

How Lovely. So I can look forward to getting older and still being able to garden. ThankYou SO much for sharing my dear💞💖💞

[@stonewarebirds3620]

Can i ask you Lynda, don’t you find sourcing the compost, preparing it and then transporting it and laying it out takes an awful lit of energy and even money? I’m just really curious as i want to try this method, i have ME, but can hear my partner (who is actually the gardener in the family) saying by the time i’ve dug out the manure from the local stables or humped all the sacks from council compost scheme, etc etc not only will it cost more than buying the veg but it will be as much if not more energy than digging. Plus isn’t actually what is happening is we are putting so much compost down it is like replacing the soil with compost? How can i convince a doubter that this is less and mot more effort? Any advice?

[@lyndaturner6686]

@@stonewarebirds3620 when I initially started my raised bed 7 years ago I bought in some topsoil, unfortunately it wasn’t very good so I kept adding compost and now it’s really good, I have two dalek style compost bins that I make sure to keep filling and each year I spread a layer on top of my 6 beds , so initially it was harder setting it up but now it’s easier, I’m almost 75 and I have arthritis but I just pace myself and the benefits of eating my own grown food the joy of harvesting and mentally I feel at peace when I’m I working in my garden , I now buy bags of compost of Amazon to complement my own homemade, it’s easier to manage than large deliveries and of course I have to accept I do have some limitations however I hope to keep growing for a few more years yet. Hope this helps you.

[@BigMikeLoses]

This is brilliant. I just created three large no dig beds over the past two weeks using this exact method. Less grass - more beds. Thank you for this info, Charles.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice work Mike

[@antoninoabis885]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Hello Charles , so clear and so easy to follow, you have also a very pleasant voice to listen to., I have made myself a promise to visit your settings soon, but in the meantime I need to ask what is the best orientation for setting the beds, east/west --- north/south? Thanks a million, and keep producing these lovely videos. Ciao!!

[@donnasoroka7197]

@@antoninoabis885 I know people that swear you must orient your beds exactly or they won't grow. That's poppycock! I've grown with absolutely every orientation depending on the space. The only thing you should keep in mind is the size of the growing plants and whether your proposed location in the garden will cause it to shade out sun-loving plants. In other words, put the taller plants to the north side of the garden bed unless you intentionally want to create shade (and a little cooler microclimate) to grow plants that prefer a little shade (like lettuce, spinach, some herbs, etc.). No dig is such a wonderful way to garden as you help to enhance the soil for the microbes. Happy gardening!

[@antoninoabis885]

@@donnasoroka7197 Thank you ever so much. This is a new experience for me and it means that I will do the setting up of the beds in a more relaxed way . Thank again

[@craigmetcalfe1749]

Hey Charles! Nothing starts off the growing season better (in my mind) than getting back to the basics. This is so helpful, especially when you are responding to your dear subscribers comments. We are following you sir, and we have all sorts of questions based on our own version of Home Acres. Thank you sir for taking the time to care for your flock of growers so that we can all be happy, healthy and environmentally friendly. Cheers!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You're a poet Craig, thanks for such a lovely comment 🥂

[@gurogreen]

I just want to say thank you for sharing this amazing information for free! All the experience and time you spent honing your skills and then sharing it with us.. I’m beyond grateful! I started 3 no-dig beds 3 years ago without much gardening experience, just based on your videos and had instant success! it really inspired me and since then I started researching into agricultural practices and the current information in soil microbiology science. It seems pretty clear that no-dig and the use of living soil/compost is an essential part of the future of agriculture! I since bought a microscope and as you say it is mind blowing to see the life with your own eyes. It felt initially like taking psychedelics and entering another world! It really made me connect to the life in the soil on a whole other level. In my view there is no doubt that digging is one of the most destructive practices in conventional agriculture. Thanks again a million for making this available for so many people because right now we really need some new practices and since the no-dig methods appears not doable to many conventional farmers, the more of us who make an example out of their garden/farmland, showing that this stuff really works the better! Many are waking up to this in these weird times ❤️ thanks again Charles ❤️

[@theswissgardenvlog3189]

I‘m with you, he is the best teacher a beginner gardener can ever wish for. When I started my first vegetable garden last year, I felt like he was right there guiding me each step of the way because his amazing videos were available to me. Thanks Charles!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Guro, Amazing feedback and wish I had more time to correspond, keep up the great work and inspiring others to

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Amazing, thanks so much and happy to help, wish you more success

[@gurogreen]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig I think it’s pretty amazing how you find time to do everything you do as it is. Know that you have a major fan in me here in Germany ❤️ much love and thanks again for your absolutely lovely work 🌺

[@greenstair]

Dear Charles - you started me off on no dig three years ago now and it has revolutionised my garden, which is massively more productive than it was. Might I pass on an observation - I left some chard plants, Fordhook giant, in the bed for over the winter until now, in mid-April, where they had self set. They developed deep roots, 9 inches / 23 centimetres, or more, and when I eased them out of the ground there were loads of worms and the soil is hugely improved throughout the bed. This crop seems to have been amazing at feeding the soil biology to a good depth, for no cost. Just wanted to share. Thanks so much for your work.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

This is a great observation I'm guessing they weresown last summer so they've had time to establish and get those lovely deep roots down into the soil. Certainly something to bear in mind, as soil feed, and I'm guessing those were pink earthworms..

[@RagaJorge]

Hola Charles, mi nombre es Jorge Raga y naci en México... mi esposa es de Italia vivimos en Sardegna desde hace 10 años. Hace algunos meses descubrí tu maravilloso canal, el cual ha sido una inspiración para mi, porque siempre realizaba el huerto moviendo la tierra con un moto arado y agregando abono pero, poco a poco la tierra se fue emprobeciendo al grado de que lo que plantaba era muy raquitico y casi sin producción. A principios de año ya tenia una cantidad de compost y me dicidí en abril a experimentar con tu metodo con cartón y quede maravillado con los resultados, en la zona donde ya no crecia nada, ahora tenemos unos calabacines preciosos de igual manera unos tomates impresionantes, el año proximo haré lo mismo con las papás. Estoy muy agradecido contigo por compartir con tanto detalle, amor y pasión este increible metodo, principalmente por el respeto a la naturaleza, sin disturbar el suelo, sin contaminar usando motores a gasolina, sin romperse la espalda...este metodo es en verdad el futuro... ahora procuro producir la mayor cantidad de compost posible. Gracias muchisimas gracias, un fuerte abrazo. 🙂🤚

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Hola Jorg, muchas gracias por compartir esto y es un placer y felicidad mejorar las cosas para las personas. ¡Especialmente que ha mejorado su suelo y tiene alimentos saludables para comer! Suerte con la elaboración del compost.

[@RagaJorge]

Gracias 🙂🤚

[@kensearle4892]

Looking forward to my new bigger No-Dig garden this spring with a truckload of compost. You are right Charles. Try it out! Last year I tried a smaller section. I didn't have enough cardboard to cover everything but had lots of chopped leaves and grass clippings to fill in and that also worked under the compost to smother the weeds. All the vegetable plants loved it and did very well! Scaling up this year!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good stuff Ken!

[@SmallRabbitMusings]

I’ve run out of free cardboard, so I bought some packing box seconds off eBay to do the other half of the beds.

[@Immiy0]

Such an inspiration! I currently work in a garden where the market garden is quite "traditional" still (lots of weeding and no mulching) I'm planning to do a no dig experiment zone so both my colleagues and our visitors can see the difference. The soil in some of our beds is actually cracking from being so depleted, it makes me sad. All for the sake of it just looking neat. Hoping to replenish it and show people the difference :)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

This sounds wonderful and go for it! I'm sure you'll meet some resistance but there's no arguing with the night and day differences, good luck

[@jamiemittermuller6470]

I would find it fascinating if you took a core of your no dig bed and your digged bed (like they do with the ice caps) to see what the difference is in soil structure.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I hope this year to do something like that!

[@Postmillhighlights]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig is it possible to convert from a traditional plowed plot and convert it to ‘no dig?’ So after crops are harvested from a plowed plot - smooth out the ground then add compost and go from there?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

@@Postmillhighlights Yes for sure, just level first, makes mulching even

[@rubygray7749]

I asked this about 5 years ago!!! Will be a fascinating experiment to see.

[@equisader]

I've been thinking this too. Before and after would be great to see.

[@riverunner9978]

I’m putting in flower cutting rows. Your method is perfect! Thank you Charles! You’ve changed my landscape in a most pleasing way!

[@foxfarmsdiaries1798]

Charles, I can’t thank you enough. I’ve been following your videos for a few months and am now applying no dig to one of our paddocks. From being a hesitant gardener, I’m encouraged to make this land productive growing flowers and vegetables. By next October I’m hoping to be part of the sustainable gardens festival here in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand. The aim is to show the gardening hesitant like me out there what can be done in a short space of time. Again, thank you very much to you and your team of helpers that make all this possible. Kia kaha!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

How wonderful and may your gardens flourish, and inspire others

[@105Kelly]

Look forward to visiting your garden during a festival eventually. I’m also in the Naki 😜

[@galespressos]

That’s so encouraging. One hesitant gardener at a time becomes many successful gardeners eventually! 🥦

[@waynesell3681]

Spent a few hours in the garden today! Wonderful to watch this mix of videos for beginning NoDig. Your presentations are so encouraging thanks Charles.

[@anapaulacrawford5837]

I couldn't express how thankful I am for your teaching on no digging garden. I just did two beds today. Thank you Charles, God bless you and your family!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wonderful Ana Paula, thanks

[@rhysjaggar4677]

Charles, garden centres often have large skips with lots of cardboard waste in them. I covered my allotment entirely through taking stuff from the garden centre skips (I did ask first and they were happy for me to take it off their hands). If you need lots, it's one of the best places to find it!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good tip Rhys!

[@jennyjohnson9012]

Thanks once again Charles. My whole allotment is no dig and the weeds (especially docks) are getting weaker. My only problem at the moment is trying to keep the cardboard down in the wind!!!until I get the compost on. Plenty of heavy rocks are helping. I've been using well rotted cow manure also and compost. Cant wait to start planting. Love all your wonderful videos.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good luck Jenny!

[@ringailetervydiene5942]

Great! I'm starting no dig beds on old weedy plot in few months so this is helpful.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚

[@christinehowell]

This is so helpful! It's like you've come to my plot of land and shown me personally what to do right from the start with what was open ground covered in 5 foot high weeds. I'm really struggling to cope with the enormity of trying to turn this 1/3rd acre into a garden where I can grow vegetables, have a meadow area and pond (for treatment plant outflow) and somewhere to sit with my g&t on a summer evening with my dogs. I'm constantly overwhelmed, but I have to keep going. Having watched many of your videos I'm at last feeling more positive, and this one is really going to make the difference between struggling and feeling defeated and feeling I can do it. I now have a plan of action to follow which is so simple without all the "don'ts" and expensive resources that so many videos insist on. A huge thank you to you and your team!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I'm encouraged to see this Christine. You have a large area of land and as you suggest, take it one bit at a time and don't try to over-reach yourself this year, there's plenty of time ahead. Small is beautiful.

[@christinehowell]

Thank you Charles. I'm going to do just that! Thanks again for your help in steering me on the best path... paths, now there's something I need to think about!

[@quintensarn4595]

Such great timing! We'll be putting 30 tons of compost on a new 35 by 15 meter area THIS WEEKEND! first multisown spring onions are just germinating, with lots more to follow.

[@WaddedBliss]

30 tons?!?!

[@rominaadimari8723]

Muchas gracias Charles!!! Estuve siguiendo sus pasos con el cartón al preparar mi pequeño parche allá por Septiembre ( aquí en Argentina, Primavera); ahora planificando para hacer nuevos parches en diferentes rincones de mi parcela; cómo dijo Usted, no es n cesario preparar todo el terreno a la vez!!!! Otro beneficio más del "No Dig"!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

¡Fantástica Romina y bien hecho!

[@gmomma4718]

I’m watching this video again because I’m getting new beds ready this spring . I really appreciate it. Well informed.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad it was helpful, wish you success

[@stevenbp101]

Hi Charles, got out yesterday and worked cleaning up the beds and adding fresh compost. We are ready to go. Got some plants starting in my grow trays. Always love this time of year after winter. Always enjoy seeing what your doing. Thanks for all your tips. (Old guy from Arkansas)🇺🇸God bless

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice to hear Steve!

[@MojeUprawy]

Bardzo dziękuję za cenną wiedzę! Też uprawiam no dig 🙋‍♀️🌸🪴

[@eunamore1886]

Thank you so much for this method of gardening as it was such a daunting task to make my garden as I imagined it could be as it was overgrown and unsightly. I watched your video and started collecting cardboxes two yrs and the rest is history as my garden is thriving and I enjoy it soo much. Thank you so much again

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

So nice of you to share this, it makes me happy!

[@mindfullivingwithlaureen]

"Universe beneath our feet"... BEAUTIFUL!

[@angelad.8944]

There is nothing like getting your hands dirty in the garden! I do hope El Nina give us an early spring this year. Great content and great company until then. Thanks for the fantastic fundamentals. It really does inspire.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Angela, enjoy spring!

[@johnjude2685]

Your thick 6 months age compose is working today and as you teaching will continue to break down feeding the soil for several years. Thanks

[@tverveine6317]

Bonsoir Charles, Méthodes très intéressantes et efficaces pour lancer de nouvelles planches de culture. Votre potager est vraiment superbe. C'est un bonheur.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Merci bien!

[@collowood]

Started a no dig garden for my 78 year old mum and it even got me gardening aswell. Thank you mate for all your free content on this subject. Best regards Don.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That is awesome Don!

[@Sparkysings2]

This is the only way I garden! And I love it and it’s all because of Charles and his method of no dig! I wish I had more property to do more gardening.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Great to hear Patty!

[@Jesus-hk7cq]

From my experience come Spain, everything mentioned is essential to cultivate yourself. All my support for the channel for greater disclosure

[@Mahia965]

"It's the Universe under our feet..." @4:54. Beautiful.

[@cjfazio3012]

So glad to have ran across this channel. Enjoy watching and learning from Charles! Shout out From the USA🌱🌱🪴👍🏻

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks and welcome

[@mariakraska5738]

Dziękuję za ogromną przekazaną wiedzę, pozdrawiam cieplutko

[@jordanblanton1101]

I've been watching your videos for almost a year now. I've had more success with less work than I could imagine. Thank you so much! I ordered your book winter gardening and I look forward to adding in your books to my collections with each paycheck. Your wisdom has transformed my garden, my food, and life.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I'm thrilled to see this Jordan. Thank you for sharing your success.

[@bobbilynnmiller742]

You are my garden Mentor ! Thank you for sharing your discoveries with us , and providing such practical advice in such an easy to understand way ! Stay well, you are loved by so many , and especially our Heavenly Father , Who created us to live in a garden from the very beginning !!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

So nice of you BobbiLynn, I am reassured! 💜

[@priyaterner6871]

Thankyou Charles, your videos have helped me to have a good harvest in my first year at my allotment. I hope this 2nd year will be even better. A tip for others - Halfords are great for large pieces of cardboard and they always have plenty.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wonderful Priya! Nice tip too.

[@karenaldrin]

Thanks for that tip

[@marilynmourdock3688]

I was looking at a huge, almost impossible job of removing gooseneck loosestrife, an aggressive perennial that had grown at the edge of my woodland trees. I had access to a lot of heavy cardboard so I thought I'd try. Today I did your no dig method, and I am really looking forward to the day when I can plant leafy greens there! Thank you so much from a new fan from the Midwest USA!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good to hear this Marilyn and it is a wonderful thing about this method, how it makes difficult jobs quite simple! I wish you a lovely garden.

[@cheripierre9029]

Wonderful timing for this video Charles. Happy planting 🌻🥰

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚

[@sandraengstrand2784]

Thank you for your guidance!! I am doing all my beds in the no-dig style and it’s making my gardening so very enjoyable!!!! 🌱☀️

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Lovely to hear this 😀

[@anneasquith9296]

You are my new calendar pin up man.Thank you for your experience and brilliant simplicity.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

So nice of you!

[@johnharding2912]

Thanks Charles. I used your method (and calendar) last year on very weedy ground to make my squarr foot gardening/intensive raised beds. Very few weeds (dock) persisted but were dealt with easily. It worked incredibly there and in my geodesic dome greenhouse. Thank you for the knowledge.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Fantastic to hear this John, have a great year

[@lostinaveyron2279]

Thank you so much for making this video :) I am starting a new garden from scratch and using my own hybrid no dig / lasagne garden ideas. Getting enough compost for the beds was a major challenge until a very kind farmer neighbour friend gifted me several cubic meters of 2 year old cow manure - I felt more than a little weird getting so excited about receiving a massive pile of erm old poo, but there you go! Anyway I was not sure if it was ok to use by itself as it still has some straw in it and seemed quite wet, though choc full of worms. I had thought about writing to you for advice but this video answers everything :) thanks again and looking forward to the next video!

[@nenaenriquez3480]

Once I was also lucky to get matured compost and to my surprise, I grew giant tasty veggies! Good gardening everybody 👍🌈

[@kensearle4892]

Felt the same about a truckload of compost. Like a birthday present. If it has worms that probably means it is past the hot phase. You can cover it with a tarp if you want less water in it. If it has no weed seeds when you plant with it, keep that farmer on your good list.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Excellent Suzanne!

[@lostinaveyron2279]

Thanks and yes, he’s a diamond person and wonderful neighbor 😁

[@mollie3244]

Into the fourth year of my new garden. We have a dairy farm and since the garden started off on yellow soggy clay. Looked like sub soil to me. I've put tonnes of cow manure on every year. A foot at least in the autumn and more as it comes available. I'm killed from the barrow but it really is working. At first I was afraid I was going to smother plants but no, they love it. Only downside I see is no self seeding happening at all. And I kept acid loving plants in a separate bed and mulch with bark. Not everything likes manure, in the flower garden at least.

[@jean0ts]

Big inspiration for my no dig garden that I started last year. Thank you for all the useful info!

[@dariocardona7863]

Thank you so much for all the valuable info! It amazes me how you can do in ground gardening I’m not even 30 and every time and I’m kneeling for more than 5 mins almost pass out when I stand up. Really like your content.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You are so welcome Danio, but sorry to hear that, eat more greens if you can and unpasteurised yoghourt, delicious and healthy!

[@ashkap13]

I've been watching your videos for the past couple of years and I finally put in my new no dig beds in my new back garden (in Maryland, US) a few weeks ago. I've put in 8 3x7 beds (with wood chip paths between) and will be adding a few more in the next few weeks and I'm very excited to plant my peas out next week. I am amazed at how straight-forward it was to make the beds. Although I've watched you create them, time and time again, I was still uncertain whether it would be as easy as it looked; especially for a novice bed maker, like myself. Many, many thanks for your invaluable teachings!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Hello Ash, I'm encouraged to hear this and wish you lots of food!

[@malindareed2868]

Good luck with your garden! I’m also in Maryland and set up my first no dig garden last week. I’m pretty excited for this growing season!

[@ashkap13]

@@malindareed2868 Good luck to you, as well! Wishing you beautiful days in your garden and bountiful harvests!

[@nicolecox7466]

Curious what type of compost you chose/where you sourced it? I'm also in the DMV area, and we're trying to figure out where to get it from, and really what type to chose as there seem to be so many options.

[@malindareed2868]

@@nicolecox7466 I went to a place called Mother Earth Mushrooms in Oxford, PA. They actually allow people to get as much organic mushroom compost as they want for FREE! You have to load it yourself though. They also offer an option where they can load it, and they have a company they work with who can also deliver. Because I wanted so much I spent $160 and they delivered a dump truck load to my house. I know this area has a LOT of mushroom farms so that’s a pretty readily available option. I think ideally I would have spread this in the fall so it could have broken down a bit more, but I’m going to go ahead and plant in it and see how it goes.

[@jackriver8385]

I am so glad this method exists, I have chronic pain and this way it becomes feasible for me to start a garden without putting too much strain on my body from weeding and all that. I'm really happy this channel exists and your videos always brighten my day!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You can do it Jack, great to hear

[@renatehaeckler9843]

Your videos never fail to inspire me to get out in the garden! Today is almost 0*C with some wind but I just remembered I left a bed bare to let the chickens scratch at it after I removed the weeds and I forgot I was going to go back and cover it with mulch! So there goes my morning, but it will be good to be in the fresh air!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wow sounds cold, am sure you feel good for that and thanks Renate

[@rismagayanti2340]

I have started my first 8 small raised beds since january, using your method. They are turning great, easy to maintain, less weed, less soil or compost too..

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚

[@judithtinai448]

You have been my inspiration and motivater in gardening.

[@theswissgardenvlog3189]

Thanks for this new detailed no dig video Sir. All your no dig videos have been my go to place for inspiration and best practice, organic gardening methods.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Love this thanks

[@markshaw5835]

U always explain compost and no dig so well. I find it so interesting

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad you think so Mark!

[@MichelleMcDines]

Another great video. Thanks Charles. I started no dig last year for my first ever food growing after moving to Somerset early last year. Unfortunately due to ill health and work pressures at the peak of the season, my abundant veggies all went past ripe and the weeds also took hold. But I am slowly rescuing those beds again and also will be covering the rest of "Armagarden" with plastic etc to kill off the nettles, brambles and bindweed that burgeon each time I turn my back, until I'm ready to start growing in those areas. That's such an important step I realise now as it means my time can be focused on the bits that are growing food as opposed to trying to tame the yet-to-be-reclaimed areas. I have a huge favour to ask Charles - would you consider coming to be a judge at our village flower, fruit and vegetable show in early September? It has a long history but hasn't been running for the last two years due to the pandemic. We are getting it going again this year and have several no-diggers now in the village as well as plenty of "traditional" gardeners. There's going to be lots of friendly rivalry to see who produces the best results for the show!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Keep going Michelle, and I would dig out the bramble main stems

[@carolparrish194]

I am currently waiting for the seed trays I ordered . You impressed me so much with the trays you designed that I had to give them a try. Time to get my seeds started. If I want to get the best gardening information I tune into your channel. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thank you Carol, and I hope they arrive soon!

[@marieeltannoury9033]

Where can I buy those trays, what do I look for on Google bc it didn't come up. Ty

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

@@marieeltannoury9033 In the US allaboutthegarden.com or Containerwise UK

[@carolparrish194]

I ordered the trays on Feb 6. and stilling waiting for them. I was told they should be coming soon. My fingers are crossed. If you want them better hurry and get your order in soon as possible.

[@The.Ghost.of.Tom.Joad.]

You are a genius. I've been using your method exclusively for thee years (this is the beginning of the 4th) at our new home. We started with heavy clay soil with a deep compacted hardpan about 4 inches down. Now, we have ten inches of crumbly soil with a fraction of the work. The only work is composting, which we make using the rapid Berkley method. To cover our plots, we'll make 5 or 6 piles a year. Turning a pile 3 times a weeks is still a ton less work than the double-digging, turning the soil over, and the weeding associated with our prior organic gardens.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thank you so much for sharing this and it gladdens my heart to know that I can help people through sharing this information. It is fascinating how soil can be improved, by doing less!

[@The.Ghost.of.Tom.Joad.]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thanks for your videos. Without you, we'd be growing less food, seeing fewer flowers... and probably composting less. You're helping save Mother Earth, making you the bomb.

[@00jim]

Presentation just gets better and better Charles

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers Jim and I hope you are well

[@00jim]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig All good Charles thanks, i have a full poly tunnel at present, my first really successful winter season, thanks to your wisdom winter growing is very possible here in low-light urban scotland in a small backyard setting, i tried for years with "traditional" methods but No-dig poly tunnel has given me results beyond my expectations this winter.

[@saboowilson5643]

Thank you for the videos and sharing your knowledge and experience. Really enjoy the format and style, your vids are easy watching and the practical instructions are clear and simple to follow. He says. We have just inherited a garden in Saskatchewan with what looks like heavy, rich but still wet soil, we are in a low spot. I have started 2 beds, 25ft long or so and we shall see how we can do. Empty packing boxes are becoming mulch and the only compost i could find free and available locally was bison! So far it has been way better than digging that whole area, and it is very satisfying to see smart looking beds come together relatively quickly, couple of weeks for some seeds to pop and we will be planting and growing, couldn’t have achieved it the conventional way without some form of mechanical digger so thank you very much.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That sounds exciting and I wish you a successful season 🥦

[@troupier88]

I love your way to explain and transmit your love for soil. I'm starting some no dig garden this year. For the cardboard, i pick layers between milk packs in my local supermarket. Wide, flat, no cuts. Idela

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

So nice of you

[@buckbeaksgarden761]

I love your videos!! This method is brilliant because so many people don't feel like pulling up all their grass to plant a garden. This method is so simple and effective! I layed cardboard down all in between my raised garden beds and covered the cardboard with 4 or 5 inches of wood mulch this past fall. I think it will clean up the space nicely for spring.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@nightowl9176]

No Dig Gardening... What a Fantastic Idea and method. This SURE helps knowing we don't need to break our backs digging and breaking our knees. Thanks so much for sharing your experience ;>)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You bet!

[@isabelpires927]

This is such a great video. I've done a 1st stage of a no-dig bed with cardboard and wood chip to nsuptess the pernicous weeds (including crawling buttercup), and then will add another layer of compost and soil later in the year for planting. We are also doing no-dig to supress the weeds under and around our compost bins (as we have to move them since one of our trees fell in the storm), including bindweed.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds great Isabel and thanks. With compost heaps, they themselves will suppress weeds, through all the materials you put in there. You just need some thick cardboard under sides and around the edges to keep them tidy, and stop weeds spreading into the heaps from any edge.

[@isabelpires927]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you, will make a note and start saving more cardboard boxes from work!

[@peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo7920]

Good morning Charles, Greetings from Windermere, Florida zone 9b USA 🇺🇸 I just received your latest book, Skills, and I love the photography. And I hear you speaking as I'm reading. Lovely 👩‍🌾👍 Our winter is over in Central Florida. We are having a week of mid-80°'s F Take care and Happy Gardening.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thank you so much Peggy and I'm delighted you like the book. That is amazing to imagine summer beginning already, those temperatures are rare for us even in July

[@itsmewende]

The timing for this post was prefect. I have that wood pile composting but was on the fence whether to use to actually plant into, it will be on the pathways instead now. I hope the wind there doesn't do more damage, just read your newsletter this morning too.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Wende

[@madelaineteresinhaschroer6531]

Já fiz meu primeiro canteiro sem cavar, baseado no vídeo de dois anos atrás. Já colhi bastante coisa e estou indo para o segundo canteiro feito dessa forma. Estou encantada e feliz. Muito obrigada Charles. Um abraço do sul do Brasil .

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I'm happy to read this Madelaine!

[@Gtmustangmt]

I did this last spring! Making beds this way and planting tomato plants or sowing seeds from zucchini and pumpkins to cucumbers and lettuces and carrots they all grew very well.. it was a successful year

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Great job!

[@Faith-vl4lv]

Charles I absolutely love the knowledge you share and your beautiful gardens. You are the one person on KZbin whose videos I always watch soon as they come out. Thank you for sharing your knowledge

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Faith, you are very welcome

[@MrMadalien]

Thanks Charles for your content, I’m 25 in Portugal, I always wanted to try regenerative techniques in a garden and now I am finally doing it, just laid down some cardboard and making some compost (but will use some bought compost at first), have some leak, squash and broccoli seedlings so far.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Great! 🌱

[@jackieco9615]

Hi Charles just watched this again. When growing peas is the layer of compost deep enough to enable the use of pea sticks. I have some hazel ones. I was just referring to what you said about not piercing the cardboard. Thanks Jackie

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers Jackie and yes it's fine to pierce the cardboard with sticks

[@cetindemir179]

Thank you Charles, I'm watching you lovingly. Thanks to you, I am learning new knowledge and methods. I wish you continued success. Greetings from Ankara.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks so much Cetin

[@christinepfeiffer4821]

Another awesome video providing step by step ideas and tips - did this last year and utilized a 12 " space next to a fence surrounded by pavement and grew beautiful dahlias using this method. Will be enlarging my space this spring with the same plan- thanks for all the user friendly tips

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice work! Sounds pretty

[@naturegirlmia]

To praise your point. I had the farmer who farms our farm plow up half of a 5 by 18 foot plot of our yard along the garden a year ago last Spring. We leveled off 9 foot of it and the other half also 9 foot by 5 we simply covered with card board, put cardboard on top of the green grass added some compost ( mushroom) on top and planted it all to sweet corn. The no dig came up a little sooner and it was warm so both plots evened up, fertilized and watered the WHOLE 9 by 18 bed at the same time and spent the whole month of most ofJuly and early Aug fighting WEEDS in the side the farmer plowed up. The side we used cardboard and compost on had a much better crop of Silver Queen than the side that was plowed over by the tractor and plow!!! So much more fun being able to just sit there and watch it grow rather sweating on a hot day using a hoe!!!! Great video, once again!!!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Great comparison Mia, thanks for sharing, and relaxing!

[@lynnmoser6918]

We learned as kids in my family to take the bind weed roots (every tiny piece too), I think we call it Quack Grass, to a fire pile. Horse Tail roots we were to put in the garbage can. I still do this in my 70's. I screen that questionable stuff. I happen to have an extraordinary amount. Then put the fines in my garden and the cleaned big stuff back out as top mulch. There are particle board doors, pallets and who knows what else in that ground mulch product. Wonder how long it takes to off gas...

[@clivesconundrumgarden]

Our first radishes are popping out of the compost we made on our 2 new #CDnodig beds. We're very new to gardening. Thank you for the inspiration, Charles Cheers from Victoria, Canada

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Exciting!!

[@blueshawll]

I was wondering if the first layer of compost after the cardboard is a mixture of all of these composts, or it was layered, or? Also i have an unlimited source of sawdust, is that acceptable if mixed with a nitrogen? Thank you.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

It's your choice whether to mix or layer, I prefer the latter as it's easier and work fine! I would pre-compost the sawdust with say chicken manure. Or wet it and leave 18 months to decompose, if you have time and space for that.

[@blueshawll]

Thank you.

[@tobystewart4403]

What a fabulous channel. So articulate and methodical. Thank you very much, Mr Dowding!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You're very welcome Toby and thanks

[@the_earthway]

Thanks, Charles and crew!

[@frankbarnwell____]

In some areas, if one doesn't have a good cardboard source, builders paper is nearly the same thing. 1st comment on my new phone. Great info, Charles!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Great point Frank

[@WelliesandWaffles]

My vegetable plot has been no dig for years and I've taken over a bit more of the garden for growing even more fruit and veg and put up a walk-in fruit and veg cage which is also no dig. Looking forward to this growing year :)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Brilliant!

[@jackosallotment6224]

Since following you a number of years ago I’ve gone this way. I do though pull out majority of weeds if taking over a new over grown plot then it’s down with the cardboard and soil on top. Let them worms do the work! Everybody asks why I don’t have many weeds and I bet them to buy one of your books ! Cheers 🍻

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚 Lovely thanks

[@karspastoor]

Love to see this, I'm ready to start myself this week! Just waiting until the Veg Journal is getting delivered!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cool, and thanks

[@gypsygem9395]

I'm so excited! My eldest daughter has just given me the final part of my Christmas present (yes, 2 months late!!) - your book Skills for Growing!! I'm slowly building up my collection 😃

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Hope you enjoy it! (Happy Christmas 😀)

[@gypsygem9395]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig thank you! 😆 🎄🎁

[@feffe4036]

As always, calm and informative. Always a pleasure watching your vids! I actually had my first small harvest of lettuce today, just enough for dinner. And the cabbage is doing great. :)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Fredrik, and that sounds great 🥬

[@annebeck2208]

Just seeing the structure of your compost is sooooooo helpful, thank you so much!

[@jcking6785]

Charles, thank you for doing this video. Even tho I have watched many of your videos, it never hurts to see and hear about no dig one more time, told a little differently, with more info about compost, etc. You have completely “sold” me on no dig! I have a tiny space, less than 20’ by 20’ that I’ve had covered in about 8 - 10 inches of very coarsely chopped leaves. If the rain will hold off for a few days to let the leaves dry out somewhat, I plan to rake them back and put down some cardboard I just collected yesterday. I’m in search of some good compost with which to cover it. I pray the Bermuda grass in this area will be smothered completely! 🤞🏻

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds good! Do watch for any new growth of Bermuda grass which you need to keep pulling, until it gives up completely. Especially keep an eye out around the edges so that it can't spread back in.

[@jcking6785]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you!

[@riverunner9978]

I’m planning a flower cutting rows with your methods ! Thank you I watch all you very informative and appreciated info! 🌸🌺

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wonderful, may they bloom well!!

[@hotpepper7782]

Lovely day to you, and good lesson as per usual . Hope the storms leaved no damages and all's well that ends well... wishing you lots of love from my sunshine always.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Many thanks, and all is well here

[@FATHER_KLP1137]

the cow manure looks lovely wow.

[@martinjuarez2508]

Cuanta sabiduría y pasión en sus tareas. Gracias por enseñarnos !!! Abrazo desde Argentina .

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚 gracias

[@GARDENER42]

If you want big sheets of cardboard, then places selling fridges, freezers, ovens, washing machines, etc. are the place to go. I went to Curry's & they were happy to see the back of it all!

[@manuelrojas4483]

Viene muy bien este sistema.También lo he aplicado alrededor de árboles frutales y es espectacular el cambio en el sustrato y la respuesta al obtener mejores frutos .Saludos desde Tenerife 🤙🏻👏🏻🐞🌿🥦👌🏻

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Encantado de leer esto Manuel, gracias por compartir

[@ximenaisabeljimenezgalindo9044]

Hola Charles ,que hermosa es la tierra tocarla y olerla y ver cómo produce ,gracias por tu vídeo ,enseñanza y paciencia y explicarnos .Mis macetas están llenas de acelga tomates ,pimentones ,ajíes gracias al maravilloso compost es pequeño pero lo adoro mí jardín ,un saludo desde Chile 🇨🇱

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Gracias Ximena, y eso suena muy bien. Tienes razón en que el olor a tierra y compost es maravilloso y es un poderoso recordatorio de la belleza de la naturaleza.

[@SamuelUK_]

Afternoon Charles thank you so much for replying all the time! My question to you today is how to apply and store my compost? I have a mixture of organic all purpose compost and mushroom compost. The area is already clear of weeds and grass, so no cardboard necessary just a few stones in the soil

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good. Simply spread on top, store under cover :)

[@SamuelUK_]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig thank you!!

[@athenapinefeather9716]

Thank you for your generous spirit and sharing your knowledge so kindly. I am grateful.

[@antoninomuscarella9052]

Sei sempre il mio punto di riferimento….. sei il mio Maestro ….. grazie per farmi capire tutto . ✍🏻😘🙏🏻

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Gracias Antonino

[@camicri4263]

I can't wait to apply this in my garden hopefully soon. Thank you so much for your constant teachings! 🤗🤗

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wonderful!

[@mrbenjaminization]

If your trying to find lots of cardboard, if you know someone who is having a kitchen fitted they will have tons of large sheets

[@GARDENandCOUNTRYHOUSE]

We have learned a lot from this channel! We have been cultivating the garden for the fourth year now. And on this channel, we show our history from the very beginning. We invite you if you want to see the countryside in Poland.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds interesting, thanks

[@GARDENandCOUNTRYHOUSE]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Best of luck for You! Best regards from Poland.

[@dudeatx]

Over winter I made some new beds on virgin land. I skimmed the grass/weeds off with spade. Covered with a tarp for about 3 months. Then placed a sheet of cardboard and 6" of compost and flippin' dock and dandelion still came through!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Docks especially! will do that if they are big ones and that's why I recommend digging large dock roots out, the top 6 inches/15 cm. Dandelions regrow but in a weakened state and I find them easy to eliminate using a trowel. And I don't bother to remove the grass and weeds before covering. I hope you can succeed from here.

[@dudeatx]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thanks Charles. I have to say I didn't notice them whilst prepping the area and to be truthful it's not causing me too much grief.

[@ukminuteman]

I have recently moved to a property with a heavy clay soil with moderate to high alkalinity. Last season I put potatoes in two areas to help break up the soil,etc but the crop was poor and the soil very difficult to work. Over the winter I have been mixing all sorts in which include kitchen scaps, last years compost from the tubs, ash from the woodburner,veggies that have gone over and it's working in terms of workability of the soil and the look of it. I am now considering adding the sawdust from the floor of the hen house (containing all the manure of course & some wood chip that was processed a year ago. I've even considered grit-anything to break up the clods of clay! Your advice at this stage would be greatly appreciated, Graham. Moving from sandy Suffolk to Wales is a challenge for me!! Love your teching!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thank you. Potatoes do not break up the soil and that is one of many myths and misunderstandings. Another one is that gravel somehow improves the drainage of clay. In fact it turns it to cement. That sawdust/manure will be good on top of your clay. My key advice is to leave the clay alone, don't try to mix in anything or to move it around, encourage life such as earthworms by feeding at the surface.

[@ukminuteman]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you very much.

[@cipriantodoran1674]

I remember the video from 2 years ago. Nice, refreshing video!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😀 first!

[@cipriantodoran1674]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig true! Thx for uploading this video. It makes me want to start seedlings right away!

[@Oceancurve]

Absolutely brilliant content for no dig gardeners. You have a great way of communicating and your passion shines through. Drinking game: Take a shot every time Charles mentions 'bindweed' :)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Paul 🥂