Why Biodiversity Matters

[@5ivearrows]

You have become such an important voice in the new agriculture Jesse- thank you for everything you contribute.

[@notillgrowers]

🙌

[@TheVigilantStewards]

I agree... "more research needed" is my favorite thing to hear because I know Jesse will do it with us

[@jonathanhay5210]

Loo9

[@iamorganicgardening]

I am so glad you are making these videos on the Soil Food Web. That Soil is a living part of nature and helps with our Health. THANK YOU so very much. Bravo .

[@49testsamiam49]

glad to see you out here

[@steverobinson5492]

I have come to the point where I have to add a comment. I have been watching your vids for a good long while now. And I have to say that at first I found your style to be tedious, wordy and overly comprehensive. Now I realize that you are in fact gifted with a quick mind eager for the deep dive into this subject or any other I would suspect. So in short..."you are awesome." Well done and keep up the good work... Cheers!!!

[@BigWesLawns]

I like this comment. Its risk level for honesty is in the 9.5 range. I make comments like this. I havent wat hed this guys video yet... I loke to read the comments first, & see some of the feedback. I am probably gonne like this guy based on my assumptions. Not that I am King shit or anything, but I appreciate the socilogical aspects of it. Honesty is a hard row to hoe. 🇨🇦👊🏻👨🏻‍🏭⚡💖🙏🍁

[@KPVFarmer]

Love your sense of humor! Your ability to breakdown complex biology into easy to understand ways to make it happen is the best on the inter web!!!

[@sandysalzman8585]

I love your videos and learn so much. I take notes. Your fast-paced talks and imaginary friend keep me engaged, pausing and rewinding to catch what I missed. Thank you.

[@tarjei99]

My grandfather would bring a wheelbarrow of soil from an old field to "infect" a newly created field with microbes, earthworms, etc. Aparently this was normal at the time.

[@helio2k]

A few videos ago you already got me interested in native American agricultural. I would happily watch a deeper dive in their growing techniques or anything else really if you have anymore insights

[@desmondpfeffer3647]

Same here. If anyone has any book recommendations that would be so great.

[@erincarr9411]

May I suggest the book, "Tending the Wild" by M. KAT Anderson Another great one, "Braiding Sweetgrass" by Robin Wall Kimmerer

[@dancooper6002]

Its mostly BS. The fact is that the food produced per acre was dramatically lower and incapable of sustaining the population that came later, let alone now.

[@slimdibblerfarm521]

thanks for all the work you do for this community!

[@notillgrowers]

🙌

[@jackief54]

I would love to hear you expound on the root systems underground. That drawing of the roots of three different plants and how they didn't take up each others space was amazing! Also would love to see more pictures of the different crops planted in the soil next to each other. Just amazing! I feel very inspired to do the same, especially with garlic and onions used to ward off pests. :-)

[@kannmann97]

I love getting to watch your Sunday videos while I'm drinking tea and getting ready for our market

[@notillgrowers]

Yeah, we got a Sunday market, too! Kinda the best day, honestly.

[@liquidcow]

Such an excellent end to an incredible series! I personally have learned a tremendous amount in a short time.. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge tweaking the prism as to which I see farming and gardening.. "we are stewards of the soil allowing the plants to grow our food!" Enjoy the week!

[@williamk1452]

Awesome presentation!! I've always said, " even if you are a veggie farmer, you're still a rancher but your stock is really, really small! If you raise sheep, I had Icelandic sheep, you are really raising grass, if you are raising grass, you are raising little tiny soil sheep!!! Farm on.

[@MarjorieStewartBaxter]

Really appreciate you highlighting the contributions of the indigenous 🙏

[@danmi6099]

it would be amazing to know where you got your knowledge, a video on guidance for where we can learn more, (your book is ordered) but where next. ideas would be great or a second round of videos going deeper like lessons :) water videos would also be perfect, i find this topic difficult with limited rainfall and sandy soil. but mainly thank you so much for your effort for completing these videos, your knowledge and humour is perfect, i could watch your videos over and over and never get bored xx

[@spaceantelope1]

Love the title of this video. I wonder if people work the same way. Is it important for a healthy society to have a diversity of ideas and beliefs? Congrats on the success of your book. Will purchase at some point soon.

[@waywardcajunfarms2731]

Another greatttttt video! I love the super nerdy detail plus small dash of humor added to mix it up! Way to go Jessie your content creation has inspired me!

[@Brennannnnnnnnn]

Just got my book in the mail! So glad I ordered when I did. You’re a great communicator.

[@Skashoon]

Mind-numbing, heady stuff. Thanks for explaining this on my level which is a step above picture books. Really took note of your tip about inoculation of the seed trays. Such a simple thing that makes great sense.

[@angelawillis145]

My book came in the mail yesterday!!! I’m so excited to get started on it tonight.... after I’m done in the garden!😬😁

[@fraherfarms]

I too did not have any luck planting into a cover crop that overwintered. It was like planting into Bermuda grass. I ended up turning it in and then planting… thank you for all your great advice and sense of humor

[@waykeeperfarmandnerdery]

I appreciate your thoughts on integrating ruminants and other animals. We have a small flock of dairy sheep, so we rotationally graze on pasture. I did have them clean up our home garden, but it is tricky with softer soils and you also get into the wetter seasons when fall approaches. Lots of food for thought here, thank you.

[@peace4peaceful]

Interesting vid. I have been watching and reading about plant roots. I am organic talks a lot about soil and plant roots. From making "roads" for other plant roots to follow. To being the main source of soil. To becoming food for other plants ect. One type of plant that doesn't seem to be spoken about so often, are "mining"plants..ie comfrey. Mostly comfrey is spoken about as a "tea" liquid fertiliser. Plus it's healing benefits. I've just started planting comfrey around the border of my garden. Along with Cassia (senna alata) and pigeon pea. Hopefully bringing minerals up and adding nitrogen. Not only for the border plants but the whole garden. The amount of distance roots travel is surprising. Likewise the depths they can reach. My soil is never left vacant. We grow all year round. Our soil is poor. So we employ no dig principles. Some permaculture, hence the legumous pigeon pea and Cassia. Compost I am slowing getting to grips with. Right now checking out quick..3 month..compost. compared to compost over a year old. I'm finding..no surprise..the ingredients matters. Not just a case of green and browns as is the case in some compost teachings. Enjoying your in depth discussion in this series.

[@busker153]

Comparing the soil to a city is, in my opinion, a better analogy than saying it is, itself, alive. I have begun to think of the interactions of that city as a great economy. The economic picture seems most appropriate, and therefore the city analogy sounds perfect to me!

[@dawnkeckley7502]

It never ceases to amaze me how similar our bodies and their microbiome are to the earth and its microbiome - imagine that! 😉 This is one of the best soil videos ever, and I just love all things soil science.

[@_Chessa_]

Oh cool. I picked up your book from the local library and didn’t even realize it was yours. That’s really cool! Loved all the photography in the book as well! Now I can listen and read at the same time. :)

[@douglaspearce1187]

Friggin awesome. The off camera 'chats' are brilliant.

[@chelseahartweg2938]

I really feel like if folks are looking for a relatively easy way to have an animal presence, chickens are the way to go. They're scavengers who can happily eat all the garden waste and make compost as well as eggs and meat. I've been working on a design for this that I hope to put out into the world soon but I have to finish putting it into practice before I feel comfortable really pushing it. High level it involves a multi-species greenhouse with chickens and aquaponics centered in the middle of the gardens with the chicken yard still being separate from the gardens but next door for easy relationship between the two. I'm really excited about it because it makes light work of integrating the two and I've got some really cool little details that I'm excited to try out too. Thanks to your whole team for making space for these convos!

[@roccofiori3028]

we're doing something similar with chickens, sheep, and biochar. basically, we put homemade char down in coups and high traffic areas, then collect and apply, after the critters break it down and inoculate it by walking, pooping on it, and passing thru their digestive system. the char is awesome in the coup, and then as biochar in our gardens and fields.

[@tyee.5023]

Does the chicken tractor rotate around the center like a clock?

[@chelseahartweg2938]

@Tye, the chickens are in a static yard that uses the center of the greenhouse as the coop. It places them nearby so that it's easy to pass material back and forth to the gardens as well as let's the deep litter and their body heat warm the greenhouse. I also have ideas to keep the breeders in that yard and have the grow outs in tractors that I move around the living pathways so that they grow up on grass and since I designed everything with 4 ft paths around places, a 4 ft wide tractor would fit anywhere. And to reiterate this is just hypothetical and I haven't been able to actually build this yet. We close on our land this December and I'll be building on it next year so hopefully it'll come together well and it'll be a cool thing to share with folks

[@paxtianodirtfrog8947]

Great series and as you say super nerdy. I love it. Congrats on this series!

[@Bamamike223]

I don't know how many times I have to rewind your videos from belly laughing at your skits. Hilariously Informative!

[@chazaqs9109]

You should sell your book in electronic format (.PDF) in addition to print. Then you will always have an option for people to buy it and not have to worry about it buying on back order.

[@kathynix6552]

Also kinder on the environment

[@ashleycampbell8767]

Im slow, I just realized you have a podcast when I went to your website and saw the T-shirts 😂 Awesome!

[@tanjawestfall-greiter9814]

So glad you got nerdy and talked about quoruming!

[@grantdavis6241]

He is easy to follow if you quit thinking about Matthew McConaughey when he speaks. Great Job!

[@kaibrockman6385]

The information you put out Jesse is awesome!! I would love to see a video on Water Delivery.

[@TheMujiFuji]

Love the series...all of us who have the book love the soil nerd deep dives.

[@MrBwalendy]

You are so good at this that I must watch it twice. That is very rare for me.

[@JolleanSmith]

Feel free to nerd out anytime. That was a great education. Thank you.

[@kearstinnekenerson6676]

I have peas corn peppers tomatoes and egg plants growing in my bed and I use strawberries in that one as a perennial cover crop it comes up every year I get ok sized berries and the roots stay more shallow then the other plants I have there I am thinking of adding some mint

[@erincarr9411]

Careful with mint, it can get outta hand.

[@kearstinnekenerson6676]

@@erincarr9411 I use it too and harvest it enough to keep it in line I really love how it makes everything smell too and the flowers make really nice tea

[@NiceMuslimLady]

Another issue re: livestock: As an urban farmer, livestock isn't really possible. I could have ONE chicken, but NO rooster and no other livestock.

[@modbathandbody6775]

I snagged a book and I love it! I’m learning so much. Thank you.

[@gradyfolger968]

Micropolis!! Good word

[@sandradelvecchio6894]

I was just relaxing in my chair, but then Jessie said I need to get off my *** and sow my cover crop. So here I am.

[@timbushell8640]

"The Living Soil Handbook is centered around the three basic principles of no-till market gardening: 1) disturb the soil as little as possible, 2) keep it covered as much as possible, and 3) keep it planted as much as possible. Farmer Jesse then guides readers in applying those principles to their own garden environment, with their own materials, to meet their own goals." ... in need of some up-dating... ... 4) Diversity, diversity, diversity. : )))))))

[@notillgrowers]

Haha well I just got lazy in the book and grouped keeping it planted with biodiversity 🤷‍♂️. So the KZbin crowd got some good bonus content there

[@tyee.5023]

Notes taken for the next edition lol 🤠

[@denisekelley2292]

Would the concepts in the book work for a small backyard gardener? I have been able to scale most of the information in Jesse's videos to my garden size. I think I need this book.

[@davchilders]

Diversity for the WIN!!! 😆That is quality, bro!

[@christinapeterson9241]

I love watching your videos Jesse. You feed my sarcastic dirt-nerd soul!

[@donreinier7281]

I use clover as cover in my garden. Keeps the soil cool, and feels great on barefeet! Rebuilding Iowa farmland that was first settled 1840.

[@carolinekloppert5177]

Is it possible to incorporate more native plants to support invertebrate biodiversity in a market garden and how would you do this ? Does encouraging insect herbivores lead to too much leaf damage ? I read that willow, oak and prunus species support the greatest number of caterpillars in north America and thus nesting birds (Doug Tallamy) and thought these elements could be incorporated in a farm as hedges, shelter belts or in alleys, syntropic style. I've found that nesting birds in my garden have decimated the caterpillar numbers, but that is small scale, on a different continent in a different climate. Native cover crops could be used I suppose. Do customers buy native vegetables that are unusual, beyond those crops from the Americas which have made a huge contribution to farming worldwide, like potatoes, tomatoes, sunflowers, the things we all know ? If you grew regionally local plants would you find a market ? Could native herbs do the job ? I hope you have time to engage with what I'm saying, you're very busy. I always get something from your videos, your analytical approach, your smart farming, to say nothing of your silent assistant of course whose comments are priceless, if inaudible.

[@teemack4382]

Thanks to you and everyone involved. Loved it

[@PermieIslandBird]

I love your videos and thank you for your work. There is one issue I had with this video though. When we farm we are ALWAYS working with animals because of our soil organisms. There is no healthy biome without animals, period. However it is possible to have a healthy farm without typical “farm” mammals and birds.

[@susanellis4249]

I’ve heard of using alfalfa for living pathways

[@kathynix6552]

Have you tried the alfalfa pathways yet?

[@rarcher8129]

Regarding the inclusion of animals on your farm, I think you’ve been doing so all along, they’re under your feet, The living soil in filled with organisms doing mega work on a individual micro level within itself

[@charlesbale8376]

Fabulous information, enjoyed the video.

[@amossymindset]

Thank you for sharing this information with us! So useful!

[@cliveburgess4128]

Good stuff once again, thank you, Amaranth, the same thing we used to refer to as pig weed? they loved it, is there a kind of companion chart for root zones, never thought of that connection before, makes sense! Thanks.

[@notillgrowers]

Yup, same stuff!

[@billybrophy1049]

Farmer Jessie, your videos are the best dude!

[@TheVigilantStewards]

I bet one thing that could be really nerded out on beneficially would be how to imitate the benefits of rain water. Creating an irrigation pond, having plants and species in there to keep it oxygenated and with nitrogen and nutrients. Then using that into irrigation etc. I've seen in line vortexing pipes for sale as well and all kinds of little tips that people use to imitate the rain. Our crops that we eat aren't really that well adapted for drought or just don't produce as well, so the times I haven't irrigated at all have only been really successful in well done double dug beds with good rainfall. Even with lower yield though getting some good stuff without irrigating can be great as well as a low stress family bed on the side

[@notillgrowers]

I’m thinking water needs a series. 😬

[@TheVigilantStewards]

@@notillgrowers I'm thinking so too!!!!

[@sparkywatts3072]

Thank you so much for giving the native Americans the credit they deserve and so seldom get!

[@Direfloof]

“They were not just wandering around the woods hoping to stumble upon some edible plants…” This statement really resonates with just how glossed over every aspect of the way Native American history is taught in schools. There’s this weird unspoken lie about “undeveloped” natives, when really they just mean Not Capitalist.

[@sherimatukonis6016]

You are soooo nerdy, but the way you speak makes it fun to listen to...

[@RandomOkieFarms]

Love this

[@GarbyIGP]

Hi Jesse, at 18:44 you mentioned "well-timed mowings" I was wondering if you could elaborate on that in a future video. I think that grass is one thing everyone has, it'd be nice to know how to manage/use it better. I can never figure out the best time to mow our grass, I just do it whenever I have time...

[@FlylightD]

You’re amazing! Thanks for being!

[@luciimbach3215]

amazing videos! been loving this series. Im wondering about the scientific evidence behind the water solubility of microbes in compost. I know its a common debate- but is there a study that points to the validation of microbes/good stuff in compost being able to be transferred to plants via water? (i.e. in the tray soaking that you employ). I love the idea of this, but am just confused about the conflicting information I always hear on this. Thanks again for the content Jesse- such an amazing service you're preforming!

[@notillgrowers]

Good question. I am not sure about my technique in particular. I’ll have to dive deeper into the literature to see if anything is relevant. It makes sense to me but sense is science right?. Planning some Comparisons under a microscope soon, so that may help shed some light

[@przybyla420]

They aren’t dissolved in the water. They’re suspended. Picture you have a white napkin in the pot. Now you set it in a tray of manure water. Is the napkin still white? (I hope a scientist will chime in.)

[@przybyla420]

Sometimes I think the science-worship has gone too far and is starting to make people not as smart as they otherwise could be.

[@WilliamFarwell]

sir i wish you would run for president !!!!!!! love all of your content !! thank you !! Deano inVT

[@sjwestmo]

Which edger are u using there that runs so smoothly down your walkways?

[@notillgrowers]

It’s a green works 60v one (so I can share batteries with my green works mower) but it’s a stupidly expensive set up. We need a single tool for this job because everything that’s out is not really affordable

[@TheVigilantStewards]

@@notillgrowers Maybe you could develop one the way never sink farms sells tools?

[@roccofiori3028]

how about a video on the use of fire in the market garden context. we have been experimenting with burning broadcasted straw as a spring weed suppression and nutrient input method instead of using a weed burner alone. depending on how you go about it can reduce the use of fossil fuels (propane, etc).

[@ronaldkable]

Micropolis - sounds great!

[@craftgrow]

Thank you Awesome info Keep it coming

[@Judith-rr6ww]

Thanks you Jesse, love your work! I grow here no till here in South East Queensland Australia Not only are you very informative but cute too. Lol Lots of love from Australia Judy

[@johnsonr9]

Appreciate your practical wisdom.

[@simonrixon6976]

A maze ing. Love your work. Full of wisdom and thank you for sharing. Is your knowledge your life experience or/and can you recommend a school/online learning classes or even a book to start people off. Increase the Peace V

[@notillgrowers]

Definitely a combination. Read a lot and grow food any way that you can--best way to learn is both!

[@jeannamcgregor9967]

I'm going with Micropolis. Nerdy rocks!

[@fiorevitola880]

If you would slow down your sentences a little it would help especially for an old man like ("Please"). I am very interested in what your knolidge is of Farming.

[@buckaroobonzai2909]

I think animals would be best in a sort of pollarded orchard. You might have to protect the tree trunks, but I guess not if there are enough trees and/or the trees are old enough and you don't have too many animals per acre.

[@teatimetraveller]

I loved hearing about the indigenous people and how they have shaped the landscape and the plant communities there. Can you recommend any good books on the subject?

[@RyRy2057]

_Tending the Wild_ by M Kat Anderson has been a great resource for my interest in cultivation of the landscape in pre-conquest California. Overall, there's a tonnnnn of information online, just so long as you're willing to read articles by people who aren't necessarily writing about agriculture because they wanna feed the world lol. EDIT: oh another article I remember off the top of my head was "Paradox of Plows and Productivity", which is suuuuper on-topic for no-till agriculture ofc, talking about how Haudenosaunee crop fields were 4-5x more productive than contemporary early modern european crop fields, and that was _because_ of the soil health they cultivated by not ripping it open every season. I've been kinda obsessed with this shit for a couple years now haha

[@notillgrowers]

Agreed. Tending the Wild is an amazing place to start (even if you’re not in California).

[@matthewlucas2577]

Sold can't wait to read book

[@Trip_Johnson]

Microtropolis portmanteau joke = instant subscribe.

[@ebybeehoney]

Major disturbance - like a subdivision. Glad I'm not the only one who feels this way.

[@n0sr3t3p]

groundhogs are good at clearing cover crops, might be worth a try

[@tyee.5023]

🤣

[@bobwilliams4528]

What about getting a little to hung up on weed free beds, I'm not a market gardener but find weeds aren't the end of the world. I mulch with hay and mostly weed eat what pops up and pull the ones a think are a problem.

[@notillgrowers]

Generally in the market garden it’s ideal to be in control of what’s growing but I think understanding your weeds and which ones will be an issue or not can be very helpful.

[@xaviercruz4763]

At 5:50 how did you install that automatic water valve?

[@notillgrowers]

It's foot operated, actually. Check out this video here for the breakdown of that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gInUnqKrnt5opq8

[@dougkuykendall1547]

Great presentation.

[@redkingsupersigma2899]

Hello I want your book but is there a digital or PDF form of it that we can order. I’m leaving the country before it’s back up in print.

[@notillgrowers]

Hi. Thank you! I believe Amazon is the only option for digital at the moment.

[@ethanmcquaid1]

Hey Jesse, I know the book is on back order. If we pat for the book is there an e-copy we could read now?

[@notillgrowers]

Well I don’t have control over the pdf so unfortunately not through ntg. Only place I know is Amazon for the ebook I think

[@zachwilliams805]

You've mentioned a few times about running compost through your worm bin or with vermicast. I was wondering if you could add a little detail to that. How would I do something like that when I have several yards of compost?

[@notillgrowers]

You would need a lot of worms but we just use a small bin and run *part of it* through l because it goes so far. All of it would be tough! Hope that’s a helpful clarification

[@TheVigilantStewards]

I've heard that can enrich the compost even further and bulk out worm bins even more as well

[@kathynix6552]

Marty’s Garden shows how you can have large “windrows” (he calls them) of worm farms

[@billherrick3569]

excellent content, thank you.

[@parkerbender09]

My life goal is to become as knowledgeable about soil health as you. (Still waiting on that hat!)

[@travisdavis1042]

I saw you on another channel somewhere seeking food at a market on south land in Lexington. Are you based out of KY?

[@notillgrowers]

Yup!

[@travisdavis1042]

@@notillgrowers that’s awesome! What days are the farmers markets in Lexington? I’d like to swing by some time.

[@rivermeadefarm8495]

Could you start a channel on Rumble please.

[@uncommoncents2152]

Thanks again farmer jesse

[@chintanasuthichai1794]

Thank you I love it😊😊😊

[@later_daze_4080]

Sorry for an off topic question but is your son's name Further in reference to Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters bus from the 60s?

[@notillgrowers]

Well, Not directly. We heard the name a few years before he was born and liked it. and then we later found out that the other Further was actually Furthur, like the bus. So sorta?

[@later_daze_4080]

@@notillgrowers ah I got ya! Cool either way!

[@chrisshepherd8708]

Jesse, if the soil is use to certain extrudates from a certain crop. Shouldn't it be wise to grow that same crop in the same spot? If so, then wouldn't it make sense to grow garlic in the same spot over and over again?

[@notillgrowers]

I go back and forth on this idea. I think that as long as you are planting diversely (i.e intercropping) that you can be concerned less with rotations, but I don't think I would recommend planting the same crop in the same place year after year in general. You may be fine in good soil, but it could also be a recipe for disease. And biodiversity has a lot of benefits... so maybe but maybe not?

[@chrisshepherd8708]

@@notillgrowers Listening to Dan Kittredge(who can't become Organic, because he Doesn't rotate crops) and John Kempf saying that their are certain microbes for each type/species of plant that are symbiotic with the roots............that you wouldn't feed rabbit pellets to a lizard and visa versa. I thought once you dial in that plants microbes that the plant is sending sugars to, it would be a round peg for a round hole.......square peg for a square hole. Just picking your brain for thoughts......

[@lizziehiggs5111]

What was that tool taking the grass from the sides of the walkway?😍

[@notillgrowers]

A 60v edger from Green Works. A little pricey for this job but just still waiting for someone to invent the right tool to do the whole thing a single pass 🤞

[@phungktk533]

Speaking of biodiversity soil, I see some white mold or mildew on my soil, like spread all over. Is that safe to harvest and consume produce?

[@notillgrowers]

Is it on the produce? Soil molds are rarely dangerous

[@ridgemom4092]

I live in Southern Illinois and have wild red and green amaranth growing all over my property. Is it safe to harvest these and eat the seed?

[@notillgrowers]

Well I can’t totally advise there but I would positively identify them first and then read about them, but possibly yes

[@49testsamiam49]

love your nerdy book too

[@buckaroobonzai2909]

I use a scythe to turn grass and brush into quality soil. For me an animal is probably a better idea. I just don't want to buy and rely on one, and the cut grass it mulch and nutrients instead of just a bunch of crap.

[@666bruv]

This geezer is waaaaaaay more switched on than curtis stone, and focused. And listened to Dr Jones

[@happypirate1000]

I'm here for Micro-tropolis!