Back to Eden Organic Gardening 101 Method with Wood Chips VS Leaves Composting Garden Series Part 4

[@shopkedai]

I just shared with a friend who has 3 acres orchard farm and having great problems with weeds. He is sceptical that wood chips worked. Your simple explanation is great way to get us understood the science behind it. Great thanks for your selfless sharing.

[@jargonessocity]

any updates on how it went

[@sheephearder100]

I just want to tell you that I appreciate how informative your videos are. You explain everything very well. Thank you for taking the time.

[@iamorganicgardening]

+sheephearder100 THANK YOU, For your kind words. Just wish everyone to grow free organic healthy food and showing how easy it is. Thanks Again.

[@saucercrabzero]

Really excited about this series, you do a tremendous job of explaining exactly what's going on in a way that none of the other permaculture channels do, valuable as they are. Also really great to see the utility of tractors and powered farm tools in this kind of organic farming system, it's intimidating to look at sustainable farming as all scythes and rakes all the time. Thank you very much for your detailed videos, I am recommending you to all my farming friends.

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH..I am just one person.. I agree..need that tractor. And Thank You for recommending me...

[@daddykirbs]

I appreciate your thorough explanation of this type of garden. I have a small patch that I'll be planting in soon. The wood mulch was laid down a few months ago. I love the idea of incorporating the Sunflowers. Nice work.

[@iamorganicgardening]

+Blake “Daddykirbs” Kirby Sunflowers have a very large root system that will help the other plants in the garden. Plus they look Great.

[@daddykirbs]

I AM NJ ORGANIC:farm:garden Keep an eye on my channel... you'll see the sunflowers up in the mulch garden :)

[@iamorganicgardening]

Already sub, love all your fruit trees and bees.

[@daddykirbs]

I AM NJ ORGANIC:farm:garden The bee operation is about to get crazy! This weekend we are going to get our new bees. Sometimes I wonder why I get myself into so much!

[@iamorganicgardening]

I fully understand. But we a sleep a little bit better a night knowing we did something good.

[@mommadirt3557]

Love to see the use of cover crop! Thanks for demonstrating that seeds needs to be planted in the soil rather than the wood chips. I've had many people tell me wood chips fail, only to discover it is because they are planting into them instead of the soil.

[@iamorganicgardening]

+Momma Dirt That is the most understood part of Back to Eden, the next is adding compost or manure.

[@1skinnypuppy]

Loving the leaf blower , and the hand tiller.

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU.

[@louisacapell]

I started today too! 80° in WV. in March. looked at the forecast, checked out the almanac and today seems as good a day as any to begin.

[@iamorganicgardening]

+Louisa Capell Wishing you a great start to your gardening season...

[@humminbirdhoopz8231]

Thank you, So, you've added 12 inches of wood chips in the beginning? Also, is there a concern about compaction by using a tractor over and over?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Not at all. Thanks

[@seedaholicgardens9085]

Problem, meet solution! You are very creative! Loving your vids all you garden people, inspire meso mush, Thank you lord for letting me find my people!lol

[@iamorganicgardening]

+hope crews Thanks, that is very kind of you..Enjoy

[@memberson]

I preach this to everyone whenever you're dealing with Mother Nature. So to speak keep it simple dig anything in my soil so I just use organic matter

[@iamorganicgardening]

+MORNING GARDENER'S SHOW. Keeping it simple, is the way to go. Thanks

[@CJFarm]

Mark - Did I tell you yet? Some of those seeds I planted directly on top of the wood chips did sprout and produce plants! (Romaine and red leaf lettuce) I had put at least a foot of wood chips down two years prior. So this past April, I believe, I sprinkled cool weather crop seeds onto of the wood chips. They took a long time to sprout. I only watered them a couple times and it did rain some, but eventually some of the romaine and red leaf did sprout! In other words, the seeds did not have contact with the soil at all. It did waste a lot of seed, so this would not be economically doable for large scale planting like you do. But it was surprising that some grew! Further, I let one of those three romaine plants go to seed bc I'd like to see if they will volunteer without my help.

[@iamorganicgardening]

VERY NICE, THANK YOU for sharing. YES, it seems some many seeds you place on the wood chips grow. I get the same results. Did the lettuce grow to normal size?

[@CJFarm]

Well, the lettuce may have been a bit smaller, but not that much to deter me from trying this again. About a week ago (Aug10th?) I sprinkled more seeds onto the wood chips: Kale, radish, two varieties of lettuce. The radishes and one of the lettuces have sprouted so far. I'll let you know how they do. Questions: Is the Soil Food Web also present in raised beds?

[@iamorganicgardening]

THAT IS GREAT. Yes, Please let me know about you new updated seeding growth. The soil food web can be present in a raised bed, this is in my video. CLICK THIS LINK...kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJm0eoeEfrNkr7c... THANK YOU.

[@RBMawby]

I am setting up a smaller garden in eastern Monmouth County. This will be my second year using leaves and wood chips. I got five 10' leaf bins 5' tall last fall. They have dropped about two feet over the winter. Also, hope to be able to create many chips this year with the loan of a 14" chipper.

[@iamorganicgardening]

+Burke Mawby THAT IS FANTASTIC. It is truly amazing how much the leaves drop of the winter. Gald to hear about the chipper. Thanks for writing. Keep me updated if you wish...

[@CJFarm]

I'm in Colorado. I have a medium size garden. Someone in my area told me that he did in fact plant the seeds directly into the wood chips with great success. I do not know what he planted. I've not seen his garden, but upon that exciting possibility, I tried it. I planted peas, but after 2-3 weeks it seemed to me they were not going to sprout, so I dug the little trench and replanted my peas. In the process of digging the little trench, I found one of the pea-seeds and it had a nice sprouting start!! So, I think if I had waited longer it could have worked. I will have to talk to that guy who is doing it here in my area and get more info, but I would not rule out planting directly into the wood chips. The lettuces and radishes I planted into the wood chips clearly did not yet sprout. Maybe the size of the seed has something to do with this also? I will replant the tiny seeds into trenches. Maybe it's worth trying direct into the wood chips planting here and there in small patches as an experiment with larger seeds because it's less work. And hey, I'm wondering... in nature seeds fall directly onto the wood chips and maybe the ones that snuggle down a bit deeper do sprout and take root? Any comments? Anyone else willing to try this out? (Thanks for your great videos!)

[@iamorganicgardening]

+joyce jay I think the other garden had success due to the wood chip had decompose more, so they is less air gaps and better wood chip to seed contact. In a new garden of wood chips you always plant into the soil and the wait until the plant is 5 inch tall and then you can gently push the wood chips back to cover the soil only.

[@surferdude-ll2qu]

Thnx Mark! 👍🏻 💪🏽🌱

[@iamorganicgardening]

Thanks for watching.

[@redddbaron]

Excellent vid!

[@iamorganicgardening]

+Red Baron Farm THANK YOU, I am so glad my V shape wood chip mover work's.

[@JoshScandlen]

love your passion man..

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU very much.

[@davidstaley7029]

Great videos and keep up the good work, but how do you keep the deer off of you crops!?

[@iamorganicgardening]

I had to spend over $ 10, 000.00 in materials to do my own DIY fence that is 8 feet tall. Build it in 2011, and it works great. Covers about 10 acres. I would not have any crops to sell if I did not do it. I tried electric fences before that , but lots of work to keep up. Chain link for the first 6 feet tall and then strong wire the next 2 feet 6 inches apart. Just drill 4 holes 6 inches apart in a metal pipe that slides in the other 6 foot post. That I used a self tape metal screw to not let in fall down into the bottom pipe.

[@davidstaley7029]

@@iamorganicgardening copy that, will do, thanx

[@rranimalrescue2052]

Hi Mark. Question. This series is excellent!! Thank you. Can you tell us 2here to order bulk sunflower and which type to order? I've tried for months to figure this out. Also, how do you save the SF seeds for next year? TY again!! Houston TX

[@1skinnypuppy]

I was wondering if you were/could put a spreader on . Sure looking forward to seeing results.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Maybe...

[@seedaholicgardens9085]

Sunflowers will just be beautiful as always or sometimes the birds snag a couple, but hey, we al have to eat.:)

[@iamorganicgardening]

+hope crews THANK YOU, not to many just one ever 3 feet..

[@billtruncali3210]

Another great video thanks for sharing with us. What kind of sunflower seeds are you planting I'm in zone 6A NY all my seed say wait till after frost for planting.

[@iamorganicgardening]

+Bill Truncali My sunflowers say the same thing also. But for the last 8 years I planted them early. All you need is 2 weeks above 32 F for it to germinate, Then all will be fine. Just try a few first and see what happens. Then you will see for yourself. Thanks for writing. Let me know...

[@billtruncali3210]

+I AM NJ ORGANIC:farm:garden Thank you I'm going to plant some tomorrow.

[@jakoborellieandreasen674]

When are you planting your winter rye? Early spring or after harvesting after the cover is down?

[@iamorganicgardening]

I plant winter rye in the fall after my garden is done producing vegetables.

[@divewithbob]

In Missouri ozarks region. Late October laying down decomposed wood chip and pine straw over mowed grass area 80’x40’. Plan on putting worm castings down in my bed areas in the spring where my crop rows will be. Is this a proper start for soil building? I’m planning on Putin g in sunflower seed in the spring of 23 to get root systems into the clay soil we have here.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Sound Great. Happy Pre Gardening.

[@jennhanna8126]

to do a tree type mulch what kind of trees should b used? i live in pacific northwest?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Any and All Types.. No bad trees. THANKS

[@meesho2194]

Hi Mark, is there big difference between Rhizobia legume inoculant and the Mycorrhizae fungi? or they both do the same thing. Thank you

[@iamorganicgardening]

Yes, they are completely different, Mycorrhizal fungi helps 90 % of all plants get all nutrient's in the soil. Rhizobia is a bacteria and only helps legumes plants make nitrogen only.

[@CJFarm]

Hi Mark! I started watching this series you did on the Soil Food Web AGAIN. Trying hard to digest and understand it. Now and then I've been sending a link (to this series) to friends. I just noticed you use two different YT channel names. This is confusing me when I tell people your channel name. Is there an easy way to keep this straight? Do I tell people to search for "I AM ORGANIC GARDENING" or "I am NJ ORGANIC"???

[@iamorganicgardening]

I AM ORGANIC GARDENING is correct.. THANK YOU

[@mrsmagandelatour]

Question if can I plant a cover crop in late winter early spring and plant vegetables right after that I didn't do the least mold in my garden this fall I was wondering if I can do cover crop in the spring

[@iamorganicgardening]

YES.. That works all the time.. THANKS

[@mrsmagandelatour]

Thanks a lot I didn't get a chance to lay my leaves down so I was wondering if I can do a cover crop in the spring thanks for the info love your videos keep them up

[@AmerijamAcres]

have you considered planting some of the seeds into the wood chips or leaves to see what happens? some of those large seeds might germinate just fine in the chips without exposing the soil at all.

[@iamorganicgardening]

+Amerijam Acres YES, I Did. You can see that in Part 5 in the wood chips. And in Part 7 you will see a field of green in the leaves part. There is 4 types of seeds planted in the leaves. Thanks for writing

[@KellenChase]

Is there a trade off for the compaction of the tractor and the manhours saved? Or is the small tractor not too detrimental?

[@iamorganicgardening]

When you grow/build soil it is like a sponge. It springs back to all the air pockets in healthy soil. THANKS for asking.

[@browntownorganics2172]

when you start a new area and cover with chips do you put down paper or cardboard? I have cardboard to do mine with but if I'm doing it this fall and no weeds would be growing anyways.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Great Question.. I have never used cardboard,, I lust put down a thicker layer of chips...

[@josephpizzo4373]

how did you spread all of those wood chips so evenly on that large of an area

[@iamorganicgardening]

The area you are looking at is 1 acre. I have a tractor with a front bucket6 ft wide to do that . Thanks for asking

[@Back2Eden_Permaculture]

Can you grow sweet potatoes without mounds? Using the back to Eden method?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Yes you can! It you can push a 1/2 metal rod a foot deep into the soil.

[@mrsmagandelatour]

Do you plant them both rye and sunflowers together?

[@iamorganicgardening]

YES, but the sunflowers got eaten by a group of ground hogs..OH WELL

[@mrsmagandelatour]

Darn that sucks

[@mrstn123]

So, do you need to re seed this way every off season?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Just the sunflowers...THANKS

[@hideo32167]

Would Amaranth work as well as sunflowers? The tall amaranth mind you, not sure what its specific name is.

[@hideo32167]

red amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus)

[@iamorganicgardening]

YES, It has also has a large root system. THANK YOU for asking and watching.

[@hideo32167]

Awesome, I had a feeling that was the case. I am very excited for this spring.

[@GARDENSTATEGARDENER]

where in NJ are you located

[@iamorganicgardening]

+JOE KOSLOWSKI In zone 6b, mid state.

[@GARDENSTATEGARDENER]

JACKSON NJ Just saw your post East Windsor. My uncle used to live on 1 mile rd. Used to live in Spotswood

[@alan30189]

Great series! Why 12” of wood chips? That’s too much. 6” thickness is plenty, and there’s less work pulling the chips back for those that don’t have a tractor.

[@mrsmagandelatour]

Do you plant any vegetables in this cover crop

[@iamorganicgardening]

YES, that is the only area you can that will work.. THANKS.

[@a.n.gsportsfishingtv1831]

Greetings....... when adding wood chips to my garden how many inches should I add when first starting off on straight sod

[@iamorganicgardening]

I think 5 to 6 inchs will be just fine...THANK YOU for watching..

[@alan30189]

Someone needs to invent a rotating brush mechanism, where you would have two rotating brushes, one rotating clockwise and one rotating counterclockwise. As you go down the row, one would shoot the chips out to the right and the other would shoot chips out to the left. You could sell them to farmers that are getting into the BTE farming method and make a fortune. 🤑🤑

[@iamorganicgardening]

Sounds good. Thanks

[@mrpush2855]

your subsoil already looks very good....I think that's cheating?

[@mrpush2855]

driving heavy equipment crushes the fungi and smashes the aggregates!

[@hideo32167]

Given the fact that the woodchips are around a foot thick, driving a vehicle regardles of the weight would have no effect on the soil.

[@pickronk]

Have you seen the movie Symphony of the soil? You would love it.... www.symphonyofthesoil.com/