what they DON'T tell you about WOOD CHIPS...

What don’t they tell you about wood chips that you really need to know? Today I’m going to be breaking down some of the most controversial claims regarding wood chips. Hopefully I am able to clear things up for you, and encourage you to get out and get planting!
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[@husampilot]

My homeschooled son was motivated by your channel to do home gardening. He got addicted to this stuff and he does not spend much time on video games. Thank you!

[@CaliforniaCarpenter7]

Tell him to start growing dope and he can become a lil millionaire. A little boy is a hustle machine, he’ll work like no grown man can. Once he sees his first cube of hundred dollar bills he’ll be addicted 🙏💯

[@GL.cats123]

Same i am 9

[@awkwrdpenetratn209]

That's amazing and awesome. I'm hoping seeing me do it and involving my kids will get them very interested in it as well. They aren't in school yet. Start pre-school this fall.

[@OnSiteTrav]

That’s super awesome!

[@CollectiveConsciousness1111]

Your son should look up natural filtered swim ponds and bring all the animals in. Aqua scape Gardens, Atlantis Gradens here on KZbin. Birds and bees will fertilise plants and give these animals a home

[@jeromerondelalune8240]

Hi James, i'm french living in France. I bought a house in june and the backyard was a poor lawn over a granitic soil. The local waste collection is giving away the kind of wood chips you showed us. Only it is finer and blacker because it is a bit more decomposed. So, i covered my lawn with it, i transported i don't know how many trailer loads and covered it with a layer of horse manure. People here think i'm crazy. I have planted pear trees and apple trees and plum trees and blueberries, and a walnut tree.

[@seludelovato]

awesome sounds like you'll be having a lovely food forest soon :)

[@farajaraf]

U have a video?

[@nikosgrigorakos]

seludelovato Do you mean a lovely green forest full of marijuana plants ?

[@realrambo1]

I m French leaving in California , you don't have the termites problem that we have in the USA , not as bad , let the peoples call you crazy get more horse manure mix it with chicken manure and let it "ferment" in closed barrel , the following year use it as fertilizer , you will beat most other , you can also use some fish , with the time they will break down and if there are any seeds from weeds they will be killed , Here in the States I did found termites in my wood chips , nice to see them flying away and contaminate every single house which are all made of wood .

[@jeromerondelalune8240]

added an apricot tree and a cherry tree.

[@backyardplantlife3580]

Man you are awesome. You inspired me to start a food forest. Two years ago I planted pecan trees and pear trees. And I thought I was done. Now I have 26 fruit trees and I’m learning about interplanting. I started my food forest. I drive 30 minutes to shovel free mulch into my truck too. I’ve been doing it all week. No matter how hard, it doesn’t feel like work. Anything for my garden is not work. It’s love. Even if my back hurts. Anyway man thank you so much for all of your videos

[@DK-qx3lv]

In 2019 I tore out my grass and brought in 5 tons of tree mulch that was delivered right to my house (neighbors weren’t too happy😬). The mulch was laid thick (about 12 inches) around my rows and paths and I no longer have weed issues, no bug issues and see the hummus you showed. It totally transformed our yard into a beautiful space where I can grow nearly everywhere now. I highly recommend it. Be thankful and just do the work! You won’t regret it.

[@brusselsprout5851]

That takes guts!

[@rickershomesteadahobbyfarm3291]

My neighbor isn’t too happy about me putting down wood chips in my food forest either. I’m thinking about putting up a privacy fence so he can’t see it.

[@Vectures]

It's deff a lot of labor too! xD I got I think half a ton or one dump for my yard def see the benefits

[@brucewales5965]

@@rickershomesteadahobbyfarm3291plant vetiver.

[@Maria-jn4iw]

I watched this video two years ago when I lived in an apartment and now that we have a house I can do this! I can’t wait. This Dude is on point!

[@RelicofNod]

New subscriber, love your videos. I am a mycologist/biologist but have studied plants for the past 6 years, and I also find a ton of the educators are pushing false information, not just in gardening but in numerous fields. Nature has done it the way you described for millions of years with 100% success, the soil builds itself, the nutrients come naturally, the soil retains moisture, you invite hundreds of species of beneficial fungi and bacteria to your garden.

[@jamesprigioni]

Very cool. A mycologist/biologist, wow, you must know your stuff. It’s nice to hear that you work in that field but still have an appreciation for how perfect of a system nature is. We don’t need to fight it, just work with it. Thanks for your kind comment, and for being an advocate of the natural method 😁

[@RelicofNod]

Studying mycology and identifying 1000's of species of mushrooms had a way of showing me that each species of mushrooms tends to prefer growing with and around a certain species of trees(this symbiotic relationship is called mycorhiza), and when the tree dies another species of mushrooms that prefers that type of dead wood will move in and break down the wood, when the wood reaches a near-soil level of breakdown another species of mushroom that prefers rich soils will move in and break down the soil further until you're left with a nice rich black soil, like yours. Back when I had a stable place to live I was growing plants from large containers and inoculating the soil with live mushroom cultures, and harvesting veggies and mushrooms from the same container. You can do the same thing on the ground, but I had limited space. I have been trying so hard to afford a small piece of land to start a food forest and grow veggies. Thanks for the reply James, thanks for making great content that important for everyone to learn especially when it comes to sustainability.

[@michellearthurs6462]

Wow interesting

[@nancylucas8555]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge; Best wishes in finding your perfect property soon.

[@lisakukla459]

Justin Symbiosis Brosey Good luck getting your own property! Keep at it; you'll get there!!

[@JeffreyPillow]

This dude is a straight G. G for Gardener. Appreciate the info, dude.

[@jiva3497]

Gardening is my sanity. Other people don't get it. They think it is a chore.

[@Michele-bs6hb]

I hope you know how much you teach and inspire all of us. I am starting my first raised garden because of you and Tuck. Thanks again.

[@jamesprigioni]

❤️

[@stephaniefgeary]

I'm showing this to anyone who asks about wood chips - even my students when we learn about soil in grade 7 science in Alberta. We are starting a food forest, and are on our way to getting something like your garden, just in zone 3!

[@electedsphinx4086]

Building a food forest would be an amazing thing to have at every school to teach children young, the kids could even help build them for the experience too

[@annharlan8926]

James - You have inspired me to great things. I grew up outside Detroit and we gardened from Memorial to Labor Day. Now I live outside Charlotte, NC and the heat is killer. My tomatoes struggle because they get too dried out - it is too hard to keep up with the watering. Sometimes the tomatoes literally cook on the plants. Also, I'm 60 and don't have the energy that I had when I was 30. So...wood chips. Free from tree cutters in my subdivision. I'm growing cucumbers, melons, tomatoes, flowers, strawberries, apples, pears and persimmons - and it has never been easier. The first year I mixed them in - what a mistake! Now I know to layer on top - and I have the most beautiful and productive garden of my life. Thank you for your encouragement. You have been the best garden coach I have ever had. My parents and grandparents did not even know how to garden in wood chips. They taught me what they knew - but now I know better. If you ever get to Charlotte, NC - come see me and my garden. Tell Tuck I said "hi". Ann Harlan, Matthews, NC [e-mail]

[@alphaomega1008]

I thought I was the only one who said "I don't want a lawn", "a lawn isn't going to feed you"

[@samnikole1643]

Alpha Omega True! Its more economical to have a food forest

[@gladiatorakaz1zy421]

Alpha Omega , working on it ! My first year turning lawn into food forest , not for economy only but mostly for harmony and therapeutic activities

[@Anna-tc6rz]

@@gladiatorakaz1zy421 I turned my lawn into an aquaponics system. Will feed me and let me be lazy, plus I love the sound of running water

[@SW-zu7ve]

Grass is edible. Then people argue "human stomachs aren't made to blah blah blah". Amazing they don't know that's why we cook. Just think that is worth mentioning. I am also in the process of getting rid of my lawn. Growing other plants is a lot more interesting, fun, nice to look at and taste better. There is a local lady here who has been doing it for years. Spring her yard looks like desolate waste land. By mid summer it looks like a lush jungle and you can't even see the ground and it looks great.

[@Miele-x4b]

Alpha Omega I’ve been try to tell that to my husband for two years now since we bought our house

[@tashaowens4365]

I appreciate all the information. I am 33, planting my first garden and teaching myself over here so my kids will be wise! Thank You for all your help along the way!

[@r.d.crappiefishing5223]

Just want to say thank you so your advice because I did contact a local Tree Service and I got wood mulch for free

[@jamesprigioni]

Good stuff!! Glad to hear that my friend. Nothing like free resources delivered to you’re house lol. I love it

[@ad-rock603]

Same here!!

[@scottrobinson9694]

Just signed up for ChipDrop and marked where I want the Pile. Now I am going to wait. I plan to make one row of a no dig garden with my old piles of compost. The wood chips I am going to put everywhere I had bare soil.

[@ADaughterRedeemed]

It can take up to a month in my experience, but it was well worth it!

[@alankelly-hamm2702]

We built a house on a 2 acre lot two years ago. When the trees we had taken down were chipped we spread a thick layer over the area to get rid of the mud and tire ruts from the builders equipment. This week I was putting in some shrubs and I was amazed to find long healthy worms in every shovelful I dug up. The soil seems rich and dark and hold moisture. We just had another load of chipped wood brought in and are using it on dryer areas of the land. It also make a great ground cover for a woodland type of garden. Thanks for this video.

[@senlongp]

You have inspired me to start a food forest! Great job from Nigeria 🇳🇬

[@vito7pt]

Senlong T 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

[@lisakukla459]

How is your food forest coming along??

[@JustTheBasicsJS]

I long to have a garden of my own someday...my heart aches for it... seeing your garden and learning how you do your soil is the closest thing I get to the real thing, and it gives me hope. Thanks for sharing the information.

[@RaymondYocum-uw5hd]

I had wood chips in the backyard. It takes about three years to break down 👍

[@vernongeorge7789]

I had just started growing a few herbs in my yard and then wanted to know more about house plants so I'm researching I stumbled upon you and this channel is changing my life. Im binge watching your progress. You are such an inspiration man.

[@ZukoTheShinigami]

Im in college now. Stress is getting 2 me but my hopes of one day owning my own food forest is one the few things keeping me going!

[@jamesprigioni]

+Zachariah H. I have been where you are brother and I feel for you. Stay strong and do your best to grind through it. Don’t quit and you will not regret it. It’s all about investing. You need to invest some time at school now so you can love your dream in the future. You need to design your future like you design your food forest though, meticulously planned out. It’s great you have come to gardening and Permaculture so young though, we need people like you for our future!

[@jackiee7921]

Same! I'm trying to start where I can now. I've been planting things in my parents backyard. I also know there's a community garden at my university so I'm hoping to become involved in that (I'm transferring schools in January). It still doesn't always feel like enough since I'd rather be outside doing something than doing homework.

[@kitsurubami]

I was also where you are now. I've been out of college for about 4 years now and i bought my house about a month ago. I've planted around 30 pioneer trees for the beginning of my backyard food forest. Each time I work in my backyard i am left exhausted, with plenty of injuries, but i love it! Right now i am planting radish seeds around my trees to help build the soil. Next weekend it will be bluebonnet and wildflower seeds around where the radish seeds are. I hated college, but if you're anything like me, it gets so much better :) goodluck!

[@dustman96]

Stay strong, you'll get there! Keep the dream alive!

[@ericaawake9503]

kitsurubami you are right. They don't want us to learn anything about farming because F. Monsanto wants everybody to plant GMO. Not to mention the toxic spray ..

[@SymbioGaian]

Thanks for the myth-busting bro. Much appreciated. Keep up the great work. You're helping to inspire a generation of gardeners who need this kind of candid exposé to clearly see the good, the bad, and the ugly of modern gardening practices.

[@jamesprigioni]

🙏🏻❤️

[@meowunboxing6919]

I think you meant to say, "mulch appreciated".

[@mlovestx10]

Greetings from southeast Texas. I put wood chips on the ground around my trees and on paths, also covering my raised beds. Vegetables are growing so well and taste delicious...dirt is rich black, nutrient dense. Wood chips are amazing!

[@pattysherwood7091]

Hi James, I am in New Hampshire. I just had a crew remove two monster pine trees from my back yard that were scaring me every day. I am smiling so much to go out to tend my goats and ducks and chickens without that feeling of impending doom over my head. I have two mountains of pine wood chips and seven big logs now. I think they are a great air freshener, besides all their other uses. Happy Thanksgiving. Thanks for the great advice and encouragement.

[@michaelc2509]

I till wood shavings and composed manure into my clay loam soil. This years garden is fantastic.

[@dankruesi4105]

Your videos have a strong habit of invoking within me an intense desire to conquer a garden as beautiful and unflagging as yours!

[@ToTheSummitkicksass]

i'm surprised nobody talks about how destructive bare soil can be, i've heard of peope getting spotty germination because of topsoil drying, but It's silly because instead of watering more they should be protecting the sensitive microbes from uv

[@Dovey62]

Travis Vick Partly what caused the Great Dustbowl!

[@rustynail201]

Good job, you opened my mind to something that we all forgot. Centuries ago when humans started cultivating the earth it was done one way, the old natural way and us humans need to revisit that. We have gotten lazy and spoiled, not to mention brainwashed by big business and marketing. We are not doing things for ourselves anymore and we're not benefiting.

[@jesuschristislordoflordsan427]

i believe there are evil ones pushing the lazy-methods so that they can poision us, control us more and more, and make us submissive

[@mangeload]

@Mara A whats a t.v?

[@stylicho]

You mean millennia ago

[@zachczarneski6557]

Great work. A small tip to make your work load less. line your truck bed with a tarp and load the chips into it. the you can back up to were you want them and just pull the whole tarp out and rake them into place. you could maybe do a couple of tarps and be able to pull a wheelbarrow load at a time. Love your channel, keep up the good work.

[@RaymondYocum-uw5hd]

Zach Czarneski great idea!

[@ddd3240]

Zach Czarneski tie a couple tennis balls at the corners of the tarp. Double the tarp up. The grommets will pull out if it’s wet and heavy.

[@rwind656]

Harbor Freight has a tarp on a winch that hooks to the tailgate of a truck. Works this way.

[@kathyjacques2688]

A big piece of cardboard is even better cos you can do lasagna gardening with it

[@denisecomeau6847]

the tarp thing definitely works. we also bought "The Load Handler". easy attach on the back of our pick-up, the tarp thing is attached to a handle, turn the handle and dumps the load-cost was about $100 and we've had ours for about 8 yrs,works well.

[@oliviahill174]

Hey Mr. James, I've found this old video, and I am so grateful to you for teaching, and encouraging me to garden and grow my own food forest. Blessings always. ♡

[@lorettajoy7275]

What a beautiful video in so many ways! I have been sold on the idea of using woodchips as part of my new permaculture garden and yard orchard. I contacted a tree service, asking for woodchips, and he told me they could deliver in the spring but that i was welcome to get from the piles behind his business. When i got there only 2 minutes from my home, i found large piles of mostly very dark decomposed compost with some wood pieces in it. It looks similar to what is sold as compost. I have gotten six loads of approximately 700 pounds each in my Pathfinder by filling plastic bags and large buckets and stacking in my vehicle. There is another location where i've gotten two large loads of a mix of chopped up grass, leaves, and pecans/shells. It's partially composted. Now i have three permaculture beds resting until spring, and have many small fruit trees planted in the yard, and rooting in the house. Someone sent me nearly forty fig cuttings and i am also starting pear, plum and apple cuttings. Pawpaw and other trees are on the way. I also realized that my land extends way beyond a cliff/slope off the back yard area and there are trees and stream down below. If i install stairs, path, and a few more stairs, all that land could be turned into a beautiful food forest also, instead of basically being wasted. Thank you for your information, inspiration, and sharing your gardens with us. I love Tuck

[@robertlampert4407]

I mulched my whole front yard a couple years ago. This year aside from more wood chips, I'm going to cultivate & introduce King Stropharia mushrooms to speed up the decomposition process.

[@Meta-Drew]

I have to take my wood chips where I can get them, and sometimes I can only get wood and bark - whenever I bring in new wood chips I brew a compost tea, filter it and then apply it to the new chips with a hose mixer sprayer to inoculate them with all of the beneficial microbes and help them to start breaking down faster

[@adamschneider5305]

No matter how experienced or novice it is always important to explain arobic and anarobic. I noticed you pointed that out in this video and some of the others assume that people know these things. Good Man, good thinking !!!!

[@timjones5109]

I've been in the tree business for about 3 years I have had wood chips on my property for 3 years I have never seen a Termite in any pile of wood ships it's really ridiculous. I agree with absolutely everything you have said in this video and there's evidence to prove it thank you so much for caring And what you do I'm learning so much. Really great to see somebody He works hard for himself in his family How much enjoy you get out of it and encourages me. GOD bless

[@JoMU0511]

Tim Jones I’ve got termites in mine. But this area is really bad for them.

[@miklovelka2957]

Question...If I had my tree stump grinded down, can i leave the grindings or will grass not grow?

[@debbiewilliams8727]

Wow! Love this video! Who knew I would get so interested in all this at this late stage of life. So fun! Keep on with teaching us how to be natural and producing great food! Grandma D.

[@libbyjensen1858]

Beautiful explanation, thank you! I just started experimenting with wood mulch last summer-I'm so pleased with the results I'm slowing incorporating them into several different areas of my yard (my husband isn't on board with a food forest-yet!). This video was VERY helpful for me--it gave me great direction for my next collection of wood chips (I live on the border of two cities, both of which have MOUNDS of free wood mulch for the taking. Now I know which part of the mound to look for!). Can't wait for your newest videos coming out this spring and summer!

[@burritosburritos]

Here's a thing I've noticed since I started applying woodchips 1.5 years ago. When it rains, I don't see any worms come out of the soil anymore. They used to come out by the tons. Someone told me they came out to mate. I suspect they came out cause they were drowning in compacted soil. They'd crawl out by the thousands, dry out or get stepped on on the unforgiving cement. Never see that anymore since they have the cover of woodchip mulch.

[@castleofcostamesa8291]

J L same here. I wonder what is really going on. I hope my earthworms are still around!

[@kenbellchambers4577]

Rest assured, the worms adore woodchips. The reason that you do not see them is that they do not have to come all of the way to the surface due to the good drainage caused by the porosity of the chips. Even in heavy rain, woodchips drain well. This does not apply in flooding of course, but wood chips still help in avoiding soil disturbance even in quite heavy weather.

[@mangeload]

Invasive Canadian night crawlers have infiltrated our neighborhoods, which is causing the local redworm populations to suffer, which are the worms we want whose casings are an invaluable organic fertilizer.

[@claires9100]

Interesting. I never thought of that.

[@johnthomas9724]

James i like you speaking out addressing wrong information that's out there concerning gardening.. You Go and Tuck is right there with you ..❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@lovelyrainflowerfarm]

Best explanation I’ve found for permaculture. Now I know how to manipulate the variables to my needs for amending my soil.

[@johnnygibson9835]

First let me say that I love using wood chips. Having said this I am also an exterminator and have owned my own exterminating company for about 13 years. I also practices vermacomposting as well, and see all the benefits of most garden insect go figure. The truth is that termites are a blind and social insect, when a new colony starts they spiral out from the point of the new colonies origin looking for cellulose in the soil. I know that they in fact can detect compost in and on the soil from my own testing of various termite bait station baits and attractants. Having said this termites are an extremely beneficial insect over all because of how they beak down wood of all kinds. So if you don't have a lot of space between your home and your wood chip garden I wood recommend not worrying about it. If is close to the home there is also nothing to really worry about if you have an organic/green termite baiting solution and there are several to choose from. Fun fact about termites is they are the largest producer of carbon monoxide in the world over. Cows are #2 no pun intended. Be Blessed

[@corneliusfuller5978]

As a Home Inspector I read termites help the breakdown of of organic matter like wood... it's just not cool to have it too close to the structure of your home.

[@0900McShizzle]

I think you mean carbon dioxide, not monoxide.... two different gases

[@stephenkeebler732]

Methane, CH4...

[@xxpowwowbluexx]

I’d really like to use Paul Stamets’ method of using entomopathogenic fungi to kill termite colonies in and around the home and keep them from coming back. Can’t wait for it to become available. fungi.com/blogs/articles/mycopesticide-update

[@luzdeluna7386]

I am replacing my grass with wood chips.. I live in Florida so i am in zone 9, with sandy soil.. however when I planted our avocados trees we used wood chips around the base with home made compost, well this year we got over 400 avocados from one tree alone! The hass avocado gave us about 200 and the butter avocado about 50, but the avocados were about 3 to 5 lbs each ! Bigger than a cantaloupe.. why our trees did so good in a sand soil? Because we used heavy wood chips and home made compost .. lots of love, so, yes, I am turning my small backyard into my own private forest. God bless

[@camilledvorak7151]

Wow

[@joshuafuhriman8657]

Hell ya!!! 400 or 500 more of those and you could have a nice little business going. Well done!

[@luzdeluna7386]

joshua fuhriman I do have a lil something going on with a local nursery and whoever wants to buy what I grow, mangos, avocados, loquats, chiya, custard apple trees and many other plants I grow myself. Keeps me busy and I love doing it. Stay blessed and safe 🐝

[@angelawierda760]

🤗

[@NarrowPathDiaries]

I’m so glad I finally found someone that thinks the same as I do about raking up leaves & then needing to buy Scott’s Turf builder in the spring! I’ve always thought that was stupid

[@chantaltulliez8066]

Hi James, I have encountered all the negative comments that you are speaking about each time I mention that I am going to grow a food forest on woodchips...so thank you for explaining but especially showing that it can be done...you are my inspiration ...love to you and Tuckie...

[@Mote78]

I live near Raleigh, NC. Yes I’ve seen termites in wood mulch numerous times. That’s why I don’t have wood mulch nor shrubs near my house. I removed it and replaced it with large river stone about 20 years ago. That reduced my insect problem. Wood mulch around gardens and flower beds id fine but I won’t go back to putting it around my house.

[@christophergrant2291]

I just use chips from tree removal companies needing a place to drop them...thanks for the inspiration about the food forest, now considering designing one for myself...great videos

[@pacificpermaculture]

Well spoken ! ! Growing food is less work than maintaining a lawn ! !

[@jamesprigioni]

+Pacific Permaculture thanks! Yup, and more fun 😂

[@kylestan2250]

That is a false statement. To keep a nice lawn the trick is to cut at right height at right time and weeds and such will not thrive, many people over cut over water and over treat. Gardening requires and oversight to physically remove pest as weeds and insects.and that is after tilling for a new seed bed. Growing food can be satisfying because applied hard work will result in a decent harvest.

[@mamat8832]

Great video. We put wood chips on half of our large garden last year and the results were incredible. We didn't have to water that area and weeding was easy. We were so impressed that we covered the entire garden in wood chips in preparation for next year's garden season.

[@Stuuudio2]

You always make the best and most valuable content. You motivated me to start my food forest project 3 years ago, and here I am still watching your channel to grow and learn. I love it! Keep on making great content!

[@The_Garden_Cat]

Thank you so much for this video I've been getting wood chips from my local dump too but I was always composting them to use in my raised beds. Never wanted to use wood chip much because of the termite scare but this video was very helpful I have termites in my yard without the wood chips so like you said it's not the wood chips that attract the termites it's cool damp materials!! Love watching your videos!! God bless

[@irishpixierose]

Thanks, you answered a couple questions for us. 1. Can you compost pine needles & 2. Wood chips & termites.

[@starsister4420]

Wow, best video I have seen yet. Iam new to planting and growing. Your video taught me a lot. And the music was absolutely beautiful. I have a home now for the first time in 56 yrs. I want to plant a garden my own garden. I noticed that my soil is pretty much 100% clay. So I'm looking for tips and how to grow in my type of soil. Your video was amazing and you look like a pretty amazing person as well. Thank you for your time your knowledge and your heart centered truth.

[@fukyoindigoblossoming5087]

Check out how to amend clay soil by Rainbow Gardens. I think theres another in the NW oregon? Thats really good maybe ehow soil? Another woman who has been working the clay for years. Its a job. And clay is clay but gypsum helps. Sand only does so much and mulch mulch mulch...

[@camilledvorak7151]

I have chickens and make them bedding with a crosscut shredder. But I shredded everything and mulched with it before that. Epsom on your walkways in winter is better than any de-icing salt.

[@SevenSproutsFarmstead]

Hey James! Here's a tip I use when I go get my woodchips: Lay a tarp down in your truck so when you get to the end of emptying your truck, you can just slide the remainders out and the bed stays pretty clean. Makes it easier in my opinion anyway. I just changed my KZbin name bc I'm starting my own channel. It was previously XxJennRNxX. Maybe you recognize that name. Anyway, thanks for sharing Jenn Stone Seven Sprouts Farmstead GA

[@ncgolfer99]

Hi James, you have inspired me to grow fruits instead of grass. Why don’t more people replace the builder planted junk trees with fruit trees? There is a taboo about growing food in the upscale neighborhoods and it is all wrong. People are just too worried about what others will think instead of connecting with nature. We should all grow some fruit trees.

[@ChocolateBoxCottage]

Another great video. Thanks for addressing the common arguments against wood chips in the garden. You explained away each of those misunderstandings clearly. I appreciate the work you are doing and sharing with all of us. Thanks so much. ~Michele

[@Hands2HealNow]

Hope you address some of the diseases that have harmed large trees and if the wood chips from felled diseased trees are ever safe to use as mulch.

[@sherriianiro747]

Yes they do - there is a forest near me that was completely wiped out in less than a decade due to wood chips from diseased and chemical laden trees. The causes were emerald ash borer and verticillium wilt from chips being piled on too deep & not aged according to the arborist. I guess the moral of the story is just because it's free you still have to be careful!

[@alexriddles492]

In my orchard I use a wood chip mulch. Also I innoculate it with mushroom spawn. This causes the wood chips to break down faster. As a bonus I get a few mushrooms to eat. I am using King Stropharia spawn to do this.

[@scottdaunhauer2453]

alex riddles GREAT information! Thanks.

[@Jean-vz8co]

Sauf qu'il y a des trucs!!!!... l'un s'appelle le pouridié.... champignon qui ronge les racines des arbres vivants!!!... l'autres s'appelle acidité!!!... et un troisième appelé les termites!!!... la suite au prochain numéro!!!. By

[@mangeload]

SHROOMS got legalized in Oakland today! And Denver last month! Time to update your garden maybe?

[@cr500ridr]

James excellent presentation and narrative sir .God bless you for sharing this information and setting the record straight !I love what wood chips are doing to my lil Back To Eden project on my property .

[@jamesprigioni]

Thank you my friend!! I’m glad to hear you are using the Back to Eden style also. God Bless!! 😁

[@ezwayocho8296]

Thank you! My neighbor is a woodworker & his shop is in his garage. I'm gonna ask him what he does with his sawdust & wood chips😁👍

[@WakanFarm]

I have 3.5 acres of land and this year I talked to the tree service down the road. They are going to bring me as many wood chips as I want. So far I have covered my front yard and installed garden beds. Next will be my landscaping. I don’t like mowing 😁

[@joannawilson544]

This was great. I know the amazing soil wood chips produce as once I made a huge shade garden for my parents and after returning much later I found the riches soil that yard ha ever experienced! You put it very well. Everything you said explained the process so well and was just reasonable common sense. Thank you for this video! I am SO glad to have found it.

[@jamesclancy1645]

Joanna Wilson ii

[@jessicawhipp5147]

Bro, love you so much. You've really inspired us. Infinite appreciation!

[@wytwabit]

James, I learned a lot in this video. Thanks for the education! (BTW, my grandma lived in Long Branch, and I looked forward to visiting the beach in the summer about 60-some years ago.) I plan to "go easy" on the gardening work by layering and not tilling. The more I learn about this, the more sense it makes. Free stuff also makes sense on a fixed income :)

[@DukeofBabes]

Thank You for the great videos. I am in the second year of using homemade compost which I have kept free of diseased vegetable matter and screen it when it is ready. After I remedied my PH problems my plants are happy and last year I had a bumper crop of 30 tomatoes (previous endeavors netted me 3 or 4). Thanks to your valuable information videos, I am an informed gardener and feel more confident. I strive to grow without chemicals and factory farm ingredients. Just because it says organic it probably isn't. I read labels now.

[@Cooky00123]

I went to the dump to get wood chips once, I got all kinds of weeds growing in my gardens, things I never saw before. Never again.

[@lunanorth]

Brilliant and so helpful, going to pick up my first wood chip load this week and begin a permaculture garden here in the UK

[@mechelleolson4938]

Another great video, I decided I am going to put wood chips down instead of the straw I was going to use. Need to find out who in town has the right type of woodchips. I wanted to ask you what is the name of the other little dog that looks like Tuck? Is it a sister or brother or mother or father? Tuck is so cute!!! You need to make a t-shirt with him in the food forest with a carrot or cucumber in his mouth!😁Thank you again for another great video.

[@Serel25]

I think he called her Tiny 💛

[@kennethcowey6082]

Hi James, I was in two minds whether to wood chip mulch or not, but after watching your video I'm in no doubt what to do. Love your videos. Keep up the good work. From down under Australia.

[@aliciaspears7847]

Awww, sweet little Tuck eating his carrots ! What a good boy. My big dog loves carrots too and people usually look at me crazy when I say that. Glad my boy isn't the only one !

[@AlternativeHomesteading]

Love your channel! I moved from New Jersey a couple of months ago to Kentucky. I lived in New Jersey for 30 years, and of those 30 years used cedar wood chips in every flower and garden bed. Loved it. Never had a termite, it deterred insects and bugs it stayed dry and it looked beautiful and the plants were happy and healthy. It cost a bunch in individual bags and less if a load was dropped on the driveway. Keep up the good work. I appreciate the knowledge you so generously offered. I

[@pinam27]

I love your show! All this time I've been mixing it in to the soil, thanks for the tip!

[@dennisst.germaine3497]

James, I am a first time viewer and really like your content and honest style of your message. I like the fact that you are living and doing a homestead lifestyle with what you have! No farm machinery or acreage of land, just making it work with what you've got in the middle of 'suburbia'. One the 'Comments' was about getting in with having companies just drop their ground up tree clippings.....I like your style of keeping your control over what, where, and how much material gets 'dumped' on your property! Part of this type of lifestyle is to work your body in sync with growing your food, a little 'sweat equity' makes for personal satisfaction added to the accomplishment of growing your own food. I have to admit to having 'climate envy' New Jersey is truly 'the garden state'!

[@jamesprigioni]

Awesome, thanks Dennis! One of the reasons I started doing it just where I am now was because Joel Salatin inspired in his book "You Can Farm." Thats basically what he said just get started now do whatever you can, it doesn't matter how small it is. Cause when we are faithful with little, more will be given to us. Your absolutely right about the sweat and little bit of work. I think exercise is very important. And it makes more sense to get exercise while growing your own food, rather then lifting weights at a gym. Just my opinion though. Yeah Jersey is nice. I call it the garden state with no gardens though lol. Not many gardens anymore, but I'm hoping for a resurgence. The food is getting so bad people have to start noticing soon. Who knows though, its so gradual its like slowly boiling a frog lol

[@dennisst.germaine3497]

Originally from Southeastern MA, we moved to Southeastern NH in my early teens and have been here ever since. The 'Garden State' comment shows my age. lol Southern NJ used to be the 'truck farms' of NYC, those garden farms use to produce some serious veggies.

[@dennisst.germaine3497]

Karen~Where are you hailing from? My siblings and I are first generation Americans, my parents were Canadians and became citizens at a very early age during the depression. A lot of French Canadians (and Scotch/Irish Canadians) settled from Canada in the industrial Northeast at the later part of the 19th century and well into the 20th century. I don't know for sure, it is believed the border agents in Maine added the 'E' on the end of the last name. I believe anyone with that spelling is a close relative. Where is your family from? James I apologize for using your channel as some sort of 'genealogy search engine' but it kinda just happened.?

[@dennisst.germaine3497]

Yes we are Karen, Amen to that!

[@amtowifarm8978]

Hi James I have just started using wood chips. As I live a long way out of town I can’t get tree loppers to deliver. My only option is to buy chips at $40m2. It is great your local recycling centre gives this resource away.

[@13c11a]

Your videos are inspiring and highly instructive. I appreciate having a mentor and I enjoy your explanations of what/why you do things as you do. Incidentally, the correct old English expression is "The proof of the pudding is in he tasting (or "in the eating")." Puddings of that era were made of meat, like Christmas puddings. Bon appetite!

[@glennporter2590]

Blow’n in the wind as you drive home. Bring a tarp. Spread it in the box and shovel into the tarp. Use the outer edges to cover your load. Voila! Nothing lost, everything gained, no sweeping.

[@UniCarCycles]

I started my own backyard forest last year because of your inspiring and teaching videos. Thank you!

[@ZippyCoheny]

These are the best and most enjoyable videos I have seen on Facebook. I wish there were more trees in South Texas. I am still buying my mulch at Lowes.

[@camilledvorak7151]

Invest in a crosscut shredder. Paper is still wood deep down.

[@lilymcmillan7004]

You are a plethora of information. 🌞 Love all that info !! 🌲 THANKYOU !! 🌿

[@jamesprigioni]

Thank you Lilly!! I’m glad you enjoyed it 😁👍

[@macmurfy2jka]

Shoutout from New Jersey! Hello from Clifton. Container gardener here. Keep up the good work.

[@jamesprigioni]

Hey!!! I love local growers. You must be good, because I think container gardening is harder then in the ground 👍😁

[@macmurfy2jka]

well, i can tell you that tomatoes and herbs love it. Never has my tomatoes looked better. if it wasnt for that one dear, last year, letuce would have been another one too. It's all about finding what plants work with you and leaving the rest. top tip: Never plant mint, parsley, strawberries, or asparagus in anything other than a pot. They take very your garden otherwise. spread through the roots in a tenacious way. onions can be problematic too.

[@ByDesign333]

macmurfy2jka thanx for that!

[@SwahiliSpicE]

James, you make gardening look so cool. Don't get me wrong, I love gardening, but you add a fresh and edgy element to it. Love it!

[@makerofthings]

I wanted to take a moment to appreciate you. Unsung heros are common but your song deserves limelight. Also you're remarkably handsome. Have a good day and thanks dude.

[@peterskove3476]

Wow, thank you, This must get a prize for the most usable information in the shortest amount of time, so you’re my go to now.

[@dylancan69]

"Back to Eden" farm tour ....you're welcome

[@dylancan69]

And Jah bless

[@lsncuddy]

There’s a baby Tuck!!! Tell us about him/her. I’m really going to try wood chip gardening next year. Can’t start this year because of storage trailer in my yard. I’m really looking forward to it. Thanks, James for all these great videos.

[@johnsoileau5753]

Thank you for the video with plain common sense explanations.

[@markrich473]

Spot on. I just got my first load of chips delivered by a local tree trimmer and can't wait to get more.

[@TheHenryDonald]

i love chips

[@rickparshall]

I have been using wood chips for a long time.. I have a buddy down the street from us that does treework and has a huge mulch pile, most people want the nice fresh stuff for their flowerbeds... lol I tell him to load from the back of the pile and give me the most broken down rotten stuff he can find.. it's usually steaming when he dumps it, he's happy because he has lots of it and I am happy cause it's mostly decomposed! I mix it with my compost(in layers)and love what it does for my gardens!

[@eileendonegan2824]

I wish I had known this over 40 years ago when my ex and I had a huge garden. The soil was hard clay. We grew veggies but not as many as if we had followed your directions. I now live in the city but still have gardens, mostly flowers and several tomatoes. This is the first year I have gotten into composting. I have one anaerobic pile going and was going to start a hot compost pile at the back of the lot which is a lot of work. I just watched your video and thought why not do it the natural way. I will layer it like you taught us how to do it. I have the basics down but still have a lot to learn. I don't have a lot of browns so will call the coffee roaster and see if I can get some chaff. I will also call our tree cutting company and get some chips from. Can't wait to get going! I don't need the compost until next spring so I have plenty of time for everything to break down. Thanks for all the wonderful info!

[@josephrichardson4678]

"A lawn's not gonna feed you" that's mine now. 😉

[@VaughnMalecki]

It's chipdrop.in not dot com. I've gotten 2 loads in the last 2 and a half years being signed up. It's a rental home so I can't get too crazy. I was also able to share the gold with my mom who has a little trailer and picked a couple small loads up from my house. Don't forget to mention stray and hay work well too if someone can't get a hold of wood chips. 😀 Keep doing what you do!

[@jamesprigioni]

Thanks brother. Love that, sharing the wealth!

[@waynesweeting2748]

Don't deliver in France :(

[@camilledvorak7151]

Thanks for the link!

[@89765209]

You have inspired me to start a food forest. I have currently covered 500 square feet with free mulch from the landfill. I’m on my way to cover a quarter acre. 👍

[@enriqueespada9257]

Very interesting and informative, bought a small wood chipper and plan to use it on my garden and around my trees.

[@ignacio5283]

Great stuff man, love your passion simplicity and honesty. Do you have any videos showing how you prepare and plant your forest, trees veggies etc.?

[@lisakukla459]

Yes, he has a series on how to start. I believe it's 7 parts, and it's fantastic. Hop over to the playlist tab and you'll see it there. He's also shown the process when he gets new bare-root trees. I'd put a link here if I had one ready. I'm sure it's searchable, though. I hope this helps!

[@sueleigh1181]

So glad I found you--you really know what you're talking about! New sub!

[@Growyourheirlooms]

I've been using wood chip mulch for years. When I mention it to people, the first mistake they make is in thinking it is the same as bark. I never use bark as mulch.

[@jamesprigioni]

Nice! So then you know how great it works. Nope, gotta have the leaves, the sticks, the twigs, needles, etc. glad to hear your doing mulch the right way and spreading the message 😁

[@alanokeeffe2205]

Grow Your Heirlooms with

[@oliverclaffey5186]

I used wood chip in the bottom of my buckets and soil/peat mix on tomatoes this year. The tomatoes tasted really sweet. I emptied them yesterday and the chip is breaking down easily. Added to compost pile after. Glad someone else likes mixed wood chip. I chip it as fine as possible. Thanks for the info.

[@christycoalson36]

You have taught me so much thank you I appreciate all your videos. "Side note" Who is Tuck's little friend?

[@riverunner9978]

First section of the food forest went in today! Excitement in the neighborhood! I have all winter to watch your videos . I’ll select fruit trees, berries, and more. I’m psyched. Thank you for making this simply, uncomplicated!

[@Lilacstitcher]

Good work brother. Love your music selection too. From Australia 🇦🇺

[@jamesprigioni]

Thank you my friend from down under 😁

[@byronbyron864]

I asked the guys that were trimming the trees on the side of the road for the power company....And they're more than happy to dumping all The truck loads I Wanted......

[@jamesprigioni]

BRILLIANT! That’s the way to do it. Sometimes you just need to put yourself out there to find it

[@camilledvorak7151]

I've been calling my power company for over a year. They keep saying they will bring some but no one ever shows up. 😢

[@GabrielMaldonado4th]

Chipdrop has been a god-send! The chickens love it as bedding as well. :)

[@jamesprigioni]

Nice!! Whoever thought of it was smart. Yeah they do, I use it sometimes also 😁

[@chantaltulliez8066]

Brilliant James. I live in Australia and I am following your example. It makes so much good sense. I really enjoy your channel. Thank you so much for the great information you are sharing with us. Keep up the good work

[@MySuewho]

So grateful for your channel! I've been telling people for years that their lawn won't feed them. Was grateful that recently (unfortunately though due to covid virus) people have become interested in gardening vs having s nice lawn.