Survival Garden: Creating Abundance with Biodiversity in the Garden, Comfrey and Other Useful Plants

Four years ago I cleared a 1/4 acre of forest to grow food for my family of four, and after many modifications and changes in philosophy, my food forest is starting to produce an abundance of food. The secret to its success is biodiversity, above and below ground, and includes not only the plants that feed us, but also many support plants like comfrey, yarrow, lupine, sea buckthorn, fungi and more.
Thanks for Watching!
My mission on this channel is to help YOU and your family live your dream life so you can become more self reliant, happy, fulfilled and prepared for challenging times.
You can expect to hear more about the way I live, how I got into massive debt, how I got out of it, what drove me to live the outdoor lifestyle and how I'm more prepared than ever to weather the storms of 2024 and beyond. I answer your questions, I interview people who are living unconventional lives, I try to inspire and motivate you to pursue the life of your dreams, I give you the tips I used to live my dream life and I reflect on my own life - past, present and future.
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Bracebridge, ON P1L 2E2

[@ertinparandzem8972]

Beautiful garden🌲🌿🌱🌾🍄🍁

[@lansingdoesbusiness9356]

You can live with a preparedness mindset of any future decline and be happy at the same time though🤷‍♂️

[@stevenoverton6329]

Shawn. I continue to be inspired by your gardens. I have a one acre off grid property on a beautiful river. I have gardens apple trees and beautiful surroundings. I'm currently relocating the cabin to make room for added space. I'm 64 this month and mostly work alone with my two springer spaniels, there net much help. Life is good I'm staying active and happy. Thank you for continued inspiration.

[@julietwright9590]

Juliet Wright Shawn I like your garden it looks great I❤the multiple things you are planting 😮 yes Sir it's splendid.... 8:01 splendid......

[@bkestler1]

I can’t believe it’s been 4 yrs! You have turn all this into a home. 🏡

[@LalaDM8]

Keep doing what you’re doing to take care of your family. It’s beyond inspiring. Ahead of the sheeple curve.

[@judy8117]

shawn, you can build and grow me anything, oh cali your still my favorite!🏡🐾🐾🐾🐕

[@jamesellsworth9673]

You have made a lovely 'wild' garden.

[@matrix626]

My wife make a comfrey salve that we use on sunburn, minor cuts and bruises and it heals them incredibly rapidly.

[@bradlafferty]

I put in one comfrey plant last year. This year it’s enormous and the pollinators are all over it. I’ll follow your method of chop and drop once the flowers are spent. Good vid, nice garden.

[@karennewberry4694]

It makes a great compost tea for your plants too. Chop and put in a water barrel. Cover to keep bugs out and let it stew for a couple of weeks, depending on your temperature and climate. Mix the comfrey swamp water with water to the colour of weak tea and apply to plants. Don't put the barrel too close to habitable areas- it pongs a bit. Any other weeds can be added too.

[@ShawnJames1]

That’s what I do, with stinging nettle added as well.

[@ryowausa5951]

​@@ShawnJames1 さん おはようございます🌄 刺草が生えて いるんですね ☝ 🌱春に芽吹いた若芽は 茹でて おしょう油掛けて 食べます😋 美味しいですよ☺🌿

[@Bless3dUnstress3d]

BE BLESSED🛐

[@beautynotstatic2419]

Got some good points in here. Wife and I been planting our back yard, with mediocre to poor results, for quite a few years. Just wingin' it. We do have 25-30' of grapes ( northern ont! took 5yrs to take) getting better, annually. Thanks Brother.

[@carieno75]

Love your channel, your motivation. God bless you.

[@janamathis4729]

The little scythe is also a convenient pointer. Please keeping doing you.

[@robertweldon7909]

I understand that the Lupins are great for adding nitrogen to the soil, So, although a bit invasive, they are of great benefit. Also the seeds are supposedly eatable. I remember seeing an entire field of lupins, near an access point to the Bob Marshal Wilderness, in Montana, that and "Fire Weed, everywhere. The place looks better all the time. ;-)

[@giselecontassotdesayvre3965]

Vous pouvez être fier du résultat, c'est ahurissant tout le travail, seul que vous avez accompli ! Vous étiez un enfant hyper actif?..Sourire. .vous devriez être côte à bourse! ' chapeau bas ", admirative. Très belle vidéo

[@lindapetersen1800]

SHAWN & OUR CALI this is what I do also with my garden !!! It Helps on out giving to it rich soil that it needs !!! Have a couple of buckets of cow manure every fall time to sit for over the winter month !!! That is turned over with fall leaves also !!! Neighbors don't like it but I do & it is hiding in the backyard for myself to use !!!When I am able to burn I use the ashes to add to the manure pile then also !!! ALSO I learnt this from another channel you peel the potatoes and throw those on out into a composted pile they will come up with new potatoes if they want to grow !!!

[@bobcochrane7670]

Your efforts are not unusual Shawn. Seems like you are doing a good job. Don't worry about the nay sayers. Stay positive and make good gardens.

[@TheRenekruse]

Beautiful Garden

[@margaretgood580]

My son started using mushroom compost on his gardens and everything is thriving.. veggies and flowers..🌼🌺

[@noiseosoutros]

Very good thank you my friend

[@timkeagy4094]

I was really surprised that Lupine can survive your environment. I thought it could only thrive in my area. The soil around my area is volcanic. An extinct volcano is 2 miles from us. The soil is rich with a dark brown color. No clay when digging deep. I do the same as you in keeping the branches and leafs on the soil after trims. And it has made for a richer soil over the years. Natural composting is really neat.

[@StevenEverett7]

I noticed the bumble bees on the video from your other channel. We have something similar in RI, but they don't have that orange stripe on their bodies. Interesting! I've been stung by just about every variety of bee and wasp there is in my 71 years but never a bumble bee. They are definitely not aggressive.

[@kristianfrilander9350]

When I was younger, I used to pick up bumble bees and tie strings to them, then walk them like dogs. I got stung by them, rightfully so haha

[@williamleopold507]

Healthy looking garden . My husband and I are too old and tired to do a garden now .

[@Karen-ew9zn]

I have little Mason Bees for pollinators. If you get stung, it's not much worse than a fly biting. And they pollinate just great.

[@dennisbeaver5958]

Just amazing how far this garden; has come! Has it really been 4 years?

[@sandralovegrove2805]

All is growing so well 🌱you do know about medicinal benefits from comfrey… ☮️🇨🇦💜

[@paulfrizzell31]

👍great video

[@johntatum1951]

I hope the sound is bees and not mosquitos...great garden..congrats.

[@kastah]

Even England call that plant a comfrey. I do not know what we call them in Sweden or Norway, but I have some in my garden, never seen them before I moved to Sweden.I asked what they used it for in England and they say it was very good for fertilizer, they soaked them in water for a while and used it like stinging nettles or pee.

[@trisho.8331]

Forgot to mention the bees!! Who would have thought this possible 7-8 years ago when you started the first cabin. 😊❤👏

[@catherinecooper2360]

Thank you for not spraying anything in your garden!! Yarrow is one of those items to dehydrate because it has strong medicinal properties. Making a tea from it will take care of on-coming colds, flu. The Comfrey is also a great thing to add to the compost pile because it heats up as it decomposes, causing the rest of the compost to disintegrate faster. I am truly worried about your chickens making it through sub zero temperatures without adequate shelter. How will you give them adequate water if it's frozen? Maybe I missed it when you covered the care of the flock. Frozen combs are painful and losing their feet because of the icy conditions is more than I can bear to think about. I'm not saying you should knit sweaters for them, Shawn, but even heat lamps would help them survive.

[@RCH566]

I live in northern Alberta, temps get to minus 40. My flock is 6 yrs old. No heat lamps, heater, electricity. They are kept in a draft free insulated coop with two east windows left open to allow condensation to escape. Their perches are above ground and a huge amount of straw for insulation. Fresh Water is given twice a day when the temps are low enough to freeze in a couple hours. If they are out of the drafts, they can live like the prairie chickens and grouse do all winter long nestled in snow 😊 🐓 🥚

[@catherinecooper2360]

@@RCH566 Your method sounds convincing. My friend has chickens and lives in Wisconsin where temps can get to -20F but not often anymore. When we had a bad winter several years ago, several of her chickens died and one lost a foot and the other two had frozen combs. I was just heartbroken and they aren't even my chickens!

[@athollmcnicoll1028]

Nice Lupin patch you have there Shawn.

[@antipope1975]

Very jealous of your Lupins, lost all mine to slugs, think i need some ducks

[@itseperkele181]

Lupins are a invasive species and the law requires the land owners to remove them (not enforced). When I saw those lupins I was like "oh no! So many lupins thats horrible!" Then I remembered that they are probably not invasive over there haha

[@antipope1975]

Im in the uk so we go to the garden center to pay for the privilege of feeding the slugs in our gardens 😂😂😂😂

[@breheaton4758]

Thank you bro,Shawn for your beautiful vedio,s.i follow you since your first vedio.again thank for your input..hugs blessing to you an family.jesus love you.peace.

[@おとはまちゃん]

Cali

[@MADZIA0606]

👋😊

[@lindabaldwin6716]

Love that tool that you were using to cut the weeds down. Where did you get that?

[@dianebondhus9355]

❤

[@betty27246]

Thks for yet another nice video. Giving me all kind of ideas.

[@HoneyDewList]

Someone is stealing your videos. The channel is Life the Jungle

[@marygordon3032]

Thanks again Shawn I really love what you’re doing. Blessings! 🌱🌱🌱👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽💯💯💯👏👏👏

[@brockshen]

Nice! Save some white oak branches for medicine and some trees. They're struggling right now.

[@videodistro]

No, they are not. Get out of your city apartment.

[@brockshen]

@@videodistro LOL Hugelkultur in the woods for 12 years. Any one with land will notice white oak doesn't grow under tree cover as well as other trees. Research before opening your young mouth.

[@5784Eva]

Hopefully we will survive the whole disaster we are in for the last 4 years .

[@gregd5138]

I know! So sick of listening to that wind bag convicted felon!

[@rodneyrote6261]

This guy's gone bonkers

[@Timlackey-b9r]

Thanks Shawn.

[@cricketmcclure3458]

Luv your videos! except I want to reach out and help you swat away the skeeters! LOL :>)

[@ronpeted]

Nice soil management.

[@BraxxJuventa]

Thanks for filming Shawn. 😁👍🏼

[@markreid8809]

Hey Shawn! Just wondering what the cutting tool is that your using? Looks like it is easy to use and works well. Thank you!

[@LiveAlohaOhana]

You should have a really good crop this year especially when you start adding the chicken manure in the compost. Are you still adding biochar in as well? Thanks for the update shawn . Aloha 🐕

[@ShawnJames1]

Yep

[@Beth_Agnes_Casey]

You could feed the chickens that comfrey 🐓

[@kuzinit2374]

fyi, if you pee in your compost pile it will do wonders for your garden (off camera of course, LOL)

[@robinshay9180]

Shawn, I’m so jealous that you have that much comfrey!!! Lol Have you made teas or tinctures with it yet?!

[@ShawnJames1]

I've been using it for healing for about 15 years. Our best salve is made by freeze drying it, grinding it into a fine powder and mixing it with beeswax and bear grease.

[@robinshay9180]

I’m pleased to hear that! When you said you were putting it in the compost, my breath caught in my throat! I wish it were possible to ship it to Connecticut. I’ve never seen so much comfrey grown in one area before. It’s beautiful!

[@robinshay9180]

Shawn, yours is obviously made from rendered bear fats. Brilliant! I’m getting a new batch of comfrey in soon. I’m considering mixing it with castor oil, or tallow, with about a tablespoon of black seed oil. We will be using it throughout winter for chapped hands and feet. Also, sore joints and muscles, taken orally.

[@loda9510]

What is the name of the tool that you are using to weed with? Thanks

[@reneebrown2968]

Chickens will eat and poop out alot of minerals.

[@SWAMPHUNTER644]

I see your bluebird box but it is too close to the woods. Wood wrens will take it over and fill it with twigs. Put two bluebird boxes together in the center of your garden, 10 feet apart and facing each other. Tree swallows will take one and leave one for the bluebirds. They will tolerate each other and keep other birds (like house sparrows) away.

[@marilynquennelle-dg6zf]

Why did you remove the oak tree?

[@ithacacomments4811]

Psalms 20:4 "May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed."

[@ithacacomments4811]

The words "prepare," "preparation," "keep watch" (and the like) appear over 150x throughout Scriptures of the Bible.

[@cynthiataylor2092]

Do you have a bat box? Bats eat insects. Cindy

[@rebeccamercer4160]

Thank you Shawn! I am going to plant comfrey! I learn by watching. If I have an area for veg gardening and wanted to improve my soil,would you put wood chips, leaves and let it sit for a year? I am still learning! Thank you! Need some advice! I don’t want to to use chemicals unless it is organic. God bless you Shawn and your family! 🕊️🕊️🕊️

[@ShawnJames1]

Annual vegetables prefer a bacterial soil rather than a fungal soil so leaves and grass (any grass, including hay and straw if it's not sprayed with chemicals) are better than wood chips. Wood chips can work too, but its takes much longer to break down and may make the soil worse for annual vegetables for the first couple of years.

[@sonyamlb]

Shawn, you have a wealth of knowledge, thank you for sharing. I always learn something from your videos !

[@AsBanker86]

Hello Shawn from Long Island NY. I'm not sure where is more appropriate but I had asked on your other channel if you keep bees and/or if that is even something you have considered. I don't really know how difficult it is or is not to keep bees or if it's even possible in Canada during the winter. Just a thought since I know they're vital to a healthy and thriving ecosystem and they're endangered now. 🐝😢 Also I was wondering how you would feel about growing a plot of milkweed in order to attract 🦋Monarch butterflies which are beautiful, critically endangered, and one of the world's most impressive migratory animals. Not to mention add more biodiversity and a safe haven for what are now sadly becoming rare creatures. I have no real inclination if these ideas are of interest to you or even realistic pursuits given the level of work you already have cut out for yourself. I love the channels and everything about them by the way, been an avid follower for at least a few years now keep up the great work!

[@deborahplyler6528]

I had comfrey in my garden but I removed it was taking over my garden, I am still picking it out of there. Comfrey is a healing product can make salve correct?

[@ShawnJames1]

Yes

[@earlshannon1048]

Shawn been with from the beginning even got into a argument with you ex neighbor. Stay the course its been a amazing journey. But i can tell you banks are getting ready to collapse very soon. We're heading to the QFS gold standard

[@paulnash5500]

If there is an apocalypse, there will be no sun and the environment will be shit for anything to grow. Where do u live again Shawn, just in case. Joke 😂 keep the videos coming, cheers..

[@ithacacomments4811]

(1 Tim. 5:8) "But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

[@israelolvera558]

💖❤️😇💫❣️💙♥️🤍💜

[@a.d.norman7217]

Why is somebody else showing you videos on facebook

[@gregd5138]

Shawn we like your videos but you seem to be living in fear of some type of apocalypse or something. Live life and be happy and don’t believe the fear mongering media!

[@tobeface34]

Yeah, Shawn. There is nothing to worry about. Why be self reliant when you can be reliant on the government? They will take care of everything. Just relax, eat ze bugs, and live in a pod in the city.

[@mountaingirlknits8620]

Lol 😂! Why would anyone want to take care of themselves and their family when they could just do whatever the elitists tell them to do. What could possibly go wrong? There’s nothing in history to prove that individuals are better off being self reliant…🫣

[@earlshannon1048]

Hey 🤡 what Shawn is doing is what we should all be doing! I'm 68 and I've been a prepper since 1985. Food ammo ready for this tyrannical government to make a mistake. FYI banks will collapse very very soon!

[@stevenkukene9970]

Nothing wrong with being “self reliant” or controlling what’s in the food we eat. Commercial agriculture is all about profits not quality, who knows what chemicals have been dumped on our broccoli or Brussel sprouts or lettuce.

[@gregd5138]

@@earlshannon1048 Seems like you live afraid also, not me, and are you going to take on the government like the insurrectionist/domestic terrorists all for a convicted felon? This is the U.S. last time i checked everyone is entitled to free speech.

[@reneebrown2968]

The awesome thing is now you have chickens to add to your biodiversity. They will help compost all of scraps and turn it into awesome compost and eggs.

[@ivacvrk5558]

And produce manure for the garden,i have chickens and i use their manure for the garden,plants are growing like crazy!

[@jamesoncross7494]

I grew up just like this. How stupid am I not to realize this is the way. Watching you reminds me of working with my grandfather. He taught me so much and I didn't realize that it is the best way to live I thought it was just going to be outdated. That was very foolish of me.

[@cookingprincess327]

I have enjoyed your videos for years but they keep getting shorter. Many cannot afford to pay a fee to watch your videos and need to buy food instead. We all need to eat and I understand and disappointed at the same time.

[@betty27246]

That's the way they do..get you interested in their videos then start charging...😮

[@John-Adams-Can]

Comfry is an amazing plant. It takes away bone pain, fixes soil, provides future nutrients. Very hard to find. We took one plant from my wife's coworker and have maybe 20 this year. Next year we will be super dividing them and giving to family/friends because we have showed them it's power.

[@douggibson9084]

Gardens are a way to meditate while you plan for your future meals. Thanks Shawn. Enjoy your garden.

[@percybyssheshelley8573]

You must've meant to write "meditate..." and not "mediate.." a totally different word with a completely different meaning.. probably another case of "auto correct" poaching again, lol 😂

[@douggibson9084]

Thanks again 😊

[@gulserentaskin31]

Meyve, sebze bahçesine arı kovanı koymalısınız artık. Zamanı geldi.

[@Wildauntytulip]

The late great Bill Mollison said in 4 years your permaculture food forest would be well established. Abundant. And totally sustainable. Yours is living proof of that.

[@jamesscully7108]

👀🇮🇪⚓

[@simonr6793]

Shawn the Lupins certainly love the garden they're looking great just like the rest of your garden 😌🫡 what ever happened to all the shiitake mushroom spaws that you planted within the logs about three years ago 🤔. As alway's buddy 💯% 👍 🇬🇧.

[@elenamariarothenquijada71]

Que hermoso dónde vives tu perro 🐕 es encantador. 🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱

[@MSjackiesaunders]

Comfrey is a great medicinal plant as well. A salve made from it is great for skin issues (including insect bites), and a tea or tincture made from is good for intestinal issues.

[@RCH566]

Is it true comfrey should only be used topically and not internally as it may cause liver damage. ?

[@1976smb]

Huh, I thought I came up the rule of not cutting something while it is flowering.

[@devonseamoor]

Beautiful, Shawn. You work with an order and neatness, which is visible from the sky, and seeing you on the ground between the plants, your garden looks wonderfully lush. Nature herself rewards your efforts, keep in mind that you're doing the right thing, Shawn.👌👋👩‍🌾

[@lineriisager9726]

💚

[@remystraub6990]

merci JAMES

[@trisho.8331]

Wow Shawn, amazing what great permaculture/biodiversity you’ve developed on that land in 4 years. First year yield was great, 2nd better, 3rd w/Emily and your wife’s help terrific, and now THIS 4th year and it’s only first week of June!! SO impressed, I have no words, except loving the comfrey and lupines. You’re pure genius and once you add chicken poop it will be even more phenomenal!! Thanks for sharing, and as always, take care. Can’t wait to see the “Fall” harvest!! Oh sorry, YES, I CAN as I want to enjoy a warm summer working hard on my own garden, with lots of tips from you!! 💯👏 I’m not a 7-8 month winter old gal fan so still adjusting to life in Idaho after 25 years in Arizona but work 9months amending clay soil here organically. 😂❤

[@CalebGibbsAvenue]

❤

[@iris1501]

BRAVO JAMES...we still wait for to see zour chikens...it is impresiv how rich is the greens up there ...thank zou for the video..have a nice week end

[@jonathanhall7903]

Sink some wood posts into the ground in the garden and drill several 1/4" and 1/2" holes for a few varieties of bees.

[@patriciabeyer8029]

Beautiful garden. 🙏❤️👍

[@karlberthelsen5662]

Haluunguaq 👍🏼⭐👋🇬🇱

[@leekent3325]

Love your jungle! You should go barefoot and get some nice grounding ❤ Awesome work my friend!

[@ouksolichenda7697]

❤

[@jonigee1305]

Great job on garden . It’s beautiful as well as healthy, abundant and diverse.

[@free2bemebarbie345]

Your vast amount of knowledge is incredibly impressive and helpful, God bless you 🙏🏻 Shawn stay well

[@ithacacomments4811]

Father God, You know that we live in a crazy and chaotic world that makes fear soar. You also know my struggles in my daily life. When life gets to be too much, please help me come to you. Calm my thoughts and emotions and open my heart to your peace, comfort, and wisdom. Help me not to live in fear. Please reduce the feelings of fear and anxiety that plague me. Help me rest in You and trust You as I navigate through this broken world. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen.

[@ithacacomments4811]

Romans 8:38-39 (NIV) "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

[@reneebrown2968]

The great thing is if you use the deep litter method in your coop you will have plenty of composting materials to help your garden

[@gregmason2208]

You certainly have created a wonderland. It must be wonderful to live there. Do you ever get the chance to just sit on your land and read a book and listen to the birds? Terrible life Cali leads. NOT. Comment from a great fan from Australia.