From Compacted + Poor Soil to Abundant PolyCulture- Jim Kovaleski’s Newest Garden

[@PeteKanarisGreenDreamsFL]

Want to see more of Jim Kovaleski?! We filmed a Course with Jim. It's called "The Grass-Fed Market Garden" ; this course is packed with exclusive information and is affordable! We are constantly adding more content to the course so be sure to check it out and learn from the Farming Master! "Grass-Fed Market Garden" Course - www.thegrassfedmarketgarden.com/ Check out our video on The Grass-Fed Market Garden here- kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXfEiGuvm6xkeK8 Check Out Our Online Nursery! We can ship plants anywhere in the US! Click on the link below to order: Online Store Link- bit.ly/2wzHQiT​ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Playlist Links: Our MOST POPULAR Videos - bit.ly/2LOVp4X Our Client Projects - bit.ly/2NWYMU2 Best of Growing Fruit (Tropical/Subtropical) - bit.ly/2EeCytW ____________________________________________________________ To learn more about us, as well as our products & services: www.greendreamsFL.com Follow us on Social media Facebook: bit.ly/3wRYYLe Instagram: bit.ly/2RwdsQL ____________________________________________________________ Have we made a difference for you? We would much appreciate your contribution to keep improving upon the quality, content & consistency of this channel. Support Us @ www.patreon.com/greendreamsFL

[@LadyGreyAgeingDisGracefully]

“Microherd”. Something clicked for me today. Thanks Pete and Jim.

[@sarahflanagan9345]

This is by far my favorite gardening channel on youtube. I only wish I knew more about permaculture decades ago, but it is never too late to learn a new way of gardening. I don't have much access to grass but I have had similar success with using wood chips to keep the weeds down.

[@freaknutt33]

I've been thinking about replacing our grass with cardboard and woodchips from chipdrop. Do the woodchips take a while to breakdown and do they attract rodents?

[@sarahflanagan9345]

@@freaknutt33 You absolutely can use this method. I have used the cardboard-wood chips method to reduce my lawn space and I have had no issues with rodents, bugs or any other problems.

[@tomasthomas7407]

never too late, … NeVeR 🤔🌤☀️👍🏻💰💰

[@tesha199]

Wood chips are better than grass, they decompose slower

[@happytraveler6933]

I love that man's upbeat attitude and laid back demeanor

[@TheSkatingAces]

very accurate description

[@agentbarron9768]

Weed is legal to grow in Maine, I'm sure alot of people are pretty chill and upbeat there lol Wish florida would give us the right to grow

[@iartistdotme]

Love the Jim vids. Dandelions are deep rooted as he said BUT they come when soil needs help and stay thick as thieves to heal and help the soil until not needed then slowly die back. Don't pull the dandelions! Use the flowers for tea - so good for you and tasty. Then they will repay you with more roots and deeper penetration pulling nutrients up from way down deep. Free fertilizer! Plus they are pretty and their little heads follow the sun just as sunflowers do. Sweet yellow blessings.

[@brucedownunda7054]

As do all "weeds". Notice how quickly weeds grow... Natures Strike Force for Soil and Human Healing...

[@grovermartin6874]

Dandelion leaves in the spring are delicious sautéed with garlic in olive oil and sprinkled with lemon juice (southern European style) or wilted with garlic in bacon fat and sprinkled with vinegar (northern European style). My grandmother would wait for the new growth with bated breath to pick them before they flowered and their leaves became tough and bitter. Not the same as the domesticated variety from the grocery.

[@iartistdotme]

@@grovermartin6874 I started seeds for non-native Florida dandelions and they did grow but the leaves are tender all the time. I pick the leaves to dehydrate for 'green powder' to mix with other greens and use in lots of sauces and casseroles and no one knows they're eating healthy, also! LOL I'll try that saute w/lemon juice. Sounds YUM.

[@grovermartin6874]

@@iartistdotme What do non-native Florida dandelions look like?

[@iartistdotme]

@@grovermartin6874 I know they are bigger and leaves are larger. The ones that grow here in FL are much smaller and the lions less fluffy - but still very delicious as tea. I ordered seeds since not many pop up in my yard but plenty do along the roads. I try to pick from roads with not much traffic and that I know no one sprays. Still I wanted more so I bought seeds. The leaves are much bigger but they are not as prolific as the 'weeds' on the side of the road. I guess the rain and heat don't agree with them. I'm jealous of those that get those fat lions and big leaves!

[@danclark1248]

I need to hear Jim and Dowding on a podcast or something. I NEED IT.

[@michaelross2054]

That would be a great combination, two superb gardeners with slightly different methods but both producing excellent results.

[@TinMan445]

Makes so much sense. Jim just speeds up what nature does

[@simplysimple7628]

Jim is an absolute savant at this stuff. Just simply amazing. His knowledge is from the best source of learning. TRIAL AND ERROR. Life is about it. You live and you learn. I’ve learned so much from this man. Mulching is the way to go. I’ve mulched my fruit trees more often and had massive harvests the past few years. Had to give most away, which is better than any cash. People are so grateful and the smiles are priceless. Thanks pete for all this priceless content. Aloha🙏🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼

[@stevobear4647]

Jim is always so willing to share his knowledge, very likable and encouraging gardener.

[@maryse8]

Love all of your videos, Pete. The one's with Jim are extra special!

[@BarefootFarmFL]

Man, I've spent the last couple years learning and building my market garden while simultaneously working a full time job. Whenever I'm feeling discouraged by my failures in this endeavor I watch a video of Jim. My worries are washed away and my passion reinvigorated. Thank you for making these videos Pete.

[@PeteKanarisGreenDreamsFL]

Thanks! I'm glad you've been enjoying

[@brucedownunda7054]

I like that theory of the Soil Life is possibly "Herd Grazing" therefore increased soil fertility.

[@courtneyheron1561]

There is plenty of studies and evidence that this is in fact what is happening under ground. One of the pioneers is Elaine Ingham who coined the name the soil food web. Several decades ago she got her microscope out to look at what was going in the soil and just kept on learning and putting things together along with many other micro biologists like Dr. Christine Jones. If you want to hear an interesting lecture check out Dr. David Johnson kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYCVn3p-ppljjsU. It’s crazy to see all the microscopic life that exist in the soil through the microscope. Been learning about this stuff through Elaine’s on-line courses through the Soil Food Web School. It’s super cool!

[@grovermartin6874]

@@courtneyheron1561 Thanks for the leads, Courtney!

[@jayjohnson3724]

cattle panels to grow squash. $22 at tractor supply. Use up 8 feet in growth in one place. they still run, but not so far. We used them for crookneck, pumpkins and zucchini.

[@Gromp]

Once again you are proving that the straw revolution mulch method works for so much more than rice/barley fields! I have done it with different cabbages in the Nagasaki mountains, but I cant describe my the joy of seeing it work for such multicultural market garden.

[@farmyourbackyard2023]

Remember, it’s never wasted to let the land rest. ☺️

[@rgb5031]

Love, Love, Love this channel!

[@ross6343]

Few people understand the value of mulching like Jim K. does! As opposed to straw, hay/grass has a higher mineral content - that's why the worms love the stuff. And for those worried about seeds in hay - DON'T because the seeds need 'cold dormancy' to germinate...do the research. Another GREAT mulch I use is fresh-cut alfalfa - OMG - the soil's microbiome goes into overdrive. Mulching is labor intense BUT the long term benefits will add up each season by a factor of three. Don't forget, soil is never built down - it's built up. GREAT video Pete and Jim - thank you! Many blessings.

[@PeteKanarisGreenDreamsFL]

🙌

[@todd1388]

To start a garden should I till first then add my grass mulch? Or just add the mulch to form the garden?

[@ross6343]

@@todd1388 Frankly, it all depends on your soil type. If you have a good loom, no need to till if you use the 'lasagna method' - do a YT search for lasagna gardening [you'll undoubtedly come across Charles Dowding in England - watch his lasagna technique]. If your soil contains clay [a good mineral source], then some tilling up front while adding compost and other sources of humus will speed up soil conditioning. One of the best 'methods' for working with clay rich dirt I've come across is called JADAM, a form of Korean natural farming. There's a YT video showing how to do JADAM raised beds - very informative. The last option is also expensive - 'contained' raised beds like 'justframeit' and 'vege' or those offered by outfits like Gardeners Supply 0r Tractor Supply or those 'big box' stores. I'm 70+ years old and grew up on a farm that practiced J. I. Rodale ideas. What I'm saying is I've seen most every gardening approach in practice today...well...this 'no till fad' is an oxymoron to me for several different reasons. Two last suggestions I'll make to you as a new gardener [even seasoned gardeners] is this...learn how to use worm castings and worm castings extract [some call worm tea - another oxymoron to me]. Nature's biology is always right and earth worms lead the way in giving consistent results season after season with the nutrient dense food anyone could hope to grow. Lastly, learn how to incorporate Alfalfa use in your gardening practice for two primary reasons: a). alfalfa contains a plant growth hormone called triacontanol and b). the soil's microbiome loves alfalfa. Hope this helps! Good luck.

[@CharlesGann1]

Loves Jim's experience and wisdom is amazing.

[@midwestfalcon5667]

Wish Jim could spend a season or two in my yard, helping me get things in order and teaching me so I can pass the info to my kids and future grandkids.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Jim is a wealth of knowledge.

[@everydayanimalswithrainfor1315]

BEST CONTENT ON YOU TUBE !!!

[@buyerofsorts]

Jim is in tuned to gardening the way most people were for thousands of years until very recently.

[@rarendsen9688]

I always get so much inspiration looking at this abundance, this is how life should be. thank you!

[@trishdavi7049]

I really like your aerial views Pete...this one just about resembles a smiley face...lol Cheers Jim. I'm in a parallel gardening space north of the 49th parallel. Composted a hay field and then planted in it before seeing your vids. Now I know why I did what I did then and why that turned out to be the right thing to do

[@bobbiejean864]

Get some cattle panels in there Jim! Make arches out of them and grow your winter squash up and over. Jess from Roots and Refuge youtube channel has some awesome videos showing how much she grows on the cattle panel arches. I tried it last year with butternut plants and they grew wonderfully. I couldn't believe that the squashes could hold on without breaking off the vine while being grown vertically. I want to try again this spring with more squashes, smaller melons and cucumbers. Last year the critters devoured my seedlings and dug up a bunch of my seeds. Live and learn I guess, lol. I love your videos and learn so much from you Pete and Jim, God bless you guys!

[@bmbc112s]

I admire Jim for adapting the old Ruth Stout hay mulch gardening to meet today’s needs

[@janele2488]

I absolutely Love watching your videos Pete. You & Jim inspire me. Keep Growing On!!!

[@Kwalk1989]

Jim drops golden nuggets of information for any gardener.

[@GreenFamily2007]

Jim is an absolute genius!!

[@aa37988]

I really enjoy your interviews with Jim.

[@diymomtipsandtricks8426]

Can't wait for Jim to return!!! So excited

[@THEGROWITS]

jim is mob grazing veggies!!!MIND blown again!

[@robynnparker1455]

Jim's a mad scientist!

[@toneyjohnson8910]

I always learn so much watching your videos. especially when both you and Jim are on the same video.

[@fadista7063]

Love the Jim K series in Fl and Maine! 💚

[@gpooleii]

Amazing how simple it is to build good soil. Just feed it! Love your stuff Pete and love Jim's work.

[@valeriebaldino4720]

Love your videos with Jim. Can't wait for him to get back here to New Port Richey.

[@sps144]

Just awesome! Keep it up Jim you inspire me.

[@rostamkocholo]

Best Video so far from this trip. Thank you both.

[@seasidecreations4526]

So TOTALLY Inspired! Building my food forest. I have a years worth of manuer available. Following Jims great advice! & bought some great Florida Native Garden books. So motivated! Will take pics and vids and see where I am in a couple years. Was able to release 81 butterflies this Spring. Have my butterfly gardens dialed in. Attracting all kinds. Love it! Wish I could buy some of his yummy Maine produce! Hope to buy from him this season! You guys are such FANTASTIC INSPIRATION!!! :) Thank you!!! I have shared with all my friends. Inspiring them! Yay!

[@terriebirdcumminsjamison1368]

Love when you guys get together! ♥️Lots of good tips from just personal experience and observation!👍🏼

[@rachelgalus]

This guy is truly incredible

[@keshlalish5586]

grass is so effective that im researching even better plant to mulch in my garden. clumping bamboo seem to be the perfect garden mate, you get brown and mulch and you can also cut the cane and use it as stake for the garden or even build frames for netting.

[@stevesoutdoorworld4340]

Thanks Pete!

[@4philipp]

Another good show Pete. Always love your visits to Jim

[@MrCntryjoe]

1.3 k views n 217 likes n 20 comments. (Some of the best gardening on KZbin.) Love it 😊 thank you. ✌️ HTGDE.

[@Leitz_kraft]

keep feeding those microbes Jim! We need them!

[@eazypeazy33]

Always great to catch up with Jim! Thanks Pete! We got decimated by Ida over where I live.. citrus can handle some winds btw.. lol 🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽

[@beolamvuon3544]

Beautiful! I love all Jim’s videos.

[@cherylbertolini3140]

another great video

[@jeff6899]

I had heard the soil left behind by pine trees is not as acidic as you might think. People mulch with it & it does not materially change the pH. With all the grass & hay creating great soil might make Ruth Stout proud !😁😁😊

[@PeteKanarisGreenDreamsFL]

Interesting!

[@Getawaymoments]

Such great information! Thanks Jim, Pete and crew.

[@carlfogarthy6508]

Bellissimo!!!!!!! Thanks from Italy

[@chadsshow2010]

Very cool video. Enjoyed the tour.

[@crystalh733]

Love himmmm!!!

[@autumnmeadows4079]

thank you

[@CeritaMrzank]

interesting way for gardening

[@catfunksfabulousfinds]

Enjoy watching your videos here in Oregon. Thank you!

[@PeteKanarisGreenDreamsFL]

Awesome, thanks for watching! 😊

[@Sheenasalesthriftytreasures]

Excellent video I love watching

[@DeborahCaldwell77]

Hey thanks for the Maine visit

[@moneymikegotuvideos312]

Another banger boss. 🔥

[@edscukas9689]

Great video I was actually thinking of using the weeds/grass as an alternative to the woodchips if we cannot get them!

[@lyndaschroeder8117]

Amazing!!! Thank you.!

[@WattsMiner]

Should try implementing biochar to the soil guys ... The grass will feed the micro herd, the char will supercharge the bioactivity and act like a nutrient battery. Great stuff love the videos.

[@PNWHerb]

Biochar only works good on bad soils. If your soil is good it’s not needed.

[@sunshinejenny95]

Thanks Pete & Jim. Always learn tons.

[@danielblewitt8488]

Awesome content. Thank you.

[@fresillainc9537]

Thanks man

[@koojc7456]

Great info guys!!

[@docwells6193]

Do you plant into the ground /soil and then add the grass or do you plant into the layered grass? I live in the north eastern part of Alberta Canada and we don't have a long growing season. I can see lots of goodness in this method.

[@Elric509]

He mentioned in a previous video that the plants are started separately, then planted along with the soil blocks they were grown in

[@aldas3831]

Plant in the soil and after cover with grass or dried leaves.

[@courtneyheron1561]

I think Jim said in the video that he pulls back the mulch and plants. It reminds me of Paul Gautschi’s Back to Eden Garden. In my experience, pulling back the already laid mulch is a useful way to apply this method because starts can be damaged if done the other way and it’s much faster to lay mulch without worrying what’s in the way. Once plants have established its a bit easier to lay mulch around them, which may be needed if your mulch gets consumed quickly.

[@tomhancock541]

ruth stout did this in the 1940s with hay and straw, befor agra biz made it toxic, i did this in the 70s while working at a swank girls school with the horses. they let me have all the straw from bedding and also hay

[@VLXMario]

Boi thats some nice soil

[@willbass2869]

Did anyone catch name of the seed catalogue did Jim mentions at 15:40 when discussing the pole beans?? Did he say Fedco? Thanks

[@clivesconundrumgarden]

#legend .

[@Waltzonthemoon]

I can’t use grass, it’s all Bermuda, I won’t even put in compost pile. I have been throwing Bermuda on spots where nothing grows....boom! Got ground cover with out water or fertilize

[@Japanese_moped_guy]

It sure is nice to walk on

[@RyRy2057]

yo I might steal "what's growin' on" tbh

[@johndoby]

I'd like to know how he fertilizes the pasture he's using to supply his grass. I would think the pasture will eventually become nutrient deficient removing that much grass.

[@willbass2869]

In video 2 or 3 back about haying he mentioned goats. Apparently not many but at least some return of nutrients (especially if supplemented with grain while being milked)

[@johndoby]

@@willbass2869 I see. That's an interesting thought about the nutritional transfer from the grain to the soil. We supplement our pastured goats with grain. I like the idea of harvesting grass for garden use, but we are battling perilla mint in our pasture. It's the only thing the goats wont touch (which is good because it is toxic) and it is very proliferate. We have been pulling it for the last few years but they keep coming up worse. We tried pulling them a little earlier this year, maybe that will help.

[@willbass2869]

@@johndoby yeah in the case of dairy cows (or hogs or poultry) fed a grain heavy diet the soil definitely will develop excess potassium and phosphorus. In many cases, the buildup is so bad that plant growth is impaired because balance between elements is so outta whack. Thus in turn can cause problems with animal metabolism function. The late Jerry Brunetti wrote quite a bit about soil health impacting animal health. Best remedy for excess P/K, ironically, is to grow a crop of corn for grain and sell it. Don't feed to your stock. You are in effect exporting the imbalance somewhere, hopefully, that is P or K deficient.

[@seneciohaworthii970]

I miss heavier clay based soil like that there. It retains moisture and nutrients easily. It was so much easier to grow most things in that sort of soil than it is in florida sand.

[@outsideingeorgia8963]

Yeah, wouldn't want to plant in the heavy clay, but, especially if the clay is waterproof, wouldn't it be great to have it under the garden bed? Stops nutrient and water leaching underground vertically and is a source of minerals itself.

[@oppenheim11238]

thumbs up

[@sandramcleod9619]

Could you do the same thing with hay to start a new garden? I just bought land that I had to clear from forest so no grass.

[@bentimberfalling]

Now I'm wondering what Jim likes to cook with all the abundance he grows?

[@lvs6775]

I’d love to know how big that space is he’s growing in.

[@KyleTheShaman]

💚

[@yuppystick]

Fkn love this channel!

[@scottmeier1671]

,what type of kiwi does jim have and fruit trees?

[@Jhv007]

🤔 💭..WHERE IS THIS FARM SITUATED??, 🥝🍑🫐🍓🥒🥬🥦🌧⛈💨 THAT COOL RAIN WEATHER GIVES ALL VARIETY FRUITS FROM LAND!!. 😎 COOL WHAT’S GROWING UP! VIDEO PETE, ALWAYS LEARNING FROM FARMERS + GREEN LAND 🍐🍏🍋🍊🍅🥭🥑🥥

[@patriciamathis7042]

Does Jim dry all his grass before putting it on his garden??

[@PeteKanarisGreenDreamsFL]

Usually yes

[@paulbraga4460]

wonderful...not Florida. so where? blessings

[@PeteKanarisGreenDreamsFL]

Maine!

[@stephanielovesshane]

How does he start the garden? Does he just smother the sod with grass? Or is there a barrier like cardboard?

[@jbamerican_usnavy]

I dream about buying 5 acres building a small home and then call Pete. So he can turn those five acres into a food Forest.

[@mandandi]

If you cut dry grass, then likely the seeds have fallen, so they don't transfer to the mulching area. That has been my experience. Nice garden though.

[@Rauseo07]

Is there a good place to get seeds from here in Florida for heirlooms like this?

[@grandunionnews2510]

Would adding biochar reduce the need to feed so much grass?

[@PeteKanarisGreenDreamsFL]

Possibly, but each do different things

[@jettyeddie_m9130]

Jim is the b.o.a.t 🛥

[@THEGROWITS]

i have been blaming carrot loss on birds.....worms..dang...2nd mind change

[@aaronmayne6138]

Why is it shaped like an eye?

[@bettyutberg1494]

Does he use any pesticides either natural or chemical to control

[@chrislee176]

Where is this, if not Florida?

[@janew5351]

Maine

[@mandandi]

I don't understand why people still consider dandelions weeds that are not edible. They are very good for the liver and provide a lot of nutrients. Keep them around. And, they are very good for the soil too.

[@RM-vk2cg]

no need for the store nutrients all you need is grass birds and a dead tree

[@mikkeljylland9153]

Maybe he should get more help? So he would be less busy, and others could learn from him.