Minimal Disturbance Gardening | A Pragmatic Approach for Self-Sufficiency

Pre-order The Self-Sufficiency Garden: geni.us/SelfSufficiencyGarden
Minimal Disturbance Gardening (MDG) is a balanced and practical growing approach that equally prioritises nutritious food production and long-term garden health. One of the biggest challenges gardeners face on their self-sufficiency journey is having access to enough compost. It is either expensive, or you always need to be on top of making it. MDG recognises this, and opens up a whole suite of alternative ways of building garden fertility using natural resources.
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#selfsufficiency #gardeningideas #kitchengardening

[@mrknittle532]

Huw, I've been following you for years and always look forward to your books, as they concisely help average folk to get over their fears of veg gardening. I've really enjoyed watching your passion grow from a kid who liked to experiment in the dirt into a livelihood for you and your family. It's been incredibly inspiring for me, as I work on reestablishing native plant populations on my property and in my area. (I really need to get my veg groove going again, though...lol) The best thing, however, is the evolution of your camera presence. More and more of your personality has been shining through the past few years. Whether it is the impassioned view on differing practices in this video, your endearing collabs with Liz, or cutting up during your Niall collabs, you have become incredibly relatable and a joy to watch. I'm always recommending you to my friends, family, and anyone else who will listen. Keep up the great work!!

[@HuwRichards]

Well! What a comment! Thank you so much. It's always nice to hear feedback, especially if it's heading in the right direction! I am grateful for you sharing these videos with others too! Have a lovely day and thank you once again☺️

[@StaceWah]

I'm not even Huw, and that comment filled my cup right up. So lovely, thank you for such a heart-warming comment ❤

[@lovelovinghorses]

I wholeheartedly agree 👍

[@AndyMaden]

I second that ❤

[@janetteheffernan2948]

❤​@@StaceWah

[@anatevkabell6046]

Tolerance is a wonderful way to go. Not only for a garden. 🙏🏼

[@HuwRichards]

Very very true!

[@chriseverest4380]

Huw - you are absolutely right. However - I think you and Charles Dowding are on EXACTLY the same page. You are both extremely personable charismatic teachers. No Dig & Minimal Disturbance Gardening ARE JUST WORDS - with a bit of common sense they are related to each other. Brothers in Gardening. The problems of the world are caused by ideology. The problems are rarely caused by the Prophet - they are always caused by the disciples of the prophets/profits. We grow food. We care for the world. THAT IS THE MESSAGE.❤

[@shineyrocks390]

I just moved to the desert.🚱 Cardboard ✔️ Logs✔️ Horse manure ✔️ Fresh wood chips ✔️ Compost brewing ✔️ Water✔️ Crappy sandy soil✔️ Hot as Hell🥵✔️ Permaculture garden in the making ✔️ Watching Huw teach us something new✔️ Thanks Huw cheers 🎉

[@user-md2kw5gf8b]

I actually encouraged aphids this year and the amount of ladybugs 🐞 that turned up was amazing three months later no aphids,this is my second season at this property growing totally organic and this year hardly any pests

[@elainedoudna2054]

My garden is a classroom that continues to amaze, inspire and challenge me to be creative. No one should make us feel guilty in a garden! Thank you for your insights!

[@Pyromanemac]

The debate over stringent ideologies within gardening is such an interesting meta topic. Presumably we're all on the same page to produce flourishing gardens and acknowledge how drastically two gardens can vary even within the same neighborhood. Yet, the ideological debate remains. I'm glad people like Huw can be so positive. That's the kind of mentality we should culturally champion.

[@HuwRichards]

Exactly! Same page in terms of producing delicious homegrown food! Sadly, some people really get caught up in the detail, and when you only look at details, you forget the context! Thanks so much!

[@GrowingAGreenFinger]

Well said, well spoken. Gardening should be fun, and no one system fits everyone’s situation or environment. I use a little of every thing to obtain my gardening goals. Dig, no-dig, composting, permaculture, etc. are all just tools in the toolbox to reach the end goal.

[@HuwRichards]

Precisely!!

[@ohiogardener4019]

Love your comments regarding tolerance, and each person finding what works for them. After some 7 decades of farming & gardening, I well understand that there is no One Way or Else when it comes to gardening. I currently enjoy mentoring some young couples on starting gardening, and I probably learn as much as they do in what works in different conditions and environments.

[@rosedoucet2188]

So great!! I love hearing seasoned gardeners like yourself are still learning, but more than this, that you’re sharing your wisdom with the younger generation👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻💚💚💚

[@beechtreedesigns]

I don’t tend to comment on videos, but I have been watching your KZbin channel for several years and really enjoy your content and presentation style. The idea that guilt is a part of gardening is very strange to me. I planted my first vegetable garden with my father, when I was five, and although over the years growing my own food has taken on additional meanings, gardening is for me first and foremost an act filled with joy and wonder. In my 55 years of gardening, I have never felt guilty about growing my own food or growing flowers, or about my current adventure, which is growing natural dye plants. I feel sad for anyone who equates gardening with guilt, or feels that the two are inextricably linked.

[@gregbluefinstudios4658]

Local Weather, Local Soil, global climate, time, resources, our own labor, all of it! So good of you to mention that EACH and EVERY garden is unique.

[@toriahennesey]

I think it's super handy to adopt a 'grey' attitude to growing wherever possible . If someone is starting on new build soil they will need to adapt accordingly for the first few years. LIkewise if someone has inherited an overgrown plot with a well established native seed bed, they will also need to hold space whilst things come around. We can do everything correctly and something can still f*ck up, it's ok, we win or we learn x Worst comes to the worst, we can always go put the kettle on and have a cogitate.

[@carladelagnomes]

Yes indeed!

[@emmelia-6068]

"We really need to stop gatekeeping" ... thank you for saying this, Huw. What a lovely video and helpful comments too. I am so looking forward to the arrival of your new book.

[@thelightlysgardenallotment8050]

Thank you Huw. Having only disovered no-dig gardening about 4 years ago and experiencing far more produce than I ever did before I have recently been feeling guilty after taking on a new allotment just last year that I have had to dig certain areas (deep rooted perennials and not enough time to cover with card before planting, although I did mulch heavily). Also I was feeling guilty just digging to harvest my potatoes and more recently my Jerusalem Artichokes. You have put my mind at rest that I can practice minimal soil disturbance now and feel comfortable if I "have" to dig occasionally even though I prefer to leave the soil planted or covered ♥

[@MikeV607]

Imagine how poor a garden would grow if just a few inches of compost was put on top of a concrete pad?! I reference this because my garden began on a real tough. hard packed soil like subsoil/hardpan. Ruth Stout had a plow man for years before she adopted her mulch hay method. Paul Gautschi (Back to Eden) tilled for years before his compost/wood chip approach. For many soils, tillage is often required before no-dig/no-till can be considered. And even after, shallow tilling (1-2" or so) may provide benefits without upsetting the soil food web.

[@PaisleyPlayfully]

Yes! Bring the fun back into gardening and please show your mistakes as well as your successes! Be real, it’s so needed these days

[@keithnotley2440]

Huw, as a long-time Aussie home gardener - in, literally a polar opposite eco system! - the one thing that resonated with me on this vlog was EVOLUTION. Change, in all its forms is the only thing that stays the same! As you rightly suggest, it by OBSERVING with CURIOUS intent, that we can learn helpful practices to improve our and the worlds outcomes! I never stop learning and progressing my methods of gardening, even small "tweaks" can make a significant difference. The natural world - including gardening! - is a "results driven" system. If it has natural weaknesses, then nature EVOLVES to best harness the natural order! Your growth of continual re-evaluation, replicates nature perfectly. Cheers from Melbourne, Au.😊💚🍀💪😊

[@dudeusmaximus6793]

We also do a low-dig type of approach. I never embraced the no-dig method because the logic of it never washed with me. Everything from animals to rodents to earthworms to roots themselves disturb the soil. Here in the northern climates you also have to factor in the winter freeze which can heave the soil up as much as a foot in some places almost like a broadfork, and when you do get that the plants really respond to the soft soil bed. The no-dig also talks about soil structure, which is correct, but in winter there is no structure. It's pretty much just a mudball - unless - you dig in organic matter in the top couple of inches which helps the soil greatly in setting up faster when the capillary action starts when it begins to warm up leading to a nice but not overly compact structure. That to me is much better than a 'lasagna' arrangement or just dumping finished compost on top of the soil as it is loose and doesn't have that structure itself and seems contradictory to what it's supposed to be. Bacterial action also goes dormant in the cold climates, so very late or early tillage or broadforking will not hurt that. It revolves around the plant roots and breakdown of organic matter anyway, and bacteria multiply quickly as it warms, so I'm not worried about some disturbance in the top couple of inches in the dormant months. People also forget that plant roots take up oxygen, and compaction works against that greatly, which is my biggest objection to no-dig because aeration has given me better plants. They will say you can go out in the woods and see why no-dig is superior, but you're dealing with trees, shrubs, bushes, and brambles. If you look close you'll see that the annual plants tend to be overcrowded and deficient and not exactly the food forest it's claimed to be. I've had far better success with an organized low-dig strategy in the garden as what is grown there are annuals without the ability to deeply subsoil like a tree or bush. [add: I see we are on the same page, stopped the video a couple of minutes in and wrote this]

[@Paula_T]

Agreed. I can show you examples of a foot of manure dumped on top of decomposed granite. That area is still just 6 inches of manure dumped on top of decomposed granite, 6 years later. Next row over, the manure was dug in once, and now grows 4 foot tall chard plants. 70 years growing stuff, so far.

[@AngelaH2222]

Even if i didn't dig the foxes and birds help out too😂😂 I'm seriously considering sprinkling some bonemeal over the weeds to get the work done for me😁 .. I am frustrated that there is compaction that forces me to at least fork over the beds, but i do know my back won't let me double -dig more than once. I don't think any one way is "best" its going to depend on our abilities as well as resources, the crops planned and the soil/climate

[@ardenthebibliophile]

Heyo, just an FYI the market gardeners in the No Dig camp would fully agree with you (e.g. Jesse Frost from the No Till Growers channel). Not *everyone* is hard binary in nature, even if some forums would make you think so That being said, I enjoyed your video and have the book on preorder. Been at it for a couple years now, trying to minimize tillage, or at least be thoughtful about it. On a completely unrelated note I had one major win with cover cropping this year (using bush beans; we have a long season). It felt like I leveled up, and I now see my garden as multi-season and not a plant-once-and-forget plot.

[@HuwRichards]

Most will! However, this is very much angled at home gardeners, market gardening is a whole different approach to growing! A bit like someone who is a passionate home cook versus a head chef at a restaurant! Both have their own skills and needs. The goal is making sure new gardeners can enjoy a flexible approach to growing their own! I really appreciate the preorder- thank you so much! Would you mind sharing a bit more detail about your cover cropping win with the beans?

[@ardenthebibliophile]

Oh definitely, they are different skills. I like watching the market gardeners to learn efficiencies I can bring to my garden journey. For the beans (and also context) live in New Jersey, zone 7b (8a with the update). Our season is pretty long, I can grow between late April into November for some brassicas. This year after my onion harvest in July i had a 60-70 day gap until I wanted to plant my fall brassicas. Given we were in the brutal heat of summer, I couldn't do leafy greens so I planted some bush beans in rows to cover the space. They quickly took over and smothered almost all weeds. When it was fall planting time I just cut them at the soil (minimal disturbance) and planted my broccoli, kale, and brussel sprout starts I had been nurturing at home. Got 19lb of beans, and now my fall brassicas are going, somehow still into December. Onions harvested July 15, beans harvested Sept 12

[@judithhuntly2375]

Love the term minimal disturbance. I did get worried when i took on my new garden as it had a lot of building rubble and an extrodinary abount of glass in it which involved a lot of disturbance to remove it io be able to plant anything. Now 4 years later it is much healthier and involves much less disturbance.

[@tossyv]

Huw well said. However anyone wants to garden, it is great. We haven’t dug our garden for 20 yrs or more. our soil is teeming with life. Many flowers self seed amongst our veggies. Some years they take over, but they always look so wonderful. It is a far cry from a prim market garden. When plants get too big, especially herbs, I advertise and give them away. Excess plants are sometimes potted, grown to a good size then sold. Many people are amazed at our garden, it’s fullness of life, and design. I am always planting cuttings is my ‘cutting bed’. What grows is very healthy. Many of my plants are shared. I hear from so many people how they feel so much better after a while in their garden. It puts them back together. Keep inspiring us. 🌿🌿🌿🦋🪶

[@sandracosta29]

Is it my impression, or our precious, beautiful gardening community is being poisoned by fanatics? What ? They are already here???? HERE????? Huw, stop talking to these people. Plant your food and your flowers, and totally ignore them. Problem solved. Keep doing your great job, the results are in front of our eyes: a lush, prosperous food garden. End of the story. You do you.

[@sprightlyghoul]

When we took on our incredibly overgrown, depleted, and compacted allotment 15 months ago. First season, we tried no dig, and it was a disaster! We're starting from scratch this year with a much more pragmatic approach! This is perfect timing!

[@fairwearth690]

So true! Gardening is my classroom of fascinating things to learn year round. My neighbour's raised bed garden grows very differently than two of mine that surround hers on our apartment property backyard. We often marvel at the similarities and differences in the way our vegetables and flowers grow even though they're side by side, and share our experiences with each other so we can learn from each other. Then we have another neighbour who is constantly criticizing our methods even though our organic crops are bountiful and grow all year long. We humour her but don't let her negativity interfere with our awe and passion for gardening. Lately she has been asking for our advice on her garden, so hopefully our passion for gardening and learning by experimenting in our own way is rubbing off on her. Gardening has been so wonderful for my mental health as well, and has been so instrumental in healing from complex PTSD, as I have learned to grow my own inner garden of contentment and peace. Thank you for all of your wisdom and sharing your unique experiences with us all to learn from you! ☺💚🥬🥗🐞🐝🌱🏵

[@L_Martin]

I've seen purity spirals in so many different sub-cultures on the internet, from the knitting community to the creative writing community to the dog training world and the vegan community, and it never ceases to amaze me. The impulse towards puritanism in order for humans to control the uncontrollable (and each other most of all!) is incredible.

[@brentb3321]

I was here when “minimal disturbance” replaced “no dig”.

[@LongislandnativeSanctuary]

Huw, your explanations and views are very gentle and open. I appreciate that very much

[@lovelovinghorses]

Awesome video. Commonsense gardening at its best. I suffer from gardening anxiety, and if I think I am doing something wrong, I go into stasis!! You and your videos seriously help to relieve that stress and help me to enjoy my gardening more. Thank-you Huw 😁 Such a wise and thoughtful head on young shoulders ❤

[@myrustygarden]

Morning Huw and Sam, 1:10 I totally agree I say your garden your rules, sadly people watch KZbin and sometimes feel like total failures because their gardens don’t “live up to” other people’s gardens. I have also watched your channel for years and watch the young man grow into a fab man and gardener. Have a super week look forward to reading your new book, Ali 🤶🎄🇨🇦

[@9FatraBbits]

Thank you Huw! You’ve put in so much work into gardening and sharing your experience and knowledge. I’ve been keeping a garden for decades and it’s not a competition! At first I loved picking something outside my door to put on my plate, then I wanted my growing children to experience this and learn to be capable stewards of earth. Now the nest is empty and I’m still able to find something for my plate at any time of year even if it’s just herbs or a leftover squash! Being outside in a garden is nourishing at every level… it brings and gives life…whether it’s a couple of plastic pots on the step or a box on the lawn or an acre! Cheers!🐇

[@GARDENER42]

I see 'no till' as a guideline, not something set in stone. Case in point: I took on a "community garden" AKA mini allotment (6m x 13m) in January this year. It was extremely overgrown but I intended to go the cardboard & 100mm of compost route, until I found out & had 100-150mm of soil over quarry rubble. ☹ So, I dug out every weed I could, moved the soil one section at a time, excavated the quarry waste & used it for permanent side paths & a hardstanding for an IBC tank & compost bays. I bought & barrowed in 8m³ of cheap topsoil, THEN added to 100mm of compost on top. Now that complete disturbance is over, soil disturbance will be minimal & 'digging over' simply won't happen, which is how I've cultivated my back garden for the past 7 years. Regarding compaction: It simply doesn't happen in 'no till' if 25-30mm of compost is applied annually. The soil is naturally firm but if you dig into it, it's full of worm tracks, old root channels, fungal networks. It's perfectly OK to walk on it (I say this as someone who has annual rainfall in excess of 60"/1,500mm a year). Add as much compost as you can & an annual sprinkling of dolomite lime (helps protect brassicas from clubroot) & you're going to be OK. If the worst comes to the worst, add a small amount of balanced fertiliser, be it blood fish & bone or (gasp!!!) Growmore.

[@stephent1521]

Excellent video. I grow vegetables mostly for my mental health so not feeling guilt is key to my enjoyment. I used to take my failures personally but now i appreciate the company of my fellow allotmenteers, the fresh air and any vegetables that do grow! Keep up the good work.

[@VKing-di9lo]

My lovely father is law always used to double dig his vegetable garden. It took him ages, but it was the way he had always done it. I have not followed his lead and since I am now almost 80 I tend to go along with the no-dig way of vegetable growing. As you said, what feels right for you is fine.

[@fionachin5015]

Hello Huw I am a big big fan of EVERYTHING you do. I am impressed by your journey and encourage you to ignore ANY critic. I’m old enough to be your Mum and I have been learning so much from you as I transition from a stressful corporate career into a more sustainable lifestyle. There is no way I will get close to self sufficiency but I am finding so much more fulfilment and enjoyment by designing a garden that incorporates fruit and vegetables. I’m so excited to get a copy of your new book as soon as it becomes available. Please don’t change, stay true to Huw 🤣🤣 I wish you happiness Fiona

[@fionnaheller1873]

I have enjoyed your videos immensely because I have always [45+ years] grown my own vegetables, for family and to give away to neighbours. However, halfway through this one and I have become utterly convinced that the country would be far healthier in mind, body and soul were you leading the Government, even though that would come at the cost of spending time away from your lovely garden. Your philosophy, evident throughout your discussions, is to be applauded. Thank you.

[@ml.5377]

Spot on! Gardening has no absolutes. I love my wild and crazy garden and I just go with the flow. My food still tastes glorious. Each bed or patch is its own little world and the approach varies. Since I cannot get organic hay or mulch and wood chips are available once in a blue moon, I mulch with a chop and drop technique... Best potatoes ever. They seemed to love the yarrow and borage. As always, we never cease to amaze ourselves by being smart, savvy and ingenious... And a little foolish!

[@charlesbale8376]

I really appreciated that you took the time to share your thoughts on gardening based on your experiences.

[@markas1987]

That moment when the "Hello, and a very warm welcome..." drops 👍👌🏼

[@jambonejim1249]

Watching this video in the new garden made me realize this is the time of year to build that bench for sitting in the garden.

[@HuwRichards]

Great idea indeed!

[@tessagem]

Whoever said nature doesn't dig itself up hasn't seen the aftermath of a hurricane. I live in Florida, so I obviously have to grow different vegetables than you, but I do enjoy watching your content, especially something like this. Thank you.

[@gilldolphin6095]

or the mess left when digging animals such as badgers leave - the soil is left all over the place, nature does her stuff and that patch is soon covered with fresh, luscious growth

[@tessagem]

​@@gilldolphin6095good point! I've never seen a badger here, but we do have raccoons and they dig everything up too.

[@PleasantPrickles]

So right. Herbicides and pesticides aside, is no shame in using methods that work best for your own unique garden. I have different physical restraints, a different micro climate and different pests than my best friend who lives only two blocks over. She also grows different things than I do. We respect each others’ methods, admire each others’ garden and have lots of fun doing it. There are lots of paths that lead to success. 🌸🌸🌸

[@winf4864]

The only thing I feel guilty about is not growing more! 🍅

[@quantafitness6088]

In May, I started eight new veg beds using only fresh horse manure. It was what I had on hand and it was free. Everything grew so well. The point is not that everyone should use horse manure. No, the point is to make use of what you have. It will probably work just fine. 😊

[@emmacarry6326]

Love this flexible, open minded and realistic approach. Helps make the wonderful world of gardening accessible to more people. Happy planning everyone... I am getting ready for Christmas and dreaming of Spring!!

[@HuwRichards]

That is very kind, thank you!

[@rogerg366]

In my 70 years of gardening I haven't gone 1year with out trying different methods....use common sense, observation and staying flexible all have worked well for me.

[@AndyMaden]

Hi Huw. I felt compel to comment this time after watching this video and heard how belittle we have become as human. The principal of all of this is to share and learn from each other. Sharing knowledge, put in practice and take what works in your environment. If we can get joy, fun that is what matters. Shame for the Gate keepers, this is how dinosaurs disappear. Works started to impact my wellbeing well before the pandemic. I was already a green finger gardener. I was watching Gardener's World for years. I learned a lot of things and I'm a fan of Monty but by watching Huw. I got to understand my soil a lot more and not be stock in a single way of gardening. I have picked up a little bit of everything Huw said and tried. I lost some and gained some, that's the beauty of it. Nobody should feel guilty about gardening the way they want. It is your end result that counts.

[@dawnpettiglio6930]

You basically gave us all permission to go ahead and breathe. Not creating unbreakable rules let's someone enjoy more and stress less. Beautiful philosophy!!!!!!

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you so much!!!!

[@keeksputels1851]

Great video. Someone had to say it. People can get so held up on rules. I will never not dig for potatoes. I was taught how to grow them by my grandpa in the traditional irish way, tradition is important so It will always be how I do it. Flip the soil, dig in well rotted horse manure, make 2ft wide drills, plant at bottom 1ft between seed, as they grow invert the drills to earth them up. Its alot of work but worth it. No dig spuds are measily little things. Properly done the plants get over 1m tall and you get so many big big potatoes. A small patch lasts all winter. Alot of people do a "comparison" but the control group they dig in they dont do it properly so its not a fair test. Dont get me wrong I barely dig for other things, but potatoes and carrots I will always dig

[@Atimatimukti]

You are so right! I live in the northwest corner of Portugal and just in november we had 400ml/2m ( a new national record) so I cant do gardening the same way as in the south where they have extreme drought. Also, they have clay and calk soil and we have granite, sandy soil. The only true rule is, adapt to what you have and observe nature around you

[@AndrewPkr]

Such wise words Huw and a breath of fresh air to everyone who has either doubt or lacks the confidence in what they are doing on their patch of land. Your common sense approach will unlock a huge potential in people's growing ability, which they will be able to utilise as they find their own individual growing style. You are forming the basis of skills we can easily use to become more productive year on year, all with ease and based on your experiences. Just to be cheeky, may I say from one Welsh man to another how proud I am of all that you do.

[@ripbbl5053]

I like the label 'minimal disturbance gardening', ha ha, it is sooo much better than the 'oh my goodness, don't you DARE dig gardening', hahaha (no offence, Mister Dowding, hahahaha) I suppose, once you're settled in on a piece of land, you might be able to have a few areas that don't need to be disturbed any further... Love ya to bits, keep on doing your thing (and take us with you) Take care and GBY

[@jackieco9615]

Huw this is so interesting. I have an allotment which still needs a lot of work, weeds, brambles, uneven ground etc. I've been doing some digging and some minimal disturbance, which I will call it now. I have been doing what I think is right at the time. Thanks for sharing your principles 😊

[@projectoldman3383]

This channel is extremely useful and Huw, you are an amazingly thoughtful and passionate creator. Thank you or all that you do from an old geezer from across the pond. I will miss your original kitchen garden immensely.

[@jodyvollmer4125]

I pre-ordered your book months ago! Counting down the days until it arrives! Love everything you do

[@karenb221]

Keep up the good vibes Huw, your work and attitude is inspirational. In times of misinformation and big changes I can understand how easy it is to have black and white thinking. I agree that gardening is an evolution of learning. It’s great to watch different gardening channels to gain a more wide understanding and choose the processes we as individuals feel connected to the most. For me it’s permaculture.

[@maxiemills6982]

I have no complaints with your videos or your methods. I think some people are just built to disagree, and some are not. With various shades of grey. Love the videos. They have been a big help to me and my garden. You have given me confidence to experiment.

[@glynisreynolds446]

I’m so glad that you are giving us all permission to garden according to the conditions in our gardens 👍 The raised beds I’ve been tending now for years have lovely crumbly soil, but then they have benefitted from yearly compost mulches. The new beds continue to set like concrete as we progress towards summer as the soil is silt/clay - this is great soil but it still needs plenty of organic matter to loosen it. I’ve been feeling that I can’t ‘dig’ it, but I decided that I need to do what I need to do to improve the areas I’m growing in. Thanks Huw 👏👏🇬🇧

[@maryobrien5568]

Thank you so much Huw. Your gardening philosophy is one that chimes with me and is helping me in my own gardening experiment. I am a climate activist and I see my garden as an extension of this. In trying to be self sufficient I am also planning for resilience in the face of the likely unravelling of the climate, ecological and also our social systems ( we got a taste of this during Covid) Hence I am trying to prepare my garden to survive a changing climate, to store as much carbon as possible, and to not be dependent on bringing in resources which aren't naturally available to me. I also don't want any products from livestock/industrial agriculture due to its negative impact on the climate. I am focussed on supporting biodiversity, and have seen a huge increase in the wildlife in the garden. As I say, this is all an experiment and there are challenges with keeping my soil fertile, but I am finding out what is working. I am lucky to have access to leaves from overhanging mature trees, grass clippings and seaweed for mulching. I have small scale food forest type areas and an increasing amount of perennial vegetables ( some more palatable than others). I do hot and cold composting, worm composting and bokashi composting. I mostly feed this to my worms, but if I have a bed that is struggling, I do dig this in. I also use green manure and LAB and JMS plus I use urine and comfrey fertilizer as foliar feed. Its definitely a work in progress, but out of all the youtube channels yours is the most helpful to me in my own gardening journey. I do love other permaculture channels, but I am so grateful to you for addressing the elephant in the room which is asking the question about how sustainable and self suffucient is it if you need to buy in huge amounts of compost and wood chips to keep your garden productive?

[@classicrocklover5615]

"No guilt gardening " - love it! Also: can you repeat, loud and clear for the WEF dweebs in the back: "Carbon is life" ❤

[@peterellis4262]

There's a concept dubbed the OODA Loop: Observe, Orient, Decide, Act. Applies to just about everything and certainly to gardening.

[@Outdoorsimplicity]

Very clever and timely video. I think local farming is the future. Good soil health is important for capturing carbon and you have captured the audience with your great storytelling and forward thinking. So looking forward to these future videos, I’ve preordered your book, thankyou 😊😊

[@petervincent4461]

really good, No Dig without the guilt.

[@familyof4exploreuk]

For compost I use horse manure, free from local stables, sawdust and wood shavings, free from local wood store and grass cuttings, free from local gardening contracter. Do one layer of each and build it up like a layer cake about 1m high. Turn it every time it reaches 65°C and i get compost in 28 days. Great way for someone getting started on a budget 👍

[@weibie]

I love the 2 RECAP acronym, that's great. It's easily something people can use to mentally check what they're doing to keep on track with while in the garden. Very good video once again. Thank you.

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you so much!

[@trockodile]

Every year has it's strengths and its weaknesses, it's positives and it's negatives. The garden, like the world, is a self balancing equation. Whilst one thing is abundant and beyond our wildest hopes and expectations, something else is p!ss poor at best. This isn't just for your crops, its for your processes and practices, last year my compost production was off the chart, but my weeding fell utterly behind. Whilst this isn't great, the positive was I had plenty of weeds to give to my chickens and rabbits and they produces a bumper crop of compost and poop. When life gives you weeds, make compost (or poop!) and know that next year the garden is going to all the better for that killer harvest for your soil. Your learning one year could be amazing, because of both success and failures, but equally next year (and the years thereafter) are going to benefit from it. It all balances out and its never ever all terrible. Keep smiling and keep growing, it's all good! 👍😁

[@TomorrowsGardenNC]

the guilt and gatekeeping is more prevalent here in the US, not how but why. i am turning my front yard into a garden, slowly but surely, and because it's in the front yard a lot of neighbors have complained to the city and to myself because it's "not pretty". these neighbors dont grow food, never have and probably never will, and have never experienced having to choose between food and bills. one neighbor is angry because the vegetables i grow are not "native". when Huw said to not feel guilty about growing i almost cried. thank you, i needed to hear that. (the city doesn't give a crap, they have actually helped me a little bit here and there. but it doesn't stop the neighbors from complaining.)

[@AngelaH2222]

Thank you for this Huw, Fundamentalism in any area is harmful, , to steal a quote "Progress is better than Perfection" . I was lucky enough to get hold of free horsepoo this year, gave the soil a brief fork to get out the dandelions first, hopefully the worms etc will draw some fertility downwards and the winter rains won't compact the soil.. My main challenge is to remember not to keep stepping and leaning on the beds in the growing season🙃👣👣👣

[@dmiron366]

Your common-sense and anti-fundamentalist approach really resonates with me, even though my climate in Central Texas USA has very little in common with yours. The rabid one-method-or-none ideology is frustrating, and, as you say, ridiculous. Thanks for sharing your ideas. I discovered your channel about 6 months into my very first 3'x6'rasied bed, and now have about 300 sq.ft. of beds and am adding more this spring. Your ideas have been so helpful.

[@stestrupholm-dyrkjorden]

So happy to see your new not-so-secret garden. I think the content you provide is absolutely essential to spread the good word of gardening as a self-sufficiency activity, but also to support the mental and physical health of the gardener. Gardening should not be stressful. The average family does not need 30 meter beds of salinnova / one cut lettuce - in other words the average family is not a market gardener and probably shouldn't be. The key is to produce a lot of healthy food on minimal space in as little time as possible. Otherwise, people will look to the supermarket. We met when you were in Denmark and shared a glass or three of cider and a meal at our friends. Told you then that we'd followed you for years on KZbin, and I'm happy to see this new content with the new garden now. Very inspiring. I am considering setting up a grid of 125m2 gardens as allotments for rent (for cheap, but to cover buying in some infrastructure to be shared) on our property. I'll garden one of them myself to proof that you can produce a lot of food in the space of a small allotment. We have a larger kitchen garden already, but that's besides the point when it comes to letting people know that vegetable self-sufficiency is totally possible. I've not yet read your new book, but I am wondering how much significance you place on the fencing. I realize it helps visualize the constraints and size of the "project" of the 125m2 garden, but with the winds here in Denmark, I'm pretty sure the yields will significantly increase from the improved microclimate of such a perimeter fencing. Wood may be a bit expensive though. I'll think of something. Thanks for setting my thoughts in motion again! (also interesting discussion about no-dig/soils dominated by fungi etc. I think you're right that we should not aim to produce forest beds, and things such as kale and brassicas I believe actually prefer soils slightly on the bacteria dominated side, so there's so much more to it than just "put woody compost and wood chips everywhere")

[@dane2487]

Thanks Huw, Top Man!

[@zazugee]

You're right, it's all about understanding natural process, and understanding your situation and context. double digging helps to start in difficult compacted soils, i remmeber there was a study that showed that double dig on 1st year was a headstart then switching to no-dig kept conserving soil productivity and it started accumulating fertilily over sticking stricly to double dig, while it was ahead of strict no-dig. the explanation was that double dig allowed roots to grow deep, then switching to no-dig allowed that organic matter to stay in soil, while double-digging every year or every season would have destroyed it, or rather understanding tilling and dig, is that dig accelerate the mineralization of organic matter, and if the soil tilth is bad, or it doesn't have enough clay or fine particles, those minerals going to wash away deeper and woudn't be fertile anymore, so we should plan the rate of mineralization of organic in our soil and help the soil build structure by understanding our soil better, not just apply a method blindly. the reason why double-dig still worked even tho it mineralize organic matter faster was that the addition of organic matter every season, but that's not sustainable, we want to grow our surface and hogging organic matter year after year isn't practical.

[@matatath]

Your “vs supermarket veggies” argument is very convincing. On top of that you didn’t even mention that the majority of the veggies there are packaged in a massive amount of plastic (at least they are here in Belgium). That’s also one of the key reasons I prefer the homegrown ones. You can just pick them when they are ready and you don’t need the plastic containers and bags. Irrelevant sidenote: I’m definitely subscribing to your channel here. Very interesting and informative, not to mention that the passion in your explanations is contagious 😂.

[@TraceyTwilightteaserDowell]

Huw this video is spot on. Gardening should be enjoyable not guilt ridden. I go with you do you and i will do me. Whatever works. Have a lovely christmas xx

[@rachelwonders8975]

There are definitely people that are firmly camped out in thier till or no till camps. Neither group seems to want.to recognize that sometimes you HAVE to till a space and other time you can park the tiller. When i started my now garden it was solid PA clay. Through careful selective tilling and major mulching with organic materials i now have 10ish inches of beautiful soil that hasnt seen a tiller in several years. Although i have a weed problem i need to get under control in 1 part asap.

[@sandraconner6968]

Gardening is always a work in process. I remember years ago when a friend of mine saw one of my early gardens and began to laugh! I was puzzled. She said it was so orderly! It wasn't militarily set up, but it was neat and tidy. Another garden, and another friend couldn't understand why I didn't have a separate veggie garden & separate flower garden, but after explanning the need for beneficial insects & pollinators she got it. It was the same for those who didn't understand why I stopped tilling every year! Gardens, like gardeners, are all different.😊

[@Whistlewalk]

Thank you for this balanced and common sense approach. Asside from the reality that 'balance' is always a better route for a good fence walk, simple common sense must be allowed to prevail. Your video today does that and it's refreshing. The goal is to make food grow. Mother Earth will survive our mistakes, as she has for eons and eons.

[@jonathanrussell2023]

Never too old to learn new things or to change what we do, thanks for all the vids Huw.

[@freedomforestlife]

Great ethics Huw - Love it - Have Fun & Grow Veg 🙌✌💚

[@ebuckley7152]

Love your videos, they’ve really helped me get into productive gardening. My only struggle is killing plants to eat them once I’ve got them to their prime. Perennial veg really help and as you mention help with no dig. My latest idea is ‘no kill’ gardening 😜

[@rosedoucet2188]

As usual, throwin’ down the best garden wisdom and encouragement 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@paulamcgivern8552]

Well done, Huw. This is effectively mindfulness in the garden. Paying attention in the moment, letting go of shoulds and oughts and expectations, accepting what is before you, bringing the beginers mind to what you observe, trusting that nature will do what its designed to do and being Kind aka care for the environment. What a wonderful way to enjoy the whole gardening experience❤

[@barbarahenn-pander5872]

So impressed with your articulate insights, variations and thought processes. I’ve enjoyed so many of your videos as they feel like a nice visit. ☺️Thank you.

[@aname5267]

I took over an allotment last February and really struggled with no dig in some areas. Couch grass and bind weed just grew through my card and compost layers smothering my potatoes. Follow up weeding would have helped me of course but I weed every time I go and I can only go 2-3 hours a week. So this year I’m forking out all the weed-noodles and then continuing with no dig.

[@lontraboi]

I'm getting inspired just by watching your videos Huw. Maybe 2024 is the year for my garden!

[@gilldolphin6095]

Minimal dig - do what works for you- take the best and leave the rest..I'm there! Reading some of the comments, 'though, I think it a good idea not to throw the baby out with the bath water. or to create an 'us and them'. The beauty of this internet age is that we have SO much info at our fingertips. I have learned massive amounts from watching Charles and am very nearly No Dig, but when a little bit of digging works, I dig! Doesn't mean that I don't think that the informationa and knowledge that I learn form the no-dig community is any less valuable. You are a star, Huw and thank you so much. Happy Holidays to all the gardening community

[@maruvandermerwe7809]

I really love the approach you are taking. Thank you so much. Videos like this one make me open my mind and not merely believing what others are advocating.

[@kimfox5186]

No truer word was spoken. Well done, you are a breath of fresh air. 😊

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you!!

[@rmjwilliams]

Thank you Hue for your very interesting video I'm about to take on a new allotment in the new year. It has been many years since I had my last one and I have been overwhelmed on how ideas on gardening have developed. You have made me feel more confident in taking on my new adventure thanks

[@pietsnot7002]

I have 5 year old hugel mounds, raised hugel beds, raised beds, sunken beds and ground-level beds, so far l’ve always had the best results on the tilled ground-level beds.. makes sence after your explaination with the blown over tree..

[@leagarner3675]

Huw, always the student. This is a great approach to gardening. When you mention that there are ecosystems in the whole garden, it reminds me that my garden is different from your garden but many principles are the same - just as you are saying here. It would be interesting to swap for a year. Zone 5 in the Midwest US. haha...

[@TransdermalCelebrate]

I live in a fairly built up area and over the fours years I’ve been here I’ve been digging down and removing the general rubble and collective mass, that’s inherent with that form of dispersal, of the soil that’s unwittingly been disturbed, I’ve gradually introduced all of my kitchen scraps and hopefully replenished the ground around me. As I love gardening, I’m happy to sit back and see how I can benefit not just my garden, but the surrounding area, A neighbour of mine commented on my approach and for me, I was actually quite surprised, I think our emphasis on growth, is endemic of the area you happen to live in and enjoy the process as well as continuing our growth and understanding dependent on your current environment.

[@sararampton654]

This video of yours is a master class. Thank you :)

[@melstark3466]

Thank you again for continuing to inspire. Happy holidays!

[@HuwRichards]

You are so welcome!

[@LittleKi1]

I changed my approach to gardening when I reviewed the permaculture that the system has to produce a yield. Using a bunch of techniques and inputs that require personal, financial, or environmental energy and not getting a yield back is wastage. I only bring this up because I did this in my middle years of gardening. I've now put producing a yield front and center and then try to come up with the most effective, environmentally friendly approach as I can. Putting yield first actually has cut down on my waste and mistakes borne out of dogma.

[@ewancarmichael3412]

I agree completely with you. There's no hard and fast way of doing gardening and lots of different way of doing it work. I sometimes get told by certain people that I've got to something the way that they do it, but I always say that I'll do things my own way, but thank you very much trying to help me. I won't tell them that they are wrong because what they are doing probably works, but I just prefer doing things my own way or the way that I've been advised by other people. There's always tons of advice out there but it's up to me which advice I decide to follow and which I'd rather avoid. It's all good. 😊

[@cerrilee]

Thank you for another great video. I am tempted to dub you the Chris Packham of gardening (I think CP is fabulous) for the fearless way you address issues that come up. Your direct, passionate, well-informed and common-sense approach to gardening is so refreshing. 🥰

[@petrastuder7981]

Great video!! As always thx for the inspiration!

[@eternallight7]

Huw you are epic. Your integrity and intelligence shine through. As someone who was attacked on gardening forums by a quite well known gardener because I didn’t adhere to her beliefs and ideas I’m all for tolerance. It wouldn’t have been quite as bad but she ran every local forum. It was her way, or the highway and she had a whole bunch of followers who monitored the sites. Hence I left with a bad taste in my mouth and never joined another. I cringe every time I see her face, which is often. This black or white thinking has invaded every part of our lives and it borders on insanity. You can get the same kind of attacks as you can from some vegetarians who hate with a vengeance anyone who consumes meat. It’s akin to the kind of hatred spread by politicians and mainstream media. But gardening!

[@iartistdotme]

Book pre-ordered, xmas over, feeling pretty good, fingers getting itchy, new hot bed to work on, it's beginning to look a lot like spring.

[@janetjohnson373]

Thank you, Huw you always have some really great ideas. Have a great weekend.

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you! Have a great weekend too!