MIttleider Gardening: Grow Box Prep & Soil Mix

[@LDSPrepper]

Please click the links below the video for more information.

[@dkulikowski]

Thank you LDS, for your patience in answering all my questions. I look forward to your upcoming videos for 2013. I will not be using the Mittleider's method of gardening, at least not anytime soon. I can not afford the starting over with this method. I will rely on the earth and the minimal organic additives that I need to improve it. Again, thank you for your opinions, time and knowledge. Gardening is a big experiment. It is fun, rewarding and beneficial to our great health. Smiles, Lark

[@myclem6674]

I think that you'll have good results with the medium that you've chosen. I didn't go as elaborate as you did but I had by-far the the best results that I've seen ever with wood chips alone this year.

[@LDSPrepper]

Thank you for viewing and commenting. All of the resources and links are below the video where it says, "Show More". Best of luck with your Mittleider garden. Mine is growing amazingly well.

[@LDSPrepper]

Sorry, I had to remake it. It isn't up yet. But it will be soon.

[@LDSPrepper]

Yes, of course but it is fun knowing who's tools they are.

[@LDSPrepper]

A box with holes in the bottom would work great. You could probably find sawdust and sand at a pet store, although it would be expensive compared to finding it at a wood mill or cabinet maker shop . I would make the box 18" wide and for sure use the Mittleider weekly feed fertilizer.

[@LDSPrepper]

The sawdust and rice hulls hold the water for the plants to drink and the sand allows the water the plants don't need to drain. This mix provides a light growing medium so the roots can grow easily which allows the plant to grow quickly and easily too.

[@LDSPrepper]

I leave the soil in the boxes for ever. I top them off with more sawdust when it decomposes. I don't conscientiously rotate crops. I grow whatever I want where there is space. I follow the Mittleider fertilizing protocols and add more pre-plant fertilizer with every new planting. The Mittleider fertilizers are 100% organic. The weekly feed is made from crushed rock. You can't get more organic than rock.

[@LDSPrepper]

The wood chips do decompose. You'll need to add a little back each season. Decomposing wood doesn't crate ammonia.

[@LDSPrepper]

Yes, please watch my next video on mini green house. It will be out shortly.

[@anasazirose]

found about treated lumber:The compounds currently being used are alkaline copper quat (ACQ) and copper azole (CA-B). Both contain copper and a fungicide but no arsenic.The copper keeps insects at bay, and the fungicide prevents soil fungus from attacking the wood. In ACQ, the fungicide is quat, which is also used in swimming-pool chemicals and as a disinfectant. One of the brand names using ACQ is Preserve. The other compound, CA-B, uses copper and tebuconazole, a fungicide used on food crops.

[@LDSPrepper]

Thank you Joseph.

[@dkulikowski]

What do you do at the end of the season with this type of soil mix? Do you rotate crops on a three year rotation? In Spring 2013 will you be adding anything? Are the 13-13-13 or other fertilizers considered organic?

[@LDSPrepper]

I bought the sawdust (they call it wood shavings) at Tomball forest supply. $3.50/bag. You can also use compressed sawdust from feed stores or home depot or lowes. I don't use rice hulls any longer. I used treated lumber from Home Depot not redwood or cedar.

[@LDSPrepper]

Excellent. That is great to know. Thanks for the feedback.

[@LDSPrepper]

No need to be worried unless you are using 15 year old treated lumber. Treated lumber now is completely safe to use. Trust me it is much safer than all the chemicals, pesticides and herbicides we are eating from the food we get from the grocery store.

[@TheRealDonLayton]

Question: I'm new to gardening and just looking into this system. I have a limited area in my yard (about 12x10) that I can use for a garden. It will have limited sunlight each day - probably about 8 hours of light total in a Northern climate with only a 70-110 day growing season. Would this system work (starting my plants inside) or would I be better served by installing a greenhouse?

[@LDSPrepper]

You can purchase everything you need, buying nothing from the Food for Everyone Foundation. They provide a pre-mixed micro nutrient pack for your convenience for about $15 that, when mixed with fertilizer you buy from Home Depot and epsom salts, makes 60 pounds of weekly feed fertilizer. Since you will have to spend $100's if not $1000's buying 50 pound bags of minerals to get the right amounts to mix in proper proportions.

[@LDSPrepper]

A simply mixture of 75% sawdust 25% course sand works great. Just add the Mittleider natural mineral fertilizer each week and you'll have a wonderful garden.

[@Quietwoods2]

Ha ha, Pressure Treated Yellow Pine lumber contains half the treatment it did a few years back thanks to the EPA. It used to say for use below grade, now it says above grade use. It used to have 40 CCA of treatment, now it is half that, 20 CCA of treatment. My carpentry books confirm it used to contain Copper Arsenate, a fancy word for arsenic, but.... I've seen termites eating on this wood quite handily with the lower treating regimen. Love the grow boxes and the results LDSPrepper rocks!

[@LDSPrepper]

You can use 75% sawdust 25% course sand. The rocks will work if they hold the soil in place. Or you can just grow right in the ground, no rocks, sawdust or sand needed for that.

[@lorriehealy5154]

I moved from Utah to Arkansas. Had an awesome Mittleider Method garden in Utah. I’m wondering if, in Arkansas, the sawdust will attract termites.

[@kamnapivo]

what kind of sawdust is used for this method? I only have acces to spruce or pine sawdust, but this is more recomanded for plants that like low PH acidic soil. Do you thik this will work for tomatoes, cucumbers.. etc?

[@TallStarlite]

Thanks for that info I'll check it out.. Agreed, Ldspepper certainly Knows what he's doing.

[@dkulikowski]

I am asking these questions because you have experimented with both methods. Have you and your wife completely stopped the 'Back to Eden' method in 2013? After a couple of years of the 'Back to Eden' method, does the soil keep replenishing all the nutrients, microbes etc on its own? Not to mention all the worms that add nutrients, aeration and microbes. With Mittleider method do you still do worm tea and compost tea?

[@POSMhorsefarmer7]

Why do you stress the importance of molybdenum (MO)? But, in your offered Mittleider Fertilizer it's not listed? Thanks for your help.

[@LDSPrepper]

Thank you for your comment. If you look in the Mittleider Gardening Course book for the recipe of the weekly feed you will see MolyB listed. As with all the minerals listed MO is essential. That is why it is important. ldsprepperstore.com/collections/gardening/products/essential-plant-micro-nutrient-mix

[@anasazirose]

I would use the CA=B if available, as I use copper fungicide anyway and if a plant takes up too much copper it will die before you can eat it. Great video! Smart wife!

[@LDSPrepper]

Please view my "Winter Garden Update" videos to see the dramatic difference between the plant health and production between the Back To Eden and the Mittleider gardens. Once you see that I couldn't imagine anyone using the BTE method. We have completely stopped using it. The plants are starved for nutrients, but not in the Mittleider garden. With Mittleider you do not need any kind o "teas". Simply use the Mittleider weekly feed and you will have great results.

[@LDSPrepper]

All sawdust except walnut works great.

[@John-ts5sg]

ACQ lumber is not recommended for raised bed vegetable gardens. It isn't as dangerous as the old CCA which contained arsenic but I investigated it before I built my raised bed garden and learned that the chemicals can leach into the plants. It isn't worth the risk. Use regular lumber lined with plastic and replace it every five years when it rots.

[@egregoree3662]

+John 3:16 Sources? I'd love more information about this. +LDSPrepper Do you know what form of copper is used or if any other chemicals are used as well? Is all treated lumber treated the same? We can look up the MSDS and perhaps put this debate to rest.

[@LDSPrepper]

If you are in North Spring send me a personal message so we can get together. You are welcome to come visit my garden any time. I bought the sawdust at Tomball wood forest products. They call what I bought shavings. But as you can see they work great. I don't use rice hulls any longer. 75% sawdust 25% course sand works great.

[@anasazirose]

I try not to use chemicals in my body or my food, but I will be using the PT lumber for my beds. Thank you for your awesome videos!

[@juliehepworth4460]

Hi- I bought natural wood instead of the treated wood for my grow boxes. Is there a safe seal to use on the outside of the wood, or should I just leave it alone and let it weather? Also, what is your very favorite substance to put down between the grow boxes?

[@XhanaLabs]

Interesting mix. Looking forward to seeing your results.

[@Taleulah]

Is this bed going to sit over the winter months? I live about 40 miles north of you and would like to try something like this myself. Thanks for sharing. God bless.

[@LDSPrepper]

Pretty much anything that will hold enough water for the plant but allow drainage. There are several recommendations in the Mittleider Gardening Course book. Go to mittleidergardeningDOTcom.

[@disinpho]

Brilliant, great introduction

[@parsimyrum867]

I'm so overwhelmed by all these Prepper stuff. Its depressing me. I just can't do it all by myself. I live on an island and we have none of this stuff

[@egenestarr1986]

yea same here , by myself, .... and everyone is a individual -

[@shalker1974]

Hello! I'm in the north Spring area. Just wondering from which mills you bought your rice hulls and sawdust. There are some lumber mills in Conroe and no feed stores have rice hulls or sawdust - just shavings. And I visited Texas Ready. They were very nice and helpful. Also, where, locally, did you find redwood or cedar for the boxes? Thanks much!

[@stvsanders]

I am curious for those that have tried this. How much does the coarse concrete sand and sawdust run? Price?

[@stvsanders]

***** I ended up getting sawdust for free at a local sawmill and coarse concrete sand runs $3.50 for 48 pound bag at home depot. Awesome!

[@ColvrsmGraff]

How do you know when your sawdust is decomposing? Do you just scrape it off the top or do you need to replace the whole box?

[@lanandabel]

Can you tell me where you got your sand? Thanks you so much for your videos.

[@Brabham26]

Thx so much for these videos. I have never heard of the Mittleider Gardening method. Where can I get this info?

[@darcybilevich2548]

I have a 100% compose soil above ground gardens. Could I just add the Mittleider to my existing soil beds?

[@snorksonforks]

you dont need his fancy mix of powdery stuffs if you have compost beds ... your soil already has all of the fertilizer God would give a plant. Just add water ! ALSO: worm casting "tea" every once an a while dont hurt ;)

[@Valerifon1]

If have a question: It looks like the wood you're using for your frame is treated. Is there any concern for the chemicals used to treat the wood leaching out into the soil and eventually into your plants?

[@LDSPrepper]

+Valerifon1 Great question. The real question is what chemicals were used to treat the wood. For about the last 13 years all treated wood in the U.S.A is treated with copper, which is a essential plant and human nutrient. So no worries.

[@SimplyResourceful]

+Valerifon1 This was a pretty good article: www.gardensalive.com/product/the-new-treated-woods-safe-for-garden-use/you_bet_your_garden

[@serb214]

+LDSPrepper I have a question? How do you build something like this for people who cant bend or kneel but for "very little time"? thanks ahead

[@PTJeff9x]

Curious as to why you don't use rice hulls anymore and why you changed the ratio from equal parts hull, sawdust and sand to 3 parts sawdust to 1part sand. Leaving out the hulls would give you a 2 part sawdust to 1 part sand I'm getting this from your 18" bed construction vid compared to the potato vid

[@dkulikowski]

Can you make this 'weekly' fertilizer on your own, without purchasing anything from Mittleider? Did you give us the formula of this weekly feeding, maybe I missed it? I am thinking that you must 'purchase' something, to make it profitable for Mittleider.

[@mrshaggie810]

I love your video's and I'm getting some great ideas for planting in the spring, and for prepping my beds now, in the dead of winter...but, I was wondering...are you worried about arsenic problems in your food from using the rice hulls with the new information surfacing about increasing arsenic levels in rice? I think I am going to keep my traditional garden,& add wood chips that are soiled from the ducks on top of it, and then do some of your self watering containers for lettuce & strawberries.

[@utseericks]

Yes I worry about the green treat lumber , chemicals leaching into your food?

[@lesellers]

I tried until frustrated beyond words to find the video you referenced on "Mittleider Gardening Pre-Plant and Magic Mineral fertilizer". Obviously I failed. Which one of your 200+ excellent videos is it?

[@teresahuffman4323]

I have thought of another question with the Mittleider method. I was having an issue with my organic gardening with my pH being too high. I would get everything right and then it would go back up. It turned out my water is a little more alkaline then desired. Is this going to be something I need to watch with the Mittleider method. Honestly, the easiest way for me to fix it was to add 1 cup of vinegar per gallon of water once every couple of weeks.

[@velishan1]

LDSPrepper Is there a specific kind of sawdust? I'm seeing sawdust, wood shavings, etc and I'm not sure if it has to be a certain degree of fineness / coarseness that works best. Also I'm having problems finding sawdust to purchase in the NW Ohio area. Is this something that can be purchased at a Lowes / Home Depot type of store?

[@LDSPrepper]

I am not concerned. I do recommend a simple blend of 75% sawdust and 25% sand. It seems to work better.

[@Live_Love_Sing_1234]

From which mill did you get the wood? was it here in katy? Thanks is advanced

[@RollerPigg]

LDSPrepper Just bough the book and to bags of the "stuff"... Here's a question: can sand from a river bank, or just really sandy soil be used? I hate to pay for concrete sand when regular sand from the ground is available and free. I'll probably be mixing it with peat moss (I'm allergic to saw dust)

[@mattkbr]

Joe Stubbernubbensteingenson Out of curiosity, did you try the peat moss ??? How did it work out ??

[@RollerPigg]

I did not. Unfortunately, I didn't try any of it, as I have been consumed by work this spring and have been unable to get any kind of a garden going.

[@mattkbr]

I hear you, I am off to a late start, and just experimenting at the moment with containers. I live in a town house, so I dont have a lot of room except patio gardening at the moment.

[@annwithaplan9766]

+Joe Stubbernubbensteingenson He said "washed" sand. So I'm guessing if you wash the sand first it would be ok. I bought a 50lb bag from Lowe's for about $3.50 and use it in my container gardening but am going to try out the Mittleighter method.

[@133TeeTee]

It is so hard to pay attention to you with that adorable little doggie in the background...wow so cute

[@bartendersunny1]

Where do you find the rice hulls? I’m near Houston

[@mellyjohnson]

We have the mittleider book and are trying to follow as best as we can but sawdust where we live is expensive. It will cost us almost $1000 to fill our grow boxes. Can we just put dirt (free) inside?

[@hacksaw44]

Do weeds grow up thru there or do you put something down before the sand and woodchips?

[@richardduque4701]

Can give information on the pre Plan mix?

[@ritaatkins9829]

Ihave been trying to find sawdust in surprise Arizona area and cannot find it any where, any sugestions

[@TallStarlite]

Sorry you took my comment as ignorant, Trust me I'm a big fan of your videos! I just finished installing two 275gal totes Using your video's as my template. I'm currently growing under the advice of "growingyourgreens" channel which is where I herd about treated lumber is bad for growing in.. You certainly do very well with your methods, So I've bought the mlttleider books. Having trouble finding saw dust/ wood chips here in the city. Anyways thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@demonvet]

I heard sawdust absorbs nitrogen then plant doesn't get enough nitrogen to grow. You use 75% sawdust. Can you explain to me? Because I know your method does great and I got knowledge crash.

[@ordinary_average_guy]

Came across your Mittleider videos while watching your greenhouse build and it piqued my interest. I just started watching these video and I'm curious as to what is in the fertilizer, where it comes from and what the cost is? You had said you wanted to be self reliant in another vid while talking about growing your own potatoes but I keep seeing you spread different fertilizer mixtures which I am assuming you have to buy? No disrespect, I just don't want to spend hours watching this series to find out it's a pitch for some fertilizer.

[@ScratchinMyAss]

Sorry to bother you here, I am also in Houston. Could I trouble you for the names of the companies where you purchased the saw dust, rice parts and sand. So much appreciated. I have ordered the grow wheel mentioned in one of your earlier videos. You are already saving me money and resources. So very much appreciated. God bless you! PS, your back yard garden is amazing. Also, do you purchase the Mittlider products locally or do you order on line?

[@thadcarter6213]

David, just want to say thanks you videos have been a big help. I have ordered all the mittleier CD-ROMS, I am just wondering if this method can be certified organic? Thanks again Thad

[@Rayzer2368]

To answer your question as to who is smarter in your marriage: I would have to say you are because you married a woman with power tools, whereas she married a man with manual tools. Just my observation.

[@ALayne08]

Love it. Thanks

[@LDSPrepper]

Click the link below the video.

[@jeffthompson8663]

this conversation baffles me---- why use sawdust anyway--use rich dark soil mixed with a quality mulch(no chemicals) and a bit of sand...minimal sand i should say

[@LDSPrepper]

Jeff Thompson I use to wonder the same thing. Then I started asking what was in the expensive soil and compost we use to buy. The question really should be why pay a huge price per cubic foot for rich dark soil then pay more for quality mulch then you don't know what you are getting in that mix. Sawdust can be gotten free from cabinet shops, etc. Clean sand is very inexpensive. I want to know what is in the growing medium (soil) that I am getting my food from. When we use sawdust and sand we know it doesn't have weed seeds, insect larvae, diseases, pesticides or herbicides. In other words we know what is not in it. It is clean. Soil needs to do 5 things: 1) Hold the plant. 2) Hold water 3) Hold nutrients 4) Hold air (air pockets) 5) Mitigate temperature swings. After researching I found that sand and and sawdust do all of those things at a fraction of the cost and risk of garden soils and compost. If you continue to watch my videos on this gardening method you will see that spending $50 on sand and sawdust verses spending $1,000 on what I call designer soil outproduced the expensive soil six to one. Instead of hoping and relying on the expensive soil to have the nutrients plants need I use inexpensive custom soil and give the plants the nutrients they need. I hope that answers your question. This video may interest you. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJe8dmhsfZZgp5o

[@jeffthompson8663]

Ok thank you---

[@jeffthompson8663]

LDSPrepper

[@mattkbr]

LDSPrepper Curiosity question. have you ever tried using this planting mix in potted Containers ??

[@danaprice8042]

Can the sawdust be from green trees?

[@gardenshedmanchester]

When you've got an extra time, why not spend it through growing your own food instead of wasting it. Afterwards, you will realize that it has helpful benefits. Growing box prep and soil mixing tips are the best answers to start with. By learning this advice you can create your own by following these steps in the most cheapest way.

[@CH-yw1oz]

I have the opportunity to obtain free wood shavings from a ground up pine tree stump. Does it matter what variety of wood shavings is used in the sawdust/sand mixture. I heard long ago unaged tree shavings are not good to grow in. Thank you.

[@cindybonem2412]

Excellent video.

[@jeremiahpatchett3711]

hey, where did you purchase your sawdust and rice hulls at? I live in Houston and wish to build my first gardens. Thank you in advance!

[@golden.333]

Jeremiah Patchett it's in the bio

[@RustyRodriguez]

I live in the Houston area as well, Sugarland area actually. Where did you get the rice hulls?

[@golden.333]

RustyRodriguez it's in the bio

[@GoNinjoe]

Just thought id add to this. If you click on show more at the top(Right below the video and when it was published) you will find links to the places.

[@LDSPrepper]

I'm not sure why I or any other home gardener would be interested or concerned about meeting the ignorant "organic" requirements from WSDA. I certainly am not. If people are interested in growing a lot of healthy food than they should follow this system to the tee.

[@LDSPrepper]

I bought my sand at Nature's Way Resources.

[@LDSPrepper]

Mix Gypsum or Lime (depending on your average rainfall) with Epsom Salt and Borax at a 8:4:1 ratio. For more details please download the "Fertilizer Formula" sheet in the file section of the Mittleider Gardening Facebook group. I hope that helps.

[@LDSPrepper]

I have not interest in meeting someone else's ignorant definition of organic. I am interested in growing a lot of healthy food. That is exactly what I am doing.

[@Tiki71]

4:19 was great!

[@LDSPrepper]

No, just having some fun with "our" gardens. :)

[@LDSPrepper]

You don't know what minerals and at what levels you are getting with compost. No need to be worried unless you are using 15 year old treated lumber. Treated lumber now is completely safe to use. Trust me it is much safer than all the chemicals, pesticides and herbicides we are eating from the food we get from the grocery store.

[@sheebakitty378]

love your videos. are you still doing the Google business? I forget the name of it but i was just curious if you are still doing it because I am really considering it. do you still reccomend ?

[@lesellers]

LDSPrepper wrote and said he has had to redo that video. We'll see it in a (short?) while, if I understand correctly.

[@jeanettegrisham2361]

I can't find your pre-plant video; can you send me the video to me?

[@anasazirose]

According to Miles McEvoy, who works in organic certification with the Washington State Department of Agriculture, no pressure-treated wood is allowed in soils used to grow organic food. If you want to meet this high standard, choose a different material.

[@ella5024]

Is that treated lumber?

[@LDSPrepper]

Ella Absolutely. It is treated with copper which is a trace mineral for plants.

[@ella5024]

So the new treated lumber is ok to use around plants, where it used to be arsenic, now it's copper?

[@warrenlc57]

Where did you buy your sawdust?

[@LDSPrepper]

L Warren Thank you for your kind comments. Now that I have moved to Idaho I contacted some local cabinet shops. They were very willing to bag the sawdust for me and give to me at now cost. You might consider making some calls and see if you can get yours at no cost too.

[@warrenlc57]

Thank you very much! I will do that.

[@Sig220Euro]

LDSPrepper Do you think if you took them a couple large empty trash cans that they might fill it for free? I'm thinking otherwise they probably have to pay to haul it off or have to burn it. Is the extra fine sawdust ok or will it pack down or need more sand? I was thinking when you talk about sawdust that it'd need to be the courser stuff like at the mill when they saw the logs into boards.

[@aslimlines3069]

could you use pine bark as a medium

[@LDSPrepper]

+aslimline S Great question. You can use any organic matter instead of sawdust as long as it does the same thing as sawdust. That is hold the water, hold the plant, and not sour. Wood shavings like for animal bedding is so wide it sours. Wood chips are so thick they don't hold water well. Peat moss, coconut coil work quite well.

[@margaretwinter2161]

I live in Florida, would cypress sawdust work? Or do I need sawdust from soft or hard wood? what could I use to replace the rice hulls, I am not finding rice hulls for sale anywhere. Thanks, I need your advice!

[@kamnapivo]

have you found out if it should be soft or hard wood? i am concerned that if I use softwood it will be low PH acidic growing medium.

[@hacksaw44]

I guess it is not a free ebook anymore. Can you email it out ?

[@13jazzhd]

Why sand and rock dust instead of soil? I've been trying to find out what's the difference and why it's better anybody know??

[@jaydolan4808]

Jazmine Wood cheaper

[@MMMHUMMEL]

Soil carries lots of disease

[@ooohlaa13]

wouldn't most sawdust be toxic since most wood is treated by stuff you can hardly pronounce ... kinda scary lots of times things do not need to be identified if they are under a certain percentage, like in food there are many loopholes.

[@sandyralston5814]

BarbaraL Lowell our sawdust comes straight from the sawmill where the logs are sawed BEFORE any chemicals are added. Straight from the forest.

[@beosliege]

Yea I can't find it either, .....

[@NavigatedChaos]

Sand, rice, and saw dust seems like the worst way to filter water but for some reason people are successful with it. Why is that if they all absorb water?

[@suemcfarlane4199]

You could use a concrete mixer to mix your growing mix I can get ver cheap rice hulls in my area of Australia and I think I may borrow a friends concrete mixer to mix mygrow medium the rules are who ever dies with the most toys wins so I think your wife has a advantage on you

[@LDSPrepper]

I don't have a dog either. That is my daughters. :)

[@LATEBLOOMIN]

also, wood chips breaking down pull nitrogen away from growing plants.