How Sustainable Farming Can Be Better than Organic Agriculture

John from www.growingyour... visits his friends farm to share with you how sustainable farming can be better than simply organic agriculture.
In this episode, John shares with you a small farm on Maui that is growing food in the most natural, "organic" and sustainable way as possible with primary focus on reusing on-site materials vs bringing in external inputs such as fertilizer as much as possible.
In this episode you will learn about many of the elements of this sustainable farm that make it a viable family business operation in the tropics with year-round growing conditions. You will discover some of the lesser known and uncommon crops that can be easy to grow in places that do not get a freeze. You will also discover different growing techniques that will allow you to grow more diversity on your farm by providing different environments to your plants.
Finally, John will interview Ryan and ask him about why he has been successful quitting his job to work on the farm full time as well as some tips that will help and make you a better gardener or farmer.
After watching this episode, you will be more familiar with a more sustainable way of farming besides most industrial organic agriculture as well as learn many tips, and techniques that you can put into practice to grow food more sustainably, locally, and organically for you, your family, your community and the world.
Watch the original episode at Ryan's place at:
• Growing Bananas, Okra,...
Watch the other episode in Hawaii where NO animal manures are used on a sustainable permaculture homestead:
• Tropical Permaculture ...

[@desertspectre2881]

Hearing a Farmer talk about farming first hand is the best thing out here on the internet

[@DaichiTunaMelts]

we just got 22 acres in oregon and plan to keep it permaculture and organic, we are quitting our jobs, its the most exciting time in my life.

[@illrateyoua5]

Congratulations!

[@DaichiTunaMelts]

theprojectrightnow.org/ this is our site, its under construction but there is a tour of the property. we are going to encourage people to come by and help out and learn stuff so spread the word.

[@illrateyoua5]

I would help but im up here in Canada! Looking to buy 80 acres right away as land is inexpensive here. Me and 2 other people need to save up 7K each and then we can get like 80-150ish acres. I say 80 though because theyre the really nice ones!

[@bradsuarez2683]

DaichiTunaMelts I would love to see how you start up your permaculture garden!! Would you be doing a series for youtube?

[@DaichiTunaMelts]

of course. this is going to be a learning and teaching experience. part of MY main reason for doing this (not necessarily the other founders) is to prove there is another way to live. one that is more secure and healthy than what i currently do which is line cooking (for one more week)

[@IgorSeveric]

Wow,I am amazed how Ryan is so open minded. Its great to listen to him...

[@Pendulunis]

i study agriculture in austria and right now learn about tropical and subtropical farming which im really interested in ! your video is just a perfect roundup for getting an idea of a practical strategies that work great :) thanks for that ! best regards an keep stacking that soil !

[@theIAMofME]

The last 10 minutes meant the most to me. I have struggled so much with my garden. Building the soil is expensive and an ongoing process. This year I was grateful I started off with amazing lettuce and spinach to juice that I GREW. Everything else after that didn't turn out so well. And it left me really doubting myself. Then, I ended the better part of the warmer season with 60lbs of sweet potatoes that came from just 4 slips. I WAS SHOCKED. I grew them in this display box (made out of pallet wood) covered with landscaping cloth. I wasn't expecting much but, what I got blew my mind. It renewed my faith in teaching myself HOW to do all of this It is NOT easy in the beginning at all. At least not for me. I haven't gotten to the "not easy" part yet. LOL I have limited income and I am doing the very best I can. So, ANYTHING I grow successfully is like knowledge learned which in reality IS money. Not just getting food from it. Thanks for what you do, John. And thanks to your friend for the inspiring words. I'm going to go watch the old video now.

[@theIAMofME]

***** Interesting. Sounds like a "lasagna" type method. I have two composters. One is a bin on the bare ground. It's falling apart. I've had it the longest. The other a tumbler I got cheap on craigslist. I have SO many leaves because I'm lucky to have so many trees! I recently decided instead of buying another composter to start a GIANT compost pile away from the house. I'm afraid to put all my juicing and produce scraps in my beds and other places because of all the critter problems I have. They dig in my stuff already. I can't image what they would do if I put food waste in the soil already there. But, it is an idea. One I have not tried. Because of the critters. BUT. I can't knock it till I've tried it.....so....

[@segarza]

Awesome! Keep at it. Learning to vegetable garden is usually hard at first but it gets easier. I've lost countless plants to my own lack of knowledge in the beginning years. Even with failures we learn.

[@theIAMofME]

segarza Thank you for saying that. I'm a learner by DOING. This was my first year being SERIOUS. WOW! I have learned a lot. But, most, sadly, by failure. I'm building compost as I type this for real! My leaves are gonna feed me one day! HA

[@bswitza]

theIAMofME I'm in the same boat with you and Segarza. I've been working on my own raised beds and compost pile for a few years now and this year I'm finally seeing the results with less effort than before (or maybe I'm just getting better at it :) As I write this, I have a dozen 1-2 lb Black Krim (tomatoes) on just a few plants and tons of peppers all growing large and healthy. The past few years were frustrating, but now it's finally paying off.

[@allisonvaneck2576]

Thank you so very much for taking your time to create what has turned into the highlight of my day! You will never know how much your work means to so many...but I hope you feel the love none-the-less. Love & Light to you and your lovely!

[@Wheeeeeels1]

I dig it John! I have been a subscriber to your channel for over a year and in that time I have learned so much from your adventures and videos. I took the permaculture route and I live on Maui and have access to land in Nova Scotia Canada. Thank you so much for the knowledge and passion to help me strive to be a teacher of this type of positive movement! ----- Keep it up John you're one of the best out there! --------ALOHA ------------James Wheeler, ------------------Lahaina Hawaii.

[@richfiryn]

This has been one of your best videos yet that i have watched. Covered so much relevant ground for either small or larger farmers. Don't be intimidated, be grateful and get busy !

[@gardeningtipswithphil2244]

This is a great example of a permaculture farm. Building the soil and using all the waste products for the inputs.

[@growingyourgreens]

Here is another long video for you guys. Enjoy!

[@Fxbandits]

The one thing I love about John that never gets noticed is his pervert analogies. This shows that he is a real human not a salesmen trying to sell something and he is not afraid to be himself.

[@sann3119]

Cuz he's a GUY!!! That's why! Those people always get away with MORE even when they do the same things a woman did. (it's those double standards, I'm tellin you)......"boys will be boys" "bros before hos" etc. (cringes) (& No, I'm not saying I hate guys by this)

[@notaras1985]

examples? not that is anyone's business if the guy doesnt hurt anyone. ***** dont worry i've seen ubelievable perversion in women, so your sexist comment appeals to no one.

[@PreppingAngel]

Our neighbor had somewhere around 60 hives. For some reason most of his hives swarmed and left. What I was told by my local bee keepers assoc. was that he had too many in one area. I noticed that my garden in the spring had an abundance of bees down to zero. Good thing the Bumble Bees took over as well as a few ants crawling on my flowers. I think the rule here is 5 hives per 5 miles. There was just not enough food for that amount of bees.When all those hives were active I couldn't step outside. I'm the only neighbor with a garden or flowers. They were even grabbing what they could from my Hummingbird feeders. I live in a very rural area. Most farmers have hay fields, not crops.

[@TheItalianGarden]

oooooohhhh yessss apple banana's! i remember going to maui as a kid when my sister lived there and i first tasted an apple banana. My life after that was never the same regular plantain now just don't taste as good as those, but you can never find them here in Oregon on the main land.

[@FeelingShred]

Cool farm, if I planted I would follow this mixed style. I would like to see a video where you talk about how to recover soil which was used to tradicional farming, how to recover it from fertilizers and from being sterile.

[@richfiryn]

Growing cover crops and disc them back into the soil then re-plant. Do this for several years in a row. You can usually get a minimum of 2 plantings in per year if not three in some area's. You can transform soil with this method.

[@soundsforthesoul896]

Great video. As a newbie first season farmer it is very beneficial and helpful to get an inside look into another farm and see what other sustainable farmers are doing. Thanks John for providing your viewers with this great resource.

[@daviddroescher]

Best advice to a new grower. You are not growing plants. You are growing the stuff that the plant eats. The plant is a symptom of your efforts. (Yes you are a dictator you decide which symptoms are allowed to thrive.) If you just want to force your plants to grow, watery, tasteless , nutrition deficient products just use typical salt based NPK in a bag, to kill off what the plant really wants to create an addict. Best example of sustainable pore soil management/restoration is what the Natives of the Amazon rainforest did to support populations in the millions on land that is not capable of supporting population density in the mid hundreds. Terra Preata.

[@hgils]

OK John! Another really great video! Nice to see a person like Ryan working at what he loves to do. Best part was when he mention his family as number one in his thoughts. His sugar cane looked really good to me . Truly the diversity was interesting as well as educational. It amazing what people can do when they decide to make it work. So Ryan….. Your what I call a real man ! Best of luck to you ...

[@777Dorado]

Tons of new info again.....Like you said....There are different fertility methods....always great ideas....it's too bad some people put you in the crosshairs of their issues . Thanks John

[@cancundriven]

"Not to say anything about strippers or anything" LMAO You are awesome John!

[@cjr4497]

in south louisiana we call chayote squash mirliton. it is a very popular down here. they are great pickled and are great halved and stuffed. my grandmother used to make a redfish and crab stuffing with them.

[@yewwoodknotfarm2463]

Great post. This farmer is the real deal, he is beyond hypothetical and into "What really works". Sure we can feed ourselves with only plant based inputs, but to feed our neighbors too, we need to add animal based inputs to complete the cycle of life. ( Foot note, watch the "Lion King")

[@jtjjbannie]

This guy is on another level.

[@TheAnnalok01166]

This is valuable episode! So much to learn and do.

[@realrasher]

Finally an interview with the site operator! Thanks John!! Ryan is living proof of the permaculture concepts. What a true artist in seed an soil!!! PS... rabbit byproducts don't burn the plants when fresh, unlike most all other animal byproducts. And their still vegans... Ha!

[@junglelushchic4234]

You did an AMAZING job editing. Great Job!

[@SunSandAndSea]

Excellent episode!

[@ericdasilva4698]

Hello John, thanks for all you videos! Can you list a couple of good seed suppliers for the tropics? I am in the Philippines these days but maybe would need to import certain varieties of kale or various other things as they are hardly available here., Cheers

[@phat-kid]

great video, all around, subscribed

[@mlspadaro]

John and Ryan, please tell us how Ryan acquired his four acres for farming. Land is prohibitively expensive to buy here in Hawaii, and if you lease it, most often you can't live on it so any money your farm makes goes to pay high rent someplace. Please give us tips on getting around these difficulties here in Hawaii. aloha, Mary

[@marthaleone584]

Awesome, THANK YOU! Inf on Asparagus plants & Eggplant plants?😊😁🌞☺️

[@cuddlebaboon856]

At my parents farm we used ducks and chickens to control pests like slugs, snails, caterpillars and weeds

[@dylweed6337]

Hey now! Have you ever checked out a taro patch on your channel? Thanks

[@freedomdove]

The sad truth is that many people who want to grow organically are working with much less than 4 acres. Therefore, people like myself are limited to using at least some purchased materials. I live in the Midwest, where we're surrounded by GM-crop fields. Most of the farmland is taken and is being used for industrial ag, leaving little for people who want small farms. I have less than 1/4 acre to work with in suburbia and we're not allowed to have any kind of farm animals. Composting scraps and leaves is about the only way I can manage on-site inputs, and that's a serious challenge when it's cold for over half the year. Worm composting is also hard in such climates. Most of my compost isn't composted when it goes into my raised beds. I have to let it compost in place many times. Unfortunately, having such limited funds is a real hindrance to productivity, as well; no fancy compost tumblers or anything like that. No more money to build additional raised beds (no more places to put them that aren't shaded by 75' maple trees, anyways). Growing in containers has proved almost impossible because although we can't have farm animals, someone forgot to tell the squirrels to vacate the city and they wreak havoc in containers. At least I've figured out a way to somewhat protect the raised beds...

[@kosycat1]

Right on

[@nissarana2012]

Love your place Ryan!

[@Soulman-lb3gg]

Righteous stripper analogy.

[@riverstun]

So you want to grow crops like celery that are difficult to grow in your climate for more $$$ at the market, but you always want to grow varieties that do well in your climate. Gotcha!

[@peterstiffins8837]

Great points like always.....Thanks bro

[@FigaroHey]

It doesn't make sense that the rabbits take out some of the nutrients when they eat the food and then we use their droppings, so composting is better. When you compost the same food, smaller 'animals' break down the food by eating it. One way or another, some creature is eating the vegetable matter in order to break it down. The question is whether a rabbit removes more nutrients than an insect or bacterium.

[@NoPeeking]

Slow down, John. Take a breath. Breathe.

[@omniXenderman]

10:18 bacteria actually take some of the nutrients when breaking down the weeds in a composter as they decompose, so you still dont get all that was in the weeds

[@illrateyoua5]

I am looking to build a sustainable earth ship in Canadian forest. If I had to limit my diet to 16 fruits and vegetables to grow on cycle to have a constant food supply. I believe hemp is legal here as well so I may look into that! Also I am thinking about have chickens for the eggs. I dont want to eat meat but wouldnt mind organic eggs.

[@Fxbandits]

hahahah, I loved that stripper analogy.

[@alphasxsignal]

Have you ever seen a seed tape machine. Im trying to find a company that makes these seed tape machines. Anyone know who they are.

[@ImMADasAMeatAxe]

this works... as long as nothing leaves the farm

[@cuddlebaboon856]

okraw i din't knew you have this channel

[@daviddroescher]

On the matter of bees honey bee in not native to N America( HI is technically not part of). Regardless of local regulations you can have bees Utube University some information on local native nonhoney producing bees and there needs , when there needs are met you get the 70% pollination missed by the honey bee. My state UT (desert almost void of plant life) has had 400 Varieties of honeyless native bees discovered. Iirc CA had 1400ish and counting

[@BABAJIWITHLOVE]

beautiful, just beautiful, great jog John and Ryan what a man!

[@britneybeautiful1919]

Is so wise thanks! :) yeeee the Bunny are my fave wow is so sustainable! Wtg!

[@britneybeautiful1919]

Bunny's john! Bunny's please get some n Bunny's will help your garden is super idea!

[@britneybeautiful1919]

Wow ! What a beautiful farm :o

[@britneybeautiful1919]

I'm not famer I just think is neat metaphor of sustainability beautiful Hawaii wtg!

[@bullmasterlyle72]

how many acres does he have

[@pm1862]

god, i love this man

[@jukedandy29]

this is a video about encouraging ppl to garden and produce food for themselves and their families not a platform for animal rights debate. stay classy folks

[@ImMADasAMeatAxe]

oh he was so close to cracking it.. but didn't quite get it :)

[@TheLastLogicalOne]

Even though you don't use animals to compost, bacteria are still living organism's which burn energy 10:00

[@Praxxus55712]

The guy at the end uses air quote so much I want to grab his fingers and hold them down and yell "NO! Bad dog!!"

[@FigaroHey]

I want a dollar for every time he says 'actually.' He should also pay me for 'like' and 'that being said' and every time he uses the wrong word entirely for what he wants to say (like 'foilage' for 'foliage'), and at least a quarter for every grammatical mistake. And every time he uses the word 'guys' to refer to an inanimate object or people in general - 5 dollars. Every time he says 'without any further ado' I get 2 dollars. Ten cents for every 'right' and 'you know' and 'I mean' and 'in my opinion.' When he pays me that for every video, I will have enough money to start a farm. Every time he reveals that he's got a puerile sexuality, I get to wash his mouth out with soap and slap him once on behalf of all women and slap him again on behalf of every father of a female person.

[@minkoil00]

Celery root is way better than the stock.

[@ILikeTurtlesJah]

lol! loving the stripper comment!

[@emilybh6255]

Another way to look at plants that didn't make it is that they were meant to be chopped and dropped and used to enrich the soil. If the truth be told, humans don't need to eat NEARLY what they do. It is actually more healthful to eat LESS as your body needs tons of energy to break down the food you eat (especially if you aren't eating mostly raw fruit and vegetables). You also should never eat when you are in pain as your body won't produce digestive juices because the energy is being used to address the pain. If you do, the food just sits and ferments and creates problems. I bet "breakfast" "lunch" and "dinner" were dreamed up by the food industry. Think about it. Can you even remember the last time you were actually truly hungry for food? People aren't truly hungry at meal times. They have just been conditioned to think they "should" eat 3 meals a day.

[@SurrealifiedTV]

Seriously, humans are part of the animal kingdom, whether we like to admit it or not. And lemme tell ya, some of the things that animals do because that's just what they do is freaky as hell to look at let alone know about. Like the patch of wasp larva I found with all these tiny spiders in there with them. I watched them grow and eat the spiders because that's what they do. The wasps, captured spiders and locked them in with the eggs so they'd have food to eat and grow into full blown wasps. To me that looked a lot like they corralled the spiders and locked them up for the sole purpose of being eaten. Sound familiar? Y'all need to stop acting so high and mighty. And honestly, that applies to both sides of the argument as well. Just because someone has a different point of view than you doesn't mean you need to be snide, rude, insulting or a just plain bully towards them. That sort of tit for tat leaves both sides in a neverending battle of wills and it's completely ridiculous.

[@constancelovejoy7308]

This farm isn't vegan-friendly. Rabbits shouldn't be used that way, kept in cages, just to fertilize that farm.

[@lilisigel]

He knows it and yet he promotes animal exploitation. I don't need to hear ''exploitation is good for animals'' crap so I'm leaving his channel.

[@CannaHeaven]

lilisigel It's called being open minded and sharing everything he can with us, the pros and cons. What's the point of going through life hearing only the things you agree with? Open your mind to new possibilities, and then make a choice.

[@lilisigel]

***** Well then nothing to worry when humans are used and exploited by those who have the power of doing it. Lets all be open minded right ?

[@CannaHeaven]

lilisigel You know how we win? It starts with the man in the mirror. Stop blaming corporations and being angry, and just be the change you wish to see. Others similar minded folks will follow your example. But no one likes angry people.

[@777Dorado]

lilisigel What's it like to be perfect...TO YOU

[@allencrider]

Dislike animal agriculture. Who keeps dogs and cats in cages? Why do the same with rabbits?

[@sann3119]

(domestic) rabbits are MUCH different from wild ones or dogs/cats. They kind of need to be corralled up or caged somehow like in a spacious hutch because they will dig & escape the premises, or be eaten by a predator. They can't even mate to a wild rabbit successfully, for crying out loud (see below). So, they may not do too well on their own for long if they escaped. There are quite a few reasons why people cage domestic rabbits. But, at least the cage they had them in is quite spacious. no? (American cottontail wild rabbits have 21 pair of chromosomes. European hares have 24 pairs of chromosomes and the domestic rabbit has 22 pairs. Mating is technically possible but NO viable embryo will result because of the differences in the chromosome pairs).

[@allencrider]

***** I (and lot of other people) keep bunnies. They are litterbox trained. They have in and out privileges and chose to be outside or inside. They know their names and are quite intelligent. Here's a clip of when my Big Bunny turned 8 years old. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJuZpIGKgJt-l5Y

[@allencrider]

***** Put yourself into a little cage 24/7 for a couple of months and get back to me smartass.

[@segarza]

allencrider You keep them for pets but many people keep them for food and/or compost manure. Big difference. Where I live the predators have killed many of my free range chickens...50+. Coyotes, Foxes, Bobcats, Hawks and Owls have all had there share of my chickens. Domesticated rabbits would have no chance of survival without 24/7 protection.

[@allencrider]

segarza People shouldn't keep rabbits for food anymore than they should keep cats and dogs or people for food.

[@lilisigel]

Would you like living in a cage ? Your presentation reminds me of corporate BS advert about '' happy '' exploited animals. This propaganda and hypocrisy are just disgusting. Unsubscribed. Your channel is not for me.

[@lilisigel]

***** Vegan way of living is totally against caging/exploiting animals, period. I'm not only vegan I'm all for animal rights and liberation from human domination, and also for human rights and liberation from Elite's ruling cage system, the pyramid of power - the Might Makes Right menatality and way of living, both are connected. Animal exploitation and killing = Human exploitation and killing, both are fraudulent and abominable. Tons of evidence on my platlists, nobody can lie to me anymore. There are farmers who don't kill animals, at least not intentionally, people start developing a conscience that will eventually benefit All Life.

[@Cryptlord9999]

Agreed to some extent, im not Vegan or vegetarian, and didn't unsubscribe, but I think it would be much more beneficial to just use a moveable fencing, like moveable electric fencing, and let them "free range" as opposed to being in cages. Then they can run around and it doesn't hurt their feet, can munch on organic matter and still fertilize the soil.

[@lilisigel]

***** So, according to you the mental disabled humans should be used and exploited ? If I am a moron you're definitely a sadist and psychopath. Tons of evidence on my playlists about what people like you make the hell on earth for all humans and animals in this world. Stop lying.

[@lilisigel]

***** Thanks for proving my point.

[@777Dorado]

Dream Killer

[@lksw42439]

There's tons of analogies that you could've done without putting down people who strip for a living.

[@mreisma]

john i laugh everytime u bust out a sex joke

[@allisonvaneck2576]

Uff da....can't assume about strippers, John. :)

[@BustandBoom]

STRIPPERS!!! Really LMAO John

[@CodyKeppley]

20 strippers disliked this video lol

[@SentoHug]

not to say anything about strippers or anything! lol!

[@samlane2]

This guys gets it!