The Soil Needs Plants

Hey all, this is the second in a mini-series we are doing on the 4 principles of soil health. This video was made possible in part through a grant from Southern SARE, and answers the following: why cover the soil with plants? How do plants assist with soil health? What are some forms of mulch for covering the soil? How does photosynthesis work? And more!
The Living Soil Handbook:
www.notillgrow...
OUTSIDE OF United States: Our shipping is ridiculous but the book will be out in late August, just preorder from your favorite local retailer 🙌
Support our work at notillgrowers.com
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This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2020-38640-31521 through the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under project number LS21-348. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.” The goal with this grant is to provide context and technical detail for the four principles of soil health.

[@Lauradicus]

This should be “required reading” in junior high. You explain it so well and I think your sense of humor is delightful. Thank you!

[@pavelgrac7104]

imagination propaganda

[@anaritarodrigues8060]

0e

[@seanfitz2468]

Your 100% right I'd rather have my kids learn this then Spanish. Fuck spanish

[@bobchoo8767]

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊​@@HarshJain-it2bg

[@mathgasm8484]

I took FFA in high school so I was exposed to some farming but my family farmed for generations so my grandpa taught a lot as well.

[@sheelaghomalley5459]

Excellent video. Not my first time watching but I get something new everytime

[@Sampozsik333]

Yess on the pasta party idea Called it carboloading in cross country and track we would indeed indulge heavy in the carby foods thanks for the content!

[@soilentgreenhomestead3933]

Perfect way of teaching for those who are visual learners.

[@notillgrowers]

Try and cover as many mediums as we can 🙌

[@orions1396]

“Who’s Wu-Tang? You’re fired” sounds about right 😂😂😂

[@DHouse-ze8to]

Farming is seasonal, Wu-Tang is forever!

[@notillgrowers]

Solid comment

[@1Lightdancer]

Wu-Tang in the notebook!

[@evega8368]

This should be a required subject in school along with sustainable living!

[@terrystevens8338]

republicans would call it green new deal propaganda and ban it. 😢

[@TheyFearUAwake]

@@terrystevens8338there’s a huge difference in taking care of our planet, and using that as an excuse to strip people’s freedoms and push sinister agendas. Left vs right is not the problem. They’re all the same. This is far bigger and goes way deeper

[@christinebottaro9017]

I like how you slipped in a quick working example of land stewardship (transplanting seedlings), so that phrase suddenly relatable and much simplified. I’ve heard several people such as Dr Elaine Ingham and Charles Dowding, among others here KZbin talking about sequestration, exudates, mycelia, micro-organisms, tilth, no till, soil degradation and so on. So, all of it adds to a body of knowledge I’m accumulating. Your visual presentation through beautiful photography and metaphors is fun and yet doesn’t dumb down the information. Thank you for respecting your subject matter as well as your viewers.

[@therightpath7084]

“Who’s Wu-Tang? You’re fired” - Made me subscribe....lol

[@theresakelly3747]

You are awesome I love listening to you. You have brought out the desire to get my garden bigger and better.❤

[@Cheryl-tiger87lilly]

Just finished the for chapter of your book and I am learning so much. Today at the farmers market one of our customers thanked me for growing all the vegetables and I found myself saying…”Well actually I only facilitated the growth, the plants did the rest” lol

[@Heaeven]

This channel speaks my language.

[@CH-hm8ud]

Thank you 🙏 very much for your botanic class, very interesting! Love 💗 your humor of explaining people that there’s carbohydrates in those plants we consume every day. Wonderful and complicated are things we see as simple. How wonderful is God , who left everything we need right here in this world, let’s all be grateful for!

[@lihndanpeioils]

Thanks for the informative content! I had to pause, go get some basic knowledge, and come back to finish the video another time. This is kinda overload for a beginner like me. Awesome delivery as always, and series is a fantastic idea.

[@johnjude2685]

I'm agreeing with your teaching, now have a seed starting area and grow lights and loving it Thank you for the teaching Sir

[@backwoodsbaby9729]

This is probably the best 10 minute summary of regenerative gardening ever

[@christopherbates2179]

Jesse, your content keeps getting better and better. I watch/read/breath as much content in the notill, soil health, regen ag space and you have a knack for keeping the viewer and listener engaged. Great work, great content. Look forward to receiving my copy of your book.

[@lizt.5374]

Awesome, very informative video. Had to donate as a thanks for such great info. 🙏

[@notillgrowers]

Amazing, thank you!

[@erincoleman41]

I so love the nerdy stuff. Just have to translate it to growing in the low desert. Thank you for the true food for thought.

[@notillgrowers]

Yeah, I'm going to try to have some low-desert folks on this season of the podcast to discuss options and different ideas

[@Akerfeldt77]

56 pages into the book and loving it. I'm keeping a PKM notes vault on no-till and it's filling up fast with material from your book and videos. Good stuff and thanks for the knowledge!

[@lauramorin5846]

Thank you farmer Jesse. I watch your videos on my down times during the day and to fall back asleep at night. I find your videos entertaining. The kids are great, and the kitties. A northern woodland homesteader Laura M.

[@timbushell8640]

"Who done it... he done it!" : )))))) Stumbled here, and so did all 4 and out of sequence. So just to confirm - the sequence makes no difference. Nice short series. And the 'disturbance' issue... ... part 3... ... early days gardening 50 years ago was a strain against the grandparents 'rule' of clean soil (i.e. bare between plants and between crops, using the frost, etc.) and the route was a version of Alan Chadwick's deep bed and double dig once. Which on the London heavy clay soil did wonders, whilst also allowing soil working/planting to be more independent of the recent weather - i.e. too wet to walk on, as the deep beds gave paths with permanent grass cover, so no walking on beds. This in a non-commercial setting gave a lot of flexibility, varied crop opportunities and mostly less back breaking work. Then cover crops and intercropping helped too. Nice to see the evolution continuing with a bit more science behind it with a vastly increased understanding of the below soil level action works.

[@lisamcdonald1415]

Wu-tang I’m dying right now lmao… another great video Jesse thanks 🙏

[@dwainelloyd5685]

Wow!!!!! Lot’s of great information. I’m going to have to watch this a few times to absorb it all. :)

[@paullittle5200]

Absolutely loved this, even though I only have a small allotment in England to apply it,thanks. 😊

[@lynnerobinson6425]

I have an allotment in England too and Jesse's videos are really informative and so helpful to understand the science behind no dig/till. My plot is fully no dig now and I'm trying to encourage others to try it. Thank you Jesse.

[@parkerbender09]

You kinda blow my mind... after reading the book and then hearing you talk about it it really brings it all together

[@the_earth_mystic]

That was really helpful for me, thank you! I also appreciate your acknowledgement of Native land stewards, biodiversity in animals (including ourselves), and your sense of humor.

[@DD-qz9dr]

There are many bad action we do due to lack of knowledge. Thanks for sharing. I will surely apply.

[@CelticRootsFarm]

I just finished the first chapter of your book and am learning so much. Today at the farmers market one of our customers thanks me for growing all the vegetables and I found my self saying…”Well actually I only facilitated the growing, the plants did the rest” lol

[@notillgrowers]

Nice! 🙌

[@jhasondelapena2823]

nice nakatip ako ng magandang way sa pagpaplant, salamat you.

[@cindyculbertson5886]

Very informative. Thank you. Watching, not as a farmer, but as a small property owner where our high desert soil is kind of awful and trying for years to amend and improve and find the plants that will survive in it. Have been using a compost bin for years and this year I finally have some black gold to use. Earth worms do not seem to survive here (due to cold winters?). Your descriptions of the soil microbes symbiosis with the roots,and photosynthesis was super helpful and keeping plants planted and diverse.

[@cindylouhoo144]

Nerdy and funny. Super winning combo! I'm zone 3 ( on a good year) and this info applies across all growing zones. Love the channel.

[@catht05]

Your book on the way!.. to the West of Ireland ☘️🌱 loving your channel 👍 thanks 🌱

[@bobbiejean864]

I love watching your videos! They are funny, educational, fun to listen to, and you look like one of my favorite cousins! 😉

[@karltraunmuller7048]

Excellent explanation of the processes in nature 👍🏻

[@susanmyer1]

I e been hearing about cover crops for a couple of years. I was thrilled to find your channel since we are on a small property. Your book is due to arrive tomorrow. I can’t wait to get my hands on it. Thanks!!

[@annroland6987]

Hi Jesse, I received your book this past week and I’m devouring it. Your categories for the types compost and how to use them was so helpful! Thank you for pulling together so many of the soil maintenance concepts in one place. I really enjoyed the illustrations you wife did too!

[@notillgrowers]

🙌

[@lukelints9776]

Agreed, carbon not only sequesters nicely with the method but also it can act as a diaper for your compost, I use it all the time piled with rich mycelium structures too

[@gmaster716]

What up Jesse! Great video with spot on info! It was the way we were intended to do things. Great looking farm ! I'm getting back in the game soon your videos are quite exspiri

[@pascalxus]

Great explanation. I’m totally applying this advice

[@floriswou]

Thank you for sharing this beautiful most important information ANYone should know :) Love your way of explaining

[@koreanature]

Wow... My best friend, Made an excellent video. I really liked it. Beauty is extraordinary. Thank you very much for the video.

[@soilbellefarm3210]

Me and my 5 year old love your theme song for the podcast wish it was longer😊😊😊😊

[@TheRealHonestInquiry]

Really well explained and lovely footage of your gorgeous & healthy plants! :)

[@TheLowCashHomestead]

I really like the way you explain the carbon sequestration in this video we don't need some man-made emulsification to capture carbon we just need more plants. Hank Hill said it best when he said you're not offsetting anyting these trees were already here

[@przybyla420]

We could start with the really low hanging fruit and stop spraying to kill invasive plants, phase out GMOs and agricultural subsidies, biofuels and other wastes of resources that burn carbon and harm ecosystems at the same time. Start incentivizing living small and wisely, appropriate technology and organic farmers especially those that sell to local people.

[@toolmantrl]

🌞 Sunshine smoothies... 😏 Good one. 👏👏👏

[@calebsiegler5471]

Love the content man. Been watching a lot. I’m just a small raised bed dude in Phoenix. I struggle with all of this, mainly because it was 118 here this week, and my entire bed has gone to basically complete carnage, even with shade cloth, lots of watering, etc. What are we to do in the summer? I can’t imagine planing something and having it grow right now.

[@jenniferpresnell9558]

Wow. This was an excellent video. You’re amazing and appreciated as always. Also funny. Thanks for that. 💜

[@cajunmilkcows6491]

Entertaining and informative!!!

[@ohworganichealthyworldwide7360]

Thank you guys!😊

[@D0praise]

Amazing explanation!

[@SerRegenera]

Awesome bro!! thank you for the super clear explanation, im gonna support you by getting the ebook right now. Love and Bless from Uruguay :)

[@ihlichick]

Love your humor! Awesome videos!

[@ElderandOakFarm]

You did a fantastic job on this video! 👍

[@blackpackhomesteadchrisand7337]

I ditched tilling long ago. The method you used is superior over the long term for the soil. It all looks amazing by the way.

[@HarshJain-it2bg]

Get waste decomposer from India...... You would thanking me always, Later.

[@ReefHermit]

Awesome biology 101 lecture! I’m guessing you were a teacher in another life😀

[@lovelyrainflowerfarm]

Hey Jesse, would you consider doing your book as an audiobook? I would love that. And many others would I’m sure.

[@kevindice1092]

Gawd, I love this stuff! Super content as always.❤️

[@uncommoncents2152]

As always such great content thank u very much sir

[@ToriBailey]

Random stumble. Nah it's KZbin reading my mind. I was just wondering this yesterday. Thanks

[@nancyseery2213]

Complicated, but interesting. I think I'm going to have to watch this one a couple of times. This is the first time I heard about using a cover crop with your market crop at the same time. I thought cover crops were for when the market crop was done.

[@birgittalagerkvist7259]

Thank you Jesse, you explain everything in such a brilliant and humorous way 😀. It is always a delight to watch your videos 😊. I live in Sweden and my birthday is in late october. My only wish is to get your book!

[@notillgrowers]

It will be out in Europe on August 26th which I assume will include Sweden maybe?

[@birgittalagerkvist7259]

@@notillgrowers I think it does 😀

[@miia5745]

I live in Finland and I have had my book for 2 weeks now. Ordered it from online bookstore (UK) because shipping was too expensive from US. Became a patreon to support tough.

[@clivesconundrumgarden]

Excellent video. Question we recently bought compost. In the past the compost was hot. Thought we'd pile it, add some inoculants, then tarp and leave it over winter to "mature". Should we spread it out now or leave it for a few months? We're newish to gardening and especially the No till approach.

[@noelynkoutalo6174]

Great stuff!

[@paxtianodirtfrog8947]

Just to be clear I wasn't drawing Wutang symbols in class....I was counting flowers on the wall. And you're late with the don't look into the sun warning, a certain self described stable genius already did just that. Okay seriously, great video again. I'm going to try showing this to an older friend that I can not explain this to for the life of me. As I was explaining the symbiotic relationships of bacteria and fungi with the plant roots he blurts out "well man, they gotta make a spray that'll get rid of that stuff" and we made that loop about three times and I gave up. Maybe you'll have better luck than I did getting across that not everything needs to die by the hands of pesticides....

[@notillgrowers]

Haha, Paxton, well I always say lead by example

[@The_Earthway]

Thanks Keep “Living The Earthway”!

[@Ebonyraeful]

Fantastic content. This was super educational and makes so much sense. Bought your book a few weeks ago and while I haven't gotten far into it yet, the videos in this new series you're doing makes me excited to read further. You're awesome. :)

[@notillgrowers]

🙌

[@mladyhazel]

Great video, super informative! Would you have some insight about compost that doesn't have any germination despite multiple seedings? I'm thinking it needs more curing..? Thank you!!

[@Electedsphinx40]

"who's wutang?" Your fired. My respect for you has now doubled

[@jule9477]

If you want the book, but it's not in your budget, order from your local library 🤗 Thanks Jesse for this wonderful series!

[@notillgrowers]

this

[@brucehitchcock3869]

May zi work st your farm? I'll sleep in a tent! ⛺🖖😊💘🌎🙏 Can't make living typing obviously... No legal cannabis? Time to move brother 😅

[@nickhammersonrocks]

ROCK ON NO-TILLERS !!!!!!

[@KitchenGardeningwithMe]

Great video👍

[@doncook3584]

You’re right. Soccer team distance runners “carb up” before competition. I’m losing weight by limiting carbs because they turn into sugars and I neither play soccer or run marathons which is why they store all that energy.

[@StubbsMillingCo.]

“Who’s Wu Tang?!” “Your fired!” 🤣🤣🤣💯

[@natefox1496]

Thank you🙌

[@simpsongreenhouseandchicken]

I think this is what should be taught about issues the globe is facing instead of pointing fingers and fighting about who's at fault. IMO

[@dennistaylor3796]

“There is nothing better for the soil than plants “

[@1Mandible]

Wuuuu Tang 😂😂😂 thanks for what you are doing!

[@edscukas9689]

I was always under the impression you had to let the soil “rest” after pulling a crop. Next year I’ll be changing to this method for sure!

[@notillgrowers]

So that comes from tillage. When you till crop residue into the soil you effectively inject a lot of O2 into the soil and enliven O2 loving bacteria who begin to consume that, tying up the nitrogen. If you don't till the soil, the process is much slower and less energy/nitrogen intensive and so the next crop will not suffer. People often refer to it as "digesting", which is honestly pretty accurate--digesting your carbon 😬

[@edscukas9689]

No-Till Growers awesome feedback thank you so much! I’m going to start working on planning to incorporate this method into my beds (the video method not the tilling lol)

[@GardensforLife]

Great info! Thanks for making videos! :D

[@ladybug4734]

Inspiring💚

[@ValerieHarristhefoodiemedic]

So important!

[@soilbellefarm3210]

Love your vids

[@mohamedazarudeen8045]

Love it👍

[@fiendeng]

"Who's WuTang?! Get him off the farm!" 🤣

[@kimagardener]

I love everything about this. Wu Tang for life.

[@elenabeza4432]

Foarte frumos

[@joyfool1225]

Dude you are awesome 😎

[@BaliFoodTreePlanter]

NOTES FROM A SOIL EXPERT: I hour barren is deadly to topsoil & soil life that might have made their homes there for a million years. Good Presentaion #jessie No tiller mainly since 1966.

[@АлексейБычков-б6ч]

I believe that we are the rays of the sun lingering a bit on the ground. So it seems reasonable to shine. With knowledge, just like you dude.

[@st-qp4mr]

Love the info..thanks so much

[@GURUTANI75]

thak for this information...

[@samwafarm1790]

Good content..!

[@TheLowCashHomestead]

On our operation we sometimes have empty bed space. Even when there is empty bed space we try to keep that soil healthy by keeping it covered and giving it something to eat.

[@notillgrowers]

Just never forget that "as much as possible" part of these principles is important too! Gotta be reasonable

[@allthingsgrowing]

Hey Jessie, can you please explain a little bit about your watering system?

[@rad7142]

Hey Jesse bought your book would loved to have gotten through your no till site but being from New Zealand, exchange rate and postage oof. I went the cheaper option now have to wait for the international release date 26 August. Its like hearing about the latest movie that everyone's raving about and I'm sitting here thinking. Hurry Up, take your time, don't be late....Dude is it here yet! Bro the foot pedal water valve episode was gold (waiting on that in the mail also, it's like I'm on the other side of the world or something....) peace and love

[@notillgrowers]

I totally understand! It's not cheap to get it from us but I'm so glad you can get it there and thank you 🙌

[@fail0r]

you've been touching on the technique of sowing carrots into mulched (flail mowed) buckwheat or other cover crops. would be nice to share that in it's own video since it sounds intriguing for getting better germination in the summer. but I also guess that there are some nuances to actually make it work?

[@notillgrowers]

Agreed that it would make a good video. I actually made a video a couple years back about carrot germination in the summer, but I can maybe do another one at some point. Summers are tough because you have to listen to the weather. If it's too hot/dry, a tarp with the white side up is just about the only way to get good germination. I always start about three weeks early too because if germination doesn't go well (and this year there were a few beds that were mediocre, though I suspect the seed wasn't great because it was all one variety) we have time to resow.

[@carybradley3968]

Margaret Roach germinates carrots in shade of a 2x4 on the planted row. I've never succeeded with carrot germ. Would love details on planting them after cover crop. Love your content. Going to splurge on your book. Thank you!

[@indica_dogo868]

We tried carrots last year and failed. This year they all sprouted on their own, after not planting any..... I guess they just wanted us to leave em alone.... Lol

[@fail0r]

@@notillgrowers yeah I've seen that video but seeding specifically into existing mulch would be great to give some detailed info on :)

[@notillgrowers]

Ah okay, I use the Jang JP1 with the double disc opener. I love that thing. Like a lightweight seed drill

[@murraycowie9234]

I am realizing gardening demands concerted sustained effort!

[@danpryde5503]

Love your vids mate, thank you! Q: so are you saying that the process of "resting beds between crops, so that nutrients aren't depleted" is kind of the wrong way to think about it. Coz in your understanding, soil is actually being restored by crops...? Or am I misunderstanding something?

[@mattpeacock5208]

I've seen track teams crush a pasta bar the night before a match. Especially the marathoners, they load up on heavy carbs

[@Kemzuta]

Hello from Indonesia! Mate, im obsessed with your videos. Where can I buy your book?