Some of My Weirdest Garden Experiments to Date...

Jackson is the cofounder of no-till growers and without his work none of this exists. Please show him some love here: www.gofundme.com/f/windstorm-...
In this video we discuss some of the weirder garden trials I have been working on over the last couple years including the static aerated compost pile, chamomile in the patyhways and more, and others.
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[@chriseverest4380]

"I like learning the hard way" The quote of a realistic man dealing with the vagaries of climate, catastrophe and chaos!😂❤

[@forgetful3360]

I tell my customers that I use no biocides or synthetic fertilizers whatsoever, including 'Organically' certified poison. For those who are curious, I explain that 'Organically' certified produce can be as nutrient deficient as industrially grown produce. I make it clear that anyone is welcome to visit my farm and to take any sample they want for testing at a lab and that I will reimburse their expense if the lab shows the presence of any crap. I have never and would never apply for 'Organic' certification. My customers trust me and rave about the taste of my veggies.

[@VictoriousGardenosaurus]

Joel Salatin expresses a similar view point in his writings. High quality is the goal, and don't let marketing ruin the quality.

[@gabec2494]

I follow the same practices. No herbicides, pesticides, amendments or commercially produced compost. Only sourcing local organic material from my property. I utilize fish carcasses ( I love to fish) leaf mold and charged biochar that I make. My produce stands out in flavor and appearance to others following commercial or big Ag practices, Organically or not. I've found mint, steeped and sprayed has kept most harmful pests and deer far from my crops

[@spaceantelope1]

@@gabec2494How long do you steep for? Donypu have a formula, or ratio of water to mint or? Any info is greatly appreciated, and thank you for sharing!!

[@spaceantelope1]

Many blessings to you, your farm, and to your very fortunate customers!!

[@gabec2494]

@spaceantelope1 I use 2 bunches of mint per 5 gallon bucket filled with rain water. Cover and let sit for about 1 week if weather is warm. In a pinch, mint extract (1oz) per 5 gallons can be used. I apply every 2 weeks and spray everything, from mulched pathways to leaves, fruits and even corn tassels.

[@SelahGardens-kr9ui]

Hey! I just finished reading through your book for the second time and it was amazing. I’m 17 and am hoping to move into the market garden space. Im just about to start my second season at a farm that I have loved working for. I can’t stress how much of an inspiration and teacher you’ve been to me. Watching your videos has been so educational and makes me excited for the future of agriculture! Thank you so much!

[@tonibaloney269]

I'm so impressed you're reading the Soil Handbook at 17! You are going to have a fantastic life!

[@CarterHewins]

I just started reading the living soil handbook and I can’t put it down! If anyone out there is thinking about buying it they definitely should.

[@garrettscott4094]

I had forgotten about some of those projects. Thank you for the update. Can't wait to hear your next idea

[@that_auntceleste5848]

Rain garden for one of the soggy areas maybe? Deep-rooted perennial grasses and flowers that like swampy areas can absorb a heck of a lot of water while supporting beneficial insects

[@stuckinthemudgarden7726]

I had an interesting experience this year. I built a bed last year 2022 to grow some wine cap mushrooms. Laying hay the wood chips then hay then wood chips . I built it up 2 feet tall. I add more wood chip in the fall of 22. Had a good mushroom year . This spring I was out planting and couldn’t find a decent place to put parsnips. Heavy clay and rocks is not particularly great for parsnips. So I just broad cast the parsnips in to the wine cap bed a thought if some grow great. They germinate amazingly the entire bed was covered. I got an amazing harvest. The best I had ever gotten. What was most amazing was when I harvested the wood chips were totally gone. The entire bed was a 10 inch layer of worms and worm castings. Yes I have Asian jumping worms. The episode on notill podcast was really interesting. After harvesting the parsnips I planted the bed to radishes and cilantro. The bed next to I planted the exact same way half radish 1/2 cilantro. Radishes were harvested 7 days before the other bed . The cilantro was definitely more productive. I believe the worms ate all the mycelium of the wine caps I didn’t get any . Thank you for the information. I am not suggesting anyone go and get jumping worms but they can be beneficial.

[@gardengatesopen]

Interesting comments! It seems you and I have much in common out in the garden. I too, have very rocky soil with clay. I also grow mushrooms on purpose. And I made a lasagna bed with Wine Cap. However, I do not have any hay. What I do have is a massive amount of woodchips. So I used those. Lastly, I also have Asian Jumping Worms. However, I'm NOT finding them beneficial in any matter at all. Just the opposite! I had ZERO harvest of Wine Caps. Maybe this was due to only having woodchips & not having hay? Altho, the expert Wine Cap growers say otherwise. So? I don't know. What I DO know is that the jumping worms are so aggressive they are prohibiting me from having ANY crops. So I ask you - How is it the j.worms are not eating your crops, especially the in-ground crops?? How is your soil holding on to nutrients where those j.worms are? WHY would you WANT the Wine Cap mycelium gone??? It's probably THE MOST beneficial thing you've got in your soil, especially if you have j.worms! I just don't get the beneficial part... Have you tried any ways of getting rid of them? I've recently been trying drenching with ground mustard seed. This experiment is still early days for me. But I can say that no worms, or earwigs either, like to stick around where the ground mustard has been. Granted, this will also scare away hood earthworms. But guess what? THEY'RE ALREADY GONE! The j.worms have already eliminated them, so me scaring the good worms away is not an issue. I can also say that my bed of Lions Mane mushrooms DO like the kick the mustard drench provides! The only drawback about using the mustard seed drench is that it does take A LOT of ground mustard seed, as well as labor, to drench my entire yard. I haven't done that yet. But it is an idea I'm kicking around. The next problem is the j.worm eggs that will be hatching next Spring. Not to mention the Spring after that, and the Spring after that, and the Spring after that, etc. Bcuz, research has found that each adult worm lays a percentage of eggs which are predetermined to WAIT YEARS to hatch. Some will hatch next year. Some the year after. And on, and on, and on. The longest length of time is still unknown bcuz they've only started the research on THAT little problem 4 years ago. So far, there have been dormant eggs hatching every one of those 4 years. So, even if I somehow managed to remove every "live worm" on my property this year, I'm SURE to have a fresh new batch every single year until the unforeseeable future. Happy worm days... AND they crawl up into my pots too!! So I can't leave any potted plants on the ground. It's just such a BIG problem!!! Needless to say... I really HATE j.worms!!!! I'm not sure how you could think they are beneficial in any way... Please, if you don't mind, please explain your viewpoint on HOW they are beneficial. Bcuz I just don't get it. Here's my take on them: I'm in Central Texas, I'm not even sure the adults die over the winter bcuz it doesn't really stay cold enough. Which just means they're eating & egg laying machines that are so very prolific nothing else can survive. AND they don't give anything good back to the soil. They only take. There's even an old growth Oak tree having trouble staying alive with them over here. I'm now contemplating investing in shares of a mustard seed growing farm... I want them GONE.

[@leahtruckenbrod1279]

I have really enjoyed your content and appreciate all those behind the scenes who help your endeavors.

[@klauskarbaumer6302]

Without experimenting there is no learning, so that's good, no matter if every experiment leads to success or not. Besides, it is interesting. I do it, too, every year on a limited scale. I enjoy learning from your experiments.

[@aileensmith3062]

Reality of life is one cannot learn and move forward without making mistakes along the way! We are VERY much trying to make out own compost and it is not going well. Also wishing to set up a aerated static compost system. As we produce a decent amount of animal manure. Should be tackling that possibility soon. Bummer and you being gone until February. Then do enjoy your "vacation" and we look forward to your future fun and educational videos!

[@SommaRob]

Thank you for this video. I too took my first attempt at tomato grafting. Brandywine, Sakura and San Marzano. I grew outdoors. (No tunnel) My non grafted did well early. Sakura too did very well. The Brandywine grafted lasted longer but did not produce as large tomatoes. - I need to get a white lab coat for more quantitative results :) maybe I can choose a better root stock and maybe under cover I’ll have better results.

[@Blynn-md4dx]

Hey Farmer Jesse! This garden nerd is LOVING your book! My husband always says he doesn't touch my things because he knows it is another experiment. Lol

[@hazeysgarden]

I like this video. Sometimes some of your videos are more targeted to larger scale growers, and I’m a teeny tiny scale grower. I really liked hearing about the different things you’ve tried, and the tools. I’d love a video where you discuss your favorite tools & techniques. You’ve probably already done that and I just haven’t looked but anyways, I liked the video 😅😂

[@lksf9820]

He has, take a look.

[@sabastianlove1286]

The cooling effect (also general insulation) of fresh wood chips is exactly what Los Angles requires.

[@angelomanzara6600]

Thanks for all the advice and entertainment. I am only a home gardener but I try and use your tips. Have a great year and see you in Feb

[@Growinginalberta]

Thank you very much much for this informative video, as always. I look forward to each video, as you challenge my growing and gardening insights. We too have had a couple seasons with smoke in our skies and fires at our footstep. This past summer, here in Alberta Canada, we had 244 smoke “hours”, which made growing vegetables difficult. Merry Christmas to you, and all the best for 2024. See you once again in February.

[@LittleKi1]

I think larger scale compost production just really needs a tractor. (sigh) Moving all that heavy, slightly wet, unwieldy feedstock is just very hard on a body to do over and over again enough to get an even cook and breakdown of material. Love the followup, though!

[@ivyclark70]

Thank you for sharing your nerdiness with us. Have a good Chrissy and see you next year.

[@derekwood8184]

Loving the experiments.. We're converting the garden to veg growing, we're up to 2.5x 18m2 beds and plan to have 6 beds next year, 8 beds in 2025. For us everything is an experiment, so having all your videos as a resource is so valuable. Will have your book too thanks to Santa (as well as my current go-to, The New Orgainic Grower, and a few others). Have a wonderful relaxing Christmas, good luck next year, we look forward to new insights, stories and triumphs next year.

[@italiana626sc]

Enjoy the break from filming and thanks for all the great content!

[@RobinL4715]

Love your content and your book! I’ve learned so much! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[@kolokithas7865]

I love updates on experiments!!

[@jasonhayes3882]

Thanks for all the great videos this year. Happy Holidays!

[@Followyourlight420]

You are awesome! Thank you for the passion!

[@eddieslittlestack7919]

I coped you with that foot operated wash table. SO much better than just the table and holding a garden hose. Thank you.

[@stacihill2528]

I will thoroughly miss your videos in the break that you were taking. I will be purchasing your book for my Christmas present to me this year. Thank you for putting up these fantastic and educational videos. Hope you have a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

[@lynnerobinson6425]

Thank you for all your hard work. Have a good break, and a happy Christmas . See you in the New year .

[@lleesti1346]

very helpful video, thanks Jesse!! Merry Christmas to you and yours.

[@robertcotrell9810]

Thanks for the updates!

[@tarawatterson4188]

Awesome to hear your conclusions on those projects. Happy holidays to you and your family, hope you get some R&R in before Feb too!

[@chriskirkpatrick2291]

I did not find you until about mid season here in Louisville in 2023. I absolutely bought your book, thank you for that, and am doing the best I can to adapt my conditions and limitations to somewhat similate your teaching. I'm a simple, three, backyard grower, for now, I'm hopeful that my situation may change in time. Eitherway, I wanted to thank you for your videos, and as i can, I will support your ability to continue making these videos. I would also be willing to help you with your process in return of the learning experience. I would be limited on availability due to my job, Highway Costruction Inspection eats a lot of time, but would love to help, just to learn more. I'm pretty sure my wife would be on board to help out as well. Anyway, thanks for your contenet, I've really enjoyed it. Also, great choices in music for your videos.

[@joestatuto5287]

Love your videos! Have a great holiday!!!!

[@ferdinandgluck2723]

Happy holidays to you and the family!!!

[@coppertreeacres]

Thank you for all the amazing content you put out all year long! Praying you have a wonderful “down time” and holiday season. Many blessings and Merry Christmas to you and your family

[@VictoriousGardenosaurus]

Winter garden chore of the month: gathering hundreds of bags of leaves and grass to lay out a foot deep mulch layer. Broke 2000ft² of new ground, doubling last years garden. All i had was a spade fork, as i couldnt justify a $400 broad fork for 4000ft². Will be welding some old dirt bike foot rests to make the process easier on my feet in the future.

[@VictoriousGardenosaurus]

@@Ni-dk7ni That sounds great until you try these heavy clay soils. Hard pan compaction, not to mention rocks, 8-12 inches down. I've got a hell of a drainage issue, and did not have success with a full 'no till' in my older beds. Even after three years.

[@robertharvey9913]

Thanks for the entertainment this year. And of course the educational content always look forward to your videos thanks again. Hope you enjoy your holiday

[@MovingBlanketStudio]

Thanks for sharing all the great content.

[@zacmercer7507]

Thanks for the year of nerdy goodness. Happy holidays and all the best in the next season.

[@ryanwillett728]

Love the recap, thank you!

[@JB-yg3ew]

Thanks for sharing all this interesting information!

[@mariondunn6580]

Many thanks. Really appreciate your videos, always great content.

[@midwestribeye7820]

I enjoy your content. Merry Christmas, happy New Year, and hope you can relax with family and friends.

[@dwardodwardo643]

Thank you, happy new year! ;)

[@BackyardProduce]

It’s not well-studied, but lots of farmers & gardeners have observed that wildfire smoke hurts tomato plants. For our tomatoes, the seeds we saved from 2023 plants have a much lower germination than is normal (anywhere from 12% to 67%, instead of nearly 100%). The plants that year were also less productive & got killed by septoria after Ophelia came, all of which was during a drought.

[@pascalxus]

i love all the experiments you are doing!

[@stevepayne7374]

Happy holidays and Thanks for all the great info. By the way I enjoy the no til book it’s great 👍🏻✌🏻

[@DK6060]

I second everything Steve said!

[@michaellippmann4474]

Great video - Thank you...Merry Christmas! Mike 🇨🇦

[@cindyhollings2079]

Happy Christmas mate! Xx

[@TheFarmacySeedsNetwork]

Excellent info and video! Thanks!

[@hazeysgarden]

I threw 5 on it! Hope to see the high tunnel back up soon! ❤️💛💚

[@jennablorezone8Band9A]

Thank you for the follow up and wonderful year of content. I have common camomile that I just let be, what were you going to do with the buds if you knew it was actually going to thrive ? I’m totally gonna miss my Sunday watch with ☕️before starting the day. Have a safe end of year and look forward to February-ish! When will your green hats be back in stock?

[@sandiraven6173]

We will miss you! Have a good time prepping

[@blueskye23]

Are there not water loving herbs or plants that would prosper in your boggy bed at the bottom of the hill? Culantro (different from cilantro) and rice come to mind. Thanks for sharing your findings.

[@andrewcrabb8407]

Merry Christmas Nerds!🎄

[@glyncaemawr6957]

Thanks for the videos this year, already looking forward to February…

[@Albertopo69]

Thank you very much. Your book is very good. Merry christmas.

[@TW-in3gg]

One quick question.... have you tried digging a deep French style drain to keep your beds from flooding? I had a garden with heavy clay soil.... but after digging down about 3 feet I hit gravel, so I dug a couple of drainage trenches... this worked great getting rid of the all the excess surface water.

[@petanisukses_garden]

wow the experiment is very good

[@JoyoftheGardenandHome]

Merry Christmas, see you next year😊

[@kikks461]

Still laughing about the stunt-your-growth bit! Happy holidays/new year!

[@jordanwilson5936]

February WHAT !! lol I look forward to seeing you then

[@pastihijau5043]

Thanks for your video.

[@ardenthebibliophile]

It's only been 3 weeks and February still feels so far away. I'm trying to solace myself by watching the onion guide (and planting onion seeds). Fun fact, you got a shout out on Huws Garden the other day. Would be cool to do a collab if you two were ever in the same location

[@Power_Prawnstar]

Pls make more videos, I need this info, I'm in training for a small holding.

[@alexpowell9]

Thanks for the great update!! Curious to know if you have any new inter-planting favourites since living soil handbook came out?

[@jordanwilson5936]

Also proud new owner of the living soil handbook

[@MirroredInMud]

I think my first video was the one where you painted your window frame black. 😄

[@rickthelian2215]

Merry Christmas to you all🎅 Composting Worms do you have any or planning to breed them for the composting System? Happy New Year 2024 see you all again in February, that includes the Cat❤

[@notillgrowers]

My dream is to build a new greenhouse where I dedicate a section entirely to vermicompost production but that may be a couple years. SO stay tuned?

[@rickthelian2215]

@@notillgrowers great to here Jessie.

[@OwlMoovement]

Love that you caught us up on your trials. Wondering how your experience with AEA (Biocoat Gold, right?) products went.

[@gailmeaton1305]

SwiftBlocker has been such a game-changer for me, and so many other topics you've presented!

[@sailingbrewer]

You might want to look at running a cable down the length of your greenhouse and suspend the hose on it. I saw it on Instagram and it looks really promising

[@stephensmith7995]

I would put something in the wet spot that likes it wet. I would try peppers myself. I have a habit of over watering, but my peppers seem to thrive in it. They're so hardy, I just can't kill em.

[@jeshurunfarm]

WHAT? FEBRUARY? What am I going to do for that time? Have fun Bro! Be blessed.

[@lisamcdonald1415]

Thanks for another great year! We couldn’t grow without you sharing your knowledge. Have a happy holidays see you in February. Any consideration for farm tours next season? I know a couple great farms in Canada that would love a visit ;)

[@janew5351]

Living in ontario, I would love to see some Canadian growers.

[@nicholasnarcowich9163]

Thank you for your videos, Godspeed :-)

[@540isilver]

Putting drainage tile really helps with wet spots in the field

[@clarkansas6590]

Good job

[@SommaRob]

I was excited about the static aerated compost system. It sounds like a hybrid solution is reasonable? SA under your normal building and turning? This way you get compliant AND better than meh results? Thx- See you next year!!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!!!

[@tamarackartstudio7893]

Chamomile is also great for Jadam liquid fertilizer

[@FinicumHardy]

I got inspired by your video and planted a roman chamomile pathway. Unfortunately the weeds took over before the chamomile got very far and I found it impossible to weed the path and save the chamomile. So it was a fail for me. I'd rather just mow whatever grows in the path every couple of weeks

[@nigelmccomb8106]

Have you considered growing celery in the wet area?

[@ddvoynin]

Thanks for the great videos! One question though. If the statically aerated composting method is just "meh" what works better for you?

[@candiwallace6605]

My favorite guy ❤❤❤

[@roburanchanel9837]

Wah amazing salam hormat kami pertania organik Indonesia susses terus mr😊❤❤❤❤

[@richpoints]

You once planted winter peas among garlic. How did that work out? Did it boost nitrogen for the garlic crop?

[@notillgrowers]

I think i discuss that in the book but garlic does not handle competition well and the bulbs were quite small. I now no longer interplant into garlic

[@gregbluefinstudios4658]

shall miss the videos! See you soon enough!

[@davidakerlund6296]

the only notable experiment I did this was interplanting burdock with some crops and all the crops i interplanted it with suffered, planted raddish and kale same day with one in a bed without burdock and one established burdock{ not being shaded by it though} and the raddish never matured out and the kale only started growing after the burdock went dormat

[@richardmarshall1858]

I just purchased a fertilizer that claims microbial nutrients essentially from worm castings having added kelp meal and molasses to feed microorganisms to increase their activity and quantity. This product was shipped in a 1 quart plastic container inside a dark plastic pouch, I assume is to protect it from the sun. I understood the water this is bread in requires oxygen in order for the microbes to stay alive. Does shipping over an extended period of even 1 day render this product sterile? It’s called worm castings plant juice, soil rebuilder and plant fertilizer.

[@owendavies8227]

For your bog area, you could fix it with pulverized lime (around 2 tons per acre). Otherwise, thai morning glory (AKA water spinach) is a tasty crop.

[@gangofgreenhorns2672]

Try out doubling peppers of two varieties together. They inosculate (self-graft) together in the plug and then you get one split plant that has something like scotch bonnet on one half, jalapeno on the other. Yield was either the same or better (would guess 125% avg) ime.

[@spsmith1965]

You look younger/healthier in this video. Getting more rest? Or something else? I know you are doing something different. I can see it.

[@jamesrichey]

No-till next year. CYA!

[@Neary043]

Amazing video l ike farming too ! Yes i waiting for your New video 🥰

[@blueskye23]

Are there not water loving herbs or plants that would prosper in your boggy bed at the bottom of the hill? Culantro and rice come to mind. Thanks for sharing your findings.

[@JadeAngel33]

Thanks!

[@notillgrowers]

Thank you! 🙌

[@philandrews9216]

Always enjoy your videos and have been catching up with them over the holidays .Your trials are useful to see as we get the pros and cons of each one. I watch a lot of KZbin content here in the UK, unfortunately a lot of the presenters start off great and become really annoying. I'm glad to say that you are no more annoying now than the first time I watched you. 😮😅,sorry I couldn't resist that one, only because you have a sense of humour. I look forward to seeing your new content in February, all the best, Phil.

[@brycekirby1567]

Good videos

[@ardenthebibliophile]

I wonder if the rootstock tomatoes, even if not imparting resistance to blight, it might be giving enough vigor to give the tomatoes a fighting chance

[@Greens5511]

Wait, wait, wait, i have been using fresh wood chips on all my in gound garden beds for 3 years now, and it has not hindered my fruits or vegetables in any way! The only thing it has it hindered is the weeds. I put them down to cover the soil and slow the growth of weeds and it works amazingly well! The only problem is when i need more and don't always have more when i want it. So like u say experiment for yourself.

[@ellenorbjornsdottir1166]

Do you think you'd give rice a chance in your worst drainage zones? I wonder if celery would do well there, although I think it does better with flowing water rather than standing water

[@ashtonswinburn8414]

Hi, I have been trying to think of ways to fertilise my garden with free resources but the only things I have access to are materials that would either need composting or put into liquid state, despite these being very effective after this year being flooded out my garden due to the massive amounts of rainfall I was wanting another option for wetter years to add fertility and biochar came up and it seems to provide everything I want from a soil amendment such as aeration and fertilisation and i was wondering if you have good experiences with it or know of people who have. Thanks 😁