How to Garden on Sloping Ground - FHC Q & A

[@rosehavenfarm2969]

Thanks for the discussion, Pa Mac. Our whole property is sloped, and the soil is clay. And all our planting beds are terraced. It has taken some time to add organic matter to the soil to improve the drainage and to build up the terraces, but we did it. One thing we're doing in our largest terraced garden is to plant perennials in it, with large 'gaps' between them for our annual crops. The perennials help keep the soil in place and add good fungi and bacterial life to the soil.Plus, we get apples, pears, blueberries, elderberries, horseradish, sunchokes, grapes. ..If annual gardening gets to be too much when we get old, the perennials will still be there providing food My small kitchen garden has raised beds (!), they go across the slope, too. Looking to easier access in our elder years, we decided on raised beds for that area.

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Watched this one a couple times with interruptions' so I had to go back and watch it again. You did an excellent job of pointing out a great way to farm on not so level ground and building up the soil naturally. Looks good and will help lots of folks in their quest for good farming on a hillside. Keep up the excellent videos and the fun you have showing the struggles and working through them. Fred.

[@Travecmo]

Pa has become my adulthood superhero. Thanks always well articulated .

[@MarkWYoung-ky4uc]

Hi Pa! Another thing you can do is bed up your rows so the water will run each row to the end. If you turn your land with a moldboard plow, always turn every furrow up hill. Not only will it leave the field level but each furrow will take water so it doesn't wash.

[@Woods_walker]

Hey pa Mac, love the videos. How about a homestead tour video sometime? It would be interesting to take a look at some of your building projects and how they are holding up over the years. The barn build and log cabin coop are my favorites!

[@vickisavage8929]

From Machu Pichu to the mountains of Japan to Sepp Holzer’s work at the Kramaterhof, we have examples of sustainable agriculture on STEEP slopes. Jared Diamond has written several books on the effects of human activity on the environment, including Collapse, The Last Tree on Easter Island, and Upheaval. What’s being tried now is not new.

[@amydunlap4018]

This was so encouraging! Just bought 11 acres on a hill in WV!

[@MrRushie]

Thanks for the in-depth response Pa Mac

[@farmhandscompanion]

You betcha, MrRushie. Thank YOU!

[@LolitasGarden]

I used offcuts from our sawmill, staked along contour, smothered to the hilt with wood chips, and scattered with cheap birdseed to get a garden started along the hillside. It's not fast, but, in my experience, the wood chips will yield a good rich soil with lots of fungi once they break down. The birdseed brings roots- which bring microorganisms- and yield seed heads that brings nitrogen-rich bird manure.

[@farmhandscompanion]

Great method, LolitasGarden. Let time work for you.

[@jerryprewett5294]

Hey pa: I’ve been growing on my hill for a few years now. I’ve started to put my compost pile on top of the hill, heavy rain produces runoff which is put on the ground of my garden

[@lincwayne3435]

Wow I never heard of that before! Putting the logs in place and allowing the erosion to build up the terrace...gotta try it - thaaank you!

[@aldol.9134]

Video molto interessanti, complimenti

[@williamstrickland4208]

A nother fun thing to mentions, the military grid reference system, the MGRS maps used by US military to land nav uses contour lines and theyre excellent for terrain identification

[@farmhandscompanion]

Good word, William

[@saccaed]

Can use the hose itself when plotting on contour as a hose level or water level.

[@57WillysCJ]

I have seen farms in southern Wisconsin which is rolling hills where they plant the high spots and use the lower ones as swales for grass. As long as those areas are not to wet they can produce grass hay. In the old days they were farmed and were just low areas that were wet. Now they really get two crops but also the low areas with green cover hold water better. Terrace or step farming was the main way to cultivate lands in South America and Asia for centuries.

[@johnreno9418]

Wonderful instruction. I used the steep 15% slope on my property to plant fruit trees. They don't like standing water, so the slope is good.

[@Ham68229]

When I was a kid, my grand parents had a garden plot on a hillside. We worked the ground across the hill. My grand dad made several "terraces" with the garden tractor and plow. Root crops were on the upper side and plants like strawberries were at the bottom. Erosion wasn't an issue on how we planted and what crops we grew and where they were planted. Again, we had 2-3 man-made terraces which really helped cut down any excessive "run-off". Also, we spread straw hay down between each row, cut down on weeds, held moisture and cut down on erosion as well. So many things we did that was just normal for us. Exactly, our terraces were not in a straight line. We made ours with a moldboard plow and a blade, doesn't take much to "blend" the ground in. Another great video, cheers :)

[@JohnDoe-id9hi]

I too have been thinking about hillside farming, most recently my 6ac of pasture land has 1-4ft of water in it. My cow's don't fit in the inflatable adult pool floaties. Ag office says manatees aren't a good fit for my area so I bought a radio control boat for the boy an pray for a break between the storms.

[@thistles]

😂 you have a gift with words

[@pickone8142]

I have terraces in two fields on the farm getting ready in the spring to do maintenance on they You can add check dams in them to hold water in them also

[@richardbryant5773]

That will help me very much my garden is on a slop can't wait to try it thanks

[@dennistaylor3796]

My friend dug a trench where it washed , and put wood chips in to slow the water down.

[@TheRedneckprepper]

TY

[@happilyretiredmark2964]

A little smarts and patience will cure lots of issues wont it Pamac! Always enjoy buddy. Take care and God Bless

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

Thanks for explaining how to make the terraces. I was one of those who thought it would be a huge earthmoving project. As the logs rot, you could also slowly replace them with stone walls. That would not only be functional but beautiful.❤️🤗🐝

[@johnsonr9]

Great advice. 100% agree about planting on contour.

[@lomax117]

When I was young, our yard was on a slope. My Dad cut tiers in the back yard. He got the idea from the rice Paddy fields in Korea. They were narrow, but long. The length of the yard.

[@robinpritchard334]

thanks 4 your help.

[@CheerfuEntropy]

Swales!

[@thomaslthomas1506]

In Vermont we terrace with rocks (also known as Vermont birth control). We have lots of rocks here.

[@SilverLining650]

Great advice. Thanks for the encouragement.

[@farmhandscompanion]

Thank you, SilverLining650

[@andrewsackville-west1609]

Plant woody perennials just uphill of the logs, so that as the logs decompose, the perennial roots take over to hold the soil.

[@morjesusgan3]

Thanks for the info Pa Mac! I’ve really been enjoying all your videos! Another good strategy is swales. Geoff Lawton has some really good videos on this. That’s my job for this year on my homestead. 😅

[@tsietsimodutsoane9029]

I rally enjayed the topic

[@douglasvantassel8098]

Great video, thank you for making these. In the past you had alluded to using draft animals again on your farm. I find that fascinating and would love to see more on it, but I understand you're busy and that is no small undertaking.

[@farmhandscompanion]

It's on the list for the future, Douglas; just waiting for two cows to each calve a bull calf the same year for a matched team.

[@douglasvantassel8098]

I will keep my fingers crossed. Thanks for making these wonderful videos.

[@jeffmays3608]

Always some good info on this channel

[@farmhandscompanion]

Thank you for watchin', Jeff

[@MiddleEastMilli]

Thank you for your thoughtful response! Very easy to grasp!

[@farmhandscompanion]

You're welcome

[@zhalosky]

My field is a sloping swaleing strip of land so i wanna see how it works.

[@royevans7793]

Pa Mac, I can remember years ago, someone giving my grandfather a hard time about the crooked in his garden. Without skipping a beat he replied, "You can get more plants in a crooked row than a straight one!" Most of what you talked about is just common sense, but a lot of people don't think about it!

[@farmhandscompanion]

Smart man, your grandfather.

[@ElaineCole-zy7ey]

I just want to comment on you mentioning the Dust bowl some friends of mine told me once there family the Arkansas national guard came out and shot all there cattle because of the effects of the dust bowl had on the cattle this was in Hartford Arkansas

[@anthonydigiulio8010]

Very informative....ty

[@dryerflyer]

I'd like to hear your opinion on raised beds.

[@T-Cat777]

Thank you. 🙏 ✝️

[@geelee1977]

My part of the world, is DRY. So I can put in swales like there's no tomorrow and not worry about too much water. Added bonus: they solve the erosion issue. The garden hose hack is BRILLIANT. You could save TONS of permaculture farmers from having to create a-frame levels.

[@amyblueskyirl16]

So useful, thanks!! 😂

[@farmhandscompanion]

Thank you for watchin', Amy

[@keithbrigman5179]

Watch the movie Sergeant York and see what his mother had to say about living in the hills great movie. Enjoy your channel thanks

[@happilyretiredmark2964]

"Lord help him to be a gittin his bottom land" awesome movie!

[@farmhandscompanion]

Yes sir. That movie has a lot to teach us.

[@keithbrigman5179]

@@farmhandscompanion I took that movie to the firehouse one weekend and after breakfast I told the young guys I had a movie. As the movie started they all started complaining (not black and white,how old is this)in about 15 minutes they were glued to the screen asking what happens next.😂

[@farmhandscompanion]

Good job, Keith. Now tell 'em because they were so good to watch it, you've got another treat for 'em: "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington". (Pretty soon they'll be through with modern movies.)@@keithbrigman5179

[@RichThomasInfo]

Im building a simple pole shelter with white oak should i put them in the ground a couple feet. Should i burn the section that will go in the ground

[@alittlebitofeverything8178]

Hey pa mac I am trying to learn how to use a foot adz and I thought a person like you would know how to use one

[@farmhandscompanion]

Hang on, alittlebitofeverything8178, I'll be covering the foot adze soon in My Favorite Farm Tool. Thanks for watchin'

[@alittlebitofeverything8178]

Thank u

[@kevnatural54321]

I love this channel. Im on an acre with a gradual slope throughout. I have to drop about two dozen cottonwood trees this year and i know how ill be laying out my potato beds this year. Quick question... any tips for moving heavier logs without tearing up/compacting the yard by driving a pickup truck all over the garden beds?

[@farmhandscompanion]

I used a two-man log grab to move mine in the tight spaces in the garden. But you'd need one of those, and a second man!

[@kevnatural54321]

@@farmhandscompanion I'll bug the neighbor. Thank you for all the information. Me and the family love your channel

[@farmhandscompanion]

I appreciate yall, Kevin. Tell the family that Pa Mac says "Hey!"@@kevnatural54321

[@davidjohanson8964]

Right, like contour lines on a map, no wonder they called it contour farming.

[@danyennis8126]

Hey pa! I have land that is mainly sand, I live right by a large river.Any idea how I can cultivate it into a more fertile soil? I was thinking maybe having topsoil brought in and fertilizer but unsure. Any help would be appreciated.

[@ciphercode2298]

How large if a garden are you wanting? Usually the flood plain river bottom land is pretty fertile. If its not to large you could till in some organic material and manure. Just about any kind will do to get you started. Leaves,newspaper, cardboard, and wood chips will help build it up some too. It may take a few years for it to perform great,but the fun is in the doing. You can often find horse manure for free or really cheap. I've built our poor soil up over the last few years with leaves,grass clipping rabbit and chicken poop. It's really helped and grows a decent crop, but my garden is small. It's only about 20x30

[@danyennis8126]

I’m not sure on the size just yet but I’m thinking a half acre. I’m not in the flood plain as I’m up on the hill next to the river. My soil looks almost like play sand for a sandbox just not as fine. I may start with a 1/4 acre and work on making it larger from there each season. I have started a large compost pile as I have chickens,goats and about to get three calf’s. My land was used for a large horse pasture about 30 years ago but was abandoned and overgrown. I am going to have a soil sample done and see what nutrients I am lacking. Thank you for your advice.

[@ciphercode2298]

@@danyennis8126 sounds like you've got a solid plan. My grandmother gardened a plot near the river at a friends farm years ago. I'd help her till it and weed it occasionally when I wasnt in school. I'm sure you'll have a good crop,just be patient and keep after it. Best of luck to ya my friend.

[@Ray-r5j9u]

🖖

[@PalmettoParatrooper]

Swales.

[@rochrich1223]

You could scratch your green thumb on trees, bushes, vines, canes and every description of perennial. Without tilling, most of your erosion problem would go away. Of course, animals could eat the grass on the hills if it's farming in general rather than planting you were interested in.

[@williamstrickland4208]

Hey pa, I think we all want you to “get into” your reservations away from raised beds

[@floridaknight3052]

I wasted so much time gardening to find out veggies have been making me sick and swollen. It wasnt a total loss, I now just sell my veggies to buy meat.

[@dungeonmaster6292]

tillage is a disaster anyway. just learn to grow stuff without turning it over every year

[@farmhandscompanion]

Not really a disaster, dungeonmaster6292; just like most other things, moderation is the key. Don't overdo it

[@dungeonmaster6292]

@@farmhandscompanion everything has a place