The Secrets to Gardening in PURE SAND!

[@davidthegood]

Whether you're practicing Florida gardening in beach sand or growing farther north, you don't need to garden in containers just because you have sandy soil. See real results in this video! Get Compost Everything: amzn.to/3SArbCW Get the "Live, Laugh, Compost Your Enemies" Tee Shirt: www.aardvarktees.com/collections/the-survival-gardener/products/dtg-live-laugh-compost-your-enemies?variant=42367106810056 Thank you for watching.

[@Wolf-xu1fj]

What if you use human manure in your garden?

[@Joe_C.]

I planted a children's swing set in my sand. It's growing great!

[@nickkitchener6155]

Must be cat poop fueled fertility!

[@intentionallymade]

😂😂😂

[@pattim6731]

"Bothers the normies". LOVE it!!

[@gmvalentine626]

Hilarious! I laughed out loud at that one!

[@TUKByV1]

Compost your enemies, even in sandy soil!

[@MartieMc]

The only reason I can garden here in Augusta GA is because this area used to be near the coast in prehistoric times and there's about 6 inches of sand on top of the rock hard clay. My little SunJoe tiller won't go very far down in that, but the plant roots do. Between the two of them, they make a great garden.

[@gillsmoke]

I has the clay, the funny thing is most of the remedies is the same, organic matter buried or on top and time. I started my beds with double digging and burying cardboard and sticks with some not quite done compost and yard waste, I put the beds to sleep with mulched leaves and whatever is in the tumbler. Slow and steady wins the (land) race

[@Sashawott9009]

Yeah, organic matter is the solution to both sand and clay! Mixing sand and clay isn't a good idea.

[@ejuran2661]

As a native Floridian living in SC now, the best garden I’ve ever had was when I lived in Port Orange. It was my sandy yard and manure from my horses. You have inspired me to try again here in SC and hopefully I will have the garden I had in Florida. I’m currently growing in raised beds. Thank you for this video and I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who gardens barefooted.👍🦶🦶👣

[@Nocare89]

I have sandy soil (its not bad). I can water my garden indefinitely without flooding it which is fun. It dries out every day with more sun than overcast. But if I mulch, it stays wet for days. There's all this stuff about fertility on youtube and most do rightfully encourage and praise mulching. But I think its still underappreciated. I'd argue all you really need to do is mulch with a variety of things. No fertilizers and no compost, because that mulch will break down and feed the soil. So if its a diverse mulch, you have more nutrient types coming in, good to go. That's my theory on it anyway. If you think about it, a forest doesn't actually compost. Nature mulches. The critters turn it around on their own time. We can differentiate compost as a purely human product where we direct nature to bulk-process some mulch at higher speed.

[@Yournamehere366]

I just have to say… I bought a compost your enemies shirt almost a year ago and every time I wear it in town I get comment after comment about it. It is DEFINITELY a conversation starter! 😂 people out here in southern Arizona love it! I make sure to tell them about your channel. I love everything you do here, keep it up 👍🏻

[@davidthegood]

Thank you

[@ozarksbuckslayer2484]

I'm working on filling a 55 gallon barrel with fish guts right now. If the fish keep cooperating I may even fill 2. My neighbors are going to love me.

[@justingolden2525]

I just cracked a 4 week old bucket of swamp water the other day, made from weeds and kitchen scraps. The smell was truly heinous.

[@jeas4980]

😂😂😂

[@FloridaGirl-]

@@justingolden2525🤣🤣🤣 it is! My motto is: if it doesn’t stink, It isn’t any good! @ozark: fish guts would be premo!! Look up garden like a viking too. He makes great slurries! You can even make your own calcium carbonate. It’s so easy and works great!

[@PedroOrtiz-b1h]

Just put a waterlock and bingo

[@GoldenBoy-et6of]

​@@justingolden2525anaerobic smell means it will kill your plants. Forest smell is what good compost smells like and good compost tea shouldn't have any bad smell

[@thadrobinson8343]

Inert media like lava rocks, rock wool, and vermiculite have been used for hydroponic gardens for decades. Sandy soil isn't too different, you just have to commit to supplying a constant flow of nutrients.

[@davidthegood]

That is right.

[@baneverything5580]

My yard has no soil. It was a hill once. It`s hard packed red concrete with gravel added by whoever lived here years ago. I started hauling in forest soil with a garden wagon and it was very difficult to collect the two inches of the best dirt/leaf mold in the woods. Then I saw a 6 feet deep pile of muddy sand in a big wash. It takes about 3 minutes to get a half bucket of this to my wagon which is record speed compared to before so I`m now using the sandy wash piles as my base soil and adding grass clippings/chopped leaves/pine straw on top as mulch and mixed in to create garden soil. I made a row from one wagon load and piles with others and the gaps between/around the mounds are stuffed with fresh grass clippings and garden waste to be broken down by the rollie poley bugs. These bugs were already blanketing and eating my big pile of mustard plant stems as the seeds finished drying and the soil underneath was covered in their poop. Even though they`ve been nibbling on some plants they`re constantly helping with decomposition so I only use spot treatment to control them on some seedlings.

[@curtstacy779]

I picked up three horses. I compost the waste from the barn for a year, then I mix it with my sand and the leaves from the yard are in there also. it did pretty well the first year and even better after that. I have black soil now. I also have a raised bed no sides, hugelkultur style with dead trees cut up under the mounds about 4' by 100' long. The horses fertilize my sand on the property along with the leaves and hay they spill and I have gotten a nice black soil layer over the property. horse owners usually want people to take the waste for free. it works well. I started with beach sand, I am near the coast in Michigan.

[@olgag5385]

I must say, if your videos and teaching don't encourage us, we shouldn't be gardening. Thank you for the info you share. May God bless you and your family..

[@richardbellsr2345]

You son of a gun, master right here, look at that eggplant, I don't see any eggs yet but it looks like it will produce.😂😂😂

[@ron952]

Perfect timing ….I just started my food forest in southern Michigan and the land is sugar sand so I can’t wait to see this video.

[@SavingGreensHomestead]

I’m a true believer in using sand for gardening…I have made several videos in a playlist called Gardening With Sand on my channel sharing the benefits and uses for sand…i always use sand to start my seeds indoors, to propagate tree cuttings and to deter certain destructive bugs from devastating my garden…I love using sand in my garden…thank you for making this video and all your videos that defy tradition and keep us thinking outside the box🥰

[@nadineb2726]

I grew up in New Jersey but my grandmother was in Pennsylvania close to the Amish community. Such diligent workers and kind people I am fascinated by their way of life and I have tremendous respect for their work ethic.

[@davidthegood]

They are often wonderful people.

[@Tie-dyeGarden_dragon]

I’m so thrilled that your new tees dropped just when I have the money to finally buy a compost your enemies shirt. I love the new design! And I’m gonna have “buried my rabbit” cued up on my phone when I wear it! You are by far my favorite garden guru. Thank you for your excellent videos, music, and books. ❤

[@davidthegood]

Thank you

[@johnliberty3647]

After gardening in sand and gardening in clay I would say sand is easier if you take the time to learn how. A good mix of the 2 is ideal.

[@amyrea4451]

Love the new shirt, I’m getting one! And thanks to your channel I have learned to grow in sand living in Florida. In one year I’ve got myself a food forest. The fam and friends are truly amazed!! 😃🙏🙌

[@davidthegood]

Thank you!

[@contentment164]

Thanks David. Our homestead is on top of a sand dune at 7500 ft. three weeks ago we planted the three sisters directly in it. It is coming up nicely. No amendment at all, just pure sand. Love your channel, Brother. Colossians 2:5

[@bun9000]

I love this channel so much 😆

[@aaron6315]

Nice one! We have got a beach sand property too. I have mixed in clay slurry and bio char, compost, lime.. Things grow quite well in the cooler season. During summer the sand just gets too hot and a lot of watering is needed. The biggest challenge is, that we have a huge amount of pill bugs. Wherever we have organic matter covering the sand, pill bugs merciless chew down everything (even woody mature pumpkin vines). I had success with trenches filled with fish guts and planting on top of that but still a lot of watering was needed. Our second and maybe worse nemesis (in the warm/hot season) are root knot nematodes.

[@super_saiyan4290]

Pill bug naturally compost organic material

[@aaron6315]

Yes, and if you have an over-abundance of pill bugs they can be incredibly distructive

[@super_saiyan4290]

@@aaron6315 brother I'm actually having this issue after laying mulch on the garden

[@Doppelganger333]

Starting my garden in south Florida, been researching and wathchijg your vids for a few weeks perfect timing for this info thanks!

[@FloridaGirl-]

I live in SW FL. Believe me the chop and drop works!

[@tammiedyer3225]

Moles love sandy soil. We have sugar sand with high iron and low ph. Any pasture land has to be limed often. Doesn’t matter how much compost you put down 1st and 2nd year, seeds will come up but won’t grow until you get the ph and nitrogen up.

[@HomeEF]

Great information , thank you!!! 🙏👍

[@Christopher-xd5in]

All for work with what one has. An old oak came down left a hollow stump..filling it in with leaf litter and yard rakings and spanish moss on top of that sand from the topsoil in the bit of wood behind the backyard. Had a packet of crimson sweet ive germinated a couple seeds. Simple is best just takes time. Hey from Crystal River

[@harrybrandelius7816]

I have a few sand beds for early plantings when the soil is still frozen. Coarse sand with a thick layer of grass clippings on top works really well.

[@yogamovesme3825]

I love you David!! Always the perfect video at the perfect time. I'm visiting family in UK. I visited an alottment and shocked by their soil. They were growing in big chunks of clay/ sand. I had soil envy because I'm returning to my florida SAND!! I've read all your books and followed most of your advice minus chicken guts. Things are going well, actually. I'm so happy you have made me fall in love with my sand ... I can do this 💪💪

[@midwestribeye7820]

I live in NC Iowa and have very clay soil. I've been using the deep mulch method and adding what little compost I make for 5 years. My established beds are starting to have rich, loamy soil. My brand new bed (covered with cardboard, grass clippings and 2' of leaves) is still a soil mess. We've had so much rain, I feel I should be making pottery with it instead of trying to plant tomatoes in it. Oh, well! I'm sure in 3-4 years it will be much loamier and healthy. Happy gardening everyone and God bless!🌱❤️♻️👍

[@joekunin]

Gary Matsuoka has much great information about this on youtube. Glad to see more confirmation!

[@davidthegood]

Thank you

[@RR-vu8ch]

That's brings lot of hope to farming. I have been experimenting for over 8 years with organic farming. I never bought any soil mix. Infact in India never soil is purchased. (may be people buy in cities)I use all kind of organic stuff like rice mill husk ash, leaves etc. Growth is always good. I never used any pesticide or herbicide. I strongly believe nature can handle and yeilds are good(All years I shared the harvest with friends for free). Great Advice

[@ArtByFameli]

😂😂😂 I love your sense of humor! And I agree on the Latin 😂

[@avgFloridian]

I started leaving the (neighbor's) bush trimmings on the ground a while back. I also started running the leaves that the shady lady tree drops where they were and just mow them. It's much less sandy in those areas and actually looks like dirt. I'll probably "borrow" more of the neighbor's bushes when I have to trim them again and shred those up on the rest of my yard. It definitely makes a difference over time.

[@FamilyFinca]

Love the Dune Reference. 🎉❤

[@You_Can_Grow_Too]

That sand you are sitting in is my native "soil", except mine happens to look more gray. I still buy some fertilizers and compost to help, but I am doing lots of chop and drop and compost tea. Thank you for your videos, because you, and a handful of other people, have shown me that I can grow too! PS.. Your books are great!.. or should I say Good😄 Thanks, again. Florida Zone 10

[@intentionallymade]

Grassburs are the death of my land. We live by the grasslands but the precious owners laid grass down that had the plastic grid backing and it brought in grassburs. It’s awful. We are still picking up plastic five years in. I’m building a chicken tractor to use chickens around our human yard to feed the soil in smaller concentrations but would love some ideas on what grass to grow around our house as we move the tractor. My kids can’t go barefoot it’s so bad. We have goats, chickens, sheep and horses so we have the animals just need to come up with some better rotational systems and perhaps get seed to throw out also. Loving your channel. It’s been helpful!

[@Mrbfgray]

IDK why I need this--live on perfect loam who knows how many 10's of meters deep, here in N. Commifornia. I know, it's the entertainment and general knowledge I love.

[@RustyBobbins]

Seaweed too!

[@FloridaGirl-]

Seaweed is great!

[@ninaganci2134]

I live in an area, where I have sand that is extremely oily. I did the manure (a whole ton of it) and dug it in. The first year everything grew. but within a few short months (2months), it was all gone. The trick I found that worked for me.... shredded paper soaked in water dug this in. This started changing the soil and allowed water to be absorbed. I did this for 2 years. The last 2 years, I started burying kitchen scraps etc in the garden (with the shredded paper). My soil has changed drastically. it is now alive. I even found some earthworms. Not sure how they arrived, as the whole area i live in has this terrible oily sand. Cape Town, South Africa

[@Devo491]

I lived on K'Gsri (Fraser or Great Sandy Island) as a kid, and we grew veges by adding leaf-mulch from the rainforest. You must keep the water up to sand-based gardens, it runs away in a day or two, even when the 'soil' is 50% mulch.

[@TaLeng2023]

I wonder if it's possible to dig the sand out, line the ground with a little bit of clay, and then put the sand back. Maybe it'll stop the water from draining out too quickly?

[@Devo491]

@@TaLeng2023 That's a good idea. You can get geofabric that's infused with clay, used in road construction/drainage, which may work. I'm now on red volcanic dirt, which also wicks the water away too fast. Will try it.

[@dnawormcastings]

Great video I’ve always wondered how to grow stuff in sand now I know thanks 🙏🏼

[@DivineMercyFarmstead]

Great job! Following him dad’s footsteps!

[@annkousari7307]

Thank you for this information, David.

[@oliverbrown6088]

On pure sand dune here. For trees, I had big plastic drums, bottom cut off and dig way down to get it in the ground and compost everything and anything. Digging pits would work too. Moved them around and planted into the sand near them (because they keep sinking for a while, which you don't want the tree to do) - the roots find the good stuff. I otherwise find that no matter how long you mulch, the underlying sand never improves - the worms must get there and say 'no way, nothing for me down there' and bioturbation never happens. And wees, don't waste wees down the drain.

[@BB_outdoors]

I'm excited for this one ive made so much soil to plant in ground its crazy

[@michellekerns1191]

Amen! Love it...I just planted a couple squash in a raised planter, didn't have cardboard so I cut a hole in a weathered palm branch base and piled organic matter mixed with equal parts sand and mulch...prayers lifted! Thx for all your good tips. Cute shirt!

[@JK-Handyman]

This is an issue close to my heart. I live on the coast in NC and have a decent garden in my back yard. my soil started out as mostly sand with very little organic matter in it. The first year I made 3 rows about 2 ft wide and tilled in compost I had made out of cardboard, food scraps, leaves, and grass clippings. Then I dumped several loads of free wood chips on top to hold in the moisture. It took a lot of work and I continue to add more wood chips and compost each year. I have 6 rows now and have a better garden than most peoples I've seen around here and fair soil so far. its far from perfect but its good enough to grow everything I want.

[@spaluxormassage5753]

This was so helpful!! thank you for this info! New Sub here! :)

[@mammothenterprises2921]

Well my wife and I don't know Latin, but we do sing it sometimes in the choir at St. Andrews Chapel

[@sixfigurebookkeeper7588]

I appreciate you. Love your composting book!

[@oranjwon4437]

Should we be planting our grandmas to make our gardens grow? I'd be honored....

[@TaxEvasion777]

I mean old family cemeteries are usually surrounded by some flowering trees so they used to do that more often but probably just a way to have a nice spot to rest

[@tjcihlar1]

Not where I thought this was going... I thought this was going to be a video of rugosa roses :).

[@jongoff6925]

Love the new shirt design

[@ManiacNation06]

Love your content ❤

[@ledeek11]

I'm currently in Dubai. The sand over here is extremely compact!! Still trying to figure it all out, but I guess I'll follow your suggestions over here. Everything is possible.

[@morningstar8187]

Some cacti can grow in pure sand and produce fruit.

[@GrandmomZoo]

Thank you!😊

[@Judobobswagger]

David is right, beach sand works great. I've got one pot that I throw a bunch of fruit tree seeds in and they grew. They have been in the pot now for around two years now and I rarely water so they haven't grown much. But in my opinion unwashed sand is best vs washed beach sand. The washed sand I need to water much more than the unwashed sand however you cant overwater using sand because it doesn't rot.

[@that_auntceleste5848]

I'm near the Indiana Dunes. Sandy soil, not pure sand. We pick up our neighbors leaf bags in the fall and i use them all year to mulch and make compost. Organic matter still washes through or it gets devoured by soil life quickly, so I added one more experiment: 100% bentonite clay aka the cheapest kitty litter at Walmart. I worked a bag into the soil. Now i actually get clumps that kinda stick together!

[@elijahsanders3547]

This was awesome (and funny, lol), I've been condidering trying to get some sand for volume. This could be a booklet in itself: How To Garden In Sand :) God bless.

[@zaxxon4]

Amending sand requires a lot more supplies than amending clay. Conversely the labor for amending sand is a lot less than amending clay. What they have in common is they are both so bad that tilling is almost a requirement to turn them into good hand workable soil.

[@Liwayputi]

Great info!!!

[@kathymyers1023]

Dominus vobiscum. Enjoy your channel.

[@davidthegood]

Et cum spiritu tuo

[@ishabhambri]

lol i have Bougainvillea garden and i grow everything in sand only. best medium for such plants

[@SCOTTBULGRIN]

FINALLY!!

[@JesusdUribe]

Ok this is interesting good to know ‼️😎

[@Saskia-ww2gq]

the beach is same as anywhere else on the periodic table of elements [x] play fair -it's your grown-up sand box, reality bites babies! ....yummmmm;P

[@alecio000]

I remember reading a book about septic systems that made the point that clay, sand and gravel are all basically the same thing, just different sizes of particles. Now I'm curious what it would be like to start seeds in gravel.

[@designindeb]

Ok, David, Now share how this same method works for that hard dry clay soil that turns slick when wet! 😉😅

[@brandynash1409]

That what I have. If I walk through the yard after a rain my boots double in size with the clay that sticks to them. I use the same method he uses. I tilled the garden area in October. When it hadn’t rained in a while. So it was dry. I then took a string and made 4ft beds and 3 foot walkways. I took a shovel and moved the walkway dirt into the bed pile. This allowed me to have a “raised bed” so when it rained, my plants would drown. I went through and put wood chips in the walkways. Then added chicken manure and rabbit manure to the beds. Also kitchen scraps too. Anything that will compose. Then took a VERY thick layer of leaves and laid it on top of my beds. In March I went through with a pitch fork and used it like a broad fork to get the organic materials down into the clay. I have worms galore!!!!! And the clay is very crumbly in the beds. Not sticky at all! My plants are doing amazing and I haven’t had to water anything yet.

[@pahBillsbaby]

BROTHER DAVID!!!!! BLESS YOU!!!! you have me using a machete!!!!!!!!! yeeeehaaawwwwwww....

[@davidthegood]

You rock

[@jamaicanapple]

What can we do about nematodes when growing potatoes in sandy soil in sw Florida?

[@oliveeisner8964]

I have a swamp water question. I followed your method, and it works! My plants love it! But, it's been over a year, and the last time I checked and uncovered the bin, it was literally bubbling and boiling like witches brew with lots of weird little creatures, too. Omg I still used it extremely diluted, and it stinks to holy hell, but I'm wondering if there's an end date. Should I toss it at some point and make a fresh batch or keep using it infinitely? Is it unsafe at this point? It's insanely gross. Thank you for all that you do, btw. You inspired me to convert my front yard into a garden. 🙏✌️😮

[@davidthegood]

It is allegedly better after a long time, according to the Koreans.

[@oliveeisner8964]

@davidthegood thank you, David. The experiment will go on then. 👍

[@preschoolhomestead]

How often do you water with compost teas in pure sand?

[@johngault8688]

Our Florida soils appear to be pure sand because they are not properly (naturally) managed.

[@taniagoldbergpottery9953]

David, how far down south can we grow kiwis in your experience? I’m in Parkland and I’ve been told that they need more chill hours than our zero. Tysm!

[@davidthegood]

I think the big fuzzy types might grow there, but I do not know from experience.

[@taniagoldbergpottery9953]

@@davidthegood thank you

[@peterroncone6411]

Hey David, I live in Florida and have very sandy soil. I’ve been wondering if I could add a layer of baseball clay or pure clay cat litter to my garden and/or to the compost bin to add clay to the soil. Do you think it would do any good. I know it depends on how much you add. It is worth the try. Thanks for your opinion.

[@davidthegood]

Try in a small area and see. I would mix it with compost too.

[@hazelbellefarm476]

Ok David, our in ground garden is sugar sand. We’ve laid down about 6” of compost but it stays so terribly dry. The grass has taken over. We have a large pile of woods ash, lots of chicken coop litter and dead oak leaves. Im going to pile it all up on the beds and cover it for summer. How much of the ash would benefit the ground?

[@davidthegood]

You can add quite a bit. I don't have an exact number, but I sprinkle it generously.

[@WilliamMiller-nr5gb]

"Pray for your enemies. If they remain unrepentant, compost them." DtG 7 : 11 (As I recall.)

[@davidthegood]

Oh dear

[@mariatorres9789]

Depends of that and has chemicals or not in it. Did y'all get it tested, or just drag it home & grow in it, & eat the crops? A lot of road sand has anhydrous chems added.

[@davidthegood]

Masonry sand should be safe. That's what we have.

[@elusive323]

Could you could put some biochar in there too man? to hold the "life" in.

[@davidthegood]

Totally

[@flyingspacecart]

also valid for the sahara ?

[@davidthegood]

If you can keep wind and erosion down

[@timothyjones9430]

Beach sand is mostly coral which is calcium in my area... That is pretty tough to control ph with so much calcium. What do you think?

[@davidthegood]

It is okay - just add organic matter. I have seen crops growing well from a pile of pure crushed limestone.

[@ss-kz9ee]

People have to be ok with mess first. Hardy plants first and use them for mulch

[@nostalgia_junkie]

prequel meme in less than 30 seconds, never change

[@mariap.894]

David, how do you deal with Iguanas? They eat every single leaf from my sweet potatoes!!! I struggle growing them in SoFlo. Please help me❤😪

[@jeas4980]

Cat

[@davidthegood]

I have an extensive coverage of them in The South Florida Gardening Survival Guide.

[@TaLeng2023]

They're free meat

[@mariap.894]

@@TaLeng2023 True! I've eaten them, just not too fond of them either way 😀😁👍

[@mariap.894]

@@davidthegood I'm assuming it's one of your books? I'll check it out. Thanks a lot!💖🥰🌻🦎

[@elbajoloco]

hahaha, worst movie line ever, good one!

[@GaryParvis1776]

Amen

[@PhilippeFernandez]

Minerals come from rocks and sand. They are imperative.

[@stuffnthings247]

I’m all about bothering the normies!!!! 😂😂

[@agapefield]

❤❤❤

[@GaryParvis1776]

Bet you got some relatives in that garden! 🤣🤣🤣

[@terrieholloway9066]

❤

[@Chris-bx4vk]

I planted a castle in the sand. It washed away.

[@donavinnezar]

im purely gardening in containers because im renting and dont wanna leave my perenniels when i move

[@davidthegood]

We have done that too.

[@1stbadger700]

I have sand and nematodes. They love sand for spreading their evil.

[@brockberrick2727]

pls pls pls Grocery row tour 1 hour long ggg

[@InTheGarden2070]

My grandfather gardened in sand

[@Saskia-ww2gq]

soil you right bebe! .... soil urite