GROW YOUR BEST GARDEN EVER - OUR TOP 5 TIPS

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Want to grow your best garden ever? We have five tips we know will help!
Growing a good garden can be difficult, but it doesn't have to be. If you set a good "foundation" for your garden, it can really help to alleviate many of the issues that can pop up later on.
Simple steps such as getting rid of chemical usage, developing good, healthy soil, adding compost, minerals and mulch and planting the right vegetables for your region are all fantastic steps in growing your best garden ever!
For more gardening tips be sure to check out these other resources:
Spring Garden Planning Tips & Tricks: bit.ly/SpringGardenTips
How to Use Clyde's Garden Planner: • HOW TO USE CLYDE'S GAR...
Garden Planning with Melissa K. Norris: • GARDEN PLANNING WITH M...
Preparing Your Garden (and soil) for Winter: • Preparing Your Garden ...
How to Supercharge Your Garden: • How To Supercharge You...
Garden Planning Basics: • Some Garden Planning B...
Top 10 Gardening Mistakes: • Gardening: Top 10 Gard...
Grab your copy of Clyde's Garden Planner (and use code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY.COM" for a discount): www.clydesvegetableplantingch...
Time Stamps:
0:00 - Chit Chat
5:35 - Q & A: What do you do with the ash from your wood cookstove... is it good to use in your garden or not?
8:49 - Main Topic: How to grow your best garden ever
10:07 - Stop using fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides and chemicals
12:57 - Develop good, healthy soil
14:10 - Get good quality organic compost
16:03 - How much compost should you add to your garden?
17:58 - Add minerals to your soil
21:42 - Give your garden protection by mulching
24:12 - Focus on the vegetables that grow well in your area
27:54 - Have a plan!
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MORE ABOUT US!
WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo
Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit our blog: www.homesteadingfamily.com
Follow us on Pinterest: / homesteadingfamily
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- Healthy Healing at Home- Free 4 video workshop on our herb course Herbal Medicine Cabinet: Colds
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- Bread Making workshop- Free 4 video workshop on our masterclass, The Art of Homemade Bread
bit.ly/breadmworkshop
- Meals on Your Shelf- Free 4 video workshop on canning. The Abundant Pantry: Canning
bit.ly/MealsOYS
Click any of the links below for instant access to these free downloadable PDFs:
- Homesteading Family's Favorite Holiday Recipes - homesteadingfamily.com/free-h...
- 5 Steps to a More Self Sufficient Life- Simple PDF download on 5 steps anyone can take wherever they are to start a more self-sufficient lifestyle.
bit.ly/SelfSufficientLife
- Thrive Wellness Checklist- A simple PDF download for healthy living.
homesteadingfamily.com/TWC_YT
- Permaculture for Your Homestead- PDF download that is an introduction to permaculture with some strategies for applying it to one’s homestead and garden.
homesteadingfamily.com/PFYH_YT
- Carolyn’s Cottage Garden herb list- PDF with Carolyn’s favorite herbs for growing at home.
homesteadingfamily.com/CGHL_YT
- Carolyn’s Make-Ahead Breakfast Casseroles- Carolyn’s favorite make-ahead breakfast casseroles.
homesteadingfamily.com/MABC_YT
- Your FREE Guide to Preserving Eggs- PDF download with multiple ways to preserve eggs.
homesteadingfamily.com/Eggs_YT
- 5 Steps to a Healthy Garden- PDF download with an explanation of what makes healthy soil and 5 steps you can take to improve your garden
homesteadingfamily.com/5Steps...
- Save the Crumbs- Several Recipes for using bread leftovers, a less committal entry to bread than the workshop.
homesteadingfamily.com/STC_YT
- Fearless Fermenting- A PDF on basic lacto-ferments.
homesteadingfamily.com/FF_YT
- Fermenting Tomatoes- PDF download on fermenting tomatoes
homesteadingfamily.com/FT_YT
- Preserving Culinary Herbs- Downloadable, step by step directions to drying, freezing and salting culinary herbs.
homesteadingfamily.com/PCH_YT
#gardening #gardentips #gardenplanning

[@abigailbelford883]

Don't ever cut those pieces out in editing. Your Realness is what's attractive. Sometimes what we deem as unnecessary, a mishap, or a blooper, is precisely the nugget that someone else needs. Thanks for the video. Thanks for being You. It's a beautiful blessing. ...In far more ways than you may realize. Keep it up.

[@karenmccleary7616]

I learn so much more from spending 30ish minutes a week with you guys than I did spending hours in college classes. THANKS!

[@louisedumais6496]

I love how you now include your whole family in these videos, your husband and you seem to make a good team

[@valh9858]

The best advancement I've made to improve my garden was getting my soil tested. It was really eye-opening and changed the way I garden. I get it tested every year now. I would add one piece of advice, especially for new gardeners - start small and become a master of one. By that I mean, start with one vegetable and learn everything you can about that one vegetable. Then move on to the next vegetable. Starting with a small garden and slowly adding to it minimizes the risk of failure, builds self confidence, and saves money. I'm really looking forward to next week's guest!!

[@karena1589]

When I see that you have a new video up, I say yay!. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge with us. I appreciate it. You have a beautiful family.

[@whitepinehomestead]

Thank you for another great pantry chat and I'm excited for next weeks talk as well!

[@Lauralamontanaro]

Love watching you both! Love the area where you tape, and so impressed with your hard work! Thank you for sharing!

[@debbiebevis3806]

I get so excited when you guys have a new video out. I love to see your beautiful children too, they are precious. Thank you so much for all that you share with us. We are in southern Alabama and our last frost date is March 13 so we are right on the edge. Can’t wait to get my seedlings in the ground. Have a great week

[@paulahegg963]

I too was looking for the link for the mineral recipe you mentioned as well as what are good mulches to use. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise with us. Looking forward to learning about fruit trees!

[@HomesteadingFamily]

I thought I had a download already prepared when I said that and I guess I was wrong. We will try to create one in the next couple of weeks, but if you want to look up Steve Solomon with Complete Organic Fertilizer, it is his recipe that I work off of. I have used his general recipe over the year for broad mineralization and it has done well for me in several soil types.

[@debrahenderson798]

Oh my gosh I just love him!! I've been following him for awhile now. I too will be getting some of his fruit trees and other fun discoveries he has found up here. I am VERY excited to watch.

[@jessicaperez1370]

I love y'all's uploads. I have garden brain something awful this year. I need to spring clean the house now because I probably won't see the inside again after mid March.

[@yvonnevansickle53]

I am so excited for your next guest! What awesome information. My homestead is in North Central Idaho, so I'm pretty sure I will be able to use the varieties he suggests for your area. I am just getting started, so he can save me a lot of possibly expensive experimentation in my planting. Thrilled, thanks!!

[@TheSjlewis]

Fantastic episode this week, thank you so much. Have you guys done an episode about planting a small garden just for tea? Thanks so much. Stephanie

[@lisafeck1537]

Thank you. Next week, I'm very excited about your guest. I want to learn more about all the subjects you mentioned you will be covering. God bless you and your family, and your mission.

[@RanchExplorerHQ]

Luv y’all and thank you for your humor and helpful tips. Always nice to connect with other homestead families! Blessings your way & Encouragement! Enjoy the garden info. & ash recommendation, and general planting tips for any zone. I have purchased the books y’all recommend so thank you 🙏.

[@theparksfamilyhomestead3728]

We have Banana groves here on our small homestead, and they LOVE ash. I put about a gallon around each plant. I also live in sand, so I sprinkle it on my feilds, along with manure, shredded hay, clay pebbles (natural clay cat litter) and organic compost. Im hoping to make my sand into soil. It litterally is like beach sand, so only cactus, sand spurs, and weeds grow on it.

[@kimberleemonroe2255]

Thank you for all the good info! My daughter and I put our garden in five Summers about . Plowed up 2500 ft of Neglected pasture. When we bought the farm We have applied these principles and finally have really soil! Will always be improving and expanding. Thank you!

[@ecocentrichomestead6783]

#1 a complete foriegn thing to me. Grew up with organic gardening and always stuck with it. #2 my childhood garden had high organic matter from the start. But my current garden gets 1-2" of compost per year and meadow clippings mulch. I think knowing your climate and what plants do well in that climate is the most important.

[@PamelaClare]

So excited for the tree pruning video. We have 15 fruit trees on our urban property (as well as a big rose garden and veg beds), and pruning is on our minds right now. Thanks!

[@myalaskalife1815]

Thanks for always trying to share. Mother of 3, homeschooled but one married now. Moved a number of years ago from Oregon to Alaska so climate has been a new learning move for us and I'm always adapting but we appreciate your northern Idaho experience

[@mamajewelAmber]

Love that mug Carolyn, its superb!! Helpful video, thank you!!

[@RoseFelton]

I love the mug too. Where did you get it Carolyn?

[@jessicaperez1370]

I've seen them in the Lehman's catalog

[@aaronclaar8748]

Kudos to you both - very well organized and great content - you have a table of contents for the video - outstanding!

[@connierogers6853]

I love you guys! Thanks for sharing!

[@dugchris2009]

Thanks so much. Great information 😊

[@mamajewelAmber]

Our garden was a cattle feed lot over winters for years so the soil is super rich, maybe too rich for some plants, potatoes and squash loved it, tomatoes, peppers and berries really liked it too!

[@juanitar.miller5210]

As far as using ashes, we have found it to be an EXCELLENT dust bath for chickens to prevent lice and other skin issues! We discovered that by accident when our free range chickens began dusting in the margins of our yard debris burn site; even while the ashes were still hit from the recent fire in the center!

[@cozykimmi]

Such amazing advice! Thanks 😊

[@LifefromAshes001]

I absolutely loved these tips!! 🌱🌱🌱🌱 my first starts are sprouting indoors in my grow room, this totally pumped me up for our season. In Ontario Canada zone 5a, I get the still to cold for the garden feeling lol the planting itch is strong right now lol 😅🌄

[@lisalowe6922]

oh! I can't wait We have a new orchard.Well, really about 10 fruit trees and we are new to all of this.

[@christiebetts4970]

Really looking forward to the talk on orchards.I have some new property in Tenn. that i want to get started on an orchard on

[@abigailbelford883]

You guys are so cute. I haven't figured out yet if you just like each other; are newlyweds madly in love with each other; so like-minded you ain't got no desire to disagree with one another, or if, maybe. . Just maybe, You are Real, and simply make all those choices. Either way, the two of you are a gift to the millions of us. Thanks. Don't ever stop. It's all being done, Decently and in Order And it's Beautiful.

[@HomesteadingFamily]

Haha! Madly in love, I guess! Almost 17 years of marriage, so far.

[@abigailbelford883]

@@HomesteadingFamily I absolutely love it. Madly in Love. You two, I'm sure, are pushing 30.... All that knowledge So young Keep it up I'll keep learning. I'll keep doing. I'll keep being. Thanks.

[@abigailbelford883]

Ok. Pushing 40. Oh my goodness. Who'da thunk it

[@abigailbelford883]

17 years. A long time. Such a short time when you're in love. Wisdom is evident. Thanks.

[@surrenderbend6828]

Quick tip>if you don’t know how to test your soil>search for your local county extension office>they have many other resources also for example they can identify a plant for you or mushrooms. Oh, also pests problems in the area

[@mrssperry6562]

Nice! ThanQ

[@appalachianmercantile]

I can't find where you said you were putting the list for mineralization.

[@beverlyf6603]

Same!

[@HomesteadingFamily]

I thought I had a download already prepared when I said that and I guess I was wrong. We will try to create one in the next couple of weeks, but if you want to look up Steve Solomon with Complete Organic Fertilizer, it is his recipe that I work off of. I have used his general recipe over the year for broad mineralization and it has done well for me in several soil types.

[@GregVasquez777]

Found this although not sure if this is organic mineralization? "Steve Solomons Complete Organic Fertilizer" kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYucY4mfqbmVaK8

[@juliagolish714]

Love you guys!

[@sandraburke2403]

Compost collection for my grandchildren spending the day with me is come on boys(11 of them 7-15)+ 1 girl let's go dig a 5 gal. Bucket each from the ditches around the roads of Daniel Bone Forest. Its just a 2min. Drive. I like to choose the spots where ice builds up across the road in winter because the ditch is full. Honestly our road crew needs work on running their equipment but it creates an area of harvesting good rich composted soil that has been building for years. Last year in an 8'×10' raised bed yielded over400 lg. Tomatoes,the year before over 800 fist size green peppers. I can't wait to plant the area this year. Getting back to basics the last 2 years has brought so much joy to the family. After nearly 5 decades of not growing our own food. We are now on our second batch of chickens, its a Wonderful fulfilling life. Its amazing what you can do on a small piece of property with limited funds while raising 3 grands. Taking notes every video you make,that I have time to watch. Thanks you 2+ family.

[@j.reneewhite915]

I love the tips you chose in this video. I often ask myself what would I feel is key advice to a beginner gardener. Stop buying all the chemicals is by far number 1 for me. It was hard to do because I had to unplug from wanting amazing hulk like plants to fill the pride slot in one's gardening life. My garden actually works better and has less pest pressure since I stopped using all of it. I barely purchase organic fertilizers any more. I use compost tea and worm castings that I make form all the discards. Soil is number 2. Learn how to water enough for the plants to thrive without over watering. Understand the micro climates on your property and one of the most important that I'm trying to become good at is to learn the movement of the sun through out the year. I garden a small yard around a house with forest on the west side and a property line row of arborvitaes on the south side so my challenge is to plant my food where they can get enough sun to come to full harvest. Thanks again for taking the time to make these thought provoking videos. My family line is full of people who don't have their feet on the ground so watching your chats helps to fill the void. Sending love and blessings to you and yours!

[@RockinGFarm]

Carolyn & Josh, I am a registered nurse and started watching your channel at the beginning of the pandemic. I work night shift weekend option at the hospital and day shift during the week at two other jobs. I just wanting to thank you for all of your education for the newer farmer/homesteader. I LOVE the cast iron videos. Mine have never been better after I seasoned them following your instructions. God is Great! Cari Glover

[@HomesteadingFamily]

Yay! Great job!

[@tonimartinez4069]

Hi Josh and Carolyn, First off thanks so much for all the hard work you two do to put out such great information on gardening, canning, etc. I have a question for you Josh, my husband has begun to watch your youtube videos on gardening, and he wants me to ask you what is your secret to growing such great carrots. Apparently, he found a picture of you and your carrots - The Producers and would like to know what kind of soil do you plant the seeds in. We live at the foothills of the Rockies, in Colorado with an elevation of 6,100 ft.. We've never had luck growing carrots even though he prepares the soil with a good compost, peat moss and has even added some sand in the area we try growing the carrots. We've given up growing them, but now he has found your photo with your fantastic carrots and wants to try again. Thanks

[@megmcginnis239]

So is "Watching the snow melt" like the old saying "A watched pot never boils"? :) Love the cast iron video!!! Great tips today on the chat, thank you. Here on Whidbey, though we don't get the snow and can be somewhat mild our weather through March will remain too cool to direct plant. Even into April at times. So I have to do starts to get an early garden or to spread out the harvest time. Do you show in previous videos or are you going to show how you make your bean tunnels? I really want to invest in making those this year. I love how you can pick from them and how they protect your brassica crop. I do a winter garden that will be perfect in the tunnel and will be easier to protect in the winter. I'm curious how you secure them in the garden rows. We get hefty winds and I want to make sure they will remain in tact. I have studied one of your gardening videos from last year it appears you use rebar...which we have in abundance from our build. Thank you and God bless. Meg

[@lshomshin]

Just thinking about starting gardening. Already homeschooling and into natural living as much as possible. So glad found you guys! Organic compost not in bags would be packaged how? Thank you and wishing you consistent success!

[@jessicabracewell5408]

Do you companion plant with flowers and herbs in your vegetable garden? Carolyn how did you figure out how to design you cottage /kitchen garden? Where to plant what?

[@802louis]

Great job 👍👍👍

[@conniewallace7529]

I'm in north FL. I don't know how you guys can make it through the long winters. I was mentally ready to start plants before Christmas. But, I know you have plenty going on otherwise, too. Hang in there! Your Spring is around the corner. 😊 Blessings!

[@jessicabracewell5408]

Hey I am from North FL too. I completely understand. I have been planting seeds all day and transplanting tomorrow. Our Greenhouse is rocking and rolling.

[@conniewallace7529]

Jessica, Maybe one day I'll have a greenhouse! For now, my south facing windows had to do....but, they worked well for my few plants in peet pellets. We have a warm week coming! Enjoy!!

[@ecocentrichomestead6783]

Oh! Fruit and nut enthusiast! That sounds interesting!

[@mattingly1217]

You guys should check out hoss tools... they make weeding almost fun with their tools... and the drip tape is an excellent way to water because it is buried under the plants and puts the water right where it is needed... plus they have a injection system for fertilizer through the drip system...no more watering and fertilizing weeds!

[@surrenderbend6828]

Thanks for taking time to share with us! What’s the new jars on the counter behind you?

[@RoseFelton]

I was wondering that too!

[@kimmaxwell3264]

Love your mug:)

[@emmaleebuzzard1023]

I can’t wait to get outside!!!

[@roxyperson8328]

I wish I lived where it snows and I could go ⛷ . It’s one of the most amazing sports. At least I can say that I have been. Hopefully, I’ll get to again soon.

[@RoseFelton]

I always look forward to your videos. Such great information. Josh, you mentioned putting a link in to make the Solomons minerals. I believe that was the name. I couldn't find the link for that.

[@HomesteadingFamily]

I thought I had a download already prepared when I said that and I guess I was wrong. We will try to create one in the next couple of weeks, but if you want to look up Steve Solomon with Complete Organic Fertilizer, it is his recipe that I work off of. I have used his general recipe over the year for broad mineralization and it has done well for me in several soil types.

[@RoseFelton]

@@HomesteadingFamily Thank you so much. I will check out his recipe. I never thought of putting minerals in the garden. Guess I thought it was in the fertilizer.

[@lill1557]

Thank you for this wonderful info. Do you have any advice for a shady vegetable garden? We rent and we cant remove trees. My soil is perfect. And I can get vegs to grow. But it's slow going due to lack of sun. I know that left vegs grow great in shade. Any other ideas? Also any advice to rid vine borers?

[@sunshinebeanie]

I use the wood stove ashes mixed with construction sand for dust bathing for the chickens...

[@mamashanshan2772]

When I was growing up, they began using pesticides in all the crops around us, it would drain into our ditch’s & canals, we all seem to have a health issue. I never put any pesticides into our gardens. I spray garlic water mix around the cabbage if I have one slug! I had to detox my body from pesticides!! I’ve had my life saved!!

[@yarnellka]

Looking forward to the videos on cooking on a wood stove. I'm doing first-person interpreting (set in the 1890s) this year and will have to cook on a wood stove for the first time! Would you mind providing the link for the mineralization information that you mentioned?

[@HomesteadingFamily]

I thought I had a download already prepared when I said that and I guess I was wrong. We will try to create one in the next couple of weeks, but if you want to look up Steve Solomon with Complete Organic Fertilizer, it is his recipe that I work off of. I have used his general recipe over the year for broad mineralization and it has done well for me in several soil types.

[@sunshinebeanie]

Do you have direction on the How to/ when can chicken poo be composted for gardening.. is there a resting time before incorporation application etc? Love your posts. 💕

[@melodybricker4296]

I don't see the link for the mineral recipe you said you would have..can link be emailed to me or tell me where to find it thank you.love your videos and tips

[@HomesteadingFamily]

I thought I had a download already prepared when I said that and I guess I was wrong. We will try to create one in the next couple of weeks, but if you want to look up Steve Solomon with Complete Organic Fertilizer, it is his recipe that I work off of. I have used his general recipe over the year for broad mineralization and it has done well for me in several soil types.

[@Thisisit120]

I was going to say does it take both of you to lift that huge roaster? But what a wonderful find. I don’t have children at home anymore so I would probably put flowers in it and leave it in one spot. No more lifting it.

[@Audrey-km9in]

Thank you for another informative chat. As I look through the links, I do not see anything for the mineralization of the soil. Am I overlooking it? Thank you!

[@marielle5879]

Will you be giving contact info for cashmere next week or could you give some links for heirloom seeds? I'm also wondering if you can do a vlog on the interaction gmo seeding w natural heirloom plants and if they effect the plants ability to keep producing once they're contaminated?

[@mollylenz1032]

This year I put 2 new large raised beds in and last year we had a big problem with white flies, is there anything else I can try to get rid of them besides yellow sticky tape. I'm from Arizona so we do get a lot of bugs right now the flies are coming out.

[@jw5120]

What kind of mulch do you recommend? And how do you deal with that mulch when it is time to prepare your garden for a new year of gardening?

[@MT-if1jr]

Cute family!!

[@joyceday2823]

Your loaf of bread looked good. Would like recipe. I've been looking for a good sandwich bread. So if you have a video on them please send me a link. Thank you.

[@marilouanderson9361]

Ash is also good for root maggots. Like for radishes or onions just sprinkle in your row when planting seeds. No more root maggots.

[@intentionallymade]

I tested my soil with a soil tester from tractor supply and it was a 7 but low fertility. So do I just need to amend my soil well? I’m doing a mix of back to eden, Ruth stout and Charles dowding haha.

[@heatherm4621]

This was a very informational video but do you have any tips about keeping rodents out of the garden? I started out with a beautiful garden last year but as soon as it started producing, I found that the rabbits ate all the pea plants and the bottoms of the tomatoes. I've also see rats out in our strawberry beds. Husband and I are looking into some sort of fencing that is inexpensive but durable. We have large gardens but very limited budgets. Rabbit fencing priced out at $600 for just the fencing, not including the support posts. I am so excited about the upcoming orchard video. We've been having issues with peach leaf curl in our orchard and I would love more information about pruning. We've planted new trees but our property has some old trees that were left unattended by previous owners and they need some serious attention.

[@mikegriffin3437]

Video 200, way to go.

[@MADSULE]

God bless.

[@karenlyle322]

Great information 😀. Where did y’all live in Tennessee?

[@sandraburke2403]

I was told Hard Wood Ash was used to make Lye Soaps. I have some saved,but have not used it yet. Soap Consumer buyer.

[@HomeandHearthHomestead]

Just going off a bit of math and intuition from spirit. It's great and I fully advocate getting away from pesticide applications. However...this is very ideal when you have a lot of space. Here's how it breaks down: Ok. So I have land. An acre. Maybe just slightly less. I can realistically create a 10x10 or 20x10 garden. Maybe. Depending on what else is on my land. Are there trees? Path of sunlight where I want to plant. Septic/flow lines? A deck? Ok What if I have acres...yaay! There's no stopping me! What if I'm an apartment dweller. I have a small balcony. There are limitations. Both space wise AND pest wise. Ive done the organic and lost everything in a small area. Now that I have a nicer large area, I'm still doing a small amount of pest control but having great results. An unencumbered vast amount of land? You absolutely could go pesticide free. Why? Because mathematically, your gains will outweigh your losses simply because you have more space. Pesticides used responsibly can be an asset but I definitely stand by my statement that someone who lives on acres of land can perhaps not need pesticides, whereas, the small gardener may find that this is their only chance for a successful harvest.

[@Sumayyah777]

I have a question regarding mulching. We're in Yorkshire, and we have mild winters and quite cool wet summers most years. Which means wr have a big slug problem. Wouldn't mulching not exacerbate it by keeping the surface of the beds more moist and by providing more places for slugs to hide? We have an urban garden and can't keep chickens to keep the pest population down. Thank you. I love your channel and have been following it for over a year. Marta from Yorkshire, UK

[@noellebarker8927]

Check out Charles Dowding on here. He mulches with only compost and is in a similar climate.

[@homesteadingatkookergehoft8131]

Hi Carolyn! I went to sign up this morning, and I realized I missed the sign-up for Herbal Medicine Cabinet - COLDS. I needed to run it by my hubby last night before signing up. Is there any way I can still squeeze in?

[@HomesteadingFamily]

The discount is over, but another sale will come around!

[@sandiscuriousthings257]

What kind of mulch do you use? Will pine straw work

[@bekigraham5950]

what can be done when you live in a small patio home surrounded by trees. The only small place that gets about 8 hours of sun over the growing season and can only hold a few small plants. This year I have containers on a table we move around the yard that has potatoes, tomatoes and peppers. I use store bought soil, there was compost material in it already. Is this going to be healthy and can I reuse the soil next year if I add some compost?

[@robinpritchard837]

I am also interested in the /basic Mineralization Recipe

[@HomesteadingFamily]

I thought I had a download already prepared when I said that and I guess I was wrong. We will try to create one in the next couple of weeks, but if you want to look up Steve Solomon with Complete Organic Fertilizer, it is his recipe that I work off of. I have used his general recipe over the year for broad mineralization and it has done well for me in several soil types.

[@albertcookstein]

How do I make my cast iron skillet nonstick? Also, how do I prevent rust? Thank you.

[@HomesteadingFamily]

Another Cast Iron video will be out very soon!

[@jonahbigfish1889]

This was very helpful thanks for sharing your knowledge and wisdom. how can I get that Clyde's planning card?? and what's the cost of it?? Enjoy listening and watching you guys. Thanks again. May our Father Bless your family.

[@HomesteadingFamily]

Hey Jonah! Here s link to Clydes: www.clydesvegetableplantingchart.com/new-products/clydes-garden-planner

[@jonahbigfish1889]

@@HomesteadingFamily Thank you.

[@kaylaaddison1818]

Where do you get your handmade mugs?

[@melannielang3446]

When you are talking about mulch. You meaning mulch is it like the grass clipping?

[@fionafiona1146]

Straw, compost, woodchips, it depends on what's available around you, your soil demands... I expect a norther video explaining the details next year or later

[@TheJanaBanana5]

What about steer/cow manure? We get it from a local dairy farmer. For good soil?

[@fionafiona1146]

It has high nitrates and needs to have been hot (70+C 200F?) composted or stored for 2+ years so you should be careful about the amounts you use (especially since high amounts can end up in groundwater) and dieses your could introduce.

[@rawfoodelectric]

I feel the same as you two. I have a question off subject...what do you do with your egg shells? I've heard they don't break down. I used to put them in the garden now, I don't know what to do. What are your thoughts on this?

[@sylviahunt9818]

rawfoodelectric ... my grandmother used to put eggshells in a closable container with water. She let that sit a week in the beginning. Then she used the water to water her plants. She kept adding the eggshells and water to the container. Beware!! It has a very strong smell when you open it!! I remember she had an Easter lily that she cut back and stored in the cellar over the winter. The next spring she brought it back upstairs and started watering it with the eggshell water. By Easter it was over 5 feet tall and had 9 or 10 blossoms.

[@RoseFelton]

I've read where you can grind them up fine and put them around rose bushes

[@lilawalker8231]

I have two options, but both of them require boiling the egg shells for about 15 minutes, then baking at 250 for about 30 minutes. At that point, I grind some up into powder and take as a calcium supplement, and the others I just crush up faily small and will use them in my garden.

[@noellebarker8927]

rawfoodelectric I give them to our chickens who are in a closed run (they are in our backyard in town) and I figure eventually they’ll turn to compost through their poop or scratching if they don’t get ate up.

[@janbailey-smith3164]

When you go hunting and dress the animals for the meat do you utilize the organs (for the parts not consumed), my uncle did a lot of deep sea fishing and hunting for those organs not used, he’d grind them with egg shells + the fish innards caused extremely large fruits and veggies. He pride’s himself on his garden. Do you use the same way?

[@reformvideos4303]

How do you not have problems with the thick mulch attracting snakes?

[@adriennapeterson]

How much mulch, and what type of mulch, do you put on top of your vegetable garden's no-till raised beds? Also, do you plant seeds into the soil and then mulch on top after the planting? ... Or do you wait to mulch until the seeds have become plants? Thanks!

[@noellebarker8927]

Adrienna Peterson we mulch with grass clippings and put a good thick layer down. We also use straw and leaves. We put it around tiny seedlings or bigger plants whichever need it. If we’re planting seeds I pull the mulch back and then pull it up once they’re a little bigger.

[@adriennapeterson]

@@noellebarker8927 Thank you!

[@StephanieJoRountree]

I don't see the link for making the fertilizer. Did I miss it?

[@HomesteadingFamily]

I thought I had a download already prepared when I said that and I guess I was wrong. We will try to create one in the next couple of weeks, but if you want to look up Steve Solomon with Complete Organic Fertilizer, it is his recipe that I work off of. I have used his general recipe over the year for broad mineralization and it has done well for me in several soil types.

[@StephanieJoRountree]

@@HomesteadingFamily Thanks!

[@terrywilliams3310]

You mentioned that you were going to add a"recipe" for complete organic fertilizer. i didn't open every link, but I don't see that anything like what you describe. Can you list that link? Thanks

[@HomesteadingFamily]

Hey there! So sorry, slip of the tongue. I thought I had a .pdf created but I don't! Will try to get one out soon! Look up Steve Solomon's Complete Organic Fertilizer, we've used that for years across many soil types.

[@coeja73]

The complete organic fertilizer?

[@kizzlefam734]

You guys live in the state next to our 😁 we are in Washington

[@simplysophiahomestead1941]

How do you make good compost?

[@chandrikatilwalli4741]

Just curious , what zone are you in?

[@edieperez3851]

Do you have video on how to develop high quality compost for your garden so you aren't having to go purchase?

[@stacyerauw5543]

I have some fruit trees my dad used chemical every week I want to do organic how do I keep the pest from my trees without chemical

[@fionafiona1146]

That depends on your region/local pests. You could buy ladybugs to eat lice but there are companion plants or Heritage varieties too look into.

[@mikegriffin3437]

How to fire a wood stove... Stand in front of it and tell it that it is fired. Lol.

[@sarine6237]

What's wrong with the normal fertilizers? I know you can use other nutrients - magnesium (e.g. epsom salts..), bone meal, etc... and I do, but where is the mineral recipe you were suggesting? Mushroom compost is so good, but it has become sooo extremely expensive. No space the make any. However I do buy organic when I can. Rarely use sprays - only with very odd things and actually mostly on flowers vs produce.

[@farnashcreekranch5661]

Does anyone else see the link for the recipe for complete organic fertilizer

[@HomesteadingFamily]

I thought I had a download already prepared when I said that and I guess I was wrong. We will try to create one in the next couple of weeks, but if you want to look up Steve Solomon with Complete Organic Fertilizer, it is his recipe that I work off of. I have used his general recipe over the year for broad mineralization and it has done well for me in several soil types.

[@raylingomen2562]

Here's a link for Steve Solomon's mineral fertilizer recipe: www.growgreatvegetables.com/fertilizers/a-great-organic-fertilizer-mix/

[@marycrowder8486]

What is your getting rid of stink bugs. They messed with our garden and our fruit trees.

[@ohske]

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