How I Got Into Growing Food | Spring Q&A

Today's video is a my spring Q&A where I answer some of your questions left in the comments of the winter Q&A video. I cover everything from chop and drop, crop rotation, first seeds, pest control, what I'd be if I wasn't a gardener, how I got into gardening, and lots more!
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[@vince8664]

You made me laugh when you talked about the weed whacker - yes, what a name! hahaa loved that

[@AussieJuz]

In Australia a strimmer is a whipper snipper 😁

[@tamrahawkes3170]

In Canada that’s what we also call it!

[@nancyseery2213]

Huw, you were talking about what you wanted to be as a child. It's really all the same thing. You wanted to make the world a better place! That is what all of those jobs have in common and I, for one, say that is what you are doing right now. Thank you!

[@westernmac5944]

If you would like gardening in a colder climate Huw, come on over to Northern Canada. Zone 3. -15 C here this morning. I got a cabin for you to stay in. Rabbit goes great with carrots and garlic. Cheers.

[@marking-time-gardens]

Absolutely spot on!😁👍

[@hughjass5976]

Awesome to see edible acres mentioned here. Two of my favorite channels.

[@chrissievandyke171]

I do hair! I am saving the world!! And I am working toward helping make a difference in improving the roads in Michigan!!! Blessings, Huw! You are very good at gardening. And creating KZbin content! You are a blessing! We appreciate you.

[@chelleb3055]

Sitting here next to Yellowstone park in the snow still, in awe of your climate and gardening skills.

[@margiemurray2147]

We love the way you say "weed wacker" your accent just adds a whole unique Dimension to it. Your garden looks amazing. We're from Central Florida and our gardening style is a lot different than what you're doing. Although, we always seem to find tips and tricks and valuable information from you and all your hard work. Keep the videos coming The Nana's

[@christineclarke1653]

Relieved to hear that rotation isn't mandatory - I have a small garden behind a terraced house. Also pleased to hear that orange peel isn't a problem in the dalek compost bin 😊

[@andersonomo597]

Do you turn the dalek contents with a fork? If so, please consider getting a 'compost screw'. You screw it down into the contents and pull up, mixing everything in a few minutes of pretty easy work. I've had mine for 20 years and I use it every time I'm in the garden because it makes a horrible job SO easy. Cheers!

[@andersonomo597]

Here in Oz, 'strimmers' are referred to as 'whipper snippers'.

[@andersonomo597]

@@jennil7797 Love it!

[@cosmibird4209]

I love Edible Acres too. Canadian Permaculture Legacy is another wonderful cold climate permaculture YT channel.

[@janenewley1014]

I,ve also got a photo of me “gardening” when I was little…and several decades later I still am. You can,t start early enough😀😀😀

[@MalinaImport]

Huw! Besides Wine Caps, Oysters (Pleurotus ostreatus) as well as Poplar Mushrooms (Cyclocybe Cylindracea) both also grow readily on wood chips! I also suggest you look into totem log style cultivation, which opens up a lot more options and has a longer fruiting life (depending on trunk diameter). Lion's Mane does exceptionally well in this style. Cheers!

[@thecunningkrugereffect]

@Disabled-Megatron there isn't just one "magic mushroom", there are several, and they all have different needs, so this is a bit of a misleading blanket statement.

[@emilybh6255]

Bokashi Composting is a fast way to decompose food wastes that uses used grains from beer making to ferment and break down the wastes and is an anaerobic method. After two weeks after a five gallon bucket is filled and covered with food wastes mixed with the grains and pressed down so any air in the bucket is eliminated, it can then (after the 2 weeks) be added to a veg garden to finish breaking down. You should try it out Huw!

[@Tennababy]

What product do you use to start of the bokashi? It seems expensive but maybe I'm missing out on a cheap option?

[@quantafitness6088]

​@@Tennababy you can make Lab with a jadam recipe. Lab ferment food scraps. All you need is a 5 to 10 l bucket with a lid that closes tight to ensure an aerobic Environment, kan and milk. And food scraps! Search för DIY bokashi recipes here in YT.

[@ebradley2306]

Question I have a bag of old unspent grain. (Husband brews beer.) What would you suggestion I do with it.

[@emilybh6255]

@@Tennababy Sorry. I thought I already answered this but maybe it didn't get posted. You don't need anything to "start" the bokashi but a handful or two of grains at the bottom of the bucket you put the food wastes in.

[@vickyblacknall4470]

Could a person solicit one of the many local breweries for their mash and use that? Would it be better than plain grain?

[@marking-time-gardens]

Thank you Huw for sharing your thoughts and answers with us. Very helpful. Truly enjoyed the photos of you when you were very young lad. Blessings on your day Kiddo!🥰🌻🐛

[@StarChaserRanch]

I would love to see your suspended plant propagation table.

[@katblyth8153]

Yes, please!

[@astromadness]

Thanks for answering my question, Huw about the digestate 😊. We've recently had another delivery at the allotment site so I'll start mixing some in with the compost bin. Have an awesome season 👍

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

oooo its very very very soon to be spring. its very excitng.

[@SD159AZ]

Huw, I love your channel, you´re so open. I got a raised bed from you and I got your book and enjoying it very much. I´m just starting my permaculture journey, but hopefully it will be as abundant and rewarding as yours. Cheers!

[@cbjones2212]

A strimmer where you are, a weed whacker in the US and a whipper snipper here in Australia (or a brush cutter for heavier jobs). We're a funny lot.

[@ajb.822]

Yes, many, maybe most of us, call it a weed whacker :) !! It's probably sold under the name " string trimmer" or something though.

[@slomo1716]

So Funny that FINALLY someone has addressed this "STRIMMER" name y'all use for our WEED WACKER. I chuckle every time I hear "strimmer"!

[@wardsdotnet]

Eat every part of your brassicas! The leaves and stems of broccoli are quite tasty and basically the same as collard greens anyway

[@JHaven-lg7lj]

I like the stems of broccoli much more than the flowers. I was just outside weeding and tried some of my kale and Brussels sprouts flowers, though, and they’re lovely! Sweet and tender with just a little brassica flavor at the end!

[@gmantoon]

Great info Huw love the channel my first true year into food growing/gardening

[@carajualansayurkelilingpemula]

Thank you bos 👍👍

[@HuwRichards]

You're welcome :)

[@jenniferkessener1111]

Thanks for the tip on skipping rotation. With tall trees, we only have a certain amount of sun exposure. Our greens do fine, but tomatoes.etc. need those sunny beds. I need more tips on what to plant in summer. I do OK getting going in the season, but miss out growing into Fall. Our summers are hot, and switch to Frost mid to late October.

[@lorelei9393]

Great info. Thanks for sharing. I like the name for trimming in Australia...whipper snip. Funny how we have very different names for same thing 😃

[@ingevankeirsbilck9601]

Ask someone who speaks Dutch what it really means... It's quite hilarious 😅

[@gryphonrampant24]

What are your favorite native plants (including native edibles) in your region?

[@nbeizaie]

The first video i watched of you many years ago was the one taking Forsythia cuttings and I thought "talented ked"! Look at you now all grown up :)

[@markgarner9832]

Looking forward to a mushroom video.

[@deniseyounger6004]

Love this I’m ready to garden but I have to wait in my part of Canada

[@simbobcrafts4843]

Living the dream

[@lookingforsalehorses]

I’ve loved watching your videos for a while. I want to visit haha

[@AmateurUrbanFarm]

I agree that our (America) name for the weed whacker is great. We call it lots of things, though - weed whip, weed eater, etc. All very descriptive haha.

[@bethanyringdal7247]

Here's a question for the next one: would your liquid fertilizer system work somewhere with several months of hard freeze? Any advice on adapting your set-up for a colder climate?

[@FaceEatingOwl]

Strimmer, brushcutter, weed whacker, whipper snipper, motorscythe 😄

[@joannasz1660]

Oooooh, I think I've never seen your dog. 🥰😍 A little cutie 🦮.

[@leslienichols5268]

Would agree with both of those cold climate channels but my favorite is Little Mountain Ranch, who gardens in BC.

[@stephanieh7967]

I enjoyed this video format! Thank you! Question for next time: You obviously grow a lot of food. What do you do with the surplus?

[@pateicialane4740]

You should be on gardeners world !

[@lbryony76]

What are the key things to sow/plant during summer to be able to harvest in winter/spring? When should these be in the ground by?

[@haakmaaraan6075]

My son, when he was a little child, wanted to become “something with a siren” 😂

[@greenwoodfarms7920]

Thanks for all your content Huw, do you have any gardeners you recommend for tropical garden tips?

[@user-lr7cd8vn8p]

Good morning🙂 I like your video

[@acelticmiscellany]

Very cute mate :)

[@krussell9995]

Hahaha yep it's called a weed whacker here in the States, or also a weed-eater which is actually the term I'm more familiar using. I really enjoy your videos sharing other gardens, how far do you think you'd travel to showcase an inspiring garden?

[@thecunningkrugereffect]

Oyster Mushrooms are super easy to grow, fast growing, and prolific! Get ready for your poly tunnel to smell like the ocean at low tide, though (no one warned me about the smell😅)

[@ColettesGarden]

Looking forward to your thoughts on electroculture gardening. I have been looking into it. My husband suggests 3 twisted copper wires as it increases current capacity. Electrical supply is much cheaper then hardware store for wire. I wonder if you could use old copper pipes from a remodel?

[@alybee106]

What is your current method for spacing plants/seeds in your raised bed? Do you still generally plant according to 'square foot gardening' or not? Especially when planting in polycultures, how does this affect your spacing, if at all? If planting multiple seeds per hole, do you later thin the plants out?

[@2do11ars]

Hello Huw, my wife calls you Garden Thor. I suppose there is a resemblance, feel free to use that anytime

[@ecocentrichomestead6783]

Cold climate gardening. Depends on what you mean by cold climate. From May to October, Edible acres has warmer weather than London, UK.

[@johnwhitton9977]

In Australia we call it a whipper snipper 😂

[@ritalr15]

Can you do a video on your IBC tanks? I saw on one of your videos that you set up posts around them with a rooftop and pvc to collect water. How is it working, and any more details to help us build one similar.

[@keithmccracken5557]

We think weed-wacker is pretty funny too 😄

[@ginnykingsmill9200]

Hello Huw, thank you. Please will your book be coming out in a soft cover with a pretty cover? All my other gardening books have a beautiful inspiring photo on the outside. 🥰

[@ButterflyLullabyLtd]

Hi Huw. I'm in Wales too. I've turned Japanese Knotweed into a powerful positive (we were badly mis-sold on the house and garden). Would you consider visiting our garden and trying my Japanese Knotweed smoothie and organic plant based soap? The blocked off stream can flood our patio. It was not on the Land Registry. I really want to harvest the water. And find a way to use the stream water for watering the back garden. I watch your videos a lot. 😊🦋🐝😊

[@CindyOrangeNeely]

What is the best type of compost setup when you don't have a huge spot in your yard to build a pallet sized one?, and is it better in shade or sun?

[@renejul2534]

Question I have heard that if you grow in containers, you can start watering with skimmed milk or yeast water to get some microbiology started in the cotainer so that the plant will be better. is there anything about it?

[@nannaungerlanng1324]

What are your best tips for drought-proving a garden?

[@garytango]

👍

[@jeffersonrose9719]

What is a crop you wish you could grow but isn't viable in your climate? Maybe its possible (strictly speaking) but takes special effort. i.e. Ginger, in zone 6, in a container I'm about to give up on it, but its been fun to try.

[@andrebernal8036]

Does "no dig" makes sense in a balcony?. Working by adding a mulching with a layer of compost every year. Which sustainable practices can we do instead?

[@ajb.822]

Yes ! I love both Edible Acres and Dirtpatchheaven's channels ! For those who don't know, both are in the USA ( as am I, I'm zone 4b Wisconsin). DPH is in Idaho - not sure which part/how cold. Edible Acres is Trumansburg , New York State. I'm guessing USDA zone 5 or 6 ( it is just mainland Europe or the UK also, where y'all do the growing zones opposite of us ? Where the higher the number the colder it is ?). I don't know of many gardening channels in USDA zone 4 or colder, definitely love to check out any I haven't heard of, esp. if they do no-till, are into permaculture type approach, etc. . Rob... Avis (?) channel called cold climate permaculture I think (?) is definitely one to learn from on a variety of cold climate homestead, off grid, permaculture stuff. Miracle Farms is in Ontario, CA, I think not far from the great lakes and probably not any colder than I, prob. warmer, but definitely some great nuggets there on permaculture orchards. Richard Perkins stuff is mostly suited to the serious market grower, but it's still educational, interesting and inspiring. He's an experienced leader in permaculture farming and their farm is a homestead 1st, as in, growing all their food they can IS a priority. Anyways, they're in a a rarer climate of very short growing season, quite cold yet mitigated some by being so near the sea, in western Sweden. There's been a few growers both you, Huw, and Richard have interviewed who live in the north of y'all's parts of the world, too. Idk if any of them have their own channels, but those videos featuring them are definitely super inspiring ! Another in the US may be Jill Winger's. She's in Montana I think.. .

[@acdcacres]

I love fivecanadianacres! It's a smaller channel, but gardening focused in Zone 3, Alberta.

[@ingevankeirsbilck9601]

I had no idea Europe was divided in growing zones just like North America. Never heard of it. I thought the discrepancy in growing zone for the same altitude had to do with the gulf stream that makes Europe slightly warmer. Need to look that one up!

[@debit8919]

What are your thoughts on using biochar in the garden?

[@catreeves963]

We say weed whacker in Nz too 😄 is digestate the same as sewage sludge? I read about a farm in America being condemned because of high levels of PFAS which were present in the sludge. Since PFAS are there forever and there’s questions on what they can do to your health I personally would be a bit cautious using it

[@leafside]

Boring question maybe but comfrey…. I really really want to incorporate it into my garden and grow lots of it to use both medicinally and for my vegetable garden but….I’m terrified it’s going to take over…. What are your tips and advice on where and how to plant and manage this wonderful plant? Thank you x

[@dannygray5872]

Strimmer? What a name😂

[@hughjass5976]

Does your trimmer(weedwhacker here) destroy your fencing? I always had issues that I'd put up rabbit fencing, but if I got too close with the trimmer, it would destroy the chicken wire fence and I would just make holes for the rabbits.

[@Foxkitten86]

The absolute best animal deterrent for gardeners is lion pee. Its sold commercially, but our local zoo sells it too. Half a litre of pee diluted in a bucket of water, dribbled on the garden perimeter. No animal - guaranteed - will invade your garden.

[@andersonomo597]

I'm sitting here thinking......how the hell do they collect it?! I had to get a urine sample from my dog once and that was bad enough!! Had to run after her with a little flat pan with a handle - and yes she looked at me as if to ask "Are you nuts? What ARE you doing?" but pee collection from LIONS would be a whole new level of crazy!!

[@ingevankeirsbilck9601]

Will have to contact the nearest zoo for that. Is there any footage on how it's done (the collecting, I mean)? Worse comes to worse I could always try and use my own, I'm Flemish, the lion features on our flag, I have a fierce character as well as midlength dark blond/ginger hair and light brown eyes 😁

[@floriswou]

I like your suggestion on edible acres and how you like them applying permaculture to their systems. In what sense have you implemented any permaculture design into your garden? If not, are you interested in this? :)

[@richardbunting1031]

Shame. I just cleared out a Cavolo Nero bed because it was going to seed! I’ve still got two plants in a big container that were next for the compost heap. I’ll hold fire on that and try the flowering shoots!

[@ingevankeirsbilck9601]

I made a similar mistake, we learn new things pretty much every day 🤩

[@shalmaahad6915]

I am making compost for the first time in a bin with lid, (has several holes around the sides for air). However, I noticed my kitchen waste has turned blue with mould. Is that meant to happen or should I be concerned with the amount of mould?

[@ninemoonplanet]

Europe looks like it's facing another year of drought. Would you change your choice of crops if the UK does the same? Plant crops that don't need as much water, like melons, cucumber? I am watching how this spring 🌱 weather is shaping up, may be using shade for keeping the more tender plants away from full sun.

[@johanneharlvguttesen4736]

Is it necessary to have a lid over compost?

[@cosmic_ghost7006]

'Billy Butcher' is gardening .

[@Biggins81]

We call a grass trimmer a whipper snipper here on the east coast of Canada lol

[@andrebernal8036]

I can only find composted manure bags, is that the same as all purpose compost?

[@growbig27]

Suggest you read the New Scientist article on Electroculture. It would appear that studies done were methodically flawed as no double blind studies were done.

[@ingevankeirsbilck9601]

This seems to be an unfortunate phenomenon in modern "science". Germ theory (or thesis, rather) is another of these unrepeated (unrepeatable) "scientific claims.

[@axefairy7868]

What are your thoughts on using animal carcasses for compost? I’ve seen some videos by ‘Self Sufficient Me’ and he would bury anything from pigeons to a kangaroo in his beds or next to his trees to great effect. I was also wondering if cooked bones/carcasses could be used as well.

[@TM.BECK14]

It technically works well for compost -- the reason why most people avoid it is because it often attracts rats and other pests & predators. I includ them in my municipal food waste pickup but not in my backyard compost as we have a lot of rats and coyotes in the area (with the occasional mountain lion). My personal compost also doesn't usually get hot enough to break down very quickly.

[@tommysmith5082]

This is slightly off the subject but I was wondering, concerning making jadam, is it OK to use pokeweed in making jadam? Pokeweed is a poisonous, herbaceaus plant native to the gulf coast of the U.S. It contains phytolaccine. Also, what about other poisonous plants such as poison ivy. Thanks

[@laylaredway]

No rotation blows my mind! We were religious about it with our allotment. I'm currently reading Patrick Whitefield's Earthcare Manual and he writes that the onion family in particular need rotating, to the point that he didn't grow as many leeks as they would have liked. What's your take on that? Do you have a video with more details on breaking this very ingrained habit in gardeners?

[@sinntax1647]

There’s a place in Italy that’s planted onions for over a hundred years! Monty Don visit it in one of his tours.

[@christydalgaard]

When and how did you begin earn money on your gardening?

[@irenewall7783]

For videos about gardering i cold climate i will recomend Sara Bäckmo in Sweden. She has videos on youtube even in English.

[@shalmaahad6915]

Can we make the hotbed outside or does it have to be inside a greenhouse?

[@TM.BECK14]

You can make them outside if you include a cold frame on top during the winter. Check out the book "Backyard Winter Gardening" by Caleb Warnock :)

[@grannypeacock]

I thought biodynamic gardening was woowoo until I ended up on a biodynamic teaching farm and they talked about the science behind it. They totally avoided any mention of the really weird stuff

[@clarereynolds9607]

Help ! Our problem is other people's cat's, I net quite a lot but I need the birds to eat the grubs..so how do I get rid of cat's and their filth from around my food ?

[@janohdegroot989]

As long as you use biological variaties there is no problem using citrus, bananapeels and potatoepeels. The advice for not using them might have come from the fact that they are heavely treated with chemicals that kill your compost, like poisons or sproutinhibitor, in case of not using biological..advices from before the time we had bio..

[@Nico-de-gallo]

It's spring now, but with everything going on in the world, I hope it doesn't get much worse in the summer. With the events that have happened in the past couple of years, with an emphasis on the conflict in Ukraine, how have they affected your view of self sufficiency with gardening? Energy and fertilize shortage, etc. And what are you planning to have prepared for any troubles down the road?

[@michellebenton3935]

usa weed whip

[@hadassahhaman7550]

Male Stripper!!!!!!! 😄

[@suemarcus742]

What’s your favourite structure for supporting peas?

[@deanwatt]

Australians have a better name than Weed Wacker..... We call it a Whipper Snipper!

[@willaharlatt4862]

electroponics - technologically advanced grow system with powerful, easy to use software. State of the art hydroponic system complete with smart lighting, digitally controlled ventilation fans and our patent pending dual growth irrigation system creates the perfect environment for fast growing, high yielding plants - not for me, i like to get my hands dirty

[@scheralgreider5406]

Another name here in the US for a weed wacker is a weed eater.

[@juneshannon8074]

In Australia we all them a Whipper Snipper.

[@Recordeer]

Y'all eatin' weed over there? 🤨

[@thejuanderful]

Electroculture looks interesting. It might be a bunch of hog wash but it should be easy and cheap for me to do a little experimenting. Certain shapes and materials will amplify energies flowing through our universe.

[@nateross14]

" Sowing seeds in a hot bed" sounds like something else.....

[@stojanivanisevic1938]

When will he have dirty hands and why never?

[@petrusvandermerwe-ln7vs]

enjoyed it

[@HuwRichards]

Glad to hear! :)

[@lindacgrace2973]

Biodynamics actually works. There have been extensive university efforts to 'debunk' it, but it turns out Steiner actually stumbled upon a system that greatly improves soil health. Or, more accurately encourages a thriving and healthy soil microbiome. Unfortunately, he slapped on a jargon-laden mystical explanation which is largely nonsense. Do I think that using his prescribed foliar feed "aligns the crystalline energies of the plant with the universal rhythm"? Hell, no! Do I believe that my crops are tastier and more abundant and my Brix scores are the highest I've ever seen? Yup. I began to investigate Biodynamics after seeing a special about how sommeliers can accurately, in blinded trials taste the difference between biodynamic and organically produced wines (i.e., the tasters did not know which wine they were drinking), My advice? Ignore Steiner's ridiculous mysticism and copy his excellent techniques.

[@Eileen_Farms]

I was hoping someone had left a comment on Biodynamics and Huw calling it ‘woo woo.’ People are always knocking it but Biodynamic food is tastier. Surely it can’t be all crackpot then? 😅

[@anjaalt2682]

Just watched a documentary about it today which was streamed on the German channel ARD. The farms who are Demeter certified have to grow biodynamic. There are a lot of good things about it, specially regarding animal welfare. Burying animal manure in cow horns for a view month and then making a feed out of it is nonsense for me.

[@lindacgrace2973]

@@Eileen_Farms Nope. It's not all crackpot. Some of it just makes sense. The lunar tides are powerful enough to lift the ocean, it isn't a far stretch to think they affect plants, as well. The techniques work, the explanations are ludicrous.

[@catemc2323]

Hi Huw. I’m wondering if electroculture has anything to do with growing with magnets 🧲 I seen a video about that a few days ago. But they didn’t call it electroculture 💁🏻‍♀️🍀