No-Dig Gardening FAQs Answered: Charles and Mitch at Homeacres

[@JohnDoe-qp9qb]

Charles you seem like a beautiful human being to be around with. Lots of calmness and positivity

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks John

[@southlondonreseller389]

Charles is the GOAT of gardeners.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

🕺🏼 thanks

[@Im-just-Stardust]

Very good interview! Well done Mitch ! Thank you Charles. PS: To add about ''Why no dig'' And ''Soil compaction with no dig''. My backyard was very ''compact'' when I bought my property few years ago. So I decided to let my backyard grow ''wild'' for 4 years, literally not caring of it at all. For 4 years the wild grass grew wild and the roots penetrated deep, died, and grew again and again. Last year I went to plant a tree, I could not believe it. The ground feels like walking on a sponge now. When I dug the hole for the tree it was as soft as it can get. Same thing happen in the garden when you don't dig the roots... The soil doesnt get compacted like a brick, it just gets ferm.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

What a lovely history, and thank you for sharing this

[@smas3256]

Stay Primal. What a great testimonial. Nature taking care of itself.

[@donaldduck830]

"wild backyard for 4 years" My village council would be all over me like nothing I want. Secondly: I had some areas with grass that I wanted to use again. These areas with grass were ultrahard to dig and plant a tree in, worse than anything else to dig. 3rd: A few years back I tried to improve an area where there were a lot of weeds, so I covered it very deep in mulch. After a few years, I put some cover crop seeds in. While they did sprout in the top half inch of mulch that was left, below that it was so hard that the roots could not penetrate. Sorry, but I call bs on your story.

[@garydenner6253]

A NO BULLSHIT induction of how its done, & with 2 DIAMOND GEEZERS! Cheers boys for putting all of these questions to rest! I've been a (digger),now thanks to you Charles, I'm a NO DIGGER & have certainly seen a major increase in production. Thank you Govner. Gary, 8th generation first fleet convict in Australia.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😂 Thanks Gary and I love your humour! I'm so pleased to have helped

[@stormbunnie6966]

I keep coming back to this video. Charles and Mitch are absolute treasures, everything about this video puts me at ease. It's slow pace, the soft voices, the whole premise of the video. I love it.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad you enjoyed it! We had fun :)

[@Marcel_Audubon]

Mitch does a great job of facilitating the questions

[@thepermapatch]

If I have the honor to meet Charles one day, I would thank him for showing me something in this world that finally makes sense and giving me the strength to see another day. Now, I speak of him and his methods here in Eastern Europe to spread awareness of the simpler ways we can make a change!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

How kind thanks, here's to health in your world 💚

[@TransdermalCelebrate]

That’s wonderful, every little helps when you’re finding your feet 👍

[@TransdermalCelebrate]

I use beer/lager traps for the slugs and snails, but naturally it depends on the size of growing space and conditions 👍

[@donnabrooks1173]

He is so humble. An honorable person. Very important trait. Love him. Amazing person!!!!!!!!

[@nickhammersonrocks]

ROCK ON MITCH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@lara-nikkiramsey9415]

This was fun to watch as an American. Yes, in America dirt= soil. However, when I was getting my BS in Plant and Soil Science, I was taught that “dirt” is something that gets on your pants when you’re working and you wash it off. Soil is in the ground. So it sounds like you Brits have it right 😊. As far as soil goes, it’s sand, silt, and clay in many different percentages. Refer to the soil triangle. Compost is completely decomposed organic matter. Thank you so much for these videos. I’m in a completely different zone, but I’ve learned so much from you! Every video has something of interest. Sometimes Huge concepts and sometimes tidbits that are very useful. Thank you for taking the time to make such informative videos ❤

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Lovely comment thanks Lara-Nikki

[@tanarehbein7768]

I trust you more than the conflicting advice because you keep it simple, practical and illustrate your legitimate success (and you are honest about failures).

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Awesome! Thanks

[@hollyjobitner3285]

Every time I watch you, I get anxious for the spring. We grow spinach all winter, under a grow light. We have raised beds and they have made gardening less work especially since we incorporated the no dig method. My compost piles are taunting me with potential good food. I am from Pennsylvania, USA with a lot of Irish influence. I call dirt, dirt. My husband always says soil. He’s form central PA with a more German population. Thanks for tolerating my ramblings. 💙

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice to hear Holly, interesting about your spinach, and here's to spring!

[@clynthia0510]

I am intrigued by your growing spinach all winter long under a grow light. I am about to start my seeds for spring, and spinach is among them. Yes, I'm new at gardening. I've never used grow lights before. I grew and harvested 6 containers of broccoli recently. This has encouraged me to get more food growing. Best wishes from Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA.

[@hollyjobitner3285]

@@clynthia0510 My husband is the spinach man. We use compost in an “Earth Box”. There is a grow tent, fan and timer for the light. He grows spinach leaves the size of your hand, not that bag of first leaves that becomes slimy in two days. It’s nice to grow it down cellar in a cool environment where it is slower to bolt. A light and a pot full of compost is all you need and is where we started. We like to continue growing it in the basement even in the summer. Give it a try and best of luck. Don’t forget the simplification of no dig! The hardest part was convincing my husband to give it a try 💙

[@GoingGreenMom]

@@hollyjobitner3285 How did you convince him? Trying to convince my uncle to give it a try, but I think just thinks I'm nuts to even do mulch, but he got buried in weeds last year.

[@hollyjobitner3285]

@@GoingGreenMom I suppose the idea of not having to till the garden appealed to him. We as humans are naturally lazy. Our carrots for a year or two were challenging. Last year we planted them in April. Our last frost date is approximately Memorial Day. We were pulling carrots and parsnips in November. Pull those weeds and throw them in the compost pile. Throw out some compost and plant. What could be easier. I’ve gardened practically all my life. My dad would use his tiller to make the dirt very fine. He was very fussy about not walking on the dirt. Different ideas are sometimes better and simpler. Happy gardening! 💙

[@boaeoq9404]

Charles is a brilliant teacher - a true educator. The outbreak of Covid scared me into growing food. I copied Charles’s method and started simply with a few bits of cardboard (on horrible lumpy weedy clay) plus a couple of bags of compost. It worked! Subsequently, three years down the line, I have been feeding my family and am hooked on the magic of growing. I now make my own compost (RED Garden on KZbin - ‘One rule compost’ deserves credit).I have also learned more things on this journey such as making jam, vinegar, chutney and sloe gin. It’s so much fun. I still have no weeds. No dig really works…it has been so easy for a complete novice like me to begin the journey and has made growing food a really lovely enjoyable experience. Still learning (rats, pigeons, deer!🤔) Thank you for your inspiring work Charles. ❤😊

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wonderful to hear and thanks

[@smas3256]

I'm in my mid 70's. When I turned 50 I said to myself, that's enough. No fear of anything. Started no dig watching Charles a couple years ago and decided I could do that too. Charles has been a gift.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

@@smas3256 Ah great! Go you.

[@peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo7920]

Thanks Charles and Mitch, Always great to hear your Common Sense Logic 👍

[@christinajuarez5502]

Charles you have changed my life, my gardens have never been better! My mother has health issues and I took over her garden beds for her. I switched her garden beds over to no dig we used cardboard as it was basically 3 feet tall grasses. It worked wonderfully and her spring bulbs came up more beautiful than ever! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your time to share it with the world. Much love from the Pennsylvania Dutch country where everyone thinks I’m crazy when I tell them my gardens are no dig.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I'm so happy to read this Christina. Also, I'm amazed that your neighbours do not yet know about no dig, clearly there is more education needed! I'm getting strong feedback now from all over the world, but I guess that is still a minority. I hope that your neighbours will see and copy your excellent methods!

[@OliverCampbell-f6x]

3:42 I’m so glad he reminded me he was speaking to Charles 😂

[@tamararoberts9307]

Planting a tree is the same as transplanting plants , just on a bigger scale. Mimic nature as close as possible ( no-dig method) is the healthiest way 👌

[@georgegretzky7139]

Charles you the best gardener on KZbin ever

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚 thanks

[@owenp65]

A brilliant video answering plenty of questions clear plain and simple. This will be my third year of growing using the No Dig method and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Less work, bigger harvests and aesthetically pleasing on the eye as well. Each year the plot becomes easier to manage and looks so good with minimal weeding required. I am forever thankful to you Charles Dowding.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Fantastic Owen 💚

[@owenp65]

.

[@ponytv9996]

Spread the word. No Dig is great.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚

[@rominaadimari8723]

Muchas gracias por su vídeo!!! Par de Holgazanes!!!!jajajs ahora en serio: como siempre Charles, sus explicaciones son tan claras que sólo hace falta aplicar el método y ver el resultado por experiencia propia!!!además de la belleza de las hortalizas y flores que dan tanto color a Homeacres, gracias por compartirlo con todos nosotros! Gracias gracias gracias!!! Saludos desde Argentina!!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Eso es tan bueno, estoy feliz de ayudar 😎!

[@stoptheinsanity3844]

always add compost on top before the season. and throughout the season add grass clippings and compost when everything pops up.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😎 nice

[@codelicious6590]

Mycellium loves cardboard as well.

[@TransdermalCelebrate]

I’ve noticed the drop off as well, when it comes to your soil, so composting and keeping a regular turnover undoubtedly helps 👍

[@Livingintheshoe]

I did no dig for the first time last year….had a great crop with so much less weeding! I love it! Excited to start this year’s garden 💕

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds great! Happy to see this

[@pperrinuk]

Great vid. It is good that the no-dig is more productive than dig - but even if it wasn't, the reduction in work would make it a preferable system. Just about to start our second year of no dig!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Couldn't agree more 💚

[@เขตกะสนคนเกษตร]

Long time no watch your vdo.good feeling to see plant.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cool!

[@Naturalwholeness]

Loved this video, thanks for spreading the word. I’ve created 2 community no dig gardens now and am blown away by the simplicity and abundance 🌱💚

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That is awesome, not one but two, and thanks

[@wjs5773]

I have watched many of not most of your videos Charles but this one brings a lot of principles together and I really enjoyed it. Mitch asked good questions . As I currently have a very dodgy back, I would just add another word in favour of raised beds.I appreciate the problem with hidden pests but as you get older you may appreciate the benefits of raised beds which could outweigh or equal their disadvantage.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Awesome, thank you and that is a fair point!

[@jethrojackson2524]

Mitch, you seeking help from the source of all living gardens!

[@nickhammersonrocks]

YES MITCH PLEASE GO CLOSER TO THE COMPOST HEAP AND TALK ABOUT IT !!!!!! THAT WAY IT CAN HEAR YOU TALK NICE THINGS ABOUT IT AND YOUR KIND WORDS WILL ENERGIZE, STIMULATE, AND SPREAD YOUR POSITIVE VIBES ALL THROUGHOUT IT’S METAPHYSICAL BEING !!!!!!!!!!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😂 Vintage comment 💚

[@MitchGrows]

Hey Charles just letting you know you tagged my old channel. This is the one im using now.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Ok cool, changed it

[@jophermans]

Absolute super interesting Q&A interview Charles and Mitch! But I have a question 😅 I know...that was the whole point of the video... But I'm confused. As at 16:08 you talk about the composting process, stating that you don't put raw material straight to the compost pile to avoid slugs and other small animals entering the compost pile. But where does the raw garden material then go first? I obviously am not a composting expert, just curious. We love your videos, very inspiring to use some no-dig methods in our city garden

[@craigmetcalfe1749]

Hey Charles and Mitch! I was really attracted to the thumbnail image of this video and I thought to myself...pick the frustrated thespian. Coming from the world of cloud computing and hoping to be replaced by AI and ChatGPT (AI's most popular child) the day of my retirement, I have come to rely heavily on FAQs in my career. So as far as I'm concerned, this new format is a winner. Keep growing on and realise that you will never win the classical thespian argument...should we have a bigger stage or a larger audience. Fortunately, the introduction of technology means that this doesn't have to be a zero-sum game. Cheers!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Craig and I had to look up ChatGPT! Freaky.... big changes so fast. Thank goodness for soil and plants. I gave a talk on Sunday and the stage, was not big enough, with 30 people, shut out! So you're right, online, this problem does not happen! But we miss out on other things. Funnily enough, surfing is something you can do online and in real life!

[@jadecicily]

Apparently I'm out of the loop. I got all excited and thought Mitch was his son lol.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😂

[@mrflaxtv81]

Me too!

[@pascalxus]

I'm a big fan of No Dig. Ever since the first day I watched charles dowding, I stopped digging! I've already purchased "How to create a new vegetable garden", and "Winter Leaves". Thank you so much!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Happy to see this Pascal, and I'm glad you have the books

[@lesliekendall5668]

I've gotten in the habit of laying down black plastic first (say 10' x 100') and leaving it for at least a year (or longer if I'm not planning a bed there yet). Or folding back just enough for the size bed I want to start. THEN I put down the cardboard and compost. Sometimes it even depends on how much cardboard I've accumulated. Edit: I said that before you mentioned it. Brilliant minds....I guess.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice!

[@andrewhammill6148]

Where I live, it is basically on top of a mountain and the ground is mostly rock with very little soil, (Yes - I'm from the US and I say soil - LOL). So, growing directly on the ground using the no dig method is pretty much impossible. So raised beds were built. But after the initial soil and compost were purchased to fill the beds, (along with the bottom of the beds filled with branches, logs, etc.), I make a concerted effort to run my beds with a no dig method. I just backfill the tops of the beds between plantings with compost.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

This makes perfect sense Andrew, I'm glad it's working for you, and you are building soil!

[@gardenepiphany5408]

Same! Rocks and clay. Raised beds are a must. But I just keep adding compost!

[@pamelamcvey3808]

Hi Charles, thank you for this. Another really interesting and informative video. You have raised a subject that will be really important to me in the future - compacted soil. We will soon begin constructing a house in the Burgundy region of France. The main, constructible plot (1100m2) plot is on a steep (8%) slope. During the construction period, we will get a terassier to turn this slope into 2 flat levels (play level and a vegetable-growing level), with steeper slopes in-between, to catch-up with the natural slope, taking us to the top of the garden. Then at the top/back, we will have 3 1/3 acres of land with a much gentler slope. Most of this we will turn into a forrest but will keep around 4000m2 for ourselves. Some of this will be used for an orchard, forrest garden, flat football pitch like area, wild areas, etc. The terrasier will create the flat areas we need up there too. We want to have lots of perrenial food-growing plants, a sizeable vegetable patch and lots of flowering plants and bushes. But now my concern is that with the terrasier doing quite a bit of work with a digger to do the levelling, the resulting land will be too compacted to be useful. Additionally, it will disturb the soil to a great degree, causing the damage which No Dig aims to avoid. I have no idea what I can do about this as we can't create the flat levels we need without this process. I'd really appreciate your input on this. I have your Organic Gardening book but of course this isn't a subject covered there. Thank you.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Big job. I would leave all the top ground unlevelled, that sounds unnecessary to do, there's nothing wrong with slopes! On the rest, whether or not the machine causes compaction, depends on how wet the soil is when he is working. You may or may not need to do a forking, then compost on top

[@pamelamcvey3808]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig thank you! Yes for the top part, we'll only level what we need to, for example the sports pitch area and if we have a second potager area. I didn't explain that part well in my message. That's good to know about the difference the wetness of the soil makes when the job's being done. I'll try to see if we can organise it to be done when the soil is dry (if by wetness of the soil you meant the dryer it is then the less compacted it should become). And then we'll do the forking if required, and compost. I'm happy to hear that it should be something we can take care of ourselves with time and energy. Thank you for the continued inspiration and education.

[@barbaradavidson1950]

That kale is beautiful. Makes me want mine to grow faster. Can't wait to plant them out.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yup!

[@cynthiahofer2903]

Getting excited to start but we still have a foot of snow. One can dream and plan for a while longer yet.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wishing you warmth!

[@tarasteffes540]

Interesting story in our family. Over 25 years ago I planted 3 Heritage River Birch trees and did not dig a hole to plant them in . I set all three on top of the ground and surrounded them with dirt and mulch , mostly mulch . They not only survived but have thrived.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That is amazing. I'm guessing you must've given them a good stake, to stop them blowing over since roots were not anchored in the ground. And maybe were fortunate with the weather? Or watering a lot because those roots could easily dry out.

[@riza876]

Charles you are the best!! Love you brother.

[@Spottius]

Charles Dowding is to gardeners what John Wilson (RIP) is to fishermen. Both have that genuine love and warmth that has motivated generations of individuals.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

How nice and thanks 💚

[@stuckinthemudgarden7726]

Charles I would like to thank you for all the great information you put out . I struggled gardening for many years. I had some good success growing using the back to Eden method,but just using wood chips and fighting with planting in the was frustrating. Just using compost it makes growing a completely enjoyable experience. Once again thank you for all you do .

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Great job and many thanks :)

[@spoolsandbobbins]

Yes! People call it dirt here in Canada too. But I don’t think they really know what they’re talking about 😂. We call ours soil, because it’s ALIVE. To me, dirt is anything you don’t really want hanging around. Great video guys!!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Many thanks!

[@richardkerkof8500]

I am in Washington State and I think of dirt as the subsoil dug up during construction. Soil is alive and has organic matter, bacteria, fungi, and other biological component organisms. 🌹

[@robertling9872]

Beautiful Q&A conversation and video. Thank you both for sharing.

[@tamararoberts9307]

I LOVE this condensed informative video ! ❤️

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad you like it!!

[@cliveinsley9608]

Thoroughly enjoyed another no-dig session. Im already persuaded. Having moved house late last year to where no gardening had been done for years we face a wet clay base. Ive aerated the soil with the fork but not sure of benefit yet. Several bags of bark chips to cover borders pro tem but the packing boxes i didnt know what to do with are resurrected and some are already on the ground under the compost bin. Others ready for when we get compost. Thanks for dissuading me from making sides for beds more to spend on compost which will have to be bagged for this first season . Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers Clive, thanks for feedback and that sounds encouraging

[@denisebrady6858]

Charles this was once again extremely interesting & informative- I LOVE your wonderful excitement when you talk about Homeacres. As you know I am very despondent at the moment in my Garden due to the extreme heat- but it is Australia & I have lived here all my life so I need to grow up & get over it Hahhahaha. Cheers Denise- Australia

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad you enjoyed it Denise. I hope you can get through the next six weeks or so, because your spring and autumn sounds pretty nice to me! And I've heard a fair bit from Melbourne, how cool it has been down there?!

[@scootertasmania6619]

Great video thanks..times must be tough in the U.K...looks like razor blades are expensive lol

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😂 keeps us warm!

[@frankbarnwell____]

Loving those sunflowers, Charles! Seriously. 4 years of Charles and NO DIG, I've found my wet, airless soil is good. I raise beds slightly, or just simple mounds. 4-6 inches. I've a larger and easier garden plan in action now. Peas, turnips, potatoes, radishes and carrots. Good luck all

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That is awesome Frank, nice work.

[@frsujongaming]

Very good

[@smas3256]

Thanks Charles. The Q and A with Mitch style was nicely done. Glad I read through comments. Repetition is a good thing. Zone map says I'm 6a and 6b. (go figure lol) USA.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad you enjoyed it Hope the zone knowledge helps!

[@JessicaRarey]

Thank you! Very helpful video and lots of practical information for gardening!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You are welcome Jessica

[@inventor226]

I am turning a large yard into a garden this spring.I have been saving all of my moving and other cardboard boxes to try no dig. I have wet clay soil with boulders (some the size of cars) mixed through out so a tiller would probably not have worked anyways.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good luck! Quite an adventure

[@FireflyOnTheMoon]

It would make a good t-short "No Dig Is Not A Religion". - - Soil compaction is often used to discussed the state of a lawn that has had a lot of constant footfall for decades.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You are right, that would be a cool title! Thanks for your idea

[@waynesell3681]

Great interview. Lots of questions and answers as we are one day closer to spring!

[@willowtree4121]

Wonderful question and answer session. It's took me about three seasons to convince my 'digging' husband to try no dig on our allotment. We now have 10 beds with woodchip paths and will never go back to digging, which is great seeing as we are getting on in years. Gardening is so wonderful for your physical and mental health - our allotment saved us during covid, allowed us to get out in fresh air and have socially distanced chats with fellow gardeners, as one 93 year old said it is his allotment that keeps him alive.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

So nice to see this! Yes the advancing years!!

[@duujo]

Fantastic

[@olgasmile6977]

Благодарю за интересное видео❤! Приятно было ещё раз услышать прекрасные рекомендации для получения здорового урожая и прогуляться по чудесному участку Homeacres❤❤❤😊👍

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Это так приятно, спасибо

[@videovideo166]

great interview. Accurate questions.

[@laurell678]

LOVE your channel and info. I am limited to what I can do, but 2yrs ago started a no-dig on my lawn, approx 2m x 2m. gradually increased a few metres when I could, now it measures 15m x 15m with self sowing crops and recently added citrus and fruit trees. Absolutely direct sowed into (bought) compost, and our grandkids enjoy learning and being helpful in it and eating the berries etc as do the chooks. Cheers from NZ

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

How wonderful and thanks for sharing!

[@emilyprice9423]

Absolutely brilliant Q&A, so informative! Thanks guys, this has been ace! 🙌🏽

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad you enjoyed it 🙂

[@annelandon7889]

Brit in Alberta, Canada here, working in a garden centre. Dirt is the word used for soil. Compost word is used in the same way.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Anne, v helpful!

[@manuelrojas4483]

Muy buenas preguntas y muy buenas respuestas,que aclaran dudas que tenemos todos los que disfrutamos de huertos ecológicos.Saludos desde Tenerife!! 👌🏻👏🤙🏻🥕🥦🌿🐞🌸🍅🥬🌹

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Gracias Manuel

[@geesgardeningclubuk5247]

Brilliant bit of education 👍🏼

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚

[@bronco5644]

That’s correct that many Americans refer to soil as “dirt”. When I took soil science at the University, our instructor was very strict that we didn’t refer to soil as “dirt”. He said that “dirt” was what collected under one’s fingernails.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Love this. I have soil under my nails, or compost! 😂

[@camicri4263]

Brilliant, thank you!🤗❤️

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad you enjoyed it Cami

[@camicri4263]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig always do

[@stevendowden2579]

great video both

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Steven 👍

[@emanuelaperuzzo768]

Quando guardo questi video resto sempre abbagliata dal lavoro svolto grazie

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

È così bello, grazie mille

[@muddyboots2531]

Thank you for this. I got given a Bishop of Llandaff as a gift. It looks beautiful on the packet so I would love it to grow well.

[@kdbolson]

You are totally right, Charles. In the states the word "dirt" is often used to mean soil. One example, saying "Black Dirt" is equivalent to saying "Top Soil". I hadn't thought of it before, but it is a strange use of the word.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Interesting, thanks :)

[@Johnv950]

This was a fun video! I thoroughly enjoy all of your videos and this video, I felt like I saw a different side of you ❤

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Oh thank you John, that's nice

[@Powerfamilygarden]

I use to pull all the used soil out of my garden beds until I realized I could just top it off with compost and make the soil richer. I top off my raised beds now in the spring with compost I’ve made over the growing season the year before. I kept hearing about rotating crops because of the soil and since I was limited on space I assumed stupidly that replacing the soil would fix the issue. I didn’t need to do either. Just feed the soil and keep on going.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good to see this, big savings of time and soil!

[@ashagray1135]

Thank you for your prompt reply.I still have a bag and a half of the mulch,but will put it in the garden not on my raised beds for growing veg.I made one of them a no dig with cardboard and compost,for overwintering spring veg,and that has done the best compared with the other beds, I love listening to your videos.Thank you.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wonderful!

[@vanessaadams9145]

I will be starting a brand new garden this spring, raised beds about 2-3ft high, the most limited amount of space that ive had so far so my plan is to turn the beds into a "compost bin" next month so that hopefully by the full spring of things this year it will be full of organic matter in it . Wish me luck lol I am in northern ontario canada quite cold here still but its coming soon enough

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Enterprising Vanessa and I wish you success 💚

[@kevinwharton903]

Lots of great info 👌

[@KentuckyCornbread3219]

As always excellent video & loads of excellent information 👍❤️

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad you enjoyed it Troy

[@funnywolffarm]

In a nice course I took a while back (in the US) the thought that 'dirt' is misplaced 'soil' was thrown out; over time I have come to see some value to this way of defining the term. Dirt = soil out of place, and, lacking life and/or function therefore. Thanks for the video, as always.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice definition

[@rhysjaggar4677]

I've turned two separately dug areas into no-dig vegetable gardens (one a back garden, one an allotment) and you see quite clearly within 3 years how the soil is healing, its structure improves - it's most noticeable in the quality of brassicas to be honest. I also noticed with the back garden bed that after 5-6 years, there is something visually different about the nature of the soil too. The other thing I can say is that compost is critical, even in no-dig. I didn't have enough compost at home to compost all the beds last year and the one bed of the four main ones that couldn't get any compost was visibly worse in allowing vegetables to grow than those which did receive it.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Great gardening Rhys, you are epic

[@kymvalleygardensdesign5350]

Good questions and good answers you have cleared up a mistake I was about to make

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cool!

[@joannford5860]

Thanks, as you answered most of my questions. Learning something new every day is very helpful. I am doing no dig raised gardens with cardboard base, then use my own compost. But I will put Bio Tone starter fertilizer in bed before starting my potatoes in the middle of February. Weather permitting. I'm zone 8b.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad to help, may your potatoes grow nicely

[@Eclips8it]

COMPOST QUESTION to @CharlesDawding1nodig, What materials do you compost ? ( the explanation at 16:00 did cause some added confusion) : "... raw material we don't put on here", i.e. food scraps & leaves you don't use due to slug issues. Instead composting wood chips/bark and weeds were stated at different talking points. And the "Green waste compost" you bought (17:50) also suggested merely wood-comprised. I'm new to your channel and glad, thanks to this content to finally grasp the diff btwn compost & soil. But fell short on the range of materials (organic, and non-organic if any) you actually compost besides wood & weeds. Is that it ? Do you incl. Grass clippings, flowers, branches, all weed kinds/dandelions...? Much obliged for more clear-cut ingredients to your compost method. Likewise grand, If anyone can direct herein to a supporting video which breaks down Charles's compost method - Props all!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

This video will help you kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3TJpYuYrspkd6M and this from my website Weeds (green) include some soil (brown) on their roots, so you can make fine compost from them alone. You can compost perennial weeds too - I add roots and leaves of bindweed, docks, nettles, buttercups, dandelions and couch grass. They break down even in winter’s cooler heaps, and regrow only if left exposed to light. You can save much time by not separating out perennial weeds. Fresh leaves are green and older leaves become more brown, so autumn tree leaves are mostly brown. Tree leaves take up to two years to compost, or one year when added to green/nitrogenous materials such as grass. They also decompose more quickly if chopped by a rotary lawnmower. Diseased leaves are good to compost, such as mildewed courgette and lettuce leaves, rusty garlic and leek leaves, blighted potato and tomato leaves, and also tubers/fruits with late blight. Blight spores, for example, need living plant tissue to survive in, hence they die in a compost heap, and likewise in soil. I spread compost that was made with blighted leaves around tomatoes in the polytunnel, with no ensuing problems. Rhubarb leaves and citrus peel are good to compost - I know from experience. Eggshells bring structure to a heap but decompose slowly, often ending un-mulched on top. Most shredded materials are woody (brown), and their speed of composting depends on size, and whether they have been crushed or simply cut - crushed is best. I keep a pile of shredded branches near to the summer’s compost heaps, for adding to any large additions of grass mowings and fresh leaves. Other brown materials are paper (best crumpled), cardboard (which you can add in large pieces), wood ash (in winter my heaps are up to 10% wood ash), soil and straw, which gives good structure and aeration. Beware of adding too much wood-flake bedding, often kiln dried and very slow to decompose. Not the end of the world, but your finished compost risks looking woody! Fresh manure from any animal is green, and is excellent for speeding decomposition. Should you have large animals such as a cow or horse, their manure and bedding will ‘take over’ the compost heap, volume wise, meaning your compost heap has become more of a manure heap. Old manure is compost, just of a different quality. Chicken manure is unusual because of it’s high amount of nitrogen. In small amounts, say you have 6-12 chickens, I suggest adding their droppings to the compost heap, where it helps other wastes to break down. To use it as mulch, there must have been plenty of bedding such as straw, and then it needs to have decomposed for 6-8 months in an aerobic heap.

[@Eclips8it]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Merci beaucoup for video link and green-brown break down from your website I didn't get to yet!! The journey begins, and this also speaks to @selinang9291 regarding her no-dig attempt solely made with cow & chicken manure compost n hay. Another switch on words, cause I thought aged manure was called and used as a fertilizer or mulch as you put it. (Ever come across the story of Paul Gautsch (US), in his Back to Eden Gardening film documentary (2011)? Preceding you, he's the first I ever laid eyes on doing similar no-till, irrigation-sparse, forest floor mimicing wonder.)

[@adrianelliott5555]

I started no dig a couple years ago and started with a very heavy clay soil which basically packed like rock every year before no dig no matter the amount of compost I put in the soil. Now with no dig it is actually easy to push a shovel into it. And while I get lots of blown in weed seeds they are so easy to pull out of the no dig soil in comparison to when I used to dig. It is very easy to keep up with the weeds now.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I love you Adrian, because this comment helps me, convince people whose soil is currently hard! That's a very good description of the amazing work done by soil organisms, thanks.

[@catherinefrater8403]

Thank you just starting my garden this year now

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

May it grow well!

[@saukhaven]

"Why am I digging?" The answer is simple, I can't afford to buy compost and mulch every year to put on top of my beds. Instead, I use local leaves and grass clippings. Between cover crops, row covers and digging only where I plant is about as close as I can get sustainably to no-dig.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Interesting! Since you are mulching with leaves and grass. I don't see you need to dig.

[@Leonore45]

I planted a pear and a plum on my minuscule front strip of garden and have dressed them a la Charles Dowding and it’s March and they are coming on a treat. I was interested to see all the different varieties and will be availing myself of a Red Windsor for my back garden. Thanks for another excellent video 🌞 🌧️ 😊

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Great to hear 🍐

[@HighWealder]

I hadn't had enough compost (home made) to spread on the beds that i planted out the multisown onions and beetroot in. However, when the compost was ready i spread it over them by throwing handfuls over the young plants and it didn't bury them.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice improvisation!

[@jaysonvance594]

In the US most of us will call it all dirt unless you have actually been told for sure that there is a difference. Unfortunately most of our people will not take the time to learn it because as far as they know it's all grown at the grocery store. 😂

[@smas3256]

🤣

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😂 that is sad as well!

[@cindypatterson8157]

Thanks for all that information guys. I'm not going to buy any wood now for the edges....😆

[@theoroth3669]

Very good clear Information. Thank you.....

[@ximenaisabeljimenezgalindo9044]

Hola Charles,que buena lección para mí 🌷🇨🇱

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚

[@acengblack3328]

cool video i like it👍🙏

[@amberemma6136]

Yes, Charles, you are correct that a lot of people in the US use the word "dirt" when talking about soil, compost, etc. They were raised, as was I, to not be taught the difference between them. Now, after years of self teaching and research and experimenting, understand that there is a huge difference between dirt soil and compost. I see dirt as dead soil. Soil is living, full of microbiology and teaming with life. Compost can be alive or dead and is a process used to return living materials back to the soil, hopefully 🌻🌷🌻🌱😊

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks, nice clarification 💚

[@lulajohns1883]

I'm going to implementation this spring

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Have fun!

[@RetreatfarmFarmvilleVirginia]

I'm actually anxious to see what my newly acquired 10 year old composted cow manure/Sawdust will produce. It would seem to be a Gamble, but it's so dark and rich but at the same time, curiously odor free and feels like velvet in my hands. I'm betting my Strawberry and total Jersey Tomato and pepper crops on it. The gentleman that gifted it to me talked about incredible yields and larger than normal sizes of the individual varieties when he gardened with it just one year ago.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

In olden days it as called humus, the apex of fertility which is not soil, but helps soil to be open and productive. It's not bringing many nutrients, but think of it like a key, to unlock what is already in your soil. Growth will be good, and balanced, healthy

[@chaddamp2894]

Hello Charles,my Mum/Gran used to work at Margery Fish garden in East (I think or West) Lambrook way back when Margery was resident. I recall wonderful memories of visiting Grans house and Aunt Ivy's and Uncle Freds cottage and marvelling at the veg they grew,that was in the very early 1960's,have you visited the gardens? Your posts always bring back happy memories of those days,thanks

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks for sharing and how amazing! Yes, I have been there and the vegetable garden was nothing remarkable at that time although I think it has improved since then in the last year or two. She was an amazing woman and I should like to have seen it when you did. East Lambrook Manor.

[@kwharley7]

Just started my first no dig garden this year after I failed my last years garden with how pregnant I was and unable to do a lot of the work . Right now, I'm about 5 months pregnant and have small children and know that now in my life, more garden weeding isn't in the cards like it was in my younger days (and childless days). 😅 Just got 2 truck loads of free cow/pig/donkey manure from a friend. 2 year old. Looks as fresh as yesterday's manure, so I'm hoping it will work. Plan on adding some green waste homemade compost over the top once I finish unloading the manure. Thank you for all your advice and lovely videos.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I wish you lots of success and appreciate your challenges! That rather fresh manure will be good in the end, but might cause some slug damage to the spring. I would not plant to early! And you are right that an inch or two of the green waste on top will be excellent.

[@kwharley7]

@Charles Dowding would 18-month to 2 year old manure still be too fresh?

[@imkesgartenjahr3394]

Thanks for the lot of answers. You talked about the difference about compost, dirt and soil. What about humus, what is it in comparing of soil?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks, and humus is pure and v well decomposed organic matter, light in weight from being aerated. A top compost!

[@imkesgartenjahr3394]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thanks.