THE SECRET TO BUILDING HEALTHY SOIL!

I have been building healthy soil for years, and this is how I do it!
Thanks for the kind words and support 😁🐕❤️
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[@offgridjunky]

I remember when someone told me it took 2 years for a pineapple to fruit.. and I remember thinking that was too long....then a year went by and then another year went by and I thought to myself....if I would have planted that pineapple 2 years ago I would have had a pineapple.....!! that was 6 years ago....since then I have had quit a few pineapples...I guess what I'm saying is...you can't eat what you don't plant..even if it takes 2 years to get it. same concept with my fruit trees I put in last year... if it takes 3 years to fruit and I don't plant it, guess what...in 3 years I won't have anything...!! stay blessed...

[@FeyScribe]

i just got pineapple plants, inspired

[@bencyber8595]

I have just started planted 2 plant just now, how long will I taste the pineapple ?

[@offgridjunky]

@@bencyber8595 they say 2 years. Sometimes sooner. It varies on what kind of pineapple you plant.

[@ziggybender9125]

I finally planted 2 sugarloaf pineapple plants from tops. 1 of them is fruiting this year but the fruit is tiny, I asked my friend and he told me that's to be expected when planting from tops. No one told me I'd wait 2 years for a fist size pineapple...

[@alexandruandrei6649]

The best words i read in the last year!

[@JWDicus]

This last year was the first time I have ever used diakon radish in my garden as a way to build soil, and I am amazed by their ability to penetrate deep down, just as you were saying about carrots. If you haven't already tried diakon, I highly recommend it for your situation. Get yourself some seeds and just sow them randomly throughout that food forest. Love your channel, James. Thanks for bringing the rest of us these videos.

[@Matt_j593]

You have really developed as a presenter over the years. I’m in year 3 of the Back To Eden method. When I started, I had zero worms and compacted soil. I am only applying wood chips and compost and some organic fertilizer to get things going. The worms are everywhere and there are parts of the garden I could dig with my hand.

[@lifeonhuckleberryhill6052]

We are in the early stages of planting a food forest, and we have learned a lot by watching your videos. We are enjoying seeing how your garden progresses, and pray God's richest blessings on you!

[@nickthegardener.1120]

Check out Geoff Lawton's food forest.👍💚🙏

[@gigidi6816]

You are killing it, James! I've added 6-8" of woodchips to my garden and my plants are LOVING it. I've even made a believer of my dad, who thought I was out of my mind with all those woodchips! I showed him your videos so he could have an idea what a multi-year food forest looks like. May God continue to bless you😊

[@pattihayden8100]

ang medina 😂 my kids thought I had gone off the deep end when I had 25 cubic yards of wood chips delivered to my house 7 months ago. They’re a believer now!!

[@ashcash111296]

Pam, where did you find your wood mulch?

[@svetlanikolova7673]

@@ashcash111296 You cant tell your local tree trimming service to drop it off , your local restaurants and Coffee shops to use your property as a dumping ground. once you have loaded it all up mix it all and distribute in your garden spot . wait six months and plant in the spring

[@titanart6225]

Do you add compost over top of your wood chips like Paul Paul Gautschi says in Back To Eden to create compost soup to soak into the soil?

[@kathynix6552]

@@svetlanikolova7673 @Barbara T Just check on the organic status of the restaurant

[@colleensainsbury9022]

This is a lifesaver for me. I am one dune away from the beach and gardening on pure sand. Was stressing about having to dig the soil over and over. Now I know I never have to dig, I can let nature do the work!

[@sacredtools.netclairvoyant1573]

Your positive attitude makes learning a pleasure. I live on sandy soil too, and after five years of soil building last year was my best harvest ever and it was because of you! Thanks so much.

[@nickthegardener.1120]

I wish I had 5% of James energy! He has a very positive energy vibration!💚👍

[@jkdruid]

I love watching your old and new videos. I learn so much.thank you.

[@grethabekker1777]

It is exiting to allow soil to become a living entity, like you explain here. And it smells so nice!

[@WillowZeyphr]

I'm just starting to branch out of buckets and pots and this helps immensely! My vision is to have a garden with veggies and fruit trees mixed in amongst one another. I started small and have been learning a lot. I have a dream of creating a garden that everyone can feel free to help themselves to! They can plant and grow in their own section if they wish even!. I believe that we should all try to bring a family touch to our place of comfort. Wouldn't that be wonderful! I have been working on it, one day at a time :) Thank you for sharing your wisdom with me, this will absolutely help me step closer to achieving my dream! The glass greenhouse for winter growing ( and to keep me at peace😉) would Thank you again! Have a most magnificent day/night or morning, my friend!

[@marabiquel6414]

I’m closed to the beach too . Sandy soils are tricky.... but I love to work with it.... it has so many advantages .... the sandy soils becomes better throughout the years. ❤️🇵🇷

[@PalmettoParatrooper]

I have hard clay soil but I've trenched it on contour and I allow the wild plants to grow to their final stage of life before mowing 80% of them down. They do a fairly good job breaking up the surface layers of clay on their own. Things like wild leaks and plantain and wood sorrel and dewberry are what make up most of the natural ground cover on my land.

[@jimwilleford6140]

I have watched a number of your videos. In my opinion, this is your best presentation yet. You have become a pro in front of the camera, your teachings are clear and much more concise. Most importantly, your garden is beautiful. Congratulations.

[@reshgala]

Your knowledge and excitement about this topic and gardening in general is infectious! So inspiring! Keep up the great work!

[@shawnmadden1225]

Excellent! Thanks for being all in with the soil, with your production, and with teaching. Well done!

[@melanin4267]

Thank you 💜💜💜 I have all raised beds because I Am surrounded by Clay. Planting the deep rooted plants is such helpful information. I really appreciate it. 🏡🧑🏾‍🌾🍉🍅💜

[@gardenoforigins30]

Another inspiring lesson! I love the long taproot idea for clay! Love seeing your excitement while talking about your soil.

[@naplescajun]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your channel! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge, passion and love of life with us!

[@jamesprigioni]

Your so kind naplescajun, thank you for the words of encouragement!

[@lorrainebarnett8389]

Love the thing you said about using root crops to break up the soil. I have clay and that is such a great bit of advice. Also, I am so grateful for your encouragement and faith. Gardeners need faith for sure.

[@professorwooters2386]

Thanks for the tip about planting carrots and letting the tap roots rot. Great idea

[@lindameese2334]

I love watching your videos so much. I just soak in everything you say and then implement it in my own garden. I gardened the wrong way (tilled) for years but those days are over, thank goodness. But I also love to listen to you when I get off work, it literally "zens" me lol. You're putting good into the soil and into the world, God bless you!

[@JastaAdventures]

One thing I love about gardening is the constant learning. Thanks for this video, it definitely added to my knowledge!!!! We’ve been doing woodchips for about 18 months and the evolution of our garden/foodforest is incredible!!

[@thehappygardener1308]

Another great instructional vid James, I live in Perth Western Australia and have horrible sand like you, put a layer of cardboard down to kill the weeds and topped with a couple of inches of free woodchips from a local lopper, bam..... 6 months later after a rainy winter I have worms in my soil with a great composition. Just starting my food forest after seeing your channel. Thankyou for changing my life and ideas

[@phoenixchildress8572]

I loooove the ennergy!!! The energy that you have is very motivating!! This video is also very informing!! 👍🏾👍🏾

[@mydreamhorse12]

You are my favorite channel. You have opened up my world and brought it together! Thank you for all you do for us!

[@rawutah]

my new favorite video on building soil!!!!!!!!!!!!! thank you james!!!!!!!!! so much to glean in this one!!!!! all of them!!!!!

[@michaelmoody7372]

I brought in 10 semi loads of mulch from a land clearing company. Not dump trucks but 53ft semi loads! 🤣 my family thought I had lost my mind but now they are seeing the benefits. Keep up the good work your videos are very informative! 👍🏼

[@jsaunbooker1791]

I had to add a comment for this video. U truly made me aware of how to produce healthy soil. I like the way u broke it all down. Yes I heard of mulching but now I c the importance it does

[@monkeywarrior939]

Used to work on a grape farm on the side of an interstate highway. Terrible clay soil. We would go through yards and yards of wood chips every year. It was miraculous how much the soil changed. The best part is that you can usually ask tree removal companies to dump their wood chips for next to nothing.

[@summcunt5421]

I'm using woodchips on my clay. I've noticed after 2 years my soil has improved a lot. I'm about to start growing king stropharia mushrooms in the woodchips because it helps to break down the woodchips faster. Apparently they are a good tasting mushroom too, so that will be a bonus. Better soil and an extra food source. I've also heard that bees use the mycelium of this fungus as medicine. Apparently bees will move woodchips to get to it. I hope to see this for myself.

[@notflanders4967]

Had to come back to this one man, it touches on several good points. This is the video I need to start sharing this with people to expose them to ideas on why and how to stray away from chemicals. Thanks for sharing!

[@richardkrug6855]

Excellent video and topic! It confirmed an inspiration I had many weeks ago to cover my entire backyard (which was pure hardpan) with a layer of compost. It took 10 pickup loads, or about 10 cubic yards to cover the backyard with about one inch of compost. Will repeat the process after the leaves have fallen from my trees this Fall, which will give me two inches of compost on top of the hardpan. Then plan on covering all that compost with two inches of mulch. From just the one inch of compost, the hardpan after just 6 weeks or so, has started to become moist and loose - like real soil! Keep up the good work! It really is all about the soil.

[@angielima111]

thanks so much for this great info, you're very effective at communicating the facts! Keep it going, we need you here.

[@rlportillo]

I think I see a great teacher in the making!

[@jamesprigioni]

Your kind, thanks for the encouragement my friend 😁

[@krisk255]

Love all of your educational and inspiring videos and this is one of the best! Thank you.

[@johnnyspropshop]

Preach it James. I just got my wood chips into the garden today, took months of waiting but it finally happened. Neighbors are interested and will compare their tilled garden to mine. Wife is not convinced but helped fork chips anyways. Every video you put out keeps my motivation going. Thank you.

[@pattihayden8100]

John Fisher I’ve had wood chips down for 7 months on top of my clay soil. I was putting in some more water lines and as I was moving the wood chips away the worms were about 2” down. Probably because the chips were moist. Love love wood chips!!!!!

[@fishmut]

John Fisher hi there John, water breaks things down just remember that. If it’s dry water it and it will break the chips down below the surface. If your getting plenty rain fall it will happen naturally. Also remember it takes time so be patient . Good luck with your gardening good results are not to far away mate. Happy gardening.

[@svetlanikolova7673]

John Fisher, forking wood chis? why? layer on top.of your soil. Forking them in is a no no in nature nobody forks in anything, it just layers

[@brandywineblue]

@@svetlanikolova7673 he probably meant using forks to move them from the big pile dumped in his driveway and spreading them on his garden

[@PreciousPearls57]

Thank you James. I really needed to know about sandy soil to plant. Need wood chips! God Bless you James.😍

[@christinescharphorn5968]

I love hearing all the birds loving your food forest too!

[@datatamer]

Thanks for the reminder about leaving taproots, I needed to hear that again! Peace and love from Michigan!

[@1947dhammond]

Thanks for information about creating great rich soil with wood chips, planting plants to provide that soil with fruit trees, adding compost, adding egg shells or nutrients to the soil. I love what you are teaching me. God bless you as you grow and experience new relationships with soil building to create a forest of fruits and veggies..

[@matthewmoore7366]

I never considered planting anything with a strong taproot to break up my clay soil. I've been building from top up for about 3 years, lots of fungi out there now. However still the compacted clay under the top layer of gold. Part of the organic matter in my beds is a gazillion acorns. I've always pulled they baby oaks out and let them rot elsewhere. . . Oaks = taproots... but that carrot idea, for worm food, I love it... great video

[@shadytreez]

I let a red oak grow in my garden and it has added so much to my garden. I swear the roots balance the clay soil. Under it is my pepper garden. One is 3 years old and held all the peppers through the frost. Granted I live in 9B in California, but without this tree all would have frozen to the ground. I let my seedless Thompson wind into it. Best dang trellis! I have so much food, even the wildlife get tired of the grapes that are sweeter than sunshine.

[@simpleman6591]

You present the best videos on youtube. You acted like a mosquito bit you. I'm a diabetic, and they used to come to get me from miles around. I started eating three cloves of garlic a day. They now buzz around me, but never get bit. I used to have lumps all over me when I would head to the house of the evenings. Just trying to help you as you do all the rest of us. The garlic is good for all kinds of other things too. Always waiting for your next video.

[@oliviatracy5285]

Simpleman Also I hear planting garlic and leaving it to rot builds soil?? What is your guys opinion on this? Do you think its true?

[@crpth1]

​@@oliviatracy5285- ANY roots you leave in the soil will help build soil. Reason why cover crops is a simple and cheap way of building soil. Whenever possible take the "fruits" of your labor (crop) but leave the roots and any other organic matter you don't intend to use for something else. Certainly different for root crops, like carrots or turnips. ;-) Personally I've got a problem of convincing my wife to follow basic Permaculture principles. Having "formal", or should I say conventional, farming experience, makes it more difficult for her to absorb these details, or let go the "old ways". If I'm distracted in no time everything is dug out/tilled! About a month ago we picked the fava beans. So we picked the pods and I cut the plant stalks flat to the ground. We walked away. Shortly after we were mulching the flat beds and for whatever reason she pulled one of the left over stalks. Well the fine soil and the amount of earth worms in that single stalk was amazing. I quickly took the chance to point that detail. She's slightly more convinced. LOL :-) Cheers

[@mohammadakhter8614]

I eat so much garlic but may be mosquitoes in our are love garlic, they love to bite me. I am so sick of mosquito bites.

[@1phloxy]

Thanks again James. Great advice. I started 2 years ago my soil is so nice I can use my hand instead of a shovel.

[@embracingnature4125]

I am from a beach city too,live really far from the beach but still there's sandy soil everywhere..this is definitely encouraging.

[@craigronaldinho8279]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Followed through with ur advice and now i was fortunate to get two loads of chips dropped off!...20 yards! I hardly water my plants, despite the unbearable heat here in Texas.

[@wanda409]

WOW! so much GREAT information....down to the nitty-gritty of soil life.

[@pmore75]

This is a great video. I like that you highlighted that you build soil from the top and below. I hadn't connected this idea before. You have a great garden.

[@jaquiobear]

THANK YOU JAMES! I know you always read all the comments cause you always answer mine, and this is the second time you’ve answered my comment in a video. I knew when you didn’t answer in the comment section that I should pay attention to the coming videos. And this one is the best answer so far cause it is not only that you gave the answer within a video, but you actually made a whole video only on the subject of my question! Thank you so much, it was very complete and clear to understand, and I feel honored to get such a beautiful and fantastic answer. I was maybe not the only one asking that sort of question, so there are surely a lot of people being helped. 👍🏼🤗🙏🏼☘️🍂🌷🌳😃❣️

[@sammorris2389]

So awesome me and my gf watch your videos all the time, love the energy!!!! We are turning our desert back yard in west texas into a food forest. But with our lack of tress, and bountyfull used animal bedding we laid down a layer of that. And after almost a month of 100+ days no rain full sun i havent watered my plants yet they are so healthy and alive. we are on our way to createing our own homestead, with alot of help from all of your videos!!

[@VianneyCreates]

Great discussion, and so very right! Thank you!

[@kategrafton5224]

I love watching your videos 🤩 just starting a veggie patch but so inspired to progress to the food forest. Thank you for all that you have pasted on.

[@rickershomesteadahobbyfarm3291]

I own an 8 acre property. It has multiple kinds of soils. I’m close enough to Myrtle Beach to have alot of sand but I’m also far enough away that I have alot of clay. I’ve found different colors of sand and different colors of clay on my property as well. Before I plant a tree I dig down a couple of feet to see what the soil looks like under it before planting now. I made alot of mistakes and lost alot of trees bc I planted them in the wrong location.

[@suziehartwright]

Excellent content! You covered everything so well with good reasonings. Thank you for doing this video.

[@hart796]

Great video. Your food forest looks awesome with the rich soil providing great nutrients to the trees n plants. Ty vm for posting

[@ivettecorrea1496]

So much valuable info!👌🙏💜💙💚Thanks a lot James!

[@danielfisch655]

Amen brother, I also layer organic material in my garden to grow soil first and afterwards I plant fruit trees and food. Please keep these informative videos coming.

[@vaughan7835]

Hey James. I'm currently building a, what I hope to be, small food forest in a previously weedy, wasted space, on borrowed property, in mid NSW coast, Australia. Found the soil to be mostly sand w 2" of nice dark soil above. Disappointed! Watched a heap of your videos for the last 3yrs. This 1 gives me more confidence! I have access to free woodchips, & seagrass, close by. Started with cardboard & sticks, (hugelcultur) then the top 2" from dug woodchip paths & whatever else I could find on top. Im growing (& or plan to) herbs, spices, vegies & fruit trees. Keeps me (& my dog "Rabbit") busy while not being able to work. Also, we are living the "Vanlife" locally. Love your work 👌

[@MSouthworth85]

Always look forward to your videos!

[@sir2022]

Another great root crop to breakup hard compacted clay soil is Daikon Radish....they grow a really long and strong tap root.

[@davidcarr7228]

How do I get started and where do I get this at the nursery

[@jamesbassett8470]

@@davidcarr7228 Daikon also goes by the name 'Soil Buster." Seeds are available in garden stores and online.

[@pascalxus]

@@davidcarr7228 you can get great deals on it on ebay. 500 of them for a 2 or 3 dollars. Or you can go all out and get 15000 seeds for 13$ ! wow. i'm planting these bad boys everywhere.

[@heathparkhurst3011]

@@jamesbassett8470 Will they grow in heavy red clay loam?

[@summcunt5421]

I bought some seeds called tillage radish. They seem very similar to daikon. They grow really well in my clay. I just chop the top off when it begins to flower and let the root turn into worm food. The tops go in the compost.

[@jimmywayneoconner9225]

Thanks for the info James, I live 8 miles from the beach south of tallahassee, this is just what I needed to know!

[@justinboucher3275]

Loving the educational videos James! You're the man

[@tovaritchboy]

Nice vid and DEF know I need to do more! And time for me to start transplanting things from one area of the farm to others and do like you said and spread out the life!

[@duckyluver12]

This was such a good video James, thanks! I have completely sand soil in my garden also.

[@bobbybillingsley7057]

I took a bunch of eggs and a lot of vegetables scraps, and rice and put it in a 50 gallon garden pot with regular Alabama front yard dirt and it makes the plants that's in it grow 10 times better. The plants get so heavy that there hanging out of the pot and can't stand up straight after the get long. Your are 100% right about building soil. Its all about the longjevity.... Thanks.

[@wudangmtn]

Good, clear instruction. Thanks.

[@cozycasasmr4510]

You are so full of knowledge!!

[@Sabijans]

Simple and clear explanation. Thank you! I have no garden of my own but am working in the garden of a family member. It's interesting and challenging to try to implement permaculture principles while sharing a space with other people that know "conventional" gardening. Besides that, the time I can invest in the garden is limited. This is creating a system where I have to bargain for some permaculture elements without being too invasive for the other gardener. Currently, I believe that in such a scenario, short term there should be some allowances for disrupting the soil to keep the interest of the other gardener(s) who are used to this, and slowly move towards healthier soil... A layer of mulch for the paths and some areas with clover or prettier deep-rooted plants might still have a long-term impact?

[@sourclam904]

Great explanation and info. Thanks for posting

[@georgiawilliams3460]

Love your vibes, great vid. Thankyou

[@therantsfarms3503]

I've watched many of your videos, Your are truly inspiring. Keep up !

[@ILoveTheMoodyBlues]

Just found your channel. I love it! Live the way you explain and i love how excited you are about your garden. It’s beautiful 😊

[@marianoaran]

love your channel James! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@jeannechin5052]

Thank you! Such good information!

[@ronserrokpam904]

This is so True.You are awsome.👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@Mari-hh6it]

Your videos are amazing! So much great information, please keep up with the great work!

[@jessfindsherlife2749]

Thank you! Its all about the soil. You're like my own personal soil encyclopedia. How do you store all that information☺

[@oliviatracy5285]

Thank you so much for sharing this! Cant wait to start my own!

[@JosePerez-dn4ld]

So glad I found your channel James ! I've been working on my soil for few months now . Out here in Massachusetts dealing with clay . But I'm on my way , planted my first fruit trees and and berries recently . Thankyou for sharing your knowledge.

[@rayvin357]

i never saw clay when i lived in mass near acton (79yrs) BUT you ain't seen clay till you move to eastern PA. cannot get asparagus to grow etc.

[@manjushreetsl2531]

Thanks James, you are an inspiration.

[@carolemills819]

You are awesome! Love your method of gardening, and your videos. Very enjoyable to watch Also love your little dog!

[@devincahoon830]

Thanks for the soil tutorial. I’m working with a clay base and this has been very helpful

[@coreyjames1]

I feel like you made this video for me.....you're right!.....let nature do what it's been doing for thousands of years.!.... Great video!

[@jamesprigioni]

You’re exactly who I made it for my friend 😁

[@RiverPlaid]

This video is awesome...good teaching James.

[@brusselsprout5851]

This video is stellar! Thank you!!!

[@jameshscameron2246]

thnx james, love learning from u and ur dog

[@KMalcolmful]

Thanks James...so helpful!

[@jamesprigioni]

Your welcome Karen, I’m glad you enjoyed it 😁

[@gregkahle9046]

Great tips James; spot on!

[@1947dhammond]

farmers work awfully hard to produce a great crop! How I appreciate them more everyday for their courage, hard work, and patients. We don't pay them enough money, nor give them the credit for the hard good work they put forth in order to produce an enormous, nutritious plants to market. Just in my little garden, I've learned to appreciate them with the challenge I have to grow things. God bless every farmer!

[@DavidfromMichigan]

To Miracle Grow and Scott's, you're public enemy #1! Keep it up baby!

[@rebeccaiya8731]

Another instructive video.thanks James.thumbs way up

[@NorthernThaiGardenGuy]

It most certainly is all about the soil! Excellent video bro! :)

[@jamesprigioni]

Thank you Richard 😁

[@hearcamir7810]

Jealous- party of one! Your place and your soil look amazing! 🌱🌴🌳🍀💕

[@kathynorrod7081]

Great video! Hope it has a sequel with demonstrations and product examples!

[@floriebrown2089]

Thanks James great video very inspiring.

[@CleoCastonguay47]

Thanks for this great lesson on soil building... :)

[@matthewyoung1973]

Awesome information, thank you

[@brusselsprout5851]

❤️ Tuck, too!

[@dereka3341]

I'm using an organic cover crop for the first time this year, in my vegetable garden. I definitely have earth worms and the soil's residual breakdown, after you dig maybe 2 inches down, is a dark, dark brown/black color.

[@markluke8447]

Nice informative video James, good job and thank you.

[@Downeastwaves]

Another great video! Thanks so much!!

[@jamesprigioni]

Your welcome my friend, I’m glad you enjoyed it 😁👍

[@gmaster716]

Another great informative video I have a lot of years gardening as well.. you're spot-on with your lasagna tech style! Keep crushing it