How To Supercharge Your Garden + Building Raised Rows

[@rough-hewnhomestead5737]

Love your take on soil health, including doing what you can afford--as you can--basically, each person doing their best. We started gardening with raised beds. We had zero clue. lol We started with Mel's Mix, which was wonderful---but as we added LOTS of beds...not financially feasible. Now we have most of our beds established, so we add rotted manure to top off and amend each year. (no more vermiculite, peat, etc.) Seems like once you get the tilth you want, it's mostly a matter of adding compost and mixing in a bit. I absolutely LOVE your channel! You and Carolyn (and your kids) are a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. Happy growing!

[@earth_girl]

I love you guys and the knowledge you share! Thank you so much for being so generous & inspirational. I hardly ever comment (maybe never?!) but I don't think there's a single video you've made that I don't love. THANK YOU.

[@raylingomen2562]

We added 4 inches of compost on top of our dirt and then a few inches of wood chips on top of that, we move the woodchip back to plant directly into the compost, so far it's growing well, but some parts have too much shade and I think I need to take down a dying tree to let in more light. It's been a ton of work but so very satisfying! We have attempted gardens in the past, but didn't do much more than just dig a hole and plant in it, I think this year will be our year! Great video! Creating your own compost and building soil with no till may be ideal, but reality is sometimes more is needed to get a garden going quickly, I like that you've shown how to get a garden off the ground for a successful first year! Can't wait to see it progress throughout the growing season.

[@elenatwine7073]

The most informative video I've ever seen on soil. Thanks for showing us who to do it practically not just telling the steps needed. You are doing an amazing job there.

[@christykrop3005]

Simply amazing family, I wish my family had your families work ethic, may God always bless y'all

[@dugchris2009]

Were was all your help? We used to have raised rows, but now we built 2 1/2 ft raised beds. Much easier on our backs since our 4 kids are all grown and we are getting older. Thanks and God Bless

[@northstarprepsteader]

Josh, that was a great demo and you are doing a great job in your garden! I started gardening over 25 years ago using raised rows (quite the anomaly at that time!) and did them up to 6 years ago when I built my raised beds. When I had my raised rows, my garden plan would change from year to year so they weren't permanent for me. But...I would grow annual rye grass in the paths between them for 3 reasons: it kept a cleaner garden to work in (not walking in mud), it kept the weed population down, and it provided green manure. I would weed-whip the rye as it grew taller and use it as mulch. At the end of the season, it got turned over and incorporated with all the soil. Worked very well for me!

[@HomesteadingFamily]

Nice, thanks for sharing Northstar! I am going to deep mulch the paths for now, but would like to experiment with green manure paths in the future.

[@eileenpalumbo6578]

Great information I needed to hear. Thank you for sharing. Happy growing.

[@kellyruske1169]

Thank you very much for taking the time to teach us how to create a good living soil to raise healthy food for ourselves and possibly others.

[@mattfinchdesign]

Looks like a beautiful place you brought . Good info as well.

[@wendyd8888]

Way to go Josh, I just got done reading your article on the newsletter about the tools you've invested in and I just wanted to thank you for providing such wonderful content that I was able to easily follow even as a new gardener. Really well done, I'll be sharing this with my husband and I know he will also be hoping for more content like this from you as we begin our home food production journey on our small 1/4 acre block. Thanks again. Wendy Drummond and Andrew

[@NovelIdeaIndeed]

Love the pantry chats, but these action posts are SUPER interesting!

[@Minnesota_Mama_Bear]

What a beautiful job you're doing. So glad amending the soil was the only hard part about it. It could've been much harder if they hadn't left it covered. Good luck!

[@dalejones9562]

I`m facing a similar situation right now, We live in Sweden and just bought a house with a small garden that was used to grow potatoes. The garden plot is approx. 10X4 meters, tilled the previous fall after harvest. The soil is hard. I`m building raised beds to supplement the garden space and actually moving my compost from old beds and garden (Our old house we rented for 5 years) to the new place. Sounds crazy right? Nothing is cheap here, so why not? I have purchased a bunch of new compost and have moved an equal amount. I`m planting half the space with corn and the other half with winter squash. Good old American veggies that are very hard to find in the Swedish grocery stores. First year is like a challenge for me. Love it and learn.

[@HomesteadingFamily]

You got Dale! Do what ever it takes to build up your soil as quickly as possible!

[@fauxurfancy]

Have you ever though of hougleculture? (I know I didn’t spell it right) in your raised bed, if you have old logs available, you put them in the bottom of the raised bed, then twigs, then leaves, then kitchen scraps, compost, and then soil. You can find info online. It works well and actually keeps the soul in the beds warmer. I’m doing several beds this year in my garden.

[@Sweetwater24]

Awesome demonstration!

[@rawfoodelectric]

Thanks, Josh. I started my first compost pile last year. So excited to see how it breaks down. I've always understood the concept but putting it into practice is very empowering

[@leilaphillips8170]

Can you do a video on compost, how to use it, how long it takes and at what point do you stop adding to your compost before you use it in the garden?

[@kimberlyscrivner9373]

I also would be interested in a compost clip.

[@HomesteadingFamily]

Requests heard! It will take me awhile to focus on compost with so much going on and we are buying it in to get things up and running, but I will try to include at least a discussion on it in the upcoming garden videos. Demonstration maybe later in the season. Thanks!

[@leilaphillips8170]

Thank you bunches! I am learning so much from your family.

[@SimpleLivingAlaska]

Excellent video! We have had raised beds in the past but will be putting in raised rows (lasagna style) like this for higher production this year. Completely agree with you, healthy soil is the most crucial step. Thank you for the guide :)

[@erikacronje8985]

Great advice and information that makes sense without costing a fortune!!

[@victoriaoshea4865]

Very informative and helpful.

[@thedragonflygirl77]

Josh I can't wait to see your garden when it's in the peak of production. I'm sure it's going to look awesome. Thanks for the inspiration. I only have a tiny courtyard, but you (and some other homesteading channels) feed my dreams 💙🥦🥒🌶️🥕🥔🍆🍒🥝🌽🍓🍐🍑🍏🍎🍅🥜🍇🍈🍊🍋🍍🍉🍌

[@FarmhouseTeas]

Very helpful! Sending this to my husband :) we have so much clay here!!!

[@juliewickham1626]

Same here is Northern Virginia, who needs playdough LOL!

[@susansupino4011]

Wow. Your garden is amazing. It is huge lol. I love the set up. I’m so happy and exited for you both. 😀🌞

[@NancyfromCanada]

Thanks for the help! I will be happy with my 7.2 then, see you soon Nancy from Canada!

[@nancynellis6510]

I am amazed that you don't have any snow on the ground. I live in SW Montana and it is snowing here! Looks like you guys are already into Spring! Lucky you! :) We are just now starting our seeds in our greenhouse. You'all are way ahead of us! Looking great! Very exciting! Your plants look great actually.

[@lindaarsenault7356]

That was great thank you. Its nice to know how to get on track and help build the soil back up that's depleted.

[@Strictlyfishin76]

Great video!!!! Love that BCS!! I

[@TheWatching11]

Hi Josh! I was wondering what you think of Charles Dowding and his 'No dig' gardening method (he's all about soil health too!)? He has a great KZbin channel and has done over 11 years of no dig vs dig beds, plus over 30 years of veggie growing experience. It's all about not digging at all (ever) and improving your yield by 10-15%. It's very similar to the layering method you mention. He also has some interesting multi-sowing techniques for root vegetables which you might find interesting! Really recommend checking him out (he has a bunch of books as well)! Loved seeing your setup and thanks for sharing so much valuable info!

[@HomesteadingFamily]

No dig, done well is great...but it takes time to develop. Initial tilling or digging speeds up the process which is necessary in our case.

[@OurSoVaLife]

Great video..Great information.. Thanks for sharing

[@Greens5511]

Super info!!!

[@justyna.1979]

Great knowledge! Thank you

[@Freakontheway]

Oh wow! Your country looks amazing! Whenever the next nicely sloping hill with a farmhouse is for sale, tell me! ;) Seriously, your views are a blessing. Thank you for this video! Another one for in my video-library to go back to when we get our piece of land. Under one of your other videos I asked about using the lasagna-method for heavy clay, but I think in this video you showed me my answer. Thank you. Blessings from The Netherlands

[@Daniel-nf8pp]

Enjoyed your video. I will try buckwheat as green manure for the garlic i grow. ✌

[@kitdubhran2968]

Thanks so much for this video! It was super helpful. And I can't wait for the more layered technique you're trying.

[@dawncooper4739]

Looks great! Beautiful area!

[@ginapaquet5563]

I love how you are so clear on direction and information. Idaho looks nice... house tour soon I hope (or did I miss that video??)

[@MimsysGarden]

This is such awesome information- as always!

[@davidyallier9311]

Excellent advise ...! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@nyashagarraway4867]

Great video just in time too

[@mpedals]

wow, what alot of work you have done,,,,,its looking so so nice,,,,,i thought i was growing alot of onions, lolol,,,,,,you beat me by one hundred, lolol,,,,,,your new tractor looks wonderful,,,,,

[@cheryldowns3699]

How do you deal with sand? Our football team is actually named the Sandies. We have several feet of sand and clay underneath. We’ve had to go to raised beds because the sand just doesn’t have very many nutrients. We live in East Texas and our temps in August are triple digits.

[@007darryl]

Great video brother..

[@1gr8lpta]

great video. Trying to catch up on my KZbin while I convalesce

[@Beecozz7]

Excellent info!!! TY

[@mariaescobar663]

I love your work . Lots love for grounds what passion!!hope your work is bless by our great God.The best for you and family.mama Maria👍

[@jenniferwood4165]

Will you be planting a cover crop over next fall/winter? I have a small garden 4 ft wide by 24 ft long along with a 4 ft by 4 ft raised (box) bed...and I've been thinking about doing that after this year's growing season.

[@dollyperry3020]

Are you going to replace those old railroad ties? I just took one to the dump and they are listed as hazardous materials. I sure don't want to grow food next to a chemical hazard and I wondered if you felt similarly. I'm in the Spokane area...so a neighbor :) I always add manure in the fall and compost in the spring.

[@madhouse7364]

Those timbers may not have been used for railroad. You can acquire the same size timbers. We have them for our greenhouse base.

[@dollyperry3020]

@@madhouse7364 You are right. The same kind of board is in Europe commonly as a construction material. But in my area, these are recycled from the RR and have been bathed in creosote.

[@savoy6100]

How do you water your garden?

[@barbaramacksey2092]

Can straw be used as a mulch. I was told the wood chips keeps the oxygen from getting to the the plants.

[@NancyfromCanada]

I’m in urban setting with raised beds in Canada and would like to know more about ph! I have a tester! But conflicting info is on the net! How do you raise or lower ph ? Mine is 7.2 mostly! Oh and companion plants? I understand the right ph will help your plants get the mineral and vitamin out of the soil? This would be a great topic! See you soon Nancy from Canada

[@HomesteadingFamily]

7.2 is great!! unless you are going to get highly technical with different vegetables that is great for a veggie garden. Leave it, keep adding quality compost and it should stay balanced.

[@michellel5444]

I realize this is an older video but do you covercrop your annual beds?

[@rjwms57]

I’m fairly new to your channel and really enjoy your videos! I’m a wheelchair user and live alone. I need raised beds. Tillers are not an option for me. That said, I have a 25 X 25 planting area I’d like to use but it’s all grass. Do you have any suggestions on how to deal with the grass that will be under the raised beds I’m planning to build?Thinking a little outside the box, what could I use to make building the containment walls as lite, strong and simple as possible? And, how deep should I make the beds? Since it’s a small planting area, cost isn’t a problem. Of course I’ll need a minimum rolling/walking path of 36 - 40 inches so I can turn around while in the walkway area, instead of pushing to the end of each row just to turn around. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

[@sunshinedayz2172]

Would like to see the rebar stage ofthe project.. Do you have that video?

[@lucygirl908]

YEP, EXCELLENT VIDEO...SHORTER WOULD BE BETTER. SEGMENTS OF EACH PROCEDURE. THANK YOU, YOU BOTH DO AMAZING WORK AND TEACHING. HAVE A BEAUTIFUL AND SUCCESSFUL MAY AND WONDERFUL SPRING.

[@walnutcreekwoodworksofjack3520]

what do you think of weed block instead of plastic?

[@HomesteadingFamily]

I assume you are referring to what is also called landscape cloth? I prefer that to just plastic, but it is still a poly product and not what I want to use unless I have to. I am using landscape cloth for my perimeter walkways right now to control the grass though and plan to replace it later.

[@walnutcreekwoodworksofjack3520]

Yes that what I referring to. Thanks

[@cjholt633]

How do you initially get all the weeds and grass out

[@dianesanders5705]

No rocks! Lucky you. Did I hear right, that you mulch? When and how much? Looking at the first few rows you did, it looks like there was a lawyer of mulch under your compost.

[@marleenkerri2408]

Great information! What state are you guys in?

[@kuzadupa185]

Awesome library of knowledge your videos are to me and my family. We had a question about tilling vs dressing on top. What's the difference? Phsyically I know the difference but in terms of impact to the soil/microbes/garden, what does top dressing do that mixing in doesn't or vice-versa?

[@Romans828girl]

This is my first year gardening, so my advice is worth what you pay for it...but I've been reading and watching videos to learn this stuff, and my understanding is that the compost that you till in brings the good stuff down to the level of your plants' roots so it's immediately accessible to them, along with bettering the texture of the soil, making it lighter and more able to hold oxygen and water. The compost that you put on top acts like a mulch, holding in water and insulating the soil, then as it breaks down, the rain washes the nutrients down into the soil beneath and slowly feeds those microbes and plant roots. As someone who has never yet produced a harvest, that's what I think is the difference.

[@TheWitch59]

Hi there fantastic video. Very inspiring. Could I recommend you have a look at a gentleman on KZbin called Charles Dowding. He is doing a similar project with over 30 years behind him. All his plots are no dig. Thank you so much for the great video and information. Liz 👍👍👍🙂

[@lynnlast9272]

Do you have a warm enough climate for some red wrigglers? They are great for helping break down your compost and leaving behind worm castings.

[@quilterdunndunn8101]

I really like the use of straw as a weed deterrent; however, most of the farmers in our area use a product which is called GrazeOn (sp) to deter weeds in their fields. These hays and grasses are then not appropriate to use in the garden because the product is in the hay and will keep your seeds from germinating and inhibit the growth of your transplants (maybe even kill them). How do you get hay that is not treated therefore safe for gardening?

[@susansupino4011]

I have a question for Caroline. Is it possible to can Swiss chard or spinach? Will a left green stay green?

[@rebeccagrider7359]

Please educate me about growing onions. I don’t think it’s my climate because a stepdad grew some great onions here, but I can’t seem to figure it out.

[@gospelgal78]

Mr Josh, will the no till & loose soil method work in the South with all the rain we get? We've always tilled so I'm curious because we've never tried it.

[@HomesteadingFamily]

yes it will. We did a garden like this in Tennessee in a very wet year and it was one of the best gardens we have ever had. Its needs to be heavily mulched though. I havent gotten to that yet here, but I will.

[@gospelgal78]

@@HomesteadingFamily ok thank you so much. I love these videos you both put out. You both are such a blessing!!

[@TheWatching11]

Check out Charles Dowding! He goes over all the concepts of the "no dig" style of gardening and has a fabulous KZbin channel (also books and is often on the bbc!) He is always so positive and really has a love for sharing knowledge for people to use. I'm sure it can work for your location!

[@kuzadupa185]

What about the white pvc pipes you have planted at the start of each row?

[@sharmeebradbury3263]

Good morning Josh, do you have a link as to where you get your individual seedling containers that I saw your cucumbers and peppers in... would be greatly appreciated....

[@HomesteadingFamily]

That was on Amazon

[@sharmeebradbury3263]

Homesteading Family I hate to ask you this Josh, what exactly are they called, I’ve been on amazon before and can’t find them.

[@HomesteadingFamily]

@@sharmeebradbury3263 These ought to last 10 years or better taken care of... www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XZRCM1L/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@mizzlemoonglade4996]

Try as I might, I can never make enough compost for the relatively small garden I have. Thinking of starting another plot for compost crops. I just don't know.

[@joeyhardin1288]

How do you store your onions for overwinter?

[@maryroberts9023]

Where did you get your asperagus crowns? I wasn't happy with the ones I bought and I want to replace them.

[@Thisisit120]

Oh if you had more time to be able to loosen up that soil pigs would’ve been the perfect thing to use. Sorry that you’re having to deal with the chemical aspect of things but it is what it is and you’re doing what you can do to make it best for your family. The compost makes the difference between live food or dead food. Expensive yes but very necessary to have. I really enjoy your videos I learned so much it’s nice to know that there’s people out there that just want to share their wisdom and their knowledge.

[@TheLiberatedMulti-Tasker]

We have clay & a high ph level (sits on limestone). We tried a garden for 2 years & all the plants were stunted. We will probably have to do raised beds, but we will need to develop a spot for larger crops. What can we do for a quick jump start?

[@gracegwozdz8185]

No hoved mamals to fertilize the soil? Then no quality sol, right?

[@mrsmagandelatour]

How long are your raise beds

[@homesteadincrazy7773]

Any suggestions for heavy clay? This stuff eats everything we put on it and in it. HELP!!! Please.

[@joycedimaggio3816]

What's your take on adding leftover worms to the garden?

[@countrylivingeoregonstyle6145]

We live in Eastern Oregon and was wondering where you got your Compost from

[@alm5512]

I used to live in Bend and Prineville. I miss the beauty of Oregon. I miss looking out and seeing either the Cascades or Ochocos.

[@angiehomeschoolmom3269]

Does anyone know what that black fabric is that they have laid down on their paths?

[@noratombaugh9440]

How many asparagus plants did you put in please and thank you

[@PatsyMellen]

Nora Tombaugh, he said 50 three year old crowns.

[@letitsnow4822]

What state are you in now?

[@lynneanderson8643]

I see a lot of information out there about using cover crops. but since they require tilling under at some point, I’m assuming you don’t do that.

[@madhouse7364]

We don't always till our cover crop. There are a variety of ways to use them.

[@dianawilliams-coe7747]

Can you show after picture... it looks like raise garden beds without the bed

[@noratombaugh9440]

How long and wide are your rows?

[@noratombaugh9440]

Never mind I replayed I missed that part. thanks!

[@MookieCards]

I have a 65 by 45 foot garden i lay wooden fence boards as a walk way 6 inches wide to dusplace my weight not to compact the soil.

[@kitdubhran2968]

I live in farm county in my state. And when a farm has just plowed and smoothed the "soil" I'm just reminded of a lifeless wasteland. It looks like the moon. No moisture, no life, dry and dead. It's kind of awful.

[@mandythislovelypath3740]

What seed trays are those?

[@HomesteadingFamily]

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XZRCM1L/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@krzysztofrudnicki5841]

Dude you could open another business like this guy in Vermont with chickens. He collect bio waste from schools, restaurants and so on and use chickens for compost making. Eggs almost for free.

[@saucywench9122]

I don't understand why you didn't just take a shovel and a wheel burrow into the woods behind you and dig up the topsoil. It'll make more.

[@michelleann1899]

Excellent video! Thanks