Growing Healthy Soil (and Keeping it That Way) at Frith Farm

In continuation of our Summer Farm Tour series, we are joined today by Daniel Mays of Frith Farm in Maine to talk about how they manage fertility on 3 and a half acres of organic vegetables.
In this video, Daniel Mays discusses how to manage fertility, how to grow cover crops, how to fertilize after a rye cover crop, how to grow organic vegetables after a cover crop, how to sow carrots after a cover crop like rye,, and more.
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[@lisamcdonald1415]

Happy Birthday to our favourite farmer and teacher

[@manolopapas]

The ratio, of one man for 1/3 of an acre, is crucial information for all of us trying to plan and decide what to do. Thank you very much.

[@gunning6407]

Or woman. Or possibly a half a kid? :)

[@teebob21]

​@@gunning6407A modern woman can only staff 1/6 of an acre; a modern child can be relied upon for the annual labor of 1/10th.

[@myurbangarden7695]

HELLO. I love this channel. Always helping gardeners and farmers. I am so grateful for the podcast.

[@amakiridikoru8393]

Happy birthday Jesse. God bless you for all you good work for farmers.

[@rjaquaponics9266]

Nice to learn of a farmer that is trying to keep it clean and grow naturally!

[@zmblion]

Dude was cool to listen too. I bet his farm is nice. He sooooo gets lit

[@joelwells2169]

We cover crop even in our urban little homestead using the techniques from the likes of Jesse, Charles Dowding, Curtis Stone, and many other No - Till growers, big on mulch as we are in a desert in the interior of British Columbia combined with drip irrigation and in a vegetable garden with two 30" beds by 12' long and two 48" beds by 12' long we can grow all of our root crops to get us through the winter without needing to buy much produce. Plus we finally got spring/early summer lettuce dialed this year, now working on the fall lettuce and over wintering kale and spinach with poly low tunnels. Spinach always bolts on us in June even in May with our extreme heat yet the evenings in May will be close to freezing so fall spinach is where we think success will come with spinach and summer lettuce is something we want to figure out but from mid June to mid September we get literally no rain and plus 30 Celsius pretty much everyday.

[@bjones8354]

I really like this guy! He keeps it real.

[@ceecee-thetransplantedgardener]

Great stuff. Again, I am a home-backyard gardener but the theories and practices presented here can be applied large and small scale. I am amazed with the availability of good, bulk, compost presented in many of your videos from across the country. Believe it not - hard to find in my area. I do what I can to make my own in my small space. Still ... Thank you, appreciate your channel!

[@gunning6407]

I'm in a similar situation, and I've been expanding my compost and mulch processing each year in order to build soil. I buy in *lots* of arborist mulch at a modest price, and get municipal leaves delivered annually for free. For a small footprint and minimal labor, I've found vertical welded-wire hoop bins (4' high) a very effective way to make a good amount of decent quality compost from mostly local materials.

[@spaceantelope1]

There is a family of Frith’s where I live in the gulf coast. They are a fishing family, and locally famous for being really really strong and tough fighters. They are loved around here. Anyway, love this channel. It’s an important one.

[@small-timegarden]

I appreciate the honesty aniut addition of fertilizer as amendment . It takes a long time to get to steady state nutrient-wise with no-till. Transition phases 👍🏽

[@trumpetingangel]

Happy birthday, Jesse! I turned 69+1 this year! Despite some aches and pains, life is great at 70. Oh, and awesome interview, too. There's always more to learn about compost and cover crops.

[@teebob21]

Nice+1!

[@sweetpeasbackyardgarden1236]

As usual, I learned quite a bit from the content. I have been tending to the health of my soil since I began watching your videos. Thank you and Happy Birthday!!

[@bbtruth2161]

Awesome! These guys have it figured out. Glad to see I'm on the right track. I use a lot of the same methods in my garden. No or few weeds is a wonderful thing. The production is out of sight. I'm happy that my results have gotten some of my friends and family to try those methods too. Great interview. Thank you.

[@BecomingMrsPost]

Happy 30-11!!! Love your channel! Great education sprinkled with witty entertainment 🤠

[@johnfowler4820]

Me too I am thirty twenty three

[@solbruden]

Happy Birthday Jesse 🎉 💐🎂 and thank you for yet another inspiring video 😊!

[@jvin248]

Best is to plant into standing rye (broadcast, no-till planter, or strip-till gouged in with cultivator shoes making rows instead of weeding) and only flatten the rye after the crop sprouts but before it gets spindly. You don't need an expensive roller-crimper, you can use a second-hand lawn roller or cultipacker going down and back over the same strip -- the return trip bends over any rye that tried to stand back up after the first roll and they stay down. Much easier than tarping. We had a six week drought this year right during planting and the beans broadcast into the standing rye sprouted surprisingly well because the rye roots bring up moisture from four to six feet below and the stalks shade the ground retaining moisture and capturing dew. Also, flattening the rye right after germination gives the crop the jump start on weeds where flattening first and planting the crop gives weeds a head start on the crop germinating and growing to cover itself (where the rye was rolled flat then planted during this six week drought the crop was behind all the weeds). I left a patch of rye standing to see how long it lasted and it remained effective at weed suppression into late August when the turkeys, deer, and other critters started knocking down the grain or bedded in the straw where they opened patches for light, but even then the weeds were weak.

[@flatsville9343]

Are you talking cereal rye? Winter rye? I''m confused on type of rye, date range of planting & date range of crimping/rolling?

[@mjcl99]

Happy birthday, Jesse. I direct a farm in Lancaster, PA. Practicing regenerative approaches, learning from you and Daniel. We grow organic vegetables for food relief in our county, donating thousands of pounds of veggies annually for 8 years. I'd love to talk with you, as I'm writing my doctoral thesis on the work at the Wittel Farm. How can I get in touch?

[@carlosmontoya2485]

Happy birthday, late. Love the content and comedy. No Till for life.

[@carlosmontoya2485]

All farmers, composting is easy when you hire a person that builds it turns it and babies it. You will always have it available and that guy or lady will be your favorite employee. 🤟

[@aenorist2431]

Happy birthday Jesse, once again with the invaluable info. You gotta research this whole birthday business though, I am not sure you got the gift-giving the right way 'round.

[@curiouscat3384]

Hey Nerd! Thanks for another wonderful and informative tour :)

[@georgelowellohhdgg63nnd96]

One of the best interview episodes. Thanks.

[@Hofoase-mg6qn]

Happy belated 30-11th Birthday!

[@Bundyphile]

Happy birthday from a fellow thirty eleven year old. 🎉

[@ausfoodgarden]

Happy birthday Jesse. I remember when I was thirty-eleven - good times.

[@157-40_T]

Wow… a wealth of knowledge & experience. Shows me how much I don’t know.

[@aileensmith3062]

Cover crop cover crop cover crop. This is our first year and trying to do such. Definitely a new and interesting experience for us. We plan on learning more and continuing with this practice as well as creating our own compost. It will take time to see the improvements. But we got the time now to keep the patience! As always Thank You for another fun and informative video!

[@cliveburgess4128]

Happy 30 11th! I'm 50 16 and it hurts, stay well, stay healthy, HA! your a farmer who grows organic food, you got that covered!!

[@that_auntceleste5848]

I'm only 40-thirteen but seem to get random injuries more easily now. I do wonder how long my body's abilities will keep up with my ambitions & desire to grow more food.

[@cliveburgess4128]

I hope it keeps going for a long time, I feel the same way! @@that_auntceleste5848

[@beckymartinez9926]

Happy 30-11th birthday!!!!

[@TheNewMediaoftheDawn]

That’s a cool farm, I bet they get tons of veggies out of there in that fertility and big space. Happy birthday🎉

[@grumpstar7]

Blessings from Charleston, Maine

[@kaytobe]

Great video, lots of great info on the cover crops. Thanks for talking about the phosphorus issue. A lot of organic farmers using lots of compost miss this problem!!

[@mattheweiland8529]

I've visited Frith farm twice and read Daniel's book. Huge inspiration and great insight that has had some influence on my techniques, resulting in profit 👍

[@VictoriousGardenosaurus]

0:48 Thanks for the suggestion on the reading materials. Transitioning towards some indoor mushroom bags this winter, and i need something to keep me busy while i watch rye berries get myceliated

[@babsoneverything3060]

Happy Birthday, Jesse!

[@mikefriend1134]

Happy belated birthday, Jessie!

[@lauragillespie189]

Great video with lots of info!

[@andrewstacey4868]

I also turned 3011 this year!!!! Happy birthday

[@cesaralvarado775]

American Agriculturist (1848): "WHEN not occupied with useful crops , it is better to allow lands to run to grass , weeds, or almost any vegetation they will produce . A large accumulation of vegetable matter is thus secured upon the ground, no inconsiderable part of which is derived from that universal store house, the atmosphere , from which every skilful agriculturist should endeavor to draw as much as possible ; and by turning this into the soil , an advantage is frequently obtained fully equivalent to a crop purposely grown for green manuring . Weeds and grass , after all, are less injurious than beneficial ; and the intelligent farmer will not fail to make them subservient to his own interests, by permitting their growth when not in the way, and keeping them in subjection when they would interfere with a more useful vegetation . A few years ago we renovated a miserably poor field of several acres, by merely letting the weeds grow spontaneously upon it, and then plowing them in as often as the principal ones were going out of bloom . By this method the land became clean by vegetating the seeds of all the weeds in it, and was nearly as much enriched as if we had plowed in a succession of green crops such as clover, buckwheat, or rye ."

[@victorandrews9790]

Happy 30+11 Birthday, Farmer Jesse! We love what you are doing...great informative video on Firth Farm! I've read your book 3 times..still learning! Think I'll buy Daniel's book also! Jus wondering about tarps! I bought poly tarps & only after 18 mos they crumbling! What a ness! Where can i get 'silage tarps'? Weird but my local Co-op's & farm stores in Mid Tn have not been helpful and do not carry them! Help!

[@THEJEHLUMMEADOWS]

Mr Mays you are a great speaker and give clear and simple descriptions of your farm What are your bed and pathway measurements like !!

[@stuckinthemudgarden7726]

His book is amazing actually both of them

[@user-jh1vg8ti6c]

Happy birthday from Portugal. Thank you so much for what you teach us!

[@SkotColacicco]

Looking damn good for 3011 years. Cheers to another 3k

[@mslorischoolsocialworker]

Great video, Jackson! Thanks!

[@brianbyrne7506]

Happy Birthday!! Great episode!!

[@LandOfJuncoville]

It’s a great book. Bought it a year ago. Have learned a lot. Thanks for this video.

[@steves1266]

Happy Belated birthday Jessie! 30-11th is a special b-day! I have 2 acres, my winter rye has been coming up for a week now. I did some mason jar soil tests and it looks like heavy clay, mostly no organic. I was going to plant watermelon on 1 of my acres, and not terminate the rye in the other 1 acre to harvest it. But I'm starting to think that doing a summer cover crop to improve the soil for maybe the following year for the watermelon patch may be better. Or I'll compost tea the crap out of it and go for watermelons,,will see. Thanks, happy birthday, I bought your book from you and,,bye.

[@ivyclark70]

Happy belated birthday Jesse.

[@oldman1111]

Happy birthday. One year behind me.

[@ivethgo2876]

Well I'm a Backyard gardener and I'll try with Red Winter Wheat on My beds this fall and we'll see how' works for next spring. I know Rye si better but Wheat is what I have on hands. Wind it's really crazy here on high plains in Texas 🌬️ so I lost a lot of soil every year I hope the cover crops helps me

[@mikelarson8066]

Happy birthday and thank you for another great video very informative

[@TAMS-td9pp]

Cheers mate!!! Happy birthday.

[@gunning6407]

This summer series was fantastic. Y'all rock!

[@notillgrowers]

Great to hear, thank you!

[@saveoursoil]

Thanks for the video

[@brittneyrussell1766]

Love this video ❤

[@AD-ev7go]

Happy Birthday 30+11 From 40 +/-7 AMAZING Work + insight Thank you!! Keep Calm & Farm On

[@basu9994]

311 lol😂can't wait to see that age...happy birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉

[@2Blackdiamond]

Happy Birthday!!

[@gotoflooring81]

Happy b day dude love the channel

[@rickthelian2215]

Happy Birthday 🎂🎉👨‍🌾

[@krzysztofflis1847]

❤ Happy birhday, kiddo!

[@waynesell3681]

😂Big time birthday Jesse! Im 69+ with listening ears. Great interview!

[@gardenofdeedensub_confirmation]

Happy birthday, 🎉thanks for the video.

[@manolopapas]

And happy birthday

[@bellachiong3390]

Turning 30 11😂😂 Happy Birthday🎉 were the same age✌

[@lindajones9191]

Happy belated birthday, Jessie! This video was great as this farmer is so thorough. Really helpful information. Do you, or any of the many growers you're in contact with, or anyone else on this message board, have any wisdom about dealing with Asian Jumping Worms? In my area in Massachusetts, we're dealing with infestations, and they're wreaking havoc on the top layer of our soil. I'm researching as much as I can, but the info is really limited. Appreciate any help anyone can provide.

[@that_auntceleste5848]

Happy birthday Jesse! I recently received my copy of The Living Soil Handbook so it's kinda like my birthday too. 😄

[@notillgrowers]

🙌

[@WorkandWatchGardening]

Happy 30 11th birthday my friend!

[@pier-annelachance4960]

Happy birthday! I need to look through your video to find good ways to kill covercrops in the south. In zone 9 and 9b frost is not reliable to kill anything. This is great information. I am starting to think here we need to plan cover-crop for the heat when nothing else grows and the heat terminates things for us!

[@gunning6407]

Crimp + tarp should work fast in your heat!

[@ronaldcummings6337]

Happy thirty eleventh birthday 🎉

[@cletushatfield8817]

Is "t-post crimping" basically using a t-post in lieu of a 2x4 and walking about like a crop circle hoaxer?

[@classicrocklover5615]

Looks like it

[@skygod696]

30 11 nice ... long way 2 go yet!

[@Jacques.Bodaire]

I'm envious of the suspenders. It's hard to find good ones!

[@timbushell8640]

So happy birthday - young man : )))))))) Excellent - again - other examples with slightly different details and mixtures of practise, etc. Missing (maybe well covered in Mays' book, but... no details on if a pollenator/predator strip is incorporated within the bed cycles, over and above the cover crop. And nothing really on the placement and production/management of the perennial/woody bush/tree beds, etc. Another point I would like to know whether these small market gardeners/farmers have decided not to have small honey production or even slightly larger honey production especially if their land space means that they keep some land as hay/grass production (flower strips, etc., as at Assawaga Farm.)

[@user-jd3fo5ho3d]

Hello ! Can you talk about your watering system? Thank you

[@jamesrichey]

Happy 30-11th birthday!

[@n13cougars]

Me... the money from the book goes to me. 😂 love the videos man never stop.

[@richardmoustache]

Oooo... you made me feel so weird and fascinated, with the invitation to bring our poop back to you in bucket. Let's talk!

[@manolopapas]

Hello farmer Jesse

[@jared6227]

Happy 30 11th!!

[@eugenejackson1358]

When establishing a new field do you till?

[@atenas80525]

QUESTION - how does the natural leaf litter impact this farm?

[@RandomStuff-zt6qf]

21:55 how long do your tarps last? The ones I get from Mardens started getting shredded up after the first year...

[@floriswou]

Is it possible to get the Living Soil Handbook shipped to New Zealand?

[@markwaterman9412]

Only cover cropping 1/3 of the farm every year? What does he do to keep soil covered if its not being cover cropped in winter?

[@joej4098]

Happy Birthday! What is the spacing on the rows? The walkways look wider than 18 inches.

[@notillgrowers]

I want to say Frith does 4' beds with 18" paths but I'm not 100% on that. I'll check

[@thenesttreestory]

I got a problem after covered corp that is I found a lot pest under the mulch I think because there is wet after watering. How can I fix this?

[@guardianpresencerobotics7776]

so if i put my compost in a trench wit my growing soil on top for growing after grow one shallow root crop like cabbage or lettuces then after the shallow root i will grow a deep root crop like pepper after the peppers are grown i will till into the trench then move the organic material to the top refilling the trench with new organic material covering it with the soil and start the cycle over .my beds are 3 feet deep from the walkway x 2 feet tall from the walkway my organic material for composting is 1.5 feet high in the 3feet dept i have clay type soil

[@korganrivera4659]

Can't help thinking about Joaquin Phoenix and Ted Levine watching this guy :D "PUT THE PERSIMMON IN THE BASKET!"

[@dovinhgarden05]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@OldForestWitch]

Hello from the 60th parallel! I have a question that maybe you can answer. I have a serious intolerance to the wheat family of plants. What mulch can I use in my vegetable garden in place of straw? Many thanks for your advice (in advance). Here's looking forward to the next growing season!

[@hoosierpioneer]

What about oat straw?

[@flatsville9343]

​@@hoosierpioneerA winter kill covercrop blend of oats, peas & beans gives good below ground N & a nice mat of oat mulch on top.

[@gunning6407]

Lots of non-wheat summer cover crops that you can grow for biomass: sorghum, Sudangrass, corn, sun hemp ... Also, if you live in farm country, keep an eye out for alfalfa bales (sold to feed cows & horses).

[@ApparentBulge]

Where can I get that hat...?

[@2quick4u84]

Hi don't you have a lot of snails and ants with that straw/woodchips between beds? thanks

[@Natalia-wz6qy]

Firstly, happy birthday, Jesse :) Second, I wanted to ask about something... So I recently got a copy of your book (great book btw) and I ended up having heated discussion with some of my friends about it. One of my friends also wanted to purchase it when she saw it. The thing is, I'm from Poland. I personaly don't have language problem but my friend said that her level of english isn't suficient to fully understand your book. So I just wanted to ask... Do you have any future plans to translate your book? Just asking :)

[@notillgrowers]

First, thank you! Second, so the world of translating books is complicated. Basically, a publisher from another country has to buy the rights and then do the translation themselves. So the best way to get it translated is simply to make a request to a publisher in your country!

[@Natalia-wz6qy]

That's what I thought, but still - I had to ask. I'm an agronomist (although I currently work in horticulture) and I have lots of friends and clients who come to me for advice, but in my experience they don't really want to hear jargon and talk about scientific research. They want to know exactly what is happening in the soil and how it all works, but in accessible and clear language. I see a constant increase in interest in producing your own food among young people who started their adventure with gardening (mainly during Covid). Most of them are highly ecofriendly and are looking for an alternative to conventional cultivation. I think they could use a book like yours because to be honest, here we have terrifying shortage of publications like this. So keep up the fantastic work that you're doing and maybe (I hope so:) we'll see another book...? :) Thanks for your answer and best regards to you and the entire "No-Till Growers" team :)

[@elainevang9114]

Does anyone on here deal with BIND WEED? We feel like we are limited to container, raised bed gardening because it’s so invasive😩

[@1337farm]

Where would someone find 50 lb bags of blood meal, feather meal, and alfalfa meal?

[@Zizzyyzz]

*"30 11"* 😂

[@chrisshepherd8708]

Do you use animals to terminate your crops?

[@chrisshepherd8708]

Or maybe it's the organic cert. that you can't do that. I find that I work with nature everything goes a little smoother and less labor, because I'm laZy. LMFAO

[@zmblion]

What ever happen to josh sattin hes been mia for a yr