Start a Lazy Garden From Scratch | NEVER Weed/Water Again!

[@austinwhitfield2108]

I'm a white 60 yr old male living in the highest crime area of KC MO. trying to bring people together through creating and maintaining a Community Garden. I live alone +1 dog, well below poverty level. So I am now very encouraged because your videos are awesome. Thanks ❤️

[@pbandjelly1311]

You're an inspiration. I love that you're reaching out for community. Most adult men find that prohibitively difficult. In fact I read that the majority of men have no friends, because they don't know how to make them, in adulthood. That's so sad.... Community is everything! How do you do outreach ?

[@ew5675]

Oh my goodness, if this is the lazy way to garden, I don't have a chance.

[@Sarah-xz4li]

amazing! best of luck to you. It's hard but necessary and important work and I admire you

[@bobturano1247]

It is the only answer to this sick world we live in. I did it in la and fed my house and tons of others who just walks by

[@Murray-z2h]

Move out ,man. Grow op and move to Montana. Frank was right. Become a dental floss tycoon and stop lamenting your pathetic big city limitations.

[@mothanwrdz]

Chip drop never worked for me. What did work was calling all the local arborists each year and asking them to not forget about me if they happen to be doing any work in the area. Now I get several dump truck loads of wood chips and all the free firewood I need in the middle of the city. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

[@MansterBear]

Makes me regret the 12 bags of wood chips I just bought from Menards lol How often do you re-cover with wood chips? Should I start reaching out now, or just finish? I'm betting I only need 100 sq ft or so more of wood chips to cover. But if I'm going to need more every year, I might as well start piling it up

[@oldman1111]

I'm patient. I keep renewing my chip drop. :)

[@joshuahoyer1279]

Yeah, my first time on ChopDrop I got a load really quick. But now it's to the point where I've renewed my request three times without a drop, where I can get on a list with a local arborist and they'll have chips for me in a couple weeks. I'm sure some of them just don't want to deal with the hassle that chipdrop can create sometimes. Some folks are needlessly picky about what kind of wood it is, where they'll let a truck drop it, etc, and they have to bounce between multiple possible drop sites before they find someone that will take their load.

[@ozarkview928]

Right ! The one and only time we got chip drop from the electric company that clear trees and brush from under power lines we introduced sumac and other noxious weeds 😞

[@REDonFIRE]

I just asked my local arborist for “clean mulch”… should I not have done that? Will any mulch do? By the way I freaking love you and your videos! I just recently found you and you are amazing and I wish you were my neighbor lol I’m in SE Ohio!

[@heidiann2435]

Hey guys. A suggestion from NC. The post office gives me HUGE sheets of cardboard they get everyday. No staples, no tape. And they are happy to give it to you. Another tip: mow the ground down as short as possible. Then put down the cardboard, newspaper will work, and I put hay on top, even if it's rotting. I had worms at ground level the first year!

[@Anne-cq5qz]

I've used cardboard in gardening before to kill weeds and avoid tilling and somehow it NEVER came to my mind that I could just pile organic matter on top to start planting immediately. Thank you so much for sharing this information.

[@MyFocusVaries]

And in most situations, if you use a thick enough layer of mulch, you can skip the cardboard. Light exclusion kills lots of weeds. Persistent perennials perhaps not.

[@GardeningwithDave]

I tried this with grass and it came back even stronger lol.

[@bennym1956]

@@GardeningwithDave yup, Grass is waste of time.

[@Citizen-ku8kv]

@@GardeningwithDavehappy to hear it works

[@denisethorn9955]

I am growing potatoes, lettuce string beans right in the cardboard box. I am 75 and cannot walk in my yard so I decided to use the box, with coia dirt, along a fence so I can hold on. They say it will work.

[@ohmyet2173]

My son lives in a neighborhood in the city, it has small front yards and small fenced in back yards. What I love is his neighbor and several more on his block are putting gardens out in the front yards! I love it! And they share with my son! ❤

[@AnneofAllTrades]

That's the kind of place we all want to live! Good neighbors make for a great life.

[@SouthFloridaSunshine]

Some places in Central Florida have become like this I would love neighbors like that and a neighborhood like that, stuck in an HOA down South for now.

[@jeas4980]

I was just pointing this out to my husband today when we went into town! It started with just a few front yard gardens and now every other yard is putting one in. I have a bunch of extra tomatoes (Paul Robesons 🤤) so I'm going to hand them out and hope the trend becomes epidemic.

[@pbandjelly1311]

There's also "guerilla gardening"!

[@SouthFloridaSunshine]

@@jeas4980 YES!

[@ThomasG-og4yb]

What a beautiful human being you are Anne! Not only are you helping me to learn about gardening, but you are helping to take away the stigmas about mental health I have had lifelong struggles in this domain, and I really think it is healthy to be able to talk about holistic health, we are all under a lot of stress in the modern world. Thank you for everything that you are doing for us! ❤️

[@PortraitoftheArtistasanOldDog8]

Hey Thomas you might like a guy I've been listening to while gardening...Prof Sam Vaknin "Hack your mind to heal succeed-" & "13 types of mentally ill family" stellar EPs👍☮️❤

[@PortraitoftheArtistasanOldDog8]

Also fab ep of GrowVeg "Bare lawn to sustainable garden Eden: how he did it"😁

[@jonquilS3153]

I think you are very brilliant & have put a lot of thought, time & effort into becoming a Lazy Gardener. With that said I am a 71 year old Women with two prosthetic hips & when I was your age I had wonderful productive vegetable gardens. Although I think about having that big garden every Spring I just don’t have the energy at this point to be a Lazy Gardener. I’m getting tired just watching you prepare to be Lazy Lol. More Power to You!!

[@marciakessler1911]

Oh sweet one, just get some lawn chairs and put a bucket on it for your plants! Please don't give up gardening in some way shape or form!❤from KS.

[@jewelrygrace9438]

You can buy a cart with large wheels and an adjustable seat. It works perfect for when your unable to stand n hoe a garden. 😊

[@JB-ks2wh]

I feel you, garden work can be difficult. I've used my chair for yrs to sit in while planting, cutting and harvesting.

[@jennak.8541]

It's still possible for you to have a productive garden by gardening in pots or buckets! It's very easy. That's what I do!

[@vernan.9630]

I'm too lazy to even be a "lazy" gardener. That's alot of prep work! 😂

[@ravengameslife9071]

I am a residential gardener and just love getting in the garden every day. Very good therapy and health beneficially.

[@clynthia0510]

Thank you for sharing your mental health journey and struggles. We should never be ashamed of caring for ourselves, be it our minds, and/or our bodies! Great gardening bed preparation, too! I've never seen anyone else be so thorough and yet simple to understand! ❤❤❤❤

[@MrsB197something]

Absolutely and the more we help each other the quicker the baddies lose and we win

[@marygabel2868]

I just love your personality and the way I can seriously tell you care about other gardeners and you are HUMBLE! I love that! Thank u for your genius

[@dorisenderle5857]

Ruth Stout was one of the forerunners of no- till gardening back in the late 40’s and early 50’s. She published books on her system and was a true believer in mulching year around.

[@Rockgirl21]

I made my 48' × 78' garden using this method 5 years ago and it has produced phenomenal fruit and vegetables.

[@amyfloyd8211]

Thanks Anne, nice intro. After lots of years of sheet mulching I have a few tips; use refrigerator/ washer/ dryer boxes to cover big areas (although there are staples to remove, but no plastic tape). Don't leave the cardboard out to get wet and then dry out before it is covered. This makes it hydrophobic, i.e. it gets brittle, wrinkled and hard to walk on even after covered. I still get weeds for sure, but I am building soil slowly over very sandy ground. For hugelmounds, use large pieces of wood. If you use little sticks, it creates a mouse, mole, squirrel superhighway underneath. They use the wood like a scaffold to help them eat the roots!

[@kimberlyscott864]

Anne you are SO REAL!! I completely appreciate your honesty about your (and my) human-ness when it comes to gardening, i.e. having lazy days, making planting mistakes and yet desiring to make the most of what God has given us on this earth. I wish I could afford to turn my whole backyard from lawn into garden. I love your sense of humor! Along with getting my hands in the dirt, YOUR VIDEOS raise my Serotonin levels 😊. I truly appreciate all of the effort you put in to sharing and teaching us about farming and gardening. I just wanted you to know that God is using you to reach out to so many people, and I hope you know how wonderful you are. Have a blessed gardening season. 🙏

[@AnneofAllTrades]

Thank you so much. I'm so glad you're here.

[@ForsakenCrimmy]

I am envious of your space. I am disabled and used gardening for my mental health and because of my problems using the sifter screen was killing me. I also do vermicomposting and had 300 gallons of worm castings I needed to sift. I got sick of shoveling and then sifting. Look up a trommel. I made one using 2x4's, caster wheels, 2 bicycle wheels, hardware cloth, and a buttload of zip ties. You just make a big tunnel around the bike wheels and make a frame it can rotate on. It makes sifting effortless and fast.

[@Jimaiah3576]

Do you have any pictures? That would be so helpful to aid in building one for us to use. Thank you!

[@PatrickDenehy-f4k]

Step 1. No more self degrading comments. You do an Amazing job!

[@RyanSmith-mv4bk]

Hugelkultur and permaculture could solve the world’s hunger problems in a very short time. Good job Ann please continue to spread the word in a fun and informative way about these amazing agricultural techniques. 👍

[@MyFocusVaries]

Hunger isn't an issue with lack of supply. It's largely a problem of lack of distribution. And of course capitalism, where excess crops are destroyed (oceans dumping) instead of being distributed to the hungry --because distributing them would lower global prices. 😢

[@in.der.welt.sein.]

People don't go hungry today because of a lack of food in the world. In fact, many farmers toss out so much food that is perfectly good. Why? Because it's not profitable to sell it at certain prices. People starve today in front of warehouses full of food. They are excluded because they lack money and the food is private property. The purpose of producing in this system isn't meeting needs, but making as much money as possible. People's needs are only taken into consideration insofar as they can be used to make profits.

[@RyanSmith-mv4bk]

@@MyFocusVaries I think you misunderstood or maybe I didn’t convey my thought properly. I meant that if more people understood and adopted these techniques on a personal scale and large scale we would be able to combat global hunger much easier. As far as Capitalism being the reason for famine I’d say the problem would not be resolved by adopting Socialism or Communism if that’s what you’re implying, but rather being more self sufficient so that corrupt governments don’t have the ability to determine who gets food and who doesn’t. Distribution wouldn’t be a problem if you grocery store was your own back yard. I definitely agree with you that there shouldn’t be monetary incentives to destroy perfectly good food.

[@jeil5676]

No. Its not that simple.

[@northerngirlhobbies]

💯

[@juliemyers9902]

I live in a desert area and am using coconut coir sheeting instead of cardboard to block weeds. It helps with water retension and soil conditioning for hardpan, which is what I'm amending. Seems to be working well so far! I love your videos because I learn so much and can adapt what you teach to my own environment!

[@Jean-iv2mi]

In South africa we dont say 'dirt', we say earth or soil. Your bed system is wonderful, esp for new gardeners.

[@evaleyst]

Also in Europe in most places, the earth is not called 'dirt'. In Germany or Italy, I have never heard anything but 'Erde'/'terra'.

[@notkerrystolcenberg]

i learned in soil science that "dirt" is inert (dust, clay, minerals, etc) but "soil" is alive (fungi, microorganisms, etc)

[@cs4849]

Technically it is soil rather than dirt, but culturally here in Tennessee it is often called dirt. You even hear it is country songs like “Buy Dirt.”

[@nowannabeonthis8522]

Just watching videos about soil and eco farming, regreening the desert and water harvesting; just watching the videos increases my serotonin!

[@kentkearney6623]

Collect your neighbors leaves in the fall that THEY BAG (free contractor bags a bonus) and take your push mower and mulch the crap out of your leaves into powdered flakes mix accordingly. ❤❤❤❤.

[@hankwaddingham5025]

agree...

[@coliasmeadii]

We were even lazier and just dumped them in non windy areas- deepest leaves had best growth in spring. Need to be trickier about how to keep them on a hill this fall- we have lots of chicken wire which I have heard may work, but open to suggestions!

[@christinevanzandbergen4870]

I absolutely love your personality Anne, the way you explain things. My 25-year-old has just shown an interest in growing her own food, and I will definitely tell her to watch your videos.

[@JellyMan777]

Absolutely love this video. It touches on everything. Basic soil science, balancing the microrhizome and nutrient distribution, polyculture and companion planting. Best video I've seen in a long while.

[@myrabowman7456]

You are just who I needed to find... My first time finding you = my lucky day!!! I love your energy, enthusiasm, wealth of knowledge, wisdom beyond your years and your 'can do' attitude. Thank you for being there!!! I'm 76 years young, and I live in New Zealand ❤

[@monarchmelis]

Anne, this video is the most thorough, step-by-step, make-it-look-doable video I have come across. Thank you. I love your down-to-earth presentation and the exchanges you have with your camera guy too.

[@nofantasyman]

Mental health: A great service your personal self disclosure and normalizing mental health. Bravo

[@Nature.nurture.nirvana]

This was THE least lazy garden prep I’ve ever witnessed and I am here for all of it. 🤙🏼

[@AnneofAllTrades]

The lazy part is you invest one afternoon doing this to avoid about 90 hours of cumulative work throughout the rest of the garden season weeding/watering/maintaining the garden ;)

[@Nature.nurture.nirvana]

@@AnneofAllTrades absolutely!! You’re such an inspiration!!🙌🏼

[@OneMate4Life]

Relatively speaking, it is quite "lazy" in comparison to some other gardening methods.

[@voneill8841]

Anie i live in ft Lauderdale and i just bought a 30 by 50 silage tarp to kill my grass then i plan on laying down paper ethen get dome compost in then my neighbor is an arborist and im going put 6 inches of fresh wood chips. Do you think i can planr by January love your videos s​@AnneofAllTrades

[@MarkTrades__]

pro tip - a great source of tape & ink free (minimized) cardboard is framing shops, or craft stores that have framing departments. Picture frames come in large carboard folds with a couple small pieces of masking tape in my experience. This is how I get carboard big enough for me to work under my car that doesn't have all the flaps and stuff that boxes do. Also construction paper/contractors paper if you want/have to buy. Comes in rolls & has no tape/print.

[@Stettafire]

The inks generally are plant-based anyway. So not a real issue. The ones to avoid are the shiny inks

[@MansterBear]

I asked the guys at Menards if they had cardboard they were throwing away. They looked at me like I had 2 heads lol. After they radio'd around, they finally found a manager who said I couldn't have the stuff they bundled up for recycling, but they collect it all in one of the lumber aisles, so I could check there and see if there was any. The bin was full so I filled up my cart with it, and the lady at the checkout also looked at me like she's never seen that before lol

[@AnneofAllTrades]

😅😅

[@eugottabekiddin3772]

Fuhgetta 'bout it.... won't matter what they think when you're enjoying your home grown veggies

[@marygabel2868]

Hey, who cares what “they” say haha! I just noticed today, the LIQOUR STORE HAD A BUNCH HAHA!! But have to say lotsa ink

[@seajelly2421]

Less for them to trash at the end of the day. I have moved a lot and each time, I go to a grocery store or two and just ask for their banana boxes. Most times I head out with a cart full. I ask someone back near the warehouse door. It helps to go about a week in advance because sometimes they ask you to come back on a different day, but in a pinch, you can just go to a different store. Grocery, hardware, liquor, and department stores all have lots of boxes.

[@SeekingBeautifulDesign]

Depends on the Menards store, but I go to the plant section and there are bins of cardboard. I take as much as I can and nobody has ever said anything. If you know Menards, you may know Meijer grocery. They have many of the same sized boxes especially near closing time. Especially near frozen foods are big bins. Nobody has said anything although I haven't flaunted taking the cardboard. Furniture stores have the best stuff for large areas.

[@kalnakamura4600]

In Sacramento, the county gives free compost during the spring and summer. It comes from the green/organic waste that households provide through the refuse pick up. Some other cities may provide the same service. Love your video, I am a Lazy Gardener myself!

[@dianeridings7669]

I live there too. I'm trying to get my garden going and contemplating going Hastie's to get compost. Please share how to get the free compost. Thank you!

[@kalnakamura4600]

@@dianeridings7669 do an online search for Sacramento Free Compost. Its near Bradshaw and Kiefer Blvd. It is self serve and the county orders based off demand. From April - September, 24/7. No one avail to help load so bring your own containers and shovels and a helper! Have fun!!

[@kalnakamura4600]

@@dianeridings7669 Hi. Just search online for Sacramento Free Compost. It's located off of Bradshaw and Kiefer Blvd. Self Serve so there is no one there to help. You'll need your own container and shovel. It's open 24/7 from April to September and they refill on demand. It's just dumped in a parking lot. have fun!

[@jazzyg530]

​@@dianeridings7669google is your friend: wmr.saccounty.gov/Pages/Self-Serve-Compost.aspx

[@rhooper4022]

Persnickety. This word is not used enough. Nicely done. Thanks for the suggestions!

[@MissBodaciousBuster]

I am starting my FIRST garden in 15 YEARS, This year on a Serious budget (SSDI) in my full time R.V. life. I recently ordered a bunch of woven planter bags and compost bag so when I go, it's easy to pack n move. I live in Colorado on the highest mesa in the world! It's high desert buuuut this is where we grow most our FOOD not the Other Crop. Your video is EXTREMELY helpful! I Need to be frugal & have small space so you have a new dedicated listener! Luckily I'm SURROUNDED by farmers & ranchers who ❤️ to give their 2 cents & help out neighbors....i swear it's the last place like it in Colorado! I'm excited to watch more! I have questions lots of questions!😂 THANK YOU! Oddly of course i Don't pay for water or have lack of (we have snow almost yr round) but still wanna save it! Ty ty ty❤❤❤❤❤

[@PortraitoftheArtistasanOldDog8]

You might like something I saw with loads of inspo & tips inc using scavenged curved shower doors as cloches to start seedlings "Bare lawn to sustainable garden Eden how he did it"

[@AliPillette]

I love that you’ve talked about the benefits of working in the dirt and Mental Health. And that you’re talking about Mental Health and your personal story. Thank you. And I really love your videos. I have been gardening for years and because I am a financially poor gardener, I do this cardboard method a lot. Plus, I always try to do the no till garden.

[@sheshe0444]

Born and raised in the country here in Mississippi, I have all these resources but I didn't have a way to plow up a garden. Not only did I learn that plowing wasn't favorable to a garden in the first place, you showed me how to create a better method for a healthy thriving garden. So thank you for sharing your methods and knowledge through this informative tutorial.

[@aok2727]

This is quite comprehensive. I made the mistake of using straight compost in my raised bed. You know, if a little is good, more is better….not! I appreciate your clarity as this would work almost anywhere one lives. I get super irritated when people use weed barrier cloth instead of cardboard. 9 years in my present house and I continue to dig out, multiple layers of encrusted, impermeable weed fabric from my yard.

[@ajax068]

I had a mini fight with my dad on useing landscaping fabric for a project we were doing together. I didnt want to use something that doesnt work and then have to rip it out later. He used it years ago to line a gravle path and weeds where constantly growing through the fabric. Also, card board is free with how many packages we get.

[@tonisee2]

It probably depends on what kind of compost are you using. I have planted for years directly into "green waste"+home-made compost and that has worked great. My record carrot (Nantes 2) has been 45cm long in deep raised bed filled with pure compost + perlite (which is inert) mix.

[@JP-nz4em]

we have bermuda grass it’s a monster. We have to use fabric cloth

[@smc7929]

@@JP-nz4emi feel this.

[@astatine0085]

I moved all my food-gardens to my deck; containers and raised beds. I've had it with weeding and bending, and I'm using my tomato cages to encourage vertical growth on any kind of vine plant. So far so good. and I don't have to keep dragging hoses around so my husband doesn't snag them with the lawn mower. I get the compressed soil packs for about 12 bucks (they about quadruple in size from ~ 5 x 11 x 11, or so.

[@this-is-slammin-549]

“Boy Howdy” love it! Haven’t heard that term in forever.

[@katella]

And persnickety! 😊

[@heidevanness2788]

Boy Howdy reminds me of Creem magazine!

[@this-is-slammin-549]

@@heidevanness2788 yes. Exactly what I was thinking! Did t think the reference Wohl land?

[@phildo39645]

This woman is Amazing in every way.. what a wealth of knowledge.. Thanks for sharing Ann. Such a Blessing!

[@JasonMorford]

Wow I found your channel about 2 weeks ago and hoped for this. I tilled my entire garden, about a 40x60 foot plot. Made the ditches with cardboard and wood Chips and then woodchipped everything. All new wood Chips. The first ditch was alone for about a week bc we had a ton of rain. The ditch filled with water. A week of no rain and the ground was bone dry except the chips and everything near it. Crossing my fingers.

[@msGoodventure]

You are the Bob Ross of gardening

[@lauralynnedyer]

The fine detail you cover makes all the difference. I love your enthusiasm, wisdom and energy for lazy gardening. Thank you! Every 8 years the utility company clears the powerlines. We are on 70 acres in Missouri, and I asked them to dump the chips. They were thrilled, and it was free. I have 20 loads of chips. I knew it would be a year before they could be used on the beds. Yet you gave me some great ideas. I have put down cardboard and made walkways that clean up the garden and make it beautiful. Your video could also be a workout practice because it shows how much exercise we get while doing what we love. I am 63 and live alone, I fell and got a bad concussion May of '23, pulling a deeply rooted weed that suddenly let go, and I couldn't work my garden last year. This year it is my healing practice. I got compost from my friend's farm. So when I see the fungus crawling across the surface of the beds I should be celebrating?

[@Cthomas5678]

Getting out and getting my hands in the dirt has always been my therapy so I understand but I didn’t know it helped with serotonin levels!! Thank you i love your content

[@AnneofAllTrades]

So glad you're here.

[@xavery7842]

This is the way I have been doing my beds for years. I cover the cardboard with grass clippings and even small twigs etc. The most beneficial effects are the building of soil, water retention, and the attraction of worms.

[@LadyLiberty_SJ]

THANK YOU!! I am so so glad I found your channel. I grew up in New Orleans where my knowledge of farming ended with E-I-E-I-O. This is so very helpful. Btw, I watched your video, “You’re probably Killy your fruit trees” and there is no ”probably” about it. Mine are now officially on life support but I believe they may now have a fighting chance. God speed and God Bless!

[@mikki_s1100]

If you sign up for chip drop please watch the video the company made about why you don’t want a chip drop. In reality you probably do, but there are a LOT of factors to consider. Be sure your leaves, clippings, straw, aren’t sprayed by anything. Great video Anne! Already set up for the year, but great reference for the future.

[@ericawhitfield9289]

That video is so funny!

[@reneespring834]

I am a big chip drop fan, but the amount can be overwhelming for folks. We have a landscaper with skidstere, bobcat etc help move some of it around. And we have a space where the pile can stay for the year as we use the rest of it.

[@WillieRobertMcKassonConsulting]

How can one make sure there were no chemicals sprayed on the trees, before they were turned into wood chips.

[@reneespring834]

@@WillieRobertMcKassonConsulting no way to know this. But honestly, who sprays giant oak, pine or maple trees in their yard regularly? Not really a concern.

[@marshabowlin1757]

Only being sprayed with who knows what from the sky called chemtrails !!!!

[@GardeningwithDave]

Hey Anne. I wanted to share that you can do a quick yelp search for tree trimming services. Give a few local companies a call and ask if they can drop off wood chips to your property. You would be surprised to see how many people are willing to deliver free wood chips. Don’t be afraid to ask upfront that you want to stay away from palm trees.Great video!

[@robertawestbrooks9531]

I really love her way of gardening 😂😂

[@jkwchannel1703]

what is the problem with palm trees?

[@aminaa5824]

I don’t remember what it’s called but there’s also this thing that’s like a terracotta/clay vase that you bury in soil with the open top sticking out, and pour water in it, and it’ll keep soil wet because the terracotta is permeable so it’ll slowly leech water out into it without making it too wet but not letting it dry out

[@groundedangelsgarden]

Olla.

[@aminaa5824]

@@groundedangelsgarden yes! Thank you I was dying trying to remember the name

[@montytortorella2832]

To mineralise you can also make a kelp tea if you live near the sea or grow russian comfrey or alfalfa and use the dried , powdered leaves as they have high mineral content.

[@thewilsontribe8]

The Guineas though! I totally feel your pain. Mine went to the auction last month. I can’t believe my neighbors put up with the noise for so long 😆

[@awesomegardens]

I once did this as an experiment in my back yard. I planted several tomato plants in 3 different ways. 1 straight into the hard bare ground. 2 in a compost rich soil that I added. I dug down about 6 inches, took out the soil and put compost. 3. I put cardboard down. Directly down the road was a huge pile of compost that came out of a street sweeper machine that they piled up. It had rocks, all kinds of organic debris, even a few dead animals in the pile. I took a truckload bed full of that and was able to make 6 good round mounds in which to plant 6 plants. I planted them all, watered them in One time, then did absolutely Nothing. The ones in the ground did not produce Anything, barely grew at all. The ones in compost soil grew some and produced very few pitiful tomatoes. The ones where I just added stuff on top of the cardboard (3) grew like crazy, were as tall as me, even taller, and were absolutely Loaded with fruit. I would sit there and pick for 30 minutes scarfing down the tomatoes, tasting amazing....

[@terrysm467]

You are adorable and informative but certainly not lazy! Tks for a great video!

[@soltersortna]

Tips from a warehouse worker about cardboard! Big box stores have cardboard balers that we throw it all into, and you can’t take any out really, especially once it’s baled. The store then sells the bales to companies be recycled. So yes, they have a lot, but would usually be happy to give it to you as long as you get to it before it hits the baler. Go to stores in the morning when most places are stocking shelves and ask then. The stockers will be happy to have one less trip to the baler in back.

[@SavannaKaderi]

I'm new to this channel and I absolutely love it! I especially love that I have very similar climate and conditions, I'm just north of Springfield, TN. Today I am planning how to get my garden going this weekend and I thought "I wonder if Anne of All Trades has a video about starting a new garden." And here we are 😂 Thank you for documenting and publishing all this information!!

[@AnneofAllTrades]

So glad you’re here!

[@robertawestbrooks9531]

We live in Clarksville, Tennessee, we are just starting our garden. We are enjoying the sunshine, especially after a long winter here. Happy gardening everyone ❤

[@Lilacs4]

I live real close by y'all and I am brand new and never had a garden but desperately want to learn! I lost my beloved grandma a few months ago and she was a magician with plants, I wish she was still here to mentor me. ❤ I hope I can find someone to take me under their wing, but in the meantime, these videos are a lifesaver!

[@jordanschanz6672]

This is one of the absolute best garden videos on KZbin! Thank you so much for explaining everything like I’m 5 years old 😂 I’ve been researching the “no dig method” and have heard a lot about logs tying up nutrients in the soil but no one has mentioned that it’s temporary. Thanks for the awesome content!

[@karrenbrazel8844]

Hiya Anne…. I’m in Australia and my property is full of only gum trees with soil like yours. This lazy gardening way of gardening, shown here I feel is going to be a game changer taking my gardens to next level. I’ve managed to source on my local highway a huge mulch pile that’s been dumped by council (it’s aged mulch) and in my local town is a little forest which is rich in leaves that I’m about to go and grab a bunch. I’ve been so disheartened in my garden, trying to grow food, however after binge watching your videos…. I have hope 😊. It gets really hot here in summer, so this way of gardening I believe will create lush, moisture on our little homestead. Thank you for your wealth of information that’s helping many people to also have success in providing for family🙏🏼

[@aussiegirl654]

I lived in a house with an average backyard with 4 gumtrees. I'd mow the grass and all the gum leaves,twigs mixed in, and I made beautiful compost. I had an old metal pool surround and put stakes in the ground and cable tied it to the stakes. I made heaps of soil and never had to buy store bought. I'd mow the lawn to nothing and put newspaper or cardboard, wet it put grass clippings and let them dry out and then put my compost to make a garden. I moved and the gardens are still there looking good. I only have small courtyards now and I do metal raised beds with cardboard, wood,leaves and soil. I also grow salad and herbs in a Mr Stacky. There are cheaper ones online.

[@jaewood1703]

lol when you first said underground highway system was like "surprise conspiracy theory?" and then i immediately remembered the root systems. i love this video, i'm going to be doing this over the next couple weeks so i can start some fall crops and then maybe some cold hardy crops depending on what's native to my zone.

[@LifeChatsUnfiltered4066]

When I started our first homestead everyone recommended Guinea fowl. They eat all the ticks they said, it will be fun they said... I despise Guineas and will never get them again. We always had a lot of ticks, I never noticed a difference. They are SO loud, day and night. Lucky for us we only had them for 6 months because we inadvertently got bird dogs. They killed them all. Happy ending.

[@AnneofAllTrades]

Hahaha oh no (or oh yes)! My first batch of guineas legitimately drowned looking up at the rain. Dumbest animals I’ve ever encountered. They do serve a purpose, but I only got these ones to annoy my husband and the joke’s on me because they live right by my office 😂😂😂

[@lengraziani7533]

Try DIY tick tubes. Make with empty toilet paper rolls and dryer lint sprayed with permethrin. Also if you wrap your ankles with duct tape sticky side out, the ticks won’t make it up your legs. Also works for chiggers and fire ants. Good luck.

[@pennyharper419]

I hated my Guineas. They made constant horrible sounds, would have eaten my mostly good, nonpoisonous snakes so I kept them in a large pen most if the time. If I let them out to forage, they flew up onto the tops of the poultry pens and would not come down till dark. Useless. I gave them away free to a woman who collected Guineas. God bless her heart.

[@DianeLowery-ct6tg]

I was so excited to know I did grow my beds exactly as you have except for 2 things, i didnt know about the mushroom spores (darn) and instead of wood chips as a top dressing i used straw bedding thats been stripped of seeds. I started my beds 5 years ago and have hard pan clay soil thats been transformed in the garden beds. I let dandelion grow because they put down a deep root that helps with drainage. I also plant my tomatoes in a similar way except I lay them in the soil sideways. So happy to see you teaching this wonderful method.

[@laurausa1]

Can I just say how perfectly timed this video is.... I am literally using a hoe to rip up all the grass in my brand new 36 ft By 21 ft garden. Knowing I can skip this step except for the areas that need leveling is going to save me so much time! I had been trying to go through your previous videos to cobble together a start from scratch framework. I got the mushroom spawn on the way but this is going to make it so much easier! Thank you ❤ thank you ❤ thank you!!

[@reuniteireland]

just make sure the soil and compost/wood is deep enough other wise the grass will definitely push through.

[@GUIDE_Nico]

You are a breath of fresh air! You are such a great teacher. I love you are a blunt. Your land is beautiful. ❤ Thanks!

[@marijeb278]

LOVE your idea of adding mushrooms!!

[@christinaham2380]

I love your videos! Im newish to gardening. Ive been doing just a few and inc every yr. I absolutely love my guineas. They did wonders ridding the ticks off our 4.5 acres and our neighbors yard! I find them hilarious. I was pulling 2 ticks off every child daily til i had them in the summers. For our new farm will be getting more . Thanks for all yiur tips and guidance.

[@markusc.7544]

My wife and I live in western Indiana and deal with HORRIFIC weeds. We use the cardboard trick but didn't think about wetting it down. Thank you. We both love the feel of soil but I have to watch out for poison ivy (we have a TON of it) so I have to use gloves until we actually have good soil grounded. Thank you so much for your videos.

[@s.m.5483]

If u know anyone with goats 🐐 they eat poison ivy and can clean it up pretty quickly! Some areas have businesses with goats for rent to clear areas of weeds, poisons ivy, wild rose, etc.

[@NachoCheese00]

You, Young Lady, are a Beast!! Love your channel, and have learned a lot in the short time I've been watching. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. For large areas to cover, I have found that Appliance, Furniture stores always have huge boxes. Also, during season, Watermelon boxes are large, and much thicker than normal.

[@SpeakTruthBeKind]

Bicycle stores also have big boxes but you need to ask in advance so they will save them for you. 👍🏻💞

[@artistlovepeace]

Anne and fam, your channel is wonderful. You are a great host, producer and sharer. I take a lot of your recommendations seriously and am trying your advice in my garden. You are a wonderful person to share all this knowledge with the world.

[@BaloosCluesOriginal]

I can testify this works. If someone is truly concerned with the cardboard never breaking down, throw a small amount of used coffee grinds under the cardboard and water it in before adding the cardboard. It will draw the local worms to your area. They will love living under your beds. #savesoil #soilbuddy

[@AmelianAyreMarie]

I totally love the gardening techniques as well. I love how you use the animals to help promote your soil. I just got done watching the video on the fruit trees and I have to dig up for my peach trees I planted last year because I seen all the stuff I done wrong. 😢

[@enriquepena5206]

I absolutely love all your energy it’s like a cup of coffee first thing in the morning. I just retired and started gardening for stress relief and your videos have been great. 10:49 Thank You so much for sharing so much helpful information.

[@johnndavis7647]

It appears that you are using 1/2" rabbit cage wire for your softer as I do. I use that size to sift out the big chips. When i want to make potting soil I lay a piece of 1/4" x 1/4" hardware cloth wire in the bottom of the sifter to get a really fine soil for seed starting purposes. Thanks for the video.

[@jkwchannel1703]

Thanks! Love your content and support.

[@AnneofAllTrades]

Thank you too!

[@sdspivey]

Best way to deal with weeds, ignore them. If they are not too tall, spreading, or thorny, then they really are not much of a problem. Once they get too big, then just chop or pull them then. When mowing, leave the grass spread out on the lawn for a day or two, then you can mix the dry grass into your compost easier, without stink. In Florida's summer, I would need to mow again in 2 days anyway, so adding the bagger then would pick up the dry and mix it with fresh grass, still making it easy to blend into the compost.

[@SomerainTsalagi]

I recently put sticks and levees under my potatoes this Year, im excited how big The foliage is, we shall see how big the potatoes prove to be at harvest, thank you for your video ❤

[@chili.Hawaii]

I’m so thankful about how open you are sometimes about your mental health, and your feelings. I’ve loved your channel for a while because of the way you are, then you started talking about your mental stuff and it made me love it even more. I got diagnosed with so many things and just recently (at 33yo) with combined type ADHD, which explains so much of my life, and I feel like I gravitate toward people I see who may be similar. Anyway still watching. Thanks for this video. 🤙🏽

[@robertawestbrooks9531]

I love tomatoes 😂

[@lyndaniel3369]

Thank you, Anne, for your many good suggestions. For many people, getting older means getting weaker and many people are unable to do "physical fitness", so all of your hints are very valuable. For years, I was the only one in a doctor's office who recycled the cardboard. All doctors receive supplies in cardboard boxes, which they usually stack outside in the hall for the janitors to throw into the trash bins. You could ask them when they expect to have some cardboard to "throw away" and if you could have it (they shouldn't object!).

[@happyhobbit8450]

That's cute ... phone a friend -- I'm going to use that :) Alpaca poop is like rabbit poop I use layers of cardboard AND burlap sacks and then soil I make biochar to add to my compost as well as retorted banana peels -- plus blended egg shells Thank you so much for your fantastic video!!!

[@belavet]

I can attest how awesome chip drop is. Used it once, took about six weeks to get my first drop, and I just got the contact info of the guy who did it for me so that he wouldn't have to pay chip drop every time for address info. Spent a lot of time last summer and fall working on composting chips alongside grass and vegetation flipping I threw at it. So excited for this year's growing season as a result.

[@MansterBear]

I'm redoing my garden this year. I've never tilled this area, but it's covering a few old, smaller beds that I double dug last year. It's about a 30' x 40' area now, and I'm doing the cardboard no till version. Was planning on cardboard + wood chips for my paths this year (the border of the garden, and a main path + small paths between beds). I've already bought enough wood chips to probably cover a little over half of the paths. Is it worth it to chip drop (or call local arborists) for a large load of wood chips? What else can I do with them after my paths are done? Do you just throw a scoop in your compost pile every so often when it's getting too "green"? Trying to decide if I should just continue with store bought wood chips since I'm almost done or if I will continually need wood chips for re-covering paths and composting, should I just start piling it up now?

[@peace4peaceful]

Like the show. As for woodchip..I did that. Stuff grew but not very well. A year later it was well overgrown and turned into compost. I get crook for 8 weeks. I'm now doing raised beds and pots. Some in the ground bit that will come to an end when I get the raised beds done. The woodchip I have is now at least a year old. But I'm going with sugar cane mulched with the mower. Woodchip is for path and compost bins now. 😊

[@gailsawyer]

I love this quickie hugleculture raised bed! I did this with two raised beds last year. But we bought rough sawn 2x8’s enough to make two 4’x8’ x 15” ht beds. Filled with a lot of what you did here and my greens in one bed and calendula in the other did awesome! But I’ve got a lot of left over cardboard and we had a lot of trees fall over the weird winter here in New England, so I’m going to try your method this year! ❤️

[@janschlabach3768]

I think you are a smart gardener. Your garden is pretty, and thank you so much for sharing your experience and knowledge!!!

[@prairielivingtwins]

I live in high desert northern Arizona and I use cardboard for a filler for weed stopper .yeah your right it dose break down

[@gcnewd]

Thank you so much. I have a garden that is doing ok, but needs a lot of water every day. Of course because I am in Arizona but also because it does not absorb the water greatly. I will be redoing my garden this winter, exactly like you demonstrated so well. Thank you

[@AnneofAllTrades]

Once it gets fully saturated, you’ll be SHOCKED how little extra water it needs with proper mulch atop it!

[@mrmacgregorshomestead233]

Using the logs, sticks etc is a form of Hugelkulture. Along with rabbit poo, llama poo can also be added to your garden beds without composting it. Great vid! Tysm 😊 Lovely!

[@katella]

I have two pet sheep. Can I use their poop and poop/straw mixtures directly in the garden?

[@dougcharles6845]

Thought about this video all day long. I've got just a few months to get my other buildings in shape so I can plant my very first garden. So looking forward to this. My cardboard collection is growing too, for the same reason. : )! Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@Sarah-xz4li]

My local landfill has a deal where you can pick up a truck load of compost for $21! You need a truck but its just awesome. So affordable and no plastic bags to worry about blowing around

[@samueltucker8473]

News paper under the cardboard or under any ground cover. Just not colored or shiny pages. Great results, better than burning it or hauling it to the dump. . . Wet it down it helps to keep the soil moist and cool between the rows. . . When the soil is moist it takes in water better.

[@samueltucker8473]

Bob White quail. . . They are delicious and nutritious eggs and they pick the tiniest insects. . . And seeds. The hen kept in the coop calls the rest to safety before night time

[@mothanwrdz]

Am happy to see that your hand is doing well. 😊

[@ruthbentley2090]

Hi Anne, just came across your site. First of all, I LOVE your donkeys! I had 4 for 20 years and they are wonderful, playful, intelligent companions. They became my best compost makers. Every day we collected the waste greens from our green-grocer, and after rescuing edibles (for jam and chutney-making), and giving the chickens their favourites… the donkeys got the rest. Each donkey had their favourite.. radish, fruit cabbage etc. I’d heap up their manure with the left overs and built a compost pile in their paddock. I also fed them ALL my rose pruning and fruit tree prunings…. Voila! Perfect high quality poo! Truly the best additive to a homestead! Even the ubiquitous wild blackberry left-overs from harvest. They’d eat the “scum” from blackberry jam! They’re the kinldliest, friendliest, funniest pets you could have! I’m so glad I got onto your site. Mental health and nature are a MUST go-together. Blessings from Australia. 🙏🏾💕🎶🦋🌿😇

[@libbysmithstudio]

Around 19:20, you say, "Here's some links" and waving your hands around... and no links pop up. 😂 you still look adorable, but just letting you know in case you just forgot to add them. Thanks for all the great info! I miss having a bunny. What a great reason to get one. ❤

[@AnneofAllTrades]

Ah, good catch! I knew I forgot something. Bunnies are the best! :)

[@lindawoody8501]

Yes, cardboard has worked here in the high Mojave Desert in NW Arizona for me for 2 years before the weather and carpenter ants have decimated it pretty much. I believe in this technique. I have cardboard on the soil right at the chain link fencing here on the alley where no neighbors.

[@northerngirlhobbies]

We love your channel Anne. We are on all clay at our new property and it legit sucks, especially without equipment besides a tiller. I’m thinking that most of our plants will be growing in hugel raised beds.

[@AnneofAllTrades]

This video might help with your clay ;) kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZrGeGWXebWZjtksi=rKE8vv7cKvtGm7Dk

[@northerngirlhobbies]

@@AnneofAllTrades perfect, thank you.

[@SennaJenna]

I found this video to be a greatly curated beginner video and this is exactly how I started mine 12 years ago without prior gardening knowledge. The wood logs are going to invite lot of insects you don’t want such as grubs or pill bugs to name a few. At the edges snails. I stopped doing anything similar to hugelkultur practices a long time ago after I discovered this by redoing my beds and checking the buried logs. What is most important is focusing on improving the soil life. ❤

[@Marilou-g5t]

Newsprint sections work well, if you cannot get enough cardboard.

[@missesjoe516]

Best place to get cardboard is Sam’s club or Costco. I get a bunch of large sheets of cardboard that are used to separate products on pallets - tape free and most don’t have any print or tape.

[@melodylamour6123]

I'm growing food in my SW Florida sandy soil this year along with maintaining all my plants and veggies in pots. Thank goodness for teachers like yourself to learn from. These techniques are working for me too down here in zone 10a.

[@Christensendesignstudio]

Your video is great! The “plant highway system” reminded me of the “dust bowl” during the Great Depression. Great example of why not to plow everything😮. Tragic example of defying mother natures (Gods way) of doing things

[@divine9520]

looks like I'm right at home I'm in North MS zone 7B so I'm definitely subscribing! I love this method bc I have tons of everything you just used to make that garden its quick easy and for me its a great way to clean up my yard that's full of twigs branches falling from storms and not to mention all the leaves I just love this thank you so so much I gotta check out more of your content

[@judystaab7126]

Feed chickens veg.scraps helps your plants which feeds you❤

[@christinaj2182]

Let me tell you! Thank you for all that you do. You’re literally my favorite person to watch!❤ Everything you do for the horses is just amazing. Belle looks so happy where she is now. She is just so stunning it hurts my heart that she has her issues. When I’m watching I occasionally think about how you said your dream was for belle to push a sleigh in the snow with you and makes me so sad for her. But she could not have found a better person than you. She looks so happy where she’s at now. I look forward to following your adventures and wish you and Kyle all the love and happiness. By the way your chandelier is absolutely the chef’s kiss in the barn 🫶

[@lifeoutnumbered]

Most ink on packaging at least in the US is now soy ink to allow cardboard to be compostable!

[@katella]

Sorry, but where did you get that info? Considering the amount of unhealthy things allowed into "food products" in the US, I seriously doubt that there is an effort to reduce toxicity in cardboard. I'd be happy to learn that you're right though. It has to start somewhere.

[@lifeoutnumbered]

@@katella I read it in a news article somewhere a few years ago. I’m sure you could find the information for yourself tho.

[@katella]

@@lifeoutnumbered not really, I'm not good at it internet research.

[@trueword247]

4:50 While it is true that Mycobacterium vaccae live in soil and have been associated with increased serotonin levels in mice, there are a lot mycobacterium pathogens with negative effects. People with open wounds, compromised immune systems or other weakened heath conditions would do well to use care in application of garden soil directly with their skin and respiratory systems. Consult with your doctor if you are not sure.

[@ecocentrichomestead6783]

Everyone is struggling with mental health nowadays. Reason is we strayed way too far from our origin (aka nature) in way too short a time (70 years)