Incredible Permaculture Food Forest Project in Breathtaking Landscape

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In this video of the inspiring gardens series, we visit the incredible Paddies project at Lawson Park which is a Japanese style food forest in the Lake District on some incredibly challenging land. Many people would think it is impossible to grow productively here, as it is acidic, has no topsoil, is extremely moist and also at a higher altitude. However, Karen Guthrie and her team have defied all odds and shown that virtually anything is possible! I really hope this story and project inspires you and your vegetable garden as much as it has for me, and that it shows what permaculture can do when applied in a challenging environment.
With thanks to Karen Guthrie from www.grizedale.org/
If you are in the Lake District, the Grizedale Arts has opened the 2022 monthly garden school for bookings: www.grizedale.org/events
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[@kathrynmettelka7216]

The Japanese farmers were phenomenol at.creating terraced beds. What a gift of gardening wisdom they provided.

[@BirdBath1]

Kathryn, look at bird bath

[@uteweyer1548]

Fantastic! "You don't have to buy top soil, just make it" that is so true!!

[@darinbennett3638]

Huw, you continue to show us some amazing gardens and this one was a great example of not giving up on a piece of land because of existing terrain. I appreciate at the end how she reminded us all to simply create the soil we want/need and not to buy it. In today's culture we tend to go purchase everything we want/need and the gardener's mindset is usually the opposite of that and we want to produce/create what we need. It takes time and intentionality but the end-result is well worth the effort. As always, thanks, Huw...happy for you and proud of you. (Kentucky, USA)

[@BirdBath1]

Can I show you birds, look at bird bath

[@GlorifiedGremlin]

@@BirdBath1 Excuse me I'm an expert in bird law and you're clearly pandering

[@ohio_gardener]

What a beautiful slice of paradise! I love the focus on no-dig gardening, "there is no soil here, and so all of this soil was made by us through mulching". I have been making soil on top of solid clay for decades, and it just keeps getting better and better.

[@HuwRichards]

That's great! Well done :)

[@LamiaBrahmi14]

So inspiring. Huw this should be a TV series. I could watch it everyday!

[@YalisCommunity]

I appreciate the emphasis on taking care of the soil an the importance of a good soil. The garden was beautiful, practical and productive!

[@BirdBath1]

Birds care too, look at bird bath

[@alexorango5133]

Thanks for the good job you're doing of educating on how to farm with nature. Listening to people who've been doing their farm work for over a decade gives hope to those aspiring to do farming. Thumbs up! (Loving your shows from KENYA🇰🇪)

[@GlorifiedGremlin]

Wow you're from Kenya but your English is perfect. Tho doesn't like half of Kenya speak English for some reason I can't remember?

[@gwynadams4069]

"Cope with the slope" is my new mantra!

[@davidthescottishvegan]

Another fantastic video Huw Richard. It's great to see other people's gardens and learn from them.

[@steverobinson5492]

Very much enjoying this series. It is a nice change and mix from the usual gardening vids. Thank you!!!

[@adamynyrardd]

Absolutely Inspirational and very interested to learn more about veg bed orientation and how Japanese techniques have made what would be marginal grade land unsutable for agriculture to become a productive yet semi natural garden! Brilliant!

[@anniezakiewicz7492]

Yes, would love to know more about that too! 🙂

[@antoniocorbachomatthes1629]

Wow... I must say I love this kind of work. It's like a ten garden, but productive. Just a dream!

[@stevendowden2579]

so lovely

[@davidhynd4435]

2 metres of rainfall per year!!!! Our property is on the New England Tablelands of northern New South Wales, Australia, at an elevation of 1,050 metres above sea level. Last year, which was an unusually good year for rain, we had a little over 47 inches (some of that actually fell as snow). And that amount of rain was not evenly distributed across the year. For example, April = 18.5 ml, May = 22.5 ml, August = 22.5 ml (note, that's millilitres, not inches). We also have acidic, very thin topsoil (I'm using the term "topsoil" loosely). I'm sure it comes with its own problems, but it must be such a blessing to have so much regular rain. However, living in such a dry climate as we do has taught me the value of regular mulching and no-dig gardening (or at least minimal tillage). The soil is so fragile here that tilling the soil simply destroys what little soil structure there is. Not that challenging conditions should ever be a barrier to gardening. You just have to be clever and flexible :)

[@cbjones2212]

2 metres seems too much to handle doesn't it. We're in the Goldfields area of Victoria at about 350 metre elevation. We'd be lucky to get 450mm rain each year, although like you, La Nina has been kind this summer. Unlike most of the goldfields area, our block of land was never mined for gold and was a market garden run by a Chinese family 160 years ago. We are blessed with amazing, deep topsoil as a result. That said, we're very much no-till, compost building, mulch like your life depends on it gardeners because of the intense dry heat that always manages to take us by surprise each year.

[@davidhynd4435]

@@cbjones2212 I'm very happy for the La Nina to continue. We've been living here for 17 years and the vast majority of that has been either dry or in a declared drought. We put a bore down the first year we arrived (63 metres to the aquifer through granite all the way!). It has been completely reliable, but the output is nothing to write home about (less than 20 litres per minute). It's helped us keep gardens alive (just) but nothing thrives on bore water. Although we're only an hour south of the Queensland border, our elevation means it's a cool climate with winter overnight temps. often falling to -10 Celsius and summers rarely exceeding 30. And being on top of the range, and slightly west, means that the warm, moist air being pushed up from the coast has often dropped much of its moisture before reaching us. This is traditionally sheep and cattle grazing country, and still is on many local properties. Our 20 acres was originally part of a much larger property. Many of the local sheep stations are in excess of 3,000 acres. Unfortunately sheep grazing can be very hard on the soil, especially when it's so thin. When conditions are hard, sheep will eat right down to the soil and even pull grasses up leaving unprotected soil to be washed away come the next big storm. I've improved it over the years, but it's a long, slow battle, especially when the sky remains blue for month after month (2019 I'm looking at you). That is, of course, when the bushfires haven't filled the sky with angry, red smoke. I'm totally convinced that if I wasn't already a dedicated mulcher our gardens would never have survived. Except in the dead of winter, I mulch constantly. Being in a farming district means we're able to buy large round bales (barley straw, mostly) quite cheaply and we buy them by the truckload. The first year we were here I began preparing to garden and used the rotary cultivator that we had brought with us. Big mistake. Two runs of the cultivator reduced the soil to useless, water-repellent dust. That machine has sat under a tarp ever since. No dig is definitely the way to garden here. Lots of compost, chop-and-drop, and constant mulching eventually produces healthy, very earthwormy soil. If I stop introducing organic matter, even for a few months, the soil reverts to deceased. I had always assumed that the Goldfields of Victoria was harsh country - cattle grazing? Although, having said that, Victoria seems to be THE place for, so-called, alternative living. If you want to obtain solar power stuff, or some unusual breed of animal then Victoria is the state where you're likely to find it. And, yes, 2 metres of annual rain says mildew and damp misery to me, but it's whatever you're used to, I suppose.

[@bernadettemccluskey2812]

So cool. Reminds me of a film I saw of a small tribe of indigenous folk living in a forest, gardening in a similar way, little pockets of productive gardens with trees and other native species around them. Paradise on Earth really. Hope to see loads more of this :)

[@tesha199]

I believe this earth could support even 10 billion people if all of us lived like that

[@bernadettemccluskey2812]

@@tesha199 better quality food means we need less food I heard, perhaps less volume. A good thing for the planet I'd say

[@tesha199]

@@bernadettemccluskey2812 yeah, that as well

[@helenp81]

What a stunning place 🥰

[@quantafitness6088]

What a wonderful place and so calm and peaceful. Thank you to all involved in sharing this information 🙏🌱

[@HuwRichards]

You are very welcome :)

[@fatherofchickens7951]

What a magical place!

[@HuwRichards]

It really is! :)

[@tinkeringinthailand8147]

Lawson Park should be renamed, awesome park. Another great video that shows how different gardens can be. Thanks Huw and Karen.

[@HuwRichards]

Yeah I'd vote for that change too!!

[@tinkeringinthailand8147]

@@HuwRichards You could call my 1st try as "woe" some park. So many problems growing here in Thailand, but I have learned a lot in our short cool season and, along with what I have learned from you, I will be prepared for next time. Maybe I should shoot some film and post it :)

[@igitahimsa5871]

@@tinkeringinthailand8147 Please do! That would be awesome! Thank you and God Bless

[@tesha199]

@@tinkeringinthailand8147 In Thailand you should focus on native perennials or other perennials that grow well. You basically have fresh food year-round, without glasshouses.

[@cbjones2212]

Could I recommend you have a look at the channel Self Sufficient Me . Mark is in a subtropical area of Australia and the humidity - and short cool season - that he experiences is perhaps more like the weather that you have in Thailand, rather than that featured in this video. Mark has been a YT for about 10 years (like Huw) and has almost 1.5million subs so he knows a thing or two

[@waykeeperfarmandnerdery]

I love the advice that we don’t need to buy topsoil... just make it. It’s simple but not easy, it takes dedication and working smart... but it’s so worth it. Thank you so much for sharing, I’m even more excited for spring! 🌱🌱🌱

[@HuwRichards]

Yes exactly! It's very worth the extra effort :)

[@M4ide]

What a lovely place !

[@anniezakiewicz7492]

Loving these glimpses into these incredible unsung projects. Thank you Huw

[@HuwRichards]

You're very welcome :)

[@MariangelaPoletto]

This looks like paradise!

[@HuwRichards]

Absolutely!

[@PermacultureHomestead]

this was Great all around. Nice editing w/ drone shots, great interview, great garden.

[@willowgrove631]

What an amazing place! And what a beautiful energy this lady has 😊🌻

[@HuwRichards]

It really is! Totally agree :)

[@joycanbefoundinthegarden7897]

Great job!! I love how these experts just tell their story and the video is edited so well. Fantastic. Thank you!

[@HuwRichards]

You're very welcome! Glad you enjoy these types of film :) More to come...

[@mayb.wright509]

Just stumbled on this while feeling a pang of overwhelm as I embark on creating my own food forest. Lovely inspiration - THANK YOU!

[@karenguthrie2156]

😊

[@petermcfadden9426]

Interesting visit. Plenty of useful information.

[@HuwRichards]

Glad you think so Peter!

[@xSunshinex4206]

🌻 💚Another stunning place.

[@luminaraunduli9455]

Gorgeous video 🌿💫. So much inspiration. Thank you.

[@neilanscombe7348]

Thank you Huw for this series which i find so fascinating.

[@gaiasoundandvision]

Thank you for another amazing video Huw :)

[@frasersgirl4383]

What a beautiful video……from the land to the terracing, the compost lessons, the wildlife…..you are showing us bits of Heaven from across the pond…..places we would never see but for you…..❤️💫❤️

[@HuwRichards]

Very glad you enjoyed it :)

[@janlewis567]

LOVED this, what a beautiful place - thanks for sharing ♥

[@HuwRichards]

Our pleasure! Glad you enjoyed :)

[@sharongiles6326]

So beautiful and green !!

[@nigelharper1]

Very reassuring to hear all of this, living in the West Yorkshire Pennines we have similar conditions, growing veg so far has been a challenge, but soil gradually improving through mulching and learning what works and what doesn't means better successes each year.....I think!

[@robinmiller1783]

Fabulous vlog once again

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you so much Robin😊

[@egorich81]

Красота. Wonderfull

[@aurrreable]

Lovely garden!

[@GreenSideUp]

Fantastic Huw, this is one I have not heard about and it's right in my backyard too, I feel an expedition coming on! ...Steve...😃

[@HuwRichards]

You can find out more of what they're doing here www.grizedale.org/events :D

[@leslienichols5268]

Very interesting! Two meters of rainfall, wow!

[@gardeningwhatshappening7152]

Huw, you really are a great help for us beginner and also the information we get from the experience of the people you've shown us. Really loved it! God bless! Hoping to see more of this kind. Very relaxing to watch. 🤗

[@HuwRichards]

Really glad you enjoyed :)

[@gardeningwhatshappening7152]

Gardening is a like a dream to me. It just makes me feel free. 😌

[@lissyadams6497]

I like these interviews you do, they're really informative, interesting and shot very well 👍 Well done x

[@selenanieto8152]

Amazing!

[@namthomson1124]

Thanks 😊

[@zolabacsi]

Hi Huw! Recently you seem to move from simple documentation toward art with your videos. I am impressed! Not that previously they were not quality content, but these films have given me an extra enjoyment. Maybe you already have considered participating in some document/nature film festival, if you have not yet, I wholeheartedly recommend.:)

[@Supwiyaman]

Epic

[@missourigirl4101]

Beautiful place

[@BirdBath1]

Jamaica 🇯🇲 is beautiful too, look at bird bath

[@Gabriel-ks9lg]

Que lugar maravilhoso. I loved this place🤩👏

[@BirdBath1]

Gabriel, look at bird bath

[@trishafulton]

Excellent video. I'm interested in learning more about the Japanese gardening methods.

[@debjohnson5876]

Thanks for the inspiration and motivation 😊

[@HuwRichards]

You are so welcome! Thanks for watching :)

[@erichagiwara-nagata972]

Happy Valentine’s Thank you for this! Did they make a video of when the Japanese gardeners were doing their work there? That would be amazing to see their techniques and the progress and mthat bd set before and while they worked to creat the foundation.

[@E_O_S_]

Any chance of the Japanese gardeners dropping around to my place for a few days 😁

[@breahnalawrence6725]

This is encouraging, while I have wonderful, flat even ground, I am on the edge of what's called the coastal plains, and have maybe a couple inches of topsoil then solid sand for the next few feet. I am bringing in some compost until I have my own up and running and mulching heavy but somedays I question if I'm gaining.

[@stevegermain1222]

Very nice

[@motivo-academy]

What a wonderful video. I live in Japan and your video gave me deeper insights into the importance of harmony in the culture. So good to see how it’s influenced your garden too.

[@melodylyons4631]

I found my ideal home.

[@HuwRichards]

I think we all have😂

[@dandare500]

Thats some great TV....well done...

[@BirdBath1]

Try me

[@miramirez3574]

Tired momma from usa 84722 grateful for inspiration 🙏

[@TheDevonblacksmith]

I have a very similar site and would love to know more of how this was achieved

[@13101s]

You might mention this somewhere on your channel, but I just started watching and my most urgent question is, how do you keep vining large weeds from invading a food forest? I have to clear my land and it is overgrown with brambles and wild clematis, the clematis has taken over also the whole vine yard. Aroud the garden are trees and an abandoned property full of the same weeds. So, I had planned to have a small food forest in the back, but how to keep those plants out ... if I even manage to clear them in the first place.

[@GlorifiedGremlin]

They managed to go to a cold boreal area, and make the property they worked on look like a tropical forest lol

[@jenniferpulskamp5592]

I planted garlic that will be ready to harvest out of our raised beds in July. It can be quite hot here. What should in succession sow after I harvest them? (Zone 8, California)

[@natalyawood6818]

What’s with the bins around the squash? Keeping leaves off the ground?

[@miramirez3574]

❤️‍🔥

[@alexrottb]

I've always loved the look of terraced hillside gardens. So much more interesting to look at than a flat one. Although both obviously have their pros and cons. 😉 Side note: Huw, please convince me to not start sowing seeds yet. I promised myself I would wait until we're well into March this year, but the itch is getting really bad. 😫

[@HuwRichards]

Thanks so much for watching! Well sounds like you should watch last video haha😉😂

[@tashx1656]

What are the collars around the squash plants for?

[@karenguthrie2156]

Hi Tash - I use them as a little windbreak for the few weeks just after I plant them out from my polytunnel

[@telefonocampobonares4573]

Ojalá todos los videos tuvieran los subtítulos en español. Aprendo mucho con ellos pero se me escapan muchos detalles por no entender el idioma original. De todas formas, enhorabuena porque son fantásticos!!

[@HuwRichards]

Los subtítulos en español ya están disponibles. pido disculpas por la demora :)

[@Melissapondlove]

Hi I have a 17 acre mountain that has springs all over it….. I’m also landlocked in the middle of a state forest ❤I would love to have the opportunity for someone to help me with a project like this❤because I love my forest and nature yet I want to work with it to grow a large garden!! Thanks for any suggestions you can provide me😃

[@agroventuresperu5469]

What country is this?

[@HuwRichards]

Lake District, England

[@Bobsmith-ot6si]

🙏👍😊x.

[@arcanevista]

1. Immediately after saying "never have to water" there is a hose and watering can. You can say little watering but obviously watering is still required in at least some parts of the process. 2. That compost pile is filled with plastics and other toxic materials?? beautiful terracing and pretty garden though none the less.

[@Melicoy]

Would be NICE if she talked about all the fruits and veg...