Goodbye to My Garden | What are Our Plans Now?

The first decent frost should be here in just a couple of days, so it's time to try to get the garden all wrapped up. We'll start today by laying down cardboard on all the beds. Then, we'll partially deconstruct the goat house, and move it out of the way so we can harvest all the goodness the goats created for us over the last year and a half. All that will be applied to the bed, and we'll continue to layer on more and more organic matter this fall, and even into next year. If you want to learn more about our 7th Year LAND REST, here's a link: • Why I'm Not Gardening ...
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[@amandar7719]

Be interesting to have a year of Timelapse of the garden condensed to 15 minutes.

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

For some of us, a single layer of cardboard isn't enough -- and you may need 2 or 3 to help that weed barrier. I love that you are doing the 7 year rotation!

[@kathy3178]

I pray that next year is a rest not only for the land but for both of you as well.

[@jeanettefoster4051]

I, too, am taking a year off from my vegetable gardening. I and my soil, need a break

[@oldvillagefarm1348]

Find a appliance place that has a dumpster full of huge pieces of cardboard. I love that your resting your garden.

[@leewillis2908]

I found a local appliance store with huge appliance boxes, already broken down. What a blessing. They were thrilled to have us take them away.

[@leeannluigi1644]

My garden keeps my clinical depression at bay. Without my garden I'd be a nut case and my family would probably move me to a real farm (not a funny farm LOL). I hope you have an abundance of peace this year. God bless you and Todd. 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@emptynestgardens9057]

Wow your 2024 crops are going to be so healthy after a year of feeding the earth and you have everything you need going into it. Great inspiration and food for thought.

[@adz5bneweng589]

If you have any appliance stores in your area, appliance cardboard boxes are terrific. Fridges, washers, dryers, dishwashers, etc. Call ahead and see if they will save them up for you for a week or 2 and setup a pickup date.

[@kimmyseegmiller985]

Granny always rotated the gardens, she had 3! I remember well her saying just let that one go fallow. Grandpa would turn the earth with the plow the Fall before she grew in the "new" old garden on the next Spring! I forgot to ad the hogs were always in the fallow garden the last Fall she used it. So it was almost a 18 month process. It always was a productive garden with bountiful harvests.

[@amyroberts7248]

Aaaawwww you two are so good with each other. I can see how hard emotionally this is for you Racheal and I can see how Todd is trying to support your heartache. I did the samething, I was at a place for 7 years and totally rested the land and I swear I acted as if my best friend had died it was so so difficult. But youre doing the right thing not only for the land and nature but also to rest you both as well. And I know there is no rest on a farm but trust me it is a huge cleansing and you will grow from this. I feel how you all are feeling right now we are all here for you and look forward to seeing future adventures this brings. You both are doing great. Go in put your feet up tonight eat something yummy and watch a fun movie. We love you. Thank you for teaching me so many things and making my family feel like a part of yours. xxoxoxooxox

[@lorisilva10784]

Very well said!! My sentiments exactly.

[@annmariejones4511]

Couldn’t have expressed it better myself! My thoughts exactly! Land needs rest, humans do too…a good opportunity to reset ❤

[@royalicing8603]

TIP!! I had a large spot of creeping charlie that I fought with for years! But this last summer we extended the chicken fence to include that area...and WOWZERS! The chickens TOTALLY decimated ALL OF IT! It is completely gone! 😁 Thanks for another great video!!❤️

[@user-ck2do7ip6m]

While the garden rests..rest your 💕 hearts! God bless you both for bringing your faith and beliefs to us also. Since your video on the year of Jubilee and resting your garden, I have researched and learned so much. I know that you have so much to teach us and will be there to watch. Enjoy the SEASON OF THE FALL.

[@timbenhardt7644]

Not sure if you watch Perma pasture farms but they make there own compost. Awesome videos. Good time for you to come up with a cookbook 😁😁

[@starrmasner6015]

A lot of people don’t know this, but your local Walmart will give you all the boxes you want and they are already broken down! I also did the grass clippings and leaves, I got a lot of grass growing in my beds so the next year I put the leaves and grass clippings in a pile and just turned it. Best compost right next to the garden! It was wonderful and now I do it always! I hope this helps

[@amyroberts7248]

wow thank you I didnt know that. Guess I will be making more trips to walmart and thats a great idea with the pile!!

[@frankiefry1]

Another good source for cardboard is Dollar General. They are always very accommodating when I ask them.

[@charlottegircsis7916]

Our Walmart here in Northern Ohio will not give out any boxes. They bundle it and ship it out. So not all of them do the box give away.

[@here2homesteading]

My Walmart boxes have blue ink on them 😩 And that shouldn't be used in the garden.

[@littlequiverhomestead]

My dollar tree is fabulous for free boxes

[@cherylirvin3919]

It will be more than a year. Winter, spring, summer,fall and another winter. Whatever you put in should break down beautifully. Happy rest!

[@patriciawilson6524]

Happy to here your not going anywhere .I would surely miss your videos. Hope you have nice weekend.

[@nancypatterson868]

Yay!! More "What's for dinner videos!" I love those. You guys are the best. Thanks for the videos.

[@morningwoodfarms713]

Oh my, I obviously missed some episodes. The goats are gone?😯😦 What happened, guys? I'm putting some beds to sleep now. I stopped for a break and saw you were saying goodbye too.💙 I may give one huge area next year off, but haven't fully decided yet. Yeah, you guys will still have honey stuff to do next year!😊🍯 Sending big hugs and blessings your way. 🙏🤗💗

[@rhondaroge3574]

I was thinking the same thing, what was the goat decision about? I mustve missed it

[@leeannluigi1644]

Me too, I didnt know the goats were gone 😪

[@LindaASJ]

They said in an earlier video they were going to harvest them this year. They’ll probably be in the freezer soon

[@oceangolf3076]

I didn’t know people eat goat. Interesting.

[@christinebowers6182]

Lol Rachel!! I got a good chuckle when your shelf was being used for a roof holder. Usually it's food on my shelf. Thank you 😊

[@loriannkruithof2043]

So glad you will be filming and vlogging. I would miss you otherwise.

[@garyweaver6026]

I have been enjoying your videos, I finally found your carrot video yesterday. I live in TN 30 miles south of Nashville I am planting carrots today it is 73° here. I put cardboard in my onion bed in Fall then cover it with mulch there are no grass or weeds March 1st when I plant onions and no weeds when I harvest 350 tennis ball size onions about June 15. Onions and garlic are zero maintenance. I took a 5 year break from gardening once, I was working 3 hours every day in the garden and 8 hours a day at my full time job, that was 35 years ago. Then I learned low maintenance gardening, now I seldom work more that 5 to 10 minutes a day in the garden. Once garden is planted there is nothing to do until harvest so we go camping in National Parks & State Parks. Before the internet I had a lot of worthless garden books, Mother Earth News magazine had the best garden information. My garden is only 34' by 60' I now get about 10 times more produce than I did 45 years ago. Now that our children are on their own we only grow a years food supply for the 2 of us. A year supply of, corn, tomatoes, potatoes, beans, carrots, onions, garlic, cucumbers, peppers, blackberries, strawberries. Last summer we got rid of 500 mason jars now everything goes into 2 freezers and some mason jars. I don't like the freezer if electricity goes off we could loose a years worth of food but it is a lot less work. I grew up in Illinois garden was easier there, TN is rain 6 days a week Jan to May then no rain an desert June to Oct. It is a challenge to learn how to grow crops is such crazy weather 100°F an 2" of rain all summer and 3 feet" of rain Jan to May. Our last frost is about April 20 and first frost is about Nov 5. We don't get freezing weather until Jan, last year our first hard freeze was Jan 15.

[@simones.3811]

It's so wonderful that you're giving the land from growing every 7 years! This is something done in Israel as part of Jewish law; we stop planting, growing, and harvesting crops every 7th year!

[@debbiealtman4572]

I agree resting a garden is good so you can amend soil and be able to add extra nutrients to the garden area and plus be able to get some other things done.

[@MsTdub2010]

Ok good… I won’t miss you if you’re still gonna be here but what a bittersweet time ❤

[@crystalallen4031]

I observed a “shmita” rest for our property this past year; it was awesome! A pear tree that has never given me more than 3-5 pears was so loaded down that a branch broke out, and I propped up the others. Also, I did a lot of canning from the excess produce other people gifted me with :)

[@wesolds8875]

I'll be watching, I live in Florida now but I was born and raised in Michigan. I loved your dinner videos. I'll be watching

[@joannwalmsley8172]

I’m still going to watch your videos. I have learned so much. Thank you.

[@connieatkins7390]

I love you guys!

[@noraalvarado8178]

I'm in N.Y so my garden rest over the winter. And I layer grass, leaves and put kitchen scraps in the beds. I wait all winter until spring wakes up the ground and I can't wait to eat fresh vegetables again and not canned. I understand to wanting a break. But I couldn't imagine walking out and not being able to pick that first tomatoe above all else. And that's what gets me threw that long cold winter.

[@dvk7353]

We have a few acres of usually corn or soy beans. We have rested out land also in 7 year intervals as the Bible talks about. The lord will bless 😍

[@g_laird3523]

❤❤❤❤ I have enjoyed your videos so much, no matter what you show us. Love watching you both cook meals! So glad you will keep videoing. 😋

[@laughalittlemore2]

Totally new here .... just wanted to say I enjoyed watching you two 🥰. Looking forward to watching more of your videos (old and new) and learning about creating our homestead.

[@katlynewaugaman4132]

Absolutely will stick around! Never will leave ❤

[@alicecowan3499]

Love you guys and not going anywhere 💜💜💜👍🏼🤗

[@suegeorge998]

I'm so sorry that you hurt your back. That's miserable for you. Don't push yourself too soon. A little over a week ago I fell off a ladder in my orchard and fell horizontally landing first on my tailbone. I'm still sore. It's getting better but apparently I'm on a slow track for healing.

[@helenwinebrenner5575]

You deserve a year off you work so hard. I would plant garlic cause it takes almost a yr to grow 2 cloves is over 3 bucks. You will have to go 2 whole years before starting a crop. Hope you get to harvest any free produce God sends you next year.Congrats on the King Samon awesome battle with those fish Todd.

[@willow8094]

So happy you will still be posting !

[@zlifehomestead9772]

Todd, glad your back is feeling better. I have a huge concern (for myself) that while watching your video, I thought I could smell barn compost! 🤣🤣🤣 I canned my greens yesterday and thought of you Rachael as I used broccolini leaves, cabbage leaves, beet greens and malabar spinnach. Yep, I bought myself some malabar spinnach seed right after watching your harvest video of it. They turned out amazing and I ended up with 13 quarts. ( I always cook mine down in a smoked pork bone pot liquor, which makes everything taste great) Take care!

[@jennbama]

Good luck on the resting of your land. We're doing a cover crop since we didn't grow anything last year our soil is hungry right now.

[@marilyncapehart663]

Thanks for sharing Todd & Rachel I know you are going to Miss your Garden for a year 10-10-2022♥️

[@dominadomestic-goddess-coo5264]

Hi Rach, I finally found a way to mulch all my leaves and wanted to share it with you and your viewers. I figured why bother purchasing another tool for 150.oo - 300.oo that will sit for an entire year for 1 use. I place my weed wacker into my road side garbage receptacle. For a turbo mulching, lenghen the string 1-2 inches and let it rip. Gather up all your leaves, fill it to the top and move the weed wacker just as if you were stirring a pot of soup and keep adding leaves till you have the amount needed and the mulch size you looking for. Leaves come out smaller the longer you blend. I also make a pile of mulching for spring and summer garden time, for paths between plants and around the base of my plants to slow down weeds. Give it a try peeps.

[@1870s]

Great idea!

[@mdchristman1]

Wow, thank you for sharing your faith!

[@BootsandBountyHomestead]

Make sure you chop the leaves up, It'll break down faster for compost OR... If you want it as a weed barrier since you are not growing the Sabbath year, then you can leave them whole and till then in next year. I have almost despised the raised beds because they shrink so much! I'll be turning in compost with my new beds. We just bought a new homestead last week and from learning on my city land, I'll be making changes to this land. We are always learning and learning from each other. ❤️Kacy

[@1958constance]

You both are so precious. I’m not going anywhere. I look forward to the next year.

[@ladyryan902]

Oh that tractor is lovely!! It would take me a week with my shovel n cart..sigh. Someday😄

[@carolynsinyard1306]

Thank you for sharing this video with us. I will be starting my first raised bed garden this year and I am looking forward to watching all of your planting videos before I start.

[@Revelation21.4]

A Sabbath rest for the earth is just as important as the Sabbath rest made for man. ❤ May God bless you both!

[@LindaASJ]

Always up for a what’s for dinner video if you need content! You have given me so many ideas even though I’m vegan for the most part

[@helenahudon7527]

So glad you are not going anywhere!! Looking forward to what you will share going forward!

[@carmenrosas4281]

I can’t wait to see how the land goes on vacation to nourish itself and provide you will beautiful crops.

[@laurab8547]

Rachel, will you still be canning? Like stuff you can buy from the farmers market? Looking forward to seeing how your tea garden progresses.

[@grannaboo03]

Thank you for sharing this process…I am definitely looking forward to seeing the infrastructure you are setting up…We are moving onto our land next spring and will need lots of infrastructure too…we need to build a Chicken coop & tractors for meat birds. It’s so exciting & scary at the same time.

[@lovesthestars324]

It’s a little bittersweet to see you put the garden to bed for a year but I understand the reasoning and yet I am excited to see all the new content coming to the channel. I love learning from you both.

[@leekinanus7409]

What is the reasoning 🤷‍♂️

[@Thankful_.]

The cardboard method worked for me also! 😊☀️👏🏾

[@lisasuewarren6204]

I think it's very nice that you are resting the land this year. I have already learned another few steps that I can do to put my garden to bed for the winter from watching this video so thank you for that. This was my first year using several raised beds and the straw bale gardening too so I have plenty organic matter to spread on top of my cardboard Isaved up this summer. I will certainly continue watching you guys, you are always teaching me something and sharing so much with us all. I look forward to learning how to keep building up the land while it rests.

[@hann3671]

I’m excited to see what you guys do in the “off” year and what all that entails! One day I would love to have a homestead and learning from you guys is so much fun for me!

[@pamelastokes2964]

No worries about us sticking around, we'll be ready and waiting for all of the new videos. All things need a time of rest. Pam

[@elizaC3024]

Before you plant flowers around the entire garden, remember where the tractor bucket drops your mulch, etc., over the fence. How close can the tractor get with a flower bed there? Just a thought.

[@dustyflats3832]

Your lucky to have worms. Our soil is sandy dust and yes, it does just eat up the compost. I’m happy dancing when I find a handful of worms. I think you’ve done so much canning that You want to rest. You should have more than enough to get through-maybe. Enjoy your break☺️

[@ericataylor9063]

Thanks for sharing 👍🏿 😊

[@debnewton5707]

Just like we need a rest, so does the beautiful garden...enjoy the change of routine guys...love your videos 💗 I especially love the support you give one another...I’d say you guys are pretty much “joined at the hip” bless you both from Aus 🇦🇺👨‍🌾🌸

[@Famcke]

I don't have nothing to offer. Simply doesn't know enough about resting a garden. I'm excited to see all the new content and want to wish you the very best. Glad Todd is better. Stay safe 💐💙🙏🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

[@NanasWorld2007]

I only started watching a few weeks now Becky at Acre's homestead mentioned your channel as a great channel to watch and man was she right, You do you and I will still be here watching and learning a long with you, a garden isn't the homestead, You and MIke are. everything there shows parts of you guys. The recipes, Mike working on repairing things working with the Goatsl your canning and how you use what you can during the winter months.I think this Journey this next year is going to teach me a lot about the soul and what needs to go in it to grow food for My Husband and myself, we don't want a huge garden, not going to grow anything we are not going to eat, Lots of time people see others grow things and then they waste all the money time energy and the land to grow something and then it is wasted cause they don't preserve it, like We don't or can't eat spicy hot foods so hot peppers would be beneficial for us to grow, I have made a list of what we want in our garden, Now to take notes from you to prepare our soil to plant it, Be blessed my friend

[@cynthiafisher9907]

Todd

[@priayief]

That's going to be an interesting life-style change.

[@teresacoffman5529]

We used cardboard under our raised beds, too. Try asking for the pumpkin/watermelon boxes at Costco, etc. They’re extra thick and big so they cover a lot of area.

[@mywoolmitten]

Another big Mel Bartholomew fan here, Rachel 😊 I so enjoy and appreciate watching the two of you together, look forward to continuing to watch your homestead progress!

[@rho1360]

Definitely add leaves, they make for fantastic soil. 👍 Great stuff guys ❤️

[@lynnmcdermott1291]

Of course we will stick around next year. I can’t wait! I so enjoy watching and learning from you both! ❤

[@deborahc.9869]

I know just how you feel as I did the same thing for my garden but chose to do it this year. I chose this past spring to the spring of 2023 to give my garden beds a rest. Being out here in California people just don't understand why a person would rest their garden bed and soil a rest for one year, so I explain it to them. It's so tempting to go out right now and plant some carrot 🥕 seeds but I have to keep my promise to give it a rest. That even includes my large pots and grow bags. I've emptied all the old soil from those things and will amend that over the winter months. I can't wait till next spring to start my seeds up again and start planting in the garden again. Till that time I'll just keep looking through my seed catalogs.

[@marge3157]

Really looking forward to this next years videos. I am excited to see what you do during this "rest".

[@oldvillagefarm1348]

Please do some videos on hair because I love your hair Rachel!

[@mariagarcia-po6kl]

Hi Rachel & Todd. It is time for the garden to take a well deserved rest. And wood love to see your flowers 🌺🌹 next year. Rachel, if you have stuff you use for cooking like egg shells orange peels. Use them in the garden to feed the soil. God BlessRachel for all you do. And keep up the amazing work. Todd, please take care of your back. Because I am. My back has been hurting me to. God Bless the two of you again. Stay healthy. Love you guy's. Mari'a. 👍👍👍👍👍👍🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😀😀😀🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌹🌹🌹🌹💐💐💐💐💐💐

[@eileentenenbaum1613]

I get a lot of cardboard from Sam's. They put cardboard between products and appreciate people taking it. Also a question about volunteers. Will you let them grow and harvest from them?

[@MistyRoads]

I’m kind of new to your channel and am already so impressed. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. This was a great video.

[@gardengrammie3]

Well, when you first mentioned resting the garden for a year, I thought it was kinda odd. But after watching you today, I'm thinking it's a good thing. Makes sense to prep, prep & prep the soil for nutrition and not use it up every year. So.... will be interesting to see your garden in 2024 how it does. Blessings to you and Todd! Missing your what we eat videos? Haven't seen one in a few weeks? Maybe I need to search more?

[@lindastokes9217]

I’m sticking around!! Looking forward to what’s next😊

[@rebeccawallace4240]

I can't believe you guys didn't wanna see what volunteers on their own, this coming up spring

[@AreYouKittenMeRtNow]

Re: the weed seeds, I have all my composting bins (a large 4-bin system) set up so that my chickens work in it and eat up all the weed seeds etc. they also get very hot. I collect lots of leaves and grass in the fall and keep piles of those near the bins to add when I need to. It works really really well and whenever I see people with chickens who are NOT doing this I wish they understood what an opportunity they’re missing!!

[@anapaulacrawford5837]

Just like the lord said , planty full for 6 years, the 7 year you should rest . May God bless you for your obedience! Can't wait to see your videos on flowers etc ! God bless!

[@pjk1714]

Looking forward to watching the journey. Hopefully Todd's back improves.. Can be slower than we want. Take care and looking forward to updates on meat chickens.

[@onelittlemiracle241]

You guys make such an amazing team. I can’t wait to see what the next year brings. I look forward to seeing (hopefully) ideas on canning locally obtained veggies for those without garden space. Hope your back heals!

[@shamancarmichael5305]

Next year will be a good adventure! And soon enough it will be fall again, then spring 2024, and the refreshed garden will be ready. It will be interesting to see what the harvests are like after the break!

[@ae_pd]

I just love you guys! ❤️

[@junephillips8762]

Can’t wait to see the new content. Best Wishes

[@Rosenliebe]

Of course we‘ll stick around! 🍀 We love your videos. 💛💛 Continued prayers 🙏🏻

[@juliamarple3785]

Now I know what goats are good for! How exciting ♡

[@lynnwillard3414]

I love the idea of having a tea garden and I've had mine planned out for the spring for some time now! I will love that we could be doing it for the first time "together!"

[@mcox3114]

Don't forget the chicken compost, maybe that will help finish off most of the beds.

[@anitawitt84]

I love lasagna gardening style-with the caveat that one must use weed barrier under raised beds if Bermuda grass is part of the equation. Bermuda creeps it’s evil runners even when all preventative methods are taken, but much less so. We cannot use grass clippings from it either as it often makes seed heads at just 3” high. I’m sure there’s zone-specific tweaks for many issues.

[@loripretti843]

You guy's are both Awesome and Absolutely Amazing!!! You Both have LOT'S to share!!! I can't wait for your next Adventure!!! Luv you both and Enjoy you both very very much!!! God Bless!!!

[@juliamarple3785]

Ya no, I'm thinking of doing that also. I went all in on my food garden when Covid came along and we postponed our move & that was great! ...but now it seems so limiting during my favorite go-outside-and- play time of year. I still have a bunch of perma edibles that I would like to explore, like honeysuckle, lilac, mullien, and I could do a better job of taking care of all the rest of my yard. An annual garden is just So Demanding.

[@Finnswife3]

Where did the goats go? How are the piggies? Excited for the different content coming! We are PRAYING that we will be on new-to-us property next year and starting our farmstead journey. Happy Fall Y’all! 🍁

[@1870s]

we harvested the goats (freezer camp)

[@annmoore6243]

Just love you guys

[@sandrad682]

I'm looking forward to more of your videos. We'll be here. Glad you're improving Todd. Take care of yourself.

[@jhansilaxmi3020]

Lovely

[@trishapomeroy9251]

With your well draining soil especially, don't forget to water regularly to help keep the soil alive and well.

[@interestedobserver9352]

It will be interesting to see what you do to rejuvenate the garden for the next year, and I am really looking forward to seeing how the garden performs the following year.

[@rhondajo3]

In the Old Testament there is a Shmita year every 7 years, which was this past summer. We let the garden and the land rest, just as we rest on the 7th day of the week.

[@Miauwies]

No way I'm gonna leave, I love you both and the things you do way to much. 😀💖 I just found you this year and this year I started a mini veggie garden. Next year I want to do better, so I'm going to watch lots and lots previous video's also. 💖