It's time to shake things up!

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#permaculture #gardenideas #gardening

[@jerbear7952]

"A shed is a luxury". I was more excited to get my first shed operational than I was when I bought the house it was behind. A shed is a lovely tool and if done properly, a fantastic playhouse for adults.

[@user-qv9nw1dq2f]

Thank you for your help and inspiration 😊 Great job 👏

[@nenaenriquez3480]

Your Dad and Mom must be sooo proud of you ❤ Congratulations all and also for awesome information for us 🎉

[@missthang4770]

Aubergine in the UK. Eggplant in North America. Garden egg in the Caribbean. All beautiful and delicious!

[@RuBunRu]

Hahaha 2:41 emergency broad fork delivery!

[@HuwRichards]

Hide the evidence!!!

[@glassbackdiy3949]

Lots of exciting plans Huw, will be great to watch it all develop and mature. Going to suggest a natural swimming pool again (low ground maybe) doesn't have to be huge, water crops, margin plants, wildlife, and somewhere for course attendees to cool off in summer can be useful rather than infrastructure for showers etc. if they're wild camping.

[@s-c..]

I just can’t get too much info on natural swimming pools at the moment! Would love to see how Huw tackles it.

[@HuwRichards]

I will look conduct a survey to look into the suitability for sure and take it from there - I think I know where it would go anyway...

[@glassbackdiy3949]

@@HuwRichards David Pagan Butler is the expert, he has a very low priced pdf with tons of helpful advice I highly recomend reading at the concept stage, anyone can learn to drive a mini digger in ~20 mins and relatively cheap to hire, if ground water is an issue (back pressure on liner) there's all sorts of fancy epoxy paints thesedays for sealing walls/submerged hard infrastructure

[@Chet_Thornbushel]

It is so valuable to be able to watch you design and morph a new space over the first few years as I plan for my own future homestead. We own 40 acres that we will build on and move to so I am soaking up every idea and bit of experience I can from others while I’m still in the dreaming stage. Our home now is just on 1/3 acre and even in that space over the past 7 years we have changed and rearranged our garden and chicken/duck spaces so many times. I can only imagine what that will look like on 40 acres and adding livestock into the picture 😆

[@HuwRichards]

Oh wow 40 acres and livestock sounds like so much fun! Best of luck!

[@UkuleleBoy46]

What?! What are you doing to make an excess of compost! 🤯 I wish I could do that. Maybe I can, I just don't know how. 🤷‍♂

[@samdennis96]

Wait wait wait wait wait... A perennial poly?! To explore perennials that would otherwise not be hardy enough?! I am super excited for this project and will be keen to hear how these pan out and eager to try a few of my own if I manage to convert my current shed into a polyshed sometime in the next year or two!!!

[@ordiekelleher2641]

Thanks😊

[@mariaharding5998]

Hello Huw, just roughly, where in Wales is your garden. I have just moved to central Wales from right down South so have very different conditions and soil to master. After 40 years of gardening I am starting again with a blank canvas xx you are helping Thank you xx

[@captainfecc2526]

Good plans for this year, looking forward to see the progress. And I'm happy to see that Neil doesn't have to walk all the way up for his plot.

[@HuwRichards]

Yes I think he is too! And so am I!

[@NeilJones_]

Me too!

[@captainfecc2526]

@@NeilJones_ can't wait to see what will you plant there.

[@shawnamuschamp8972]

Fun, lunch 🤤 is so kind!

[@greenlady43]

I was just reading about growing herbs under your trees as Ground cover

[@BumblebeeAdventure]

🐝 Thanks for the great video 🌻

[@HuwRichards]

My pleasure!

[@bernadette6211]

Omg, so exciting.

[@elzbietachmura9682]

It,s amazing idea.

[@TheWoodlandOrchard]

Enthusiastic about your new book Huw & Sam. Looking forward to following your plan and hoping to document my progress through my channel. I've been focused mainly on trees thus far and it's time to get more focused on the kitchen garden.

[@HuwRichards]

Oh wow thank you so much! Really hope you have fun following along with all of the annuals!

[@GSDsforever]

Love seeing how you're expanding everything. Question: How are you planning water management in the new areas? Swales? Or if it rains a lot there, how do you move the excess water and can you catch it to use in the drier seasons?

[@HuwRichards]

New areas are perennial (outside of what already exists which we feed using a solar water pump to pump up from the pond, as well as a few IBC tanks in different locations) and so I will only be focusing on mulching as a 'water management' technique :)

[@heathermaries7251]

Cross-pollination is important for blueberries, so have at least two varieties including your selection of Bluecrop (named in the video). I'm partial to Chandler (XL fruit) & Patriot (beautiful bush).

[@jonaske88]

Looks great! Looking forward to the next growing season. Can't wait! 😀

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you so much!

[@Selinatur]

Nice to see your plans ♥️🤗

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you☺️🌿

[@elliotlane3225]

Mic fail, a variation on the mic drop to end? Looking forward to seeing this develop over the season. Any chance of a drone shot/illustration to give a visual on the plot layout and orientation? I just find it helpful to visualise and out the videos in context. Like the possibility of a small permiculture bed in Neil's allotment. Wonder if its possible to replicate in a raised bed size?

[@NeilJones_]

You can definitely apply permaculture principles to a raised bed. That would be a nice project actually - I might try that!

[@gromlynne3550]

Blimey! You have all been busy! Good to see Neil...and he doesn't have to walk half a mile to his hilltop growing space!! Some great ideas, as usual. The raspberry idea from Peni is one I was looking at doing at home. Lots to think about. Diolch😊

[@HuwRichards]

Yeah I have about 400 raspberry plants en route to get started - super excited!

[@NeilJones_]

Yes, more time gardening, less time walking up the hill!

[@rubiccube8953]

Lots of ideas thanks Huw. Saw a flexible wooden cloche system yesterday that panels of shading and poly tunnel sheets could be depending on light and warmth requirements throughout the year.

[@HuwRichards]

Oh fab! Do you have a link you could share?

[@rubiccube8953]

@@HuwRichards kzbin.infoJ_bavZOq75w?si=aod6BGmprJYashwO

[@hoosierpioneer]

Yes please a link❤

[@susanshardlow1881]

February is an excellent month for collecting seaweed after the high tides.

[@HuwRichards]

Definitely!

[@maxiemills6982]

Change is the only constant. How exciting! Life is kinda like that.

[@HuwRichards]

Yeah very exciting!

[@tateneve2264]

Just pre ordered your new book so excited to read it! Thanks for being part of my growing journey 🙌🏽

[@HuwRichards]

Oh wow thank you so so much really hope you enjoy it!

[@vitamartinenko4747]

Looks amazing! Can’t wait to visit Aberystwyth again some day and volunteer 💪🏼🌱

[@HuwRichards]

Always welcome!!

[@kirstyleitch863]

Go team seaweed! I am trying to use it as my main compost/mulch ingredient. Will be interested to see your results.

[@heikek2134]

Looks awesome! I'm curious about the seaweed mulch, though - I would have assumed that seaweed contains a substantial amount of salt. How do you deal with that?

[@goldenfd475]

Exciting new plans Huw and looking forward to new plans for my allotment this year. Waiting for your new book already on pre-order as you have mentioned a few things in it that my daughter and myself are hoping to try on the allotment. Just love this time of year. Just need the rain to stop up here in the valleys now!!!

[@HuwRichards]

Ah awesome thank you! Not long now until it comes out! Any sun that appears means I drop everything and head to the garden!

[@tarynarcher3795]

Great video as always with SO many ideas. I really like the soft boundary idea with raspberries (genius!) and also really interesting to hear you had an excess of compost in the secret garden! Im definintely upping my compost game this year. Looking forward to seeing all your ideas come to life xx

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you so much!!

[@UkAmphibians]

Great video thanks for sharing 🐸💚🐸

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you☺️

[@UkAmphibians]

@@HuwRichards your welcome

[@4115steve]

compost alfalfa and clover, perennial nitrogen fixers that you can mow and rake

[@emmelia-6068]

So many great plans! Can't wait to see how the year progresses, and to read your book ("your" meaning you and Sam 😊). Thanks for taking us along on this journey. ❤

[@HuwRichards]

It is going to be a fun year! Thank you so much I really hope you enjoy it!

[@emmelia-6068]

@@HuwRichards It's 43 degrees and pouring rain from a heavy grey sky -- but you inspired me to wander around the soggy yard planning for the next few months! It was fun 🙂

[@HuwRichards]

@@emmelia-6068 excellent to hear!! Means this video was well worth making then ;)

[@jessicashields560]

Hi Huw, Looking forward to your new book, my allotment is currently swathes of mud I am working my way through but planning to start building my beds in next two weeks to prepare the soil. Obviously won’t have your self sufficiency book then, so is there a size I should be building my beds to follow the plan effectively? Thanks for what you do, you are so inspiring.

[@roxannemcclintock1495]

I love how much since space has developed. So beautiful. One question about the seaweed Huw. I live near the coast and would love to apply this method. Does the salt content not have any negative effects on overall plant health?

[@axefairy7868]

What will you be doing to make sure the soil is the right ph for the blueberries? I’m really interested in ways to do that organically beyond just mixing in a load of sulphur, hopefully you go into that in a future video!

[@mickoneill2134]

Thank you,l am eagerly awaiting for your new book release in March

[@HuwRichards]

Me too haha!

[@CWorgen5732]

I can't remember, do you (plural or singular you) have coppiced trees anywhere? I'm thinking of a windbreak of coppiced trees/shrubs, but most of the content I'm finding on YT is willow farms or laid hedges.

[@ingridgolding978]

Thank you very much for this video. It's very interesting and useful to see how your project is evolving and the basis upon which you make your decisions.What is the book Neil mentions about food forests in a kitchen garden?

[@HuwRichards]

Eat What You Grow by Alys Fowler :)

[@aceofspades5786]

Lovely site, and drone footage. Any advice on why cardboard stays soggy in compost bin and does not break down?

[@HuwRichards]

Perhaps too thick of a layer? Cardboard should break down over a few months :)

[@4115steve]

thornless raspberry varieties glenco and joan j

[@inkfetish123]

RIP Mike :(

[@Margo-ls6gt]

2024 is indeed time for new things. I am creating a permaculture food forest in my back garden. I love the tiny polytunnel with 3 hoops. I am looking to invest in one too. What size and make is it?

[@HuwRichards]

First tunnels is the place to go! I can't remember dimensions though need to go measure again!

[@invokalink162]

We'd be up for coming along for a volunteer day Huw! Not far from you. (Your teifi pools stalker.) 😉😁

[@HuwRichards]

Amazing! Just sign up on the form!

[@linedezainde]

Nice! Talking about soft fences, I have a nice hazelnut shrubs row, but the squirrels get all if them. I doubt any physical barriers would work. Any suggestions?

[@CWorgen5732]

Cayenne powder works for me! But I've never used it on the hazelnuts.

[@williamkujanpaa4318]

How do you manage to get a wheelbarrow in between the staple crop beds? How far apart are they?

[@HuwRichards]

By using it like a wheelbarrow - the beds are around 40cm apart

[@imogenveneear1935]

Do you wash your seaweed or just apply it straight from beach to soil?

[@pietsnot7002]

@HuwRichards have you heard of sytropic agroforestery? I’m sure you’d like to add that in your permaculture toolbox 😉

[@HuwRichards]

Not in a temperate climate!

[@pietsnot7002]

@@HuwRichards kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXemdY2Qor9_hs0si=TpVBSVgqsKTWtdFc You sure about that? Syntropy is what nature does all over the world. Only humans feel the need to segregate and separate everything.. For example when you plant a tree guild you have a form of syntropy, l’m 100% sure that works in every climate. 🌾🪴🌴🌳🌹🌻

[@lynneroscrow2811]

Great video Huw 🙂 Question if you can answer please: You have put cardboard on top of your seaweed, can you explain the benefit of doing it that way round please? I have put cardboard then seaweed (or manure, or both!). Also, how late can you put seaweed down for it to breakdown in time for planting? I am in the Channel Islands, UK. Thanks so much!

[@HuwRichards]

The seaweed will break down faster due to contact with the soil, the cardboard will help keep the soil a bit warmer for microbes to help with that, as well as block out any pesky weeds

[@annegamalski614]

Hi Huw, 😊 thank you for your great videos and books, can't wait for the latest to arrive. I have a question if you could please answer it: Neal mentions a book by an Alice B... I did some Google research but nothing really came up, If you please could give me the Authors full name and book title I would be ever so thankful. 🙏 Thank you and all the best for 2024

[@lynneroscrow2811]

@@HuwRichards Fabulous, thanks Huw...a visit to the beach then, yay 😁👏 😎

[@NuaEnvi]

Hi Huw, I was wondering about the use of seaweed in the kitchen garden. I imagine seaweed is quite salty and thought salt was no good for crops. Can you debunk this for me ?

[@CWorgen5732]

You can rinse it if you're really worried, which can be as easy as laying it in the driveway and hosing it down or letting the rain rinse it. But it's not THAT salty, so you can just toss it in.

[@roxannemcclintock1495]

Thank you!!

[@JaneDoe-ft8sz]

Can you address ways of keeping the sun chokes under control? I looked into them and found lots of regret for ever having planted them.

[@couragefish]

I have a tiny raised bed surrounded by grass and have had no problem containing it in there!

[@JaneDoe-ft8sz]

@@couragefish do you use them for food?

[@PattonScr]

That's great, I'm really excited for you to go more into permaculture! :) Btw can anyone please give me the title of the book about permaculture that Neil speaks about?

[@s-c..]

Not certain, but it might be “Eat What You Grow” by Alys Fowler.

[@HuwRichards]

Alys Fowler is the author - need to find out the title though!

[@NeilJones_]

Yes, it’s Eat What You Grow by Alys Fowler - it’s an excellent book.

[@ataribowlingcgc4465]

With the use of seaweed as a source, are you concerned about the level of salt content going into the soil?

[@HuwRichards]

Nope. Leave seaweed in a pile, let a couple of rains fall on it, then mulch. Also seasalt contains like 80 different minerals!

[@mickoneill2134]

What is the Alice Valer book called?

[@HuwRichards]

Eat What You Grow by Alys Fowler

[@gretahancock4725]

What was the book by Alice Fallow? is that the right name?

[@jupe2369]

Great Video, so looking forward to seeing all of it becoming realityl😊 Did anyone get the author's name at 2:41though? Thanks

[@s-c..]

Might be Alys Fowler.

[@jupe2369]

​@@s-c..thanks ❤

[@NeilJones_]

Eat What You Grow by Alys Fowler - it’s an excellent book.

[@jupe2369]

@@NeilJones_ Thanks

[@anthonyparkinson1056]

Bit off topic but what can you plant near blueberries

[@HuwRichards]

MORE blueberries😍 Flowers, some herbs, strawberries, wouldn't worry too much though!

[@kevinttk2562]

Other acid soil loving plants or plants that acidify the soil are good companions, including other (types of) blueberries. Thyme, parsley, catmint, chives and garlic are the main beneficial companions that I know of that scare away typical blueberry pests and/or attract the pest predators. Planting many flowers nearby is also a good idea, especially if they love acid soil but do not poison it. These will attract pollinators and might increase your berry yield.

[@anthonyparkinson1056]

@@kevinttk2562 cheers mate 👍

[@rose-qo3iy]

Sorry I am confused? I thought your future videos were going to be about a small self-sufficiency garden? I was so looking forward to seeing how you manage that garden, but now I’m very confused about what you’re doing moving forward?

[@sabrinam.7952]

Hi @rose-qo3iy I understood from Huw's video revealing the former "secret garden" that it had served it's initial purpose as a self-sufficiency project for the new book, and that the garden would keep existing as Huw's new kitchen garden and space for experiments but within the larger permaculture project. So I find this video very much in line with that. Perhaps you'll find the content you had hoped for in the "self-sufficiency garden" book that's coming out in March? I agree that it's a really interesting subject, but perhaps would literally be too "small" as sole content of this channel? I also enjoy following the process of this bigger community permaculture project 🌱😍

[@s-c..]

@@sabrinam.7952Do you know what the difference is between a kitchen garden and a self sufficiency one? I’m an irregular viewer here so perhaps this has been explained, but they seem to have the same purpose if you’re excluding things beyond the kitchen, like construction & fire wood etc.

[@HuwRichards]

Yeah you will be getting PLENTY of self-sufficiency garden videos this year don't you worry! I just also have the rest of the site as well. So plenty of different videos to look forward to. can't fault Sabrinam's answer.

[@HuwRichards]

@@s-c.. I would say goals. Self-sufficiency is very much about high yield and efficiency, whilst a kitchen garden is a bit more relaxed and can serve multiple functions.

[@s-c..]

@@HuwRichards ah, ok. Thanks 👍

[@hoosierpioneer]

Do you have info in one of your books about strawberries as ground cover? Someone gave me a slew of plants and I have plenty to try this!

[@s-c..]

If you volunteer do you have to wear orange? 🙂

[@HuwRichards]

Well everyone seemed to just appear in orange yet I don't even have a single bit of clothing that contains even a stripe of it haha

[@s-c..]

@@HuwRichards Haha, a conspicuous holdout!

[@Steve1026.]

Huwwwwwwwwwwwww its time

[@HuwRichards]

Time for?;)

[@Steve1026.]

@@HuwRichards another collab with Charles ofc!

[@janenewley1014]

Do you need permission to gather seaweed in quantity?

[@NeilJones_]

It depends where you collect it and if it is for personal use or not. There’s some good info here from Natural Resources Wales, but check the rules where you live. cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/696117/gn-011-detailed-guidance-harvesting-seaweed.pdf

[@lllCostalll]

I used to like your vids, but been finding you talk a lot but never say anything consistent. Anyway good luck on your journey.

[@HuwRichards]

Thanks man! Stay safe out there 👊