Harvesting My No-Dig (Ruth Stout) Potato Bed | Did I Out Do Last Years Yield?

#AcreHomestead #NoDigGarden #RuthStout
Instagram / acrehomestead @Acre Homestead
This was a great experiment trying out Ruth Stout, no dig, garden method. I will continue to learn and expand on this garden experiment next year!
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[@itsnilah]

Was talking to my CSA farmer yesterday. Her father taught her: you plant one for the wildlife, one for yourself, and one for your neighbors. Everybody eats.

[@ellenradford8582]

Love that advise!

[@milagrosvera1075]

Such a lovely coment...and so true, beautiful farmer's life philosophy.

[@homesteadgamer1257]

This!! I love this so much!

[@lalousiane7118]

AMEN TO THAT! 💜🙏

[@mastermommissioneshider719]

💕

[@theallenshire268]

The bunnies will be fine. The mom usually only feeds them once or twice a day and she won’t abandon them. She is nearby watching and will be so happy to find them safe after you leave. You may have just made a friend. Her manure will help your garden very much and she won’t eat too much. You did the right thing.

[@queenofcreepsville]

I was just about to say this lol.

[@damienomen68]

Bright eyes burning like fire...Watership Down/Simon/Garfunkel

[@tammyr2966]

I so agree!

[@U.S.MarineGrunt1775]

Exactly. She may move them but she will come back for them

[@catherinefoster1481]

You love and care about animals Becky. Don't apologize for that. Your heart is a loving heart for all God's creatures. Bless you!

[@Harphoney]

You never have to apologize for be a caring person. I’m also a gardener, and I would have done the same thing if I found baby bunnies.

[@lucythomas4077]

Hope they will be okay. Don’t ever apologize for having a heart sweetie. Your a good person and we need a lot more of that these days. Let us know how bunnies do. Good job on the potatoes they look amazing!!!

[@alexandriasorensen9064]

The idea that animals will abandon their young if they smell humans on them is an old wives tale and is completely untrue. The momma will return when she thinks it's safe and probably move them.

[@genevievedarrett3163]

Awww so cute and your heart is gold !!

[@PiskeyFaeri]

As a Swede that grows potatoes: When you grab a seed potato, check how many eyes they have. Cut them so that each piece has one eye. Dry the cut surface and leave somewhere bright for a day or two, then stick them in just a little bit of soil until they sprout. Each eye is a sprout. That means you can get three plants from a potato that has three eyes.

[@eksophia]

I never reveal my specific job online to strangers. But, I can tell you I work a natural resources and I consult the public on issues like finding baby bunnies every single day. You did an absolutely perfect job! It's a myth that mamas will abandon their babies if there's human scent on them. Yes, if you're hanging around and disturbing things too much you can cause undue stress which could create problems but nothing that you did caused Mama to not want to come back to her babies. And I loved what you said about knowing that you were growing for yourself but also being part of the ecosystem and knowing that we need to share. 10/10 great job! I had already subscribed to your channel at the beginning of this video and now I'm even more glad I did 😀🤗

[@GemmaleeDee]

I learned another lesson. I never batted an eye at any baby bunny we found in our yard.. until we found a little fellow freezing and alone and no bigger than a baseball and my daughter and i went back and forth over leaving him for mama. we waited until after dark and he was so cold and no mama so decision made. We looked into where we could take him and got in touch with a nice lady affiliated with ODFW. During her questions she asked what color the baby was.. thats when we learned the whites, greys, and tuxedo bunnies aren't wild.. even if they are born that way :)

[@madamtwonky4076]

God was watching when you took care of the smallest of His creations. May you and your family be blessed.

[@rebeccacron8614]

Biggest way to improve your ROI on your potatoes is to save your own seed! Take a few of the medium sized potatoes (the large ones are too good to let sprout, and the little ones may totally shrivel up and not make it to your next planting). I put mine in a reused egg carton so they don’t have light. Leave them in the pantry or garage for 6 months until it is time to plant. Boom, free sprouted potatoes.

[@lindamyfatcatcow2606]

Brilliant tip about the egg carton! I’ll be sure to give it a try. Thanks 😊 🥔

[@lindacardwell9312]

Do you cover them with siol or put them in the egg carton uncovered?

[@labbrockington7854]

Thank you I didn't know that one 😊

[@takishasallbeautyzone]

I feel you on the baby bunnies. The same thing happened to me when we lived in Maryland. I had a makeshift fence around the garden to protect from deer, but didn't think about bunnies. Mama bunny chewed a discrete opening in the plastic fence material, and tucked her babies in nice and secure. She never stayed directly in the garden but a little way away in the yard, chewing clovers as if to say "there's nothing to see here...move aIong." It was so cute seeing the babies grow up. Until they became "teenage" bunnies and started eating my chard right in front of me! The disrespect!😄

[@camillekortis2117]

Bunnies don’t know you own this land . They think land is for everyone as it is.

[@jamierattan5094]

Lol. That's mine when they eat my plants while I stand there telling them not to eat it.

[@emmylivingston4380]

Those itty bitty potatoes would be really great in a breakfast casserole. I'm glad you left the bunnies! I just think your videos are great. I know every time I watch I'm getting your true authentic self! I appreciate that so much!! Can't wait for your next one 😁

[@tamararoberts9307]

I would throw those little potatoes in a crockpot dish. I'm the same way about bunnies ❤

[@jfilteau1079]

Good for you to try!

[@veronicavatter6436]

I throw those in my green beans

[@keredman51]

I would use the little ones in my vegetable beef soup

[@samanthayoung6031]

The bunnies are going to be just fine. Mamma will only come feed once a nite, so no worries. I can't wait to have bunnies in my garden! I'm building a little village for when the time comes lol. We have to share space with nature, we're taking their homes from them, so thank you. Thank you for sharing your super power with us. ❤️

[@GemmaleeDee]

Oh my goodness, have you watched any of the Chunk the Groundhog videos? I would love to see an adorable bunny village! All the best on your journey ^-^

[@jennykao76]

The bunnies should be fine :) We have a billion of them in our area and someone runs into a nest a few times a week (posted on nextdoor) - wildlife experts tell them the mommas aren't really bothered by our scents - the mommas spend a lot of time away from the nest. Babies should be grown and out and about in another week or two.

[@hoosiergirl1]

Yep. I have a bunch as well. They will be ok. Usually they don't make a sound when you stumble across them. I think she scared them as much as they scared her! :)

[@Shortcake39553]

Yeah but once they know your garden is a great food source and that they won't be harmed,,, it's like leaving a nest of venomous baby snakes in your yard. As if they're not going to grow up and do you harm. When your yard is a bunny rabbit habitat, you'll start to feel differently. They'll eat one bite off each vegetable and not finish it before going to the next. All your hard work in vain

[@sharonmissel9191]

I’ve found that to be the same thing. Mama is less at the nest after a couple of weeks and then the babies leave and venture out. I put a video camera on them. I thought they were all gone then a big storm hit and 4 of them came back together and Mom came back too.

[@Shortcake39553]

@@sharonmissel9191 yeah and she'll have multiple births of 7 or more babies in your yard per year and those 7 will mate and all their babies and grandbabies will know that your yard is their generational habitat for their babies who are welcome there as well. It's great if you grow food as a hobby. But if you Need the food for your children/grandchildren, it's not so affordable/adorable anymore.

[@Shortcake39553]

It's AWESOME if you have the luxury to expend your sweat, blood and tears in your garden to feed the animals, but not everyone can. Hope you never have to know what that feels like.

[@aroe3714]

I was getting emotional along with you. ❤️ When we grow food and prepare for taking care of our family, we identify strongly with other moms, no matter what the species. I love your excitement and enthusiasm-I feel like I’m watching one of my nieces!

[@pamguyton4597]

The no till gardens get better each year. I call your harvest a win. Any year you get what you put in is a win. If you decide not to do potatoes in that bed, you can plant almost anything else in. Look up Back to Eden garden for tips.

[@madesimplyathome953]

I agree the bed will get better each year. We got the best potato yield ever this year and the potatoes are huge compared to my raised bed. I do have to say I did water it and I think that might be the difference. Hope you give it another shot.

[@mindyrfw]

Potatoes are water lovers.

[@joelegrand5903]

Ruth Stout was first & better than the copycats.

[@flatsville1]

@@joelegrand5903 Woodchips are good only for paths, orchard areas, some perennial beds. Completely useless in Southern climates. Gautchi doesn't even bother to grow the majority of his annual veg in woodchips. He uses aged screened chicken yard waste for veg.

[@passion777able]

I feel just like you about the bunnies. I'm a 75 year old grandma and i would think you were heartless to not allow the bunnies to stay there. That is their home too and like you said, there is enough for all of us. GREAT WOMAN.

[@KymsHomestead]

I bred rabbits for years, the mother feeds twice a day, early morning and dusk or night time, they'll be fine, glad you left them be ☺🐇🐇🐇 love your channel, bless you.

[@tonialeblanc1665]

I’m so happy you told her that mommy bunny only visits the nest twice per day. I think I would be watching and worried after disturbing them. Good info.

[@beachbobbijo]

Absolutely right! You got your self worked up for nothing honey,,, don't stress they are fine,, bless your heart,,, I have 6 day old baby bunnies RIGHT now that are used to my daily touch and they still squeak.

[@theladysgardenandhome]

Don't worry about the bunnies! My dog dug up a nest this spring under my potato growbags and I put them back and covered them back up. Momma came at dusk and dawn to feed them and now they all live under my patio and enjoy eating the heads off of my seedlings. They are thriving even though many of my headless seedlings did not. I'm like you though, I've got enough for us and to feed them.

[@SpeedyMarie77]

You are so caring - the bunnies will be fine, they are resilient. Just gotta keep an eye on your doggos, cause ours are little hunters when it comes to baby animals in the yard. Bunnies in the garden mean that your land is a great place for plants and animals 😊

[@estyria5961]

My vote is on the water more so than the bed they were grown in. I've seen very productive potato rows that were heavy clay content... but they were irrigated. Additionally if the bed is too nutrient dense, sometimes that translates into large, happy plants, but not a lot of potatoes.

[@daniellescott477]

Ty

[@susanrochford5459]

My dad was a potato farmer and I grew my first crop this year. I was happy with my haul but they definitely would have done better with more water. My dad used to water between rows until it was mud once a week. Potatoes are thirsty.

[@veronicavatter6436]

Potatoes have a high water content

[@shelleyhenry4846]

I applaud you that you want to live among nature instead of trying to destroy it. I have rabbits in my garden who are perfectly happy to just eat the clover in my yard. We have taken away so much habitat it’s more important than ever to try to coexist as much as we can.

[@justbeachy2031]

I completely agree! I always plan to grow enough for all of us. Half-eaten avocados get to me but not enough to kill over it. I can't imagine killing baby rabbits 😢

[@carolday3381]

Hey there, a tip, your first row of potato plants were green as you harvested, they were not completely dead as you claimed. The plants will turn brown and the leaves all die off when the potatoes are ready to harvest. That’s why you had such small potatoes, they were still growing. Very cool growing them in the softer home made mulch. The mulch will require more watering though.

[@stacymcclain3066]

Becky, it's your garden and you do what you want with it and in it. It's nobody's business if you leave a bunny's nest in there and any negative comments can go to the wayside. Enjoy your taters ~ 💓

[@juliemathis2733]

I don't find anything wrong in sharing your space with some bunnies :) I found a bunny nest in my raised beds this spring, so I just let them be. From what I read, they're only in the nest for about 4ish weeks; Once they open their eyes they'll be out in a matter of a few days! Funnily enough, they made their home in my carrot bed LOL

[@shannoneg2000]

I guess mama bunnies like light, fluffy soil for their nests (where root veggies like to grow too)

[@precious1porvida]

Forget about popular opinion! You followed your heart and did what was right for you, in your space ❤❤❤

[@Mayhamm]

Yes I’m so glad you said this. So many people want to do what they think other people would like instead of following their own hearts/intuition and what they want for their own lives!

[@nourishingbutterfly6017]

I loved how excited you were when harvesting your potatoes. I’m sure the bunnies will be fine. I love your channel and the fact that you care so much and even got emotional ( I did too) from the bunny encounter made you that much more lovable ❤️

[@daniellescott477]

Me too.

[@charlenecole1840]

Bless your heart for protecting the baby bunnies❤️

[@jordanoneill]

Your reaction to the bunnies almost made me tear up. So sweet and you have such a beautiful outlook on life.

[@CoachLexie]

Bunny pooh is great for gardens and you can apply it immediately without waiting for it to break down - maybe your bunnies gave as well as took? :)

[@thedovahkiin666]

I literally save all the moths and buggies from my sons pool every morning. I am so freakin happy that you're letting the bunnies stay, you're brilliant and such a good human.

[@brandynash1409]

I harvested my Ruth stout potatoes about 2 months ago. The chickens got into the potato bed a few days ago and dug up all the ones I missed. We got another 5 or pounds thanks to the chickens! Lol

[@kdkay4039]

That’s GREAT! I’d put them to work for me again next year! How amazing!

[@wild_free_homestead]

The plants would be brown and dried up if they were dead. Those plants are still very much alive. But you got a good haul on those potatoes. The bunnies should be fine just make sure you covered them back up with the fur so they aren't sitting on the soil and are covered with it. You have a very kind heart. Bless you!

[@sandijammes7761]

Becky... you are the sweetest thing!❤ Those bunny's will be fine. Mama might have panicked watching you discover them, but she would have also watched you cover them back up to protect them. You just make me happy watching you. You are something special in a lot of ways. This world could use a lot more kind souls like you. 🤗🤗🤗

[@legendarymayormarylikestur8874]

Wild rabbits continue to care for their young, even if you touch the babies. They do move the nest if it has been disturbed. Rabbits are the prey for many other animals, which makes them smart! ❤ Nice potato haul!!

[@jessicasturm5099]

I could not kill the bunnies. Love it that you legt them there for mummy to come back 🥰 If they eat to much you can still build a fence. About the potatoes: 1.) water more 2.) you harvested them to early. Wait until more leaves have died off. (That was one mistake I made before). 3.) the soil gets better every year. Don‘t give up now. 4.) I make stinging nettle juice every year and all my plants love it (including potatoes). Take a big barrel, put in loads of stinging nettle, cover with water and let it sit in the sun for a few days and then mix this juice with some water and water all plants once or twice a year with it. Gives them a lot of nutrients and also keeps certain bugs away. Lots of gardeners use it to get a bigger harvest.

[@GemmaleeDee]

anything that can be used to replace the nettle? Myself and a kinder aged grandbaby are both allergic.. I would love to try a recommended tea to help ours do better, honestly most I've found require things I either cannot honestly afford, or space I simply don't have in my basic suburban space :(

[@jessicasturm5099]

If you are allergic to the nettles you are prbably allergic to the pollen (stuffy nose, red eyes), so harvesting the nettle earlier (in spring) should help.

[@wayneclarke1727]

You warmed this old man's heart ❤️ with you care of the bunny 🐇🐇 babies!

[@S0Sl0]

I'm a uni student that currently lives in the city but I'm so happy I stumbled across your channel. I love everyone of your videos, they always pull me out of a bad day (my freezer meals have also never been better) . You're so informative and funny!! Thank you for putting time out of your busy days for us❤️❤️

[@AnnaJ55]

I’m also a student living in an apartment in a city, but dreaming and preparing for when I have a garden 🥰

[@S0Sl0]

@@AnnaJ55I've have a small herbal Garden but it's not quite the same :')

[@jmaried.9642]

Idk how this video reached my feed but the thumbnail piqued my curiosity. And your heart for those bunnies and your excitement at finding those bigger potatoes made me subscribe.

[@debbyd5729]

I do not think you’re crazy for letting the buns live in your garden! I had a lot of tiny potatoes in my harvest and they made great potatoes for breakfast potatoes. 😋 I usually just use organic potatoes from the grocery store or farmers market as my seed potato. Works for me!

[@Darci.]

I love those really small potatoes for beef barley stew. Just wash em and toss em in the pot. All my wonderfully misshapen short carrots and tiny potatoes are a perfect bite!

[@AcreHomestead]

YUM!

[@Red-ct6wx]

Your garden is Amazing and so is your HEART 🐰❤️ I think it was watering, I would like to see them in the ground one more year and be more consistent on watering before you just move on and call it failure!! Thanks for all of your amazing videos 🥦🍅🌶🥒

[@beccasbythebay]

Lots of fun digging up potatoes. The raised bed with loose soil and the irrigation both made a great harvest for you last year. Had you tilled the area you planted and watered more you would have done even better. Leaves are a great resource for your garden. We've been tilling in composted chicken manure with oak leaf mold it helps retain moisture in our soil and feed our plants. We started with heavy hard black clay, 5 years later it's nice and fluffy! It's been getting better every year. The no till methods bring more pests and disease to the gardens. So cute you did the right thing for the bunnies.

[@barbaragoss6177]

We've been doing no dig for 30yrs + and are lucky to have access to seaweed and are able to buy barley straw as needed! Best way ever ,bunnies will be fine!Next season water and your crop will be bigger!

[@lauriesmith7517]

I LOVE to watch people getting excited when harvesting potatoes and sweet potatoes. You're right, it's the water, the Ruth Stout method is edxcellent.

[@corinnakohl9474]

I've been growing a garden 20+ yrs and have never once bought seed potatoes, I either have used leftover potatoes as my seed from the previous year, or use the store bought food potatoes as seed, they always grow for me and seem to be way more affordable than seed potatoes

[@drmystique]

I checked the price of seed potatoes and walked away in sticker shock. I then went to the local food co-op and bought eating potatoes, let just 2 or 3 of several varieties sprout and cut them in pieces and grew those with great success. The additional benefit of getting at the grocery co-op was that those potatoes came from local growers which meant they were all varieties that could grow well in my area. The disadvantage was merely in having no really unusual varieties to experiment with that you could get from a catalogue.

[@LifePrepared]

I'm with you. I broke down an bought seed potatoes this year at $5 for 4 pounds because people hounded me that the harvest would be so much better. Whelp, I planted 10 pounds and got 20. Yeah doubled but I could buy them cheaper. From now on, volunteer sprouts from winter storage it is!

[@subell44]

@@LifePrepared I have red potatoes sprouted real good in my pantry, im new at this, not sure when I should put them in the ground? It's still hot were I am.. and almost ready to see if my spring potatoes are ready to be pulled up.

[@lidiaseebeck9302]

Becky, don't panic please and don't abandon your Stout method bed. Yes, watering more will help. I know it hurts every time you turn on that tap-- I live in Colorado, where water is ridiculously expensive-- but ya gotta do what you gotta do. You might very seriously consider wood chips for mulching as well as straw/leaves. (Leaves make great mulch, btw. Now that you're getting rain, they should be decomposing like crazy). I would DEFINITELY consider a different crop for that bed next year. Add manure and amendments NOW-- I would recommend gypsum or lime (not sure how acidic you are there, I use gypsum because it doesn't send my pH spiraling skyward), bone meal or rock phosphate (not superphosphate), Azomite if you can afford it, kelp if you can afford it (it got horrendously expensive this year!) organic alfalfa if you can get some, some greensand, etc. Poultry manure might be your best manure choice since potatoes are heavy feeders. Alternatively if you can't get more manure, maybe try to grow bush beans, lettuce, and other light feeders in that bed next year and just make sure they get water. (Never plant lettuce, anything for salad, or greens in a bed that has received manure in the past 120 days!!)

[@slvrice]

I can’t remember who’s channel I saw this info, maybe Homestead on Purpose. When it was time to plant potatoes & there were no seed potatoes to be found so they bought a few bags of organic potatoes at the grocery store and planted those and ended up getting a pretty large yield. Maybe another experiment for next year.

[@fruitsalad5976]

I have just planted my 4th time using grocery store potatoes! They have worked well each time so far and I have only been able to use containers till this time where I have a small raised bed now. I always get a wide variety of sizes but it still works very well!

[@kpoolove1965]

Awwww Becky. You touched my heart. I was mowing my lawn and hit a baby bunny and it hurt me so bad. I brought it in and put Neosporin on it. After a few days I took it to a special vet. They put it down because they said it couldn’t be rehabilitated. I cried so hard that my son and his wife took me to a rescue shelter and I adopted a dwarf bunny. I’ve had Roxy for 4 years. She is litter trained and free roams in the house.I love her so much 🐇🐰

[@nataly3492]

Small fingerlings are amazing Becky!!! Roast them whole with butter and herbs... AMAZING! 😍

[@larrid33]

Yeah! They serve tiny ones at fancy schmancy restaurants too

[@victorbenner539]

Becky thank you for sending me the link for this episode. Fyi, those bunnies will be fine. But put more thought about getting a fence around your garden this winter when things are slow. Because if you don't those bunnies will be adults that will have matured and already had a few litters of their own and will eat SO MUCH of your garden that they will begin to look less "cute" and more like food. After all you know what they have been eating 😄🐇. Now about your spuds. It's the water that was mostly the problem. Plant again in your no till garden. I'm not a huge fan of no till but there is a lot going for it. It's a great way to expand making more beds. The thing is it's not a " instant " garden. It takes a few years to really get healthy. Get a broadfork. Check out Johnny's seeds tools. Buy one and it should last you the rest of your life. They are highly recommended for " no till" beds. The words no till refers more to tillers. The broadfork gets air to the soil without destroying the intricate web of life in the soil. Excellent in your raised beds also. Just keep putting good compost on top each year. I'm wondering if you have started a good,large compost area yet? As to your tomatoes and potatoes plants I would compost them in a big bin. Use 4 pallets turned up,corner to corner. Hold them together with heavy duty zip ties. Mix back and forth layers of dry brown things like leaves,then green things like tomatoes and potatoe plants. They are both in the nightshade family and can have similar diseases so you really want that compost to get really hot to kill the diseases so they don't spread next year when you spread the compost. Get a compost thermometer to. Another buy once tool that you will never need to buy again and make it easier to monitor your compost. Anyway, have a great day. 👍😃🐇🌤

[@lovelivi1591]

Gosh I totally cried when you were getting emotional about the bunnies! I hope their mom comes back and they all survive!♡

[@socorrom5293]

Love how you cared + safeguarded those baby bunnies. They are resilient & will be ok! Also loved the part you blew your hubby a 😘 kiss. That was cute! Take care& thank u

[@susandorry6149]

I've had a few bunny nests in my gardens over the years, we just cover them back and the mom will take care of the rest.

[@sheba5203]

I'm a beginner gardener, but my Grandmaw grew up on the family farm. She told me they'd take tators that had eyes sprouting from their stock and cut the eyes out with some potato attached then plant them to grow more. Saved the rest of the tators that were cut from and used them to cook for meals. She was born 1898 but was a wise woman and lived on the family farm until she married. I'm pretty sure that water played a factor in stunted growth, but those stunted tators can grow eyes and planted instead of buying seed ones to save money. Back in her day, they was no such thing as buying seed tators, they just regrew the ones that sprouted even if they had to be cut into smaller pieces to make them stretch and get a bigger harvest. Just thoughts from my Grandmaw, regrow what you have that may sprout and save money on seed tators. I think you did great with what you harvested, look at all those spuds! I'm looking forward to growing some when I get moved to my new home at the end of May, even if I have to wait awhile to get the Stout garden prepped and ready to grow in. Great job!!

[@jenniferedwards176]

Having a soft heart for animals tells a lot about you as a person. It is lovely. Definately more water on potatoes for a good crop. Please be careful with compost in place with nightshades, as it can encourage blight, which would decimate those crops in your garden for years.

[@beccascraps8141]

Ooohhh so don’t use compost with potatoes? I was thinking of ritotilling a strip of land for potatoes and just adding compost on top each year, but it sounds like that’s a bad choice?

[@jenniferedwards176]

@@beccascraps8141 compost is great, using potato, tomato, pepper or eggplant in compost may not be as it can encourage blight, which is soil borne, and can devistate those crops. Think the Irish potato famine. Many varieties of these plants are now blight resistant, but it is always better to be safe. Blight spores love to consume the nightshade family.

[@ashleyatherton8574]

You are literally my favorite person on KZbin! You seem so down to earth and I’ve learned so much from your videos about a little of everything. Honestly, keep doing what you’re doing and thanks! ❤️

[@AcreHomestead]

Thank you Ashely :)

[@johnhipp604]

​Becky

[@Scratchync]

I have 6 baby bunnies that were born next to my back porch. I LOVE having them! They bring me a lot of joy when i am sitting outside❤❤. Thank you for letting them be. Mama will come back I am sure🐇🐇🐇🐇

[@desireedoan9267]

I'm sure no one would say a word about the bunnies in YOUR GARDEN!!! because it's your garden 🥰 you go girl I couldn't watch a bunny killer

[@sherlynpatterson4304]

Hope you are keeping your own version of a farmer's almanac. My grandparents would constantly review their calendar journals and the official farmer almanacs every few weeks to get the best out of their Gardens. They always kept their calendar journals. Never threw them away. When things didn't make sense in the garden sometimes their local journal had better information and growing patterns them the almanacs.

[@marilynmiller9864]

Hi nearly neighbor, I'mi in Whatcom county! 2 things- 1-try adding bone meal or ground eggshells to your Ruth Stout beds and 2- irrigate. We can't depend on our beautiful soaking rains for a while. Watching you harvest the 'no dig' potatoes was cathartic! Hope the bunnies are ok.

[@ldg2655]

I absolutely LOVE digging potatoes! It’s not like you watch them grow and ripen before you harvest, it’s a total surprise what you get when you dig.. Good for you for trying to put those bunnie’s nest back exactly the same. You have a kind heart and that is a GOOD thing..

[@laurenharris9510]

I love that you left the bunnies! I think it's so important as gardeners to care for the entire ecosystems we create in our gardening spaces, even if that means being cautious and gentle with wildlife that could eat our crops. Such a sweet move on your part. ❤ I am a super beginning gardener and learned a lot from this video! I'm really enjoying your channel. Keep it up!! 🥰

[@wandakelly2173]

Holy Hannah! First off, I love to gather my vegetables in my shirt! It’s another way to connect to the Earth! Second, squeaking rabbits are heart wrenching. I totally understand and I don’t want to share either. I’ve done odd things to protect my vegetables 😆

[@joriboeckman7198]

We leave nests when we find bunnies too. They were calling their mommy because they cannot see yet. You did the right thing. Hugs!

[@nuttallvlogs2362]

I'm sharing my blueberries with the birdies in my garden at the moment. I had bird netting up last year and I found a baby bird tangled in it. Luckily I was home and able to release the little fella but the thought of accidentally hurting one of my bird friends has put me off netting completely! Good for you for saving your bunny friends! Xx

[@yeevita]

I hate bird netting also. Sticks to everything, including birds. Try insect netting/cloth or tulle. Neither of those will tangle birds,or even insects. They just prevent birds from getting in. I have had birds get into my insect netting covered trees and be fine. I did have to unclip (I use binder clips) to let the bird out but it did not get tangled or hurt herself.

[@yeevita]

@@Mrssarandy I love all the garden life. I admit I kill a few pests - it is difficult to undo a previous life of squishing aphids and squash bugs, but mostly, I see no reason for death when nature balances itself much better than I ever could do. The bird had gotten in through a section of insect cloth that had worked itself free. I just unclipped a section and the bird flew out. Right now, the birds are having a good time with the seeds on the lambsquarters that I grow for them. They love hanging on the plants and picking off all the seeds.

[@jenperry427]

mama rabbits are pretty dedicated. We had one make a nest in our firepit a couple years ago, and we only discovered it when one of our dogs tore the nest apart. I'll spare you the details, but we got most of them recovered, put the fur back and put chicken wire all around the firepit except for a small opening close to the ground by the nest. And we never let the dogs outside without us. Mama continued to care for her babies and raised them up and they went on their merry way. Fingers crossed your bunfam is frolicking about soon!

[@kapani2006]

You don’t have to worry about your scent. Thank you for carry about the bunnies. You have a beautiful heart.

[@BrandyDawn]

Those bunnies you will not hurt even if you get your scent on them. Totally an old wives tale! You did the right thing by putting them back and leaving them be. It’s okay. Getting rid of it or harming them would be cruel and definitely the wrong thing and unpopular opinion if you ask me! So happy you put them back, I just hope you didn’t bury them too deep. If momma bunny wants she will move them, if not she feels safe keeping them there. My mom has had bunnies in her yard for years. At first we thought they might ruin things or get out of control, or eat a ton of her plans but they don’t. They occasionally snack on things, but don’t ruin anything and we have happy to share with them! Once in a while we see them hopping around. We love to leave them treats too! Just be carful your dogs don’t find them or their nest!

[@lindsaymarie4416]

You did the right thing for the babies. I had some in a planter of all things right when we got a puppy 🙄 so for the first 3 weeks of having a puppy, I was watching for when the baby bunnies left. I also found like 2 nests in my raised beds when I started planting this past spring.

[@marygray9002]

I am with you Becky! We have bunnies that live under our shed and we do everything to protect them! They won’t even eat my lettuce but do enjoy the clover in our yard! We love them so much!

[@dreamingfool2]

My great grandfather used to surround his gardens with scattered odd seeds from his garden that would grow kinda wild just for the bunnies. Sometimes those odd plants would grow and produce more than his actual pampered plants 🤣. Thank you for the insperation. I just made some of my own Castile soap in an attempt to be more self sufficient.

[@journeyoflovelight]

I love that idea thank you

[@yeevita]

Great idea! I also plant a few plants just for birds, because they love the seeds so much.

[@mzdiamondlover]

Aw Becky, your such an angel. I agree to let those little buds live there. There’s more food than you and your husband can eat. I think it’s nice to create an eco system, especially considering how the world is these days. Mama found your garden a safe place for her babies and I think that’s such an honor 💕🐰

[@Cdees57]

Thank you for leaving the baby bunnies. When we grew a garden we shared with bunnies, ground hogs, deer and other critters.

[@lavendersky4324]

We did a similar thing in our fenced raised bed, completely weeded the bed then found the bunny nest in the very last spot, and it had no shade anymore at all, in the hot Florida summer. But Mama Rabbit moved them within a day or two and one of the babies still lives in the yard!

[@heartsdreamshomestead8930]

I’ve gotten bitten several different times by fire ants this year 😬 (South Carolina) Also I seen quite a bit of gardeners find nests in garden beds and they normally leave them alone. Once the babies are bigger the momma rabbit will take them all and leave. You have such a good heart

[@Escapingintotheopen]

My heart went out the you when you found that bunny nest! I have such a soft spot for animals and I would have been very emotional as well. ❤ I love and respect so much that you share your space with natures treasures. I love how you run your life and I’m loving following you and I’m learning so much! Thank you ❤

[@jenniferkapp8069]

You don’t apologize for having a heart and not being able to kill those little babies! I’m with ya - let them have a chance to live and then deal With that later if you have to

[@nolongeractive240]

Aww the babies! You're so kind hearted a lot of gardeners/farmers wouldn't hesitate to get rid of them. I wouldn't have the heart to do it! Sweet babies.

[@marge3157]

You are such a sweet soul 🤗

[@marilynruggeberg]

Don't worry about the Baby Bunnies. I did the same thing a few years ago while weeding my flower beds. I checked on them the next day, Mama had moved them. A week later I saw the babies running through my other flower beds. 🥰🥰🥰

[@malialindsey4166]

Don’t apologize for how you harvest...I love that you used your shirt!! I did however think about maybe one day when I have a garden with a substantial harvest I thought about either making or buying a shirt or apron with a pocket...but I love the shirt 💖

[@denisepineda1788]

I would have done the same thing with the baby bunnies! On the potatoes, you do need to water them if you don’t get enough rain. My husband gets the seed potatoes a couple of weeks before he plants them. After about a week, he goes through them and cuts them so that there are 1 or more eyes in each piece it cuts. Then he dips the cut side in ashes and puts them all in a straw baskets and leaves them for another week or so. We have had the best luck growing red potatoes and Yukon gold potatoes. We had a ton of rain at the beginning of the growing season. We harvested about 200 or so lbs of potatoes. We live in south Texas and so they will not keep for months at a time here. I can them or flash fry them and put them in vacuum-sealed bags. We eat them fresh for a couple of months. It feed my husband and I and my 3 grown daughters and their families too. It’s wonderful.

[@elainemartin1801]

'Homestead Heart' says that the Yukon Gold potatos can be pressure canned in jars where other potato varieties get too mushy when canned. This might be an option for you. 'Homestead Heart' put up several jars of green bean and potatoes. This makes an instant side dish as everything cooks during the canning process.

[@brigittefavron3362]

Yes I watch that channel also! Im learning so much from both!!

[@Stoiccappy]

I'm so stoked to see someone who knows who Ruth Stout was! Also I'm mostly Irish and something about seeing potatoes being harvested makes my heart happy :)

[@bevhackney6849]

When planting potatoes you should always add soil or compost and bank the sides up as they grow. This gives them more soil to grow their roots and subsequently more produce. Given the lack of rain I think you did well. Any garden needs water, it's a shame that parts of your garden are not on the irrigation system, I would extend it and then whatever you plant will do well. Good luck.

[@ga6327]

Hi Bev. Can u explain "bank the sides up on the sides?" Almost all gardening terms are new to me🤭😜 Thanks.

[@bevhackney6849]

Hi, it means adding material, as they grow, soil / compost and using it to form mounds around the plants as though they are on the top of little mountain ranges. xThis gives the roots a wider area to spread their roots below.

[@6beckyy]

I’m so glad I subscribed to your channel. Saving bunnies?? You’ve won my heart. You rock!!!!

[@ecocentrichomestead6783]

Second one was yukon gold I would say it was watering. Last year was very dry here. My potatoes didn't do well but the ones I watered did ok. There was a couple beds out of reach of the garden hose that were a flop despite being fertile soil with lots of mulch. We normally don't have a dry season. Going forward, I will make sure the soil is kept moist during the growing season using a moisture meter. Don't want to water too much either because that could cause scab or blite.

[@jessicathompson236]

Grandma always planted more than one garden and enough for the critters too. You are doing fine. It's good that you are a good person.

[@aliciaparks3767]

Nothing wrong with having a heart!! We need more heartfelt people in this world!! I just found your videos and I think people could learn a lot from you!

[@tiffanyrichardson7615]

I have been binge watching your videos. 1) thank you for not killing The baby bunnies because I agree with you, and it would be sad. 2) I love watching you cook, granted it’s hard to follow sometimes, but girl you’re seasoning skills are on point 😉 3) I love how you seem to just go with the flow of stuff and just adapt. 4) I love that your referenced Living Traditions Homestead because I watch them too and have for a long time. 5) Also I love that you live in my neck of the woods, we leave near Salem 🙂

[@Jess7137]

OMG The bunnies! I got emotional too!! Great gardeners are a steward of nature and all that ecosystems it creates. You absolutely made the right decision! What a great and abundant harvest. Next year will be twice that once you start watering ☺️

[@shannoneg2000]

"Steward of nature"... I love that phrase!

[@dianastewart4226]

I agree with you 100% about the bunnies. You do what is right for you and not anyone else.

[@myla5233]

Great to see the young ones still eating off the earth. One of my favorite memories with my family was harvesting produce and canning our haul.

[@8Gammie]

I would be emotional, too. Praying they are ok. Those things happen. Will be waiting to hear if you noticed Mama came back to them. I have a bunny that comes under the fence, several times a day and eats my grass. I don't mind. He's cute to watch and I'm providing some food for him... makes me happy. Potatoes: it's like an Easter egg hunt!!! What a wonderful harvest you had!! love, hugs,prayers.

[@karenblack145]

I've watched a few of your vlogs so far and enjoy your fearless approach to gardening. You just go for it! And learn from it. That gives me motivation to try new things. Thanks for leaving the baby bunnies alone and giving them a chance. :)

[@lisamiddleton7347]

Hi Becky! I discovered you last week and I just cannot get enough of your videos! Thank you! ❤🐰❤

[@bhaka4521]

Never ever apologise for being a good person!. Instantly subscribed after your choice to share and let live.

[@stephanieadams6461]

I’m so glad you didn’t hurt the bunnies I couldn’t keep watching your channel if you had your attitude towards nature is just the best ❤️. If yo want a bumper harvest of potatoes you need to grow them in deep beds good compost and regular water. Best way I ever grew potatoes was in tyres as the tops grew taller you add another type and another layer of soil and compost this encourages the plant to sprout spuds all the way up them stem not just a few at the base roots. I went four tyres high then let the plants die off, to harvest you simply remove the tyres one by one and the potatoes just fall out. Your tiny fingerling potatoes can be seed potatoes for next year or they would be superb flash boiled then pan fried with bacon and chives and garlic which I know you guys love.

[@Evaleastaristev]

There's a big difference between keeping animals out, and doing them harm once their inside. If they eat too much as they grow, you can still go to the grocery to make up the difference. They can't. I hope that mama comes back to them!

[@firstnamelastname2552]

Or she can eat the rabbits.

[@lesliecavas1984]

You did the right thing, if anyone says anything just ignore them and remember what Cinderella says is true: "Have courage and be kind". Good Job.