Why Chop & Drop Is a NO DIG Must!

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I want to explore in more detail about the role that the permaculture gardening technique of chop and drop can play in a no dig garden. In this video, I share why chop and drop works, and provide context and examples to back this up. I honestly think that chop and drop is one of the most useful techniques available for improving soil health and fertility in our raised beds in the vegetable garden. And the best thing is that unlike waiting for compost to break down, you can do chop and drop whenever suits you!
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Intro 0:00
What is Chop and Drop? 0:28
The Link with Nature 0:54
Why Organic Matter is Amazing 1:29
The Change a 1% Would Make 1:51
The Plant Material Needed 2:12
Organic Matter & No Dig 2:41
How to Utilize Chop & Drop 3:53
Fundamental 1 4:25
Fundamental 2 4:52
Let's chat slugs 5:17
Chop & Drop at Harvest 5:39
What about just composting everything? 6:16
CRUCIAL Last Tip 7:04

[@HuwRichards]

Just a super quick note to say my new book The Vegetable Grower's Handbook is available for pre-order. More details in the New Year🌱 geni.us/Veg-Grower-Handbook

[@TiptonSamurai]

Will this be making it to the kindle version too? or just the hardcover?

[@Anonymous-km5pj]

God bless you, thank you.

[@elzje]

I'd love to buy it as eBook.

[@jessicajarvis5692]

Just pre ordered mine now, looking forward to it

[@gunsofaugust1971]

If you are looking for gardening videos on KZbin; look no further. This channel is top three (out of a serious glut). Always concise, well-produced, good info, and actually inspirational. Please keep it up, and thanks for the content

[@HuwRichards]

Thanks Scott, that's extremely kind of you!🙏🌱

[@troymcneill8292]

What are the other two ?

[@gunsofaugust1971]

@@troymcneill8292 I like Grow Veg, and Jag Daisy Creek Farm.

[@gunsofaugust1971]

@Ryan Biedenbach I agree. Both have great info and have charismatic presenters. Why I don't put them at the top is; Self-sufficient me is in some paradise (NZ?), so a lot of what he presents doesn't apply to me here in New England. I use him for infrastructure ideas. MI Gardner would be amazing but he needs an editor; big time. Not to come across as impatient, but a lot of his 13-minute videos could be 5. He tends to ramble a bit. I know that I am looking gift-horses in the mouth; I appreciate all the effort these creators put into these.

[@killjoyredux8361]

@@gunsofaugust1971 no SSM is in Queensland - Australia. Much warmer subtropical climate than anywhere here in NZ, even Northland, so he can grow all sorts.

[@molk7447]

I’ve been in the process of filling/flipping the raised beds in my parents house. In 2019 my dad built two, shady and to the side raised beds and filled them with topsoil, rocks, sand, whatever he could grab. Then spent a lot of money on wildflower seeds which… didn’t grow at all. So the following year my mum and myself bought bagged compost and dug it into the ground and had moderate success (none of the seeds we added grew, but I figured that it’s better where we are to grow wildflowers in pots then transplant them and they take over the whole garden). 2021 has been the best year so far. I’m following no dig, chop and drop and focusing on kind of mulch composting (I mix leaves and grass clippings together on top of the soil, about 10cm tall and turn it once a week) and it’s been amazing. Worms, mushrooms, nettles have all returned to the garden (I think the person who owned the house before my parents may have sprayed the whole garden with a herbicide so it has been a nightmare to grow anything). I’ve also taken over a corner as an in ground bed, and a tiny 30cm wide edge of the front garden. (I’m 17, in school so that’s why I’ve been in their space. I do grow anything they want me to though, and they love how fresh things are). Excited to see what 2022 brings us!

[@lifelovelettuce]

I can't tell you how much it gladdens my heart to hear that you've been working in the garden with your parents. I gardened with my Dad (here in New Zealand) when I was young and it instilled a life-long love of the garden. I hope your 2022 season is wonderful and that you're enjoying the shorter nights and looking forward to browsing the seed catalogues. It's the beginning of summer here in New Zealand. I was just out in the garden this morning (releasing the chooks...) and the baby apples & pears are beginning to show on the trees. It's a busy time here, but it's lovely to see what's happening on the other side of the world. Love & lettuce, Toni :)

[@melissab8500]

That's really inspiring, I wish you all the best on your journey

[@andersonomo597]

You've put a smile on my face! Wonderful to hear from young people getting into gardening - it's a life long skill with so many benefits. Keep at it, keep learning, enjoy the successes and don't let the odd problem get you down! Cheers from Australia!

[@Anonymous-km5pj]

God bless you, your family, garden and home.

[@FrikInCasualMode]

Have fun gardening :) And don't be afraid to try new methods - like adding biochar or starting a vermiculture container. Even composting can be a creative endeavor LOL

[@gardentours]

My neighbors were first wondering and in a way complaining that I leave plant material on the ground. Now they see how nice my plants are growing and they wanted to know more about it so that they can do it as well 😉

[@LauraMartinez-lb4gi]

I ripped out the roots of my very 1st tomato plant and my flowers, and immediately noticed that I pulled out some worms with them. Never thought to just leave roots in to die and rot where they stand. Would have been much easier for me and I would have left the worms and bacteria in peace in there homes. I will do next time. This was great advice!

[@TheRainHarvester]

Idk, others say remove it because of diseases/wilt etc.

[@angbairdab]

Pom, living in NZ, been using chop n drop for many years, it returns the nutrients, also protects the soil from drying out. Agree with just chopping off and leaving the roots where they are, especially as I always have very closely planted crops. By the time I'm removing something there are other roots/plants i don't want to disturb or pull up. However, agreed if there is rust or disease, take the whole thing out and destroy or get it off the property. Leaving the root of some plants can also produce a small regrowth crop e.g. brassica etc (freebies)

[@winstonsmiths2449]

It was a DUH moment for me when he mentioned that! Of course you leave the roots

[@winstonsmiths2449]

@@TheRainHarvester Exceptions to every rule?

[@ohio_gardener]

I have used chop-and-drop for many years, and the soil has greatly benefited from it. Not only does it return organic matter to the soil, but it keeps the soil covered to help protect it from the elements.

[@stevehiggins1263]

Makes me laugh when you see people clearing leaves off the beds this time of year then a week later applying mulch they have purchased lol.

[@gardentours]

Isn't that crazy?

[@mom24boybarians]

I have been strategically watching your videos, Huw, when my husband is in the room. In the past, he has been reluctant to try new methods of gardening (he's sees it more like small-scale farming like he was raised around). He also likes a tidy garden. However, he is coming around!! :) Because you give the "why" along with the "how" as well as what to expect, he has been considering many of your methods. Also, seeing how great your gardens look, lush, in progress, neat, practical, has showed him we could use these methods and still have a pleasant looking area. Thanks so much!

[@HuwRichards]

Brilliant! You're welcome. I'm so glad my videos are proving helpful.

[@DonostiGros]

So glad to see this. I'm self taught and have been doing this out of instinct for a long time. I once read trees get 70% of their nutrients from their own leaves, which made me think about how plants work in general.

[@izzywizzy2361]

Great to see you emphasising again the need to focus on soil health for a healthy eco-system.

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you so much Izzy!:)

[@annamaclennan8125]

Think Greta Thunberg should take heed!!

[@karenmacleod6816]

Huw, my daughter and I did this all summer long. I spent a lot of time chopping and when I needed more muscle, my daughter tackled the job. I live in northern Nova Scotia so a much different climate then yours of course. But we compost and chop and drop and as the sun did its work, the green material would simply disappear over a bit of time. So we both loved hearing your video today!

[@lifelovelettuce]

Chop and drop is so important here in my New Zealand garden--especially right now as we head into the heat of mid summer. I've done it for many years. No snow (or a freeze) over winter where I live means I can grow many things all year. I just chop and drop the end plantings, and then plant in amongst them again. Nature's cycle of life is a wonderful thing. :)

[@rne66]

Wow great video I've been practising chop and drop for years without knowing it! Just made sense to leave the leaves plus a heavy dose of laziness!

[@Usonian7]

One of my greatest successes is that the end of the season when winter is approaching I mow all of my leaves with a bagger and pile it on my garden beds at least a foot thick, nice and fluffy mulched leaves with some grass in it. By spring it's almost completely gone and the worms are incredibly plentiful in every handful of soil

[@christinebottaro9017]

I love autumn leaves! It’s startling and dismaying to see neighbors bagging up their leaves, clippings and other garden “waste” to send to the landfill.

[@HuwRichards]

Brilliant tip :)

[@MFaith777]

How do you keep it from blowing away??

[@eb1684]

This is also the way. Ruth Stout recommended "composting" the easy way in her book in the 1950's.

[@theresadupont3949]

i truly love how you refer to " in nature"......... when ever i have a question about gardening i ask myself, " what would nature do?"

[@4Grace4Truth]

And how about taking some of the ashes and charcoal from your cozy fire and sprinkle those also over your lovely garden?

[@elizabethannegrey6285]

Absolutely delightful. If more people gardened Prozac sales would decline! I am ex UK, resident in South Africa, in a country town two hours from Cape Town. Being in retirement complex I no longer have a compost heap, so these videos are therapeutic. I really enjoy your practical uncomplicated approach to gardening. Long may it last. ❤️🌼🌱💐🐝🌲🦋❤️

[@darinbennett3638]

It's always the 'why' behind the 'what' that is beneficial to know. I've always ignored the garden during winter until a couple years ago when your videos help me better understand what's truly happening during winter. As always, Professor Richards gives all of us very helpful information. Thanks, Huw!

[@HuwRichards]

Glad to hear you find it helpful! Thank you Darin :)

[@davidthescottishvegan]

Had never heard of the chop and drop method so have learned something new today. Huw Richard's video's are always interesting and informative. Keep safe, warm and well and happy gardening and have a good weekend/week.

[@HuwRichards]

That's very kind David thank you so much! And I'm so glad you enjoy them😊

[@lilal3753]

You make gardening so simple. Thank you for that.

[@kirstianwhite6331]

Great video! Thank you!

[@gaiasoundandvision]

I have been intuitively doing this for years :) It's just feels natural to me to return things back to the Source of their Beingness :) I didn't know that I was following a system called chop & drop 'till now lol Thanks Huw :)

[@HuwRichards]

Great Natural Instincts!

[@melissaschloneger9902]

Love that u had a cuppa by the fire to end it! Thanks for the video, and I will likely do this more, in addition to making compost

[@francesbatycki404]

Enjoying the videos and will be ordering the book. I want to take the time to wish you and yours a super holiday season!🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@anniecochrane3359]

Fabulous - I'll start right now in my early summer NZ garden. Thank you!!!

[@qleartearcrusade9361]

Love this video. Thank you for some great ideas.

[@sylvia.j]

So clearly explained!

[@rominaadimari8723]

Muchas gracias Huw!!! Siempre aprendo algo nuevo en tu canal!!! Gracias por compartir!

[@adventurecreations3214]

Great video. Exactly the info I needed to progress my garden forward. Thanks

[@ElJohnerino]

Thanks for your vids, Huw. Found you in the summer this year, insta-sub and repeat viewer confirmed. :D Great stuff for small scale gardeners like us and larger plot owners alike.

[@Constantinului]

Wonderful video ! Thank you, brother Huw 🙏

[@iroman9442]

Wow this video was very insightful! Thanks Huw

[@brizeeuk]

Thank you for confirming what i have been doing from my own intuition for a few years now . always nice to know . and watch a professional with great info

[@jeanmarcoux2568]

Another info packed video!!! Thanks, this will get me going in the right direction.

[@maristermcsorley4203]

Another great video Hugh so inspiring 💯

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@gnadenhofluna3388]

Thank you so much for the informative video… I enjoyed it 🌱🍀🙋🏻‍♀️🍀

[@melanieallen3655]

Great advice!😁

[@vitorpacheco3519]

Great informative and relaxing video as always.

[@HuwRichards]

That's so kind thank you!:)

[@jennifersauer3257]

Very informative! Thank you.

[@HuwRichards]

You're Welcome! Thanks for Watching :)

[@heycrisper]

Huw, your video last year inspired me to do this in the autumn last year and I came into spring with much better soil in my garden beds, It was lovely. All I needed was a light mulching of compost :) Completely forgot to do it this year. I'll have to make sure to remind myself this coming growing season. :D

[@MammacrisandSofiya]

I love this channel, thank you Huw watching from Norway.

[@7bpotager8]

Your garden looks amazing! Thank you for the awesome information

[@HuwRichards]

You are so welcome! Thanks for watching :)

[@user-bc5js3xw7r]

Great tip to help move towards more natural cycles, will be doing this going forward instead of everything going on the heap. Thank you Huw

[@carey-loujones7860]

The whole world needs to get back to doing this instead of the crazy pace we have created ! Thank you for sharing your knowledge 😊

[@micaela6915]

Thank you! I will try this

[@HuwRichards]

Great! Good luck with it :)

[@suffolkshepherd]

Excellent video. Very helpful. I think this will be how I end my cover crops this spring too. I have a lot of vetch and crimson clover.

[@debraforde937]

thanks matey!

[@angelaamero7482]

Thank you I've been doing the chop and drop for a couple years to build my soil, so good to see others use this easy way to use up plant scraps.

[@joanevans1894]

Excellent delivery and explanation

[@HuwRichards]

Glad you liked it :)

[@Pixieworksstudio]

Thanks Huw, I chopped and dropped so much this year because of your videos. I harvested some winter radish today and remembered to take the ends off in situ. They were a bit flea beetle bitten to eat.

[@praveenakilambi8030]

Thanks for confirming my thoughts abt nature. Been doing this for yrs and I know nothing about gardening.

[@unevolvedliving]

Love your content. We cannot stress enough about starting with the soil.

[@rosemaryryan6455]

Thanks Huw

[@VebjrnHaugstveit]

This is so important! Thank you:)

[@HuwRichards]

I agree! Thanks for watching :)

[@carladelagnomes]

Thank you for that information Huw. I will have to rethink my surface area cover out in the gardens.

[@HuwRichards]

You're Welcome :) Glad it was helpful

[@ginavandam735]

Great video!!! Thanks, I learn a lot from you...greetings from Sweden🇸🇪

[@lostinsomerset6002]

Your videos just get better and better!

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you! Such a lovely comment :)

[@JohnThompson-hc8bd]

Great video. I use the chop and drop a little but I need to increase my use of this technique. I was amazed how much water organic matter heals water.

[@winstonsmiths2449]

SelfSufficientMe and you are my top two! Newbie here and looking to avoid as many mistakes as possible without getting bogged down with fear and over-thinking. Thanks. Subscribed and bell struck!

[@bradcash6858]

I see a couple of pieces of firewood with hollow centers! Makes excellent flower pots! In fact maybe my favorite! If they are sitting on ground the plants will root through them all while your pot is decomposing!

[@lifelovelettuce]

What a fabulous idea, I love this :)

[@kahzinger]

Your fire at the end looked so inviting! I think the majority of us would’ve liked to join you for more conversation about the garden! Thank you for clarifying what chop and drop is. I’ve been unsure of it, so it’s much appreciated Huw. 😊 Also, the added text on the video is a nice touch.

[@mojorising1]

Plan to get the book for further inspiration on my spring garden and to support your channel. Thank you for sharing with us this year Huw Happy Holidays 👩‍🌾

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you so much for your support Morgan! It means a lot :)

[@mojorising1]

@@HuwRichards Hi Huw do you know if the books got sent out that were preordered? I never received mine.

[@facundobinelli6077]

Thanks, i had been wondering what to do with the yellow leaves and inedible stems

[@garden_geek]

You really deserve your own TV show Huw! You have great screen presence, the cinematography is stunning, the music is moving and the garden is is just jaw-dropping! Thank you for sharing your slice of heaven with us.

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you so much! What a lovely compliment :)

[@gooja80]

👌 perfekcyjnie przedstawione

[@resourcefulgirl]

Well, isn't this channel a gem!! I subscribed, hit the bell, and ordered your book through the Penguin link. I'm marathon watching. I'm building on 20 acres as I type this. Should be in this summer and I'll be building raised beds and growing. Thanks so, so much for sharing your knowledge, I'm sure I'm going to need it!

[@corymiller9854]

I have been practicing chop and drop for a few years now. Just learned from your vid that I do more of a pick and plop:] I do spread thin and evenly then turn it around once the sun bakes it. No slugs yet!

[@timwhite4301]

I'm learning so much with is channel

[@HuwRichards]

I'm so pleased😊

[@Zoeybeau_1]

Just learning gardening and this is one of the best things I've learnt. I'm also mulching with grass clippings, having turned my back garden into a veg garden. Add in a persons disability why one earth make your work harder when working with nature works and saves your back.

[@HUNTERTHEGAMERDUDE]

Hi! I'm new here, I learned so much! I'm doing it like this from now on. Also interesting about leaving the roots behind, I've always pulled them out. Thank you for this video!

[@HuwRichards]

You're welcome! Hope it helps :)

[@janegarrud9527]

That was so interesting Huw thanks 😊 I’m already no dig do will try this as well 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@HuwRichards]

Great stuff! Good Luck with it :)

[@jartotable]

Brilliant vid as usual. I've got arthritis and the idea of gardening has always put me off with all the digging. But you've made realise that I could garden if I use long raised narrow beds. Chop and drop and sow and cover. I'm really beginning to have the confidence that when I move house to a place with a garden I could grow my own veg.

[@suesdolbrodmaethkitchengar907]

Thank you, this was very informative I did do this last year on one of my no dog beds. It really worked there were so many worms in the soil & I grew my no dig potatoes in it.

[@j.b.4340]

Do a video on making tea. I also enjoy a warm cup of Grandma Towler’s tea, near the garden.

[@alemiller9]

Thank you so much Mr. Richards for this very useful video!!! Please keep sharing all the learnings you have with the world. Greetings from Aguascalientes, México. God Blesses you!

[@HuwRichards]

You are very welcome! Glad you find my video useful :) Thanks for watching

[@Jade-yq1et]

We’ve started off summer really bloody hot and my garden has retained so much more water than usual from using chop and drop

[@agnesezogota2953]

Super nice video! You've thought about changing the environment, so it puts the viewer back in focus. Different angels. Very thoughtful. I enjoyed the video! Thank you!

[@neilgrice8821]

Thank you another Great video and advise.Is there any plants not to put in compost.

[@ivetalambert2371]

Thankyou! Very good tips! Un tidy allotments now will be what we need. If things grow ,what can be better ❤️

[@sajmt1414]

I’ve heard a little about this method. Thanks for explaining it. I plan to start using the chop and drop method.

[@HuwRichards]

Brilliant! Give it a go :)

[@mercedesbenzs600bash]

This guy is a true professional 👏🏾 👌🏾 👍🏾

[@gardentwitcheruk7076]

Great information, I'll give this a go!

[@HuwRichards]

Great! Good Luck with it :)

[@markmooney5662]

Priceless info...thanks Huw and God bless. Gilly wife of Mark in Norfolk UK

[@matloseth4882]

Good idea with the chop and drop!

[@HuwRichards]

Glad you like it!

[@Psa141]

Love permaculture technique, thank you Huw Richards for these wonderful vids. What about using lake bottom chips or leaves for chop & drop or compost? Every year these fall into or dredge up on the bottom.

[@mattwalker8230]

Very informative, makes me think of the nutrient replenishment and mulch cycle differently. Was a bit worried about disease, but it makes sense. Nice onscreen doodles too 👍

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you! Glad you appreciate the doodles :)

[@danieleikenberry9320]

A slug problem is actually a lack of duck problem. Nature takes care of itself, we just need to be better managers. With proper rotation this system can really show dividends! Thank you for sharing this.

[@1411mery]

Thanks for the video and subtitles in Spanish, they help me a lot. ✨

[@DiybyUnclenui]

The garden very beautiful.

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you :)

[@rosabutcher5092]

I always chop and drop around fruit bushes. I get really bad creeping buttercup but it makes a great mulch around the blackcurrants and saves a lot of time and effort just to leave it where I pull it.

[@katehartman6844]

Super nicely explained, thank you! Do the roots of large plants, cabbage for example, not disrupt or get in the way of new seedlings popping up? And it works just fine to plant seeds under the dropped material?

[@dejardinyhuerto4518]

Hoolaa , gracias por compartir y explicar cómo funciona este método , lo aplicaré en lis cultivos.

[@HuwRichards]

¡De nada! Buena suerte :)

[@raisajari323]

Hi Huw, I LOVE your channel! So clear and concise and I especially like the direction you're going in now to help people grow their own food and save money while using permaculture methods. I especially liked the nettle concentrate you talked about recently and plan on making that once I get more nettles to grow and to eat some of the seeds myself :) I would also like to start doing the chop and drop and I'm wondering what the tool is called that you are using in this video for cutting up your plant matter before dropping it in the garden? I think you called it "triceps" in the video but only got arm workouts when I searched for this on google :) I am in Canada.

[@anamariadiaz4720]

Muy interesantes tus vídeos! Te agradecería que fueran subtitulados ! Gracias 🙋

[@1979RoadFan]

I have been following your channel for a while now. I like your advice. Next year will be my 3rd year of gardening, and looking to garden for years to come. I have mulched the leaves from my dad's pecan tree, and it has covered about 1/2 of my 1200 sq. ft. garden I have planned out for next year. I should start planning what I want to plant here in a few months. Time flies when you are gardening.

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you for following! Brilliant, sounds like a nice set up. Jealous of your Dads pecan tree! :)

[@jazbaali7341]

Hello new subscriber come straight from your 9year old worm bin video what a transformation !!!!!!

[@HuwRichards]

Great! Thanks for joining us :)

[@renatehaeckler9843]

I keep about 20 sheep and the mix of hay stems (which they won't eat) and urine and poo that accumulates on the barn floor can go straight on the garden and the abundant worms there break it down in months to crumbly dark compost, so I have no need of chop and drop but I am at a loss what to tell people who don't have sheep so from now on I'll send them to watch this video. If they don't want to come help me clean out my sheep barn. They usually don't.

[@HuwRichards]

Brilliant! Glad this video will be useful for people not fortunate enough to have sheep poo! :)

[@L0v3lik3wint3r]

Your content is such high quality, but as a Canadian I couldn't help but chuckle at the opening line (no matter what the season, there's always going to be plant material coming out of your garden) - because I like in Zone 5, and right now in mid-March there's still about 2 feet of snow everywhere outside. Thanks for the great video!

[@LahuertadeDonato]

wonderful video, thanks for the Spanish subtitling. greetings from Argentina

[@HuwRichards]

You're Welcome :)

[@susanblauss5829]

I don’t know why this never occurred to me! But it makes so much sense. Thanks from Massachusetts USA

[@HuwRichards]

You're welcome! :)