Winter garden with Charles Dowding, see the results of seven years no dig

I show you first the simplicity of my approach, spreading organic matter on the surface, that's it!
All beds have undisturbed soil, simply mulched/covered once a year with compost to about 2.5cm/1in depth.
We see the current (8 month old) compost heap, which we are spreading on any soil which has not been mulched since last winter.
I show and explain compost on the flower borders which is from the outdoor toilet, 18 months old on average.
Zone 8 and temperate oceanic, lowest temperature this winter 2019-20 was -5C/23F, warmer than usual. Last frost mid May, first frost late October, summer temperatures by day 21C/70F so in many ways this is a zone 6 climate.
VEGETABLES
Plantings of salads, spinach and broad beans in the Three Strip trial area
Broccoli for spring and for now, and cauliflower
Spring onions and cabbage for spring
Brussels sprouts, celeriac, leeks.
Few weeds.
Filmed and edited by Edward Dowding my son, 29th December 2019 edowdingfilms....
When you make a purchase of products I recommend, please use this link to my page on Crocus tidd.ly/44dEU7d, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.
Follow me on IG @charles_dowding, TikTok @charles_dowding, Pinterest @charlesdowding, FB @charlesdowdingnodig.
I sell online courses in both no dig charlesdowding...
and growing vegetables charlesdowding...
For a Homeacres soil analysis comparing dig and no dig, see docs.google.co...
In my webshop are books and a Sowing Wall Calendar for sale charlesdowding...
My book How to Grow Winter Vegetables is available on Amazon.
To join my channel as a member, use this link / @charlesdowding1nodig
As a member, you can watch a new video each month, which is exclusively for members. Your payments support my promotion and teaching of better, easier gardening. I can offer bursaries for day courses and online courses, through individuals in charge of community gardens/allotments and school gardens. Contact us through my website to enquire about bursaries charlesdowding...
All of my channel’s other KZbin content will continue as now.
#nodig #growyourownfood #growyourownveggies #healthyfood #marketgarden

[@famousgrouse1966]

Apart from the fantastic garden and sound advice, Charles comes across as an absolute gent and clearly loves his profession. Every video seems to contain new information. Should be a tv series.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks v much and this is a kind of tv channel now :)

[@cpnotill9264]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Better than tv! Well done Sir! 🌱👍😁

[@cpnotill9264]

@earthly firefly5 ?

[@cpnotill9264]

@earthly firefly5 got it 👍

[@byrefilms]

It is time that broadcasters embraced new ideas about gardening, agriculture and market gardening rather than perpetuating Victorian and industrial ideas!

[@mandymoo1200]

Slow is best, and instead of the usual fast, rapid videos, this channel takes you slowly around so we can absorb the information. This is so much better than BBC’s Gardeners World which I find flits around on a shallow basis from subject to location; better than Gardener’s Question Time on R4 which is more a compilation of sound bites. I feel as if my hand is being held and guided in the art of veg growing and organic composting. I absolutely love the intro with birdsong.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks so much Mandy. Edward does lovely introductions.

[@NopeAndYep]

"Looks like a poo actually..." was the first thing my wife heard when she walked in the room. "What are you watching?" We had a good laugh! The rabbits in my yard seem to poo at the base of my trees. Good job little bunnies

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nothing like gardening!

[@tiffinyharrington9307]

That line gave me a laugh too!

[@wes9451]

Mine just eat my little trees...

[@mikaeladonges9102]

looked like. big old poorly dug cat poo hole haha. my cat sees my garden beds as great big kitty litters..

[@oliverpierre22]

Would love to know how to stop my cat using my veg patch as a litter tray. Any tips?

[@justynjonn]

I'm always in awe of the British Winter, always green though the skies may be grey. Not much snow and ice.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Haha yes the green balances the grey

[@tnstef2629]

Love your modesty Charles. “Don’t often talk about this, but I made human compost.” Love it.

[@CityWideGardens]

I thought you could not use human waste as compost?? Gotta look that up.... wow!

[@elvadelacruz9406]

So it is compost that is human? Or human that is compost

[@pizzaguy3645]

Slow cooked Rabbit backs, yum. Yes they are cute and fuzzy, but they are also very tasty. A few years ago I lost three young apple trees to rabbits. I recovered some of my loss by harvesting them and cooking them in the crock pot. Not for everyone I know, but It gave me some satisfaction. A .177 pump pellet gun works great.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Closing the loop :)

[@MrBrianDuga]

Your climate blows my mind given you're further north (I'm in Massachusetts). What a blessing to have so much survive over the winter!

[@TheNapalmFTW]

Britain is blessed by the jet stream. I used to live in Manchester, England at 53 degrees north and the growing season where I live now, Indiana, is so short. We are at the same latitude as the south of France

[@4KidsandaFarm]

Your garden is fantastic! This is our goal for our farm! So clean and green!

[@donnariggs1567]

the 4 kids will help, that is what I lack, no help and no one is willing to work sad :(

[@svetlanikolova7673]

@@donnariggs1567 With this easy method?

[@donnariggs1567]

@@svetlanikolova7673 come on over if you got some extra time charles doesn't do it all by himself he has help as I took the time to ask him...

[@svetlanikolova7673]

@@donnariggs1567 Sorry, i am in the Balkans 5000 miles away.

[@donnariggs1567]

@@svetlanikolova7673 that's ok I have a guest house I'll barter!!

[@biolounge7329]

I have so much respect for you. I'm 28 myself and I want to make a transition in my job from a gatekeeper, to a small local farmer. Keep going ! You are one of my teachers I keep watching to get my own dream going !

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice to hear and I wish you well. 28 was about my favourite age in terms of feeling so energetic!

[@donnariggs1567]

what is a gate keeper??? wished you lived closer would love a garden partner to share the work and bounty!!

[@aenorist2431]

@@donnariggs1567 Probably portier / 'security' / night watch kinda job. Sits in a gatehouse, watches cctv and checks people coming in?

[@Andrew-eo2cw]

I'm 29 and on a similar journey. Been a chef for the last 8 years. I grow my own veg and have chickens, starting an agriculture course this year in Scotland. Best of luck for the future

[@biolounge7329]

@@donnariggs1567 a gatekeeper is somebody who is checking if people are allowed to entry an area. I work mostly for factorys.

[@gwynprice7396]

Best channel on youtube!! You are living my dream life Charles.... I'm aspiring to achieve what you have. Thankyou for the great videos, respect from Victoria Canada

[@donnariggs1567]

It must be tough to get all this love from around the world for doing what you love to do! That is the KEY to life and success! and TASTY TOO!

[@SayHelloToOblivion]

The most relaxing channel on KZbin. I love these garden tours. They are both uplifting and educational. I have yet to successfully grow leeks. I will try to sow them in containers and transplant (direct sow did not work for me). Also, I appreciate all the ways you deal with the birds and bunnies and other little critters. Humane and organic. What a lovely garden you have. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Many thanks :)

[@Love-tl2gh]

Love it Charles, it's about time we all talked about using human compost in our gardens. The best way to improve our micro biome is by becoming part of the growing cycle.👍👍

[@michaeldavidson2073]

When I was a lad we used to go down to the sewage farm to pick tomatoes. Best ever.

[@jhelnan8057]

Could listen all day and learn from this easy speaking, highly knowledgeable organic gardener. He's the teacher we all wish we had encountered in high school and college! Thanks, Charles!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wish I had been there (!) and thanks

[@herenow2895]

The Rabbits eat well down your way. What great looking soil to start with. Thanks for another informative video Charles.

[@Stettafire]

I have heard that if you find a plot of land that is horribly overgrown (as Homeacres was before Mr. Dowding got involved) then the soil below is generally really good. No idea how true it is, just something I've heard. I guess it's kinda because the land has been let to go "fallow"?

[@camerakid76]

The Bob Ross of gardening. A true treasure you are. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I do like the drop in clips from past/future of the beds or a crop to give an idea what it looks or looked like, or to show the progression of the seedlings/plants for reference. Kudos to the editor.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thank you kindly and the editor is my son Edward, whose passion is filmmaking

[@kathleenambrose877]

I laughed a little when I saw your volunteer tomatoes in the compost. We get hundreds of them every year in the garden. Thankfully they pull out easily. Beautiful garden even in winter!

[@pinksalt1057]

@earthly firefly5 what exactly does this mean?

[@pinksalt1057]

Kathleen why not use for replanting ?

[@kathleenambrose877]

@@pinksalt1057 We would literally have an entire yard full of tomatoes if we did that. We have allowed a few of them to remain in the garden every year but they are not always true to the parent and sometimes you get a lot of plant, but few tomatoes or really nice tomatoes that all crack before they get ripe or sometimes you get lucky. We have a limited amount of space, so we stick with the tomatoes we know will produce well for us... but I always appreciate their determination to grow!

[@nancylynn7614]

Very interesting. Your wife must make a real canning centre in the basement. Such a variety of vegetables. Thank you for sharing.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I am selling :)

[@carolparrish194]

I love your garden. I think the netting will do the job keeping off the rabbits. I have a terrible problem with rabbits. The baby rabbits squeeze through the small holes in the fencing and eat all the young bean sprouts and sweet potato tops when they are young. I finally used netting and it worked but it was a little to late. I find that gardening is a learning process.Every year is different. I wonder what this year will bring.

[@dusshan1]

i am impressed by total lack of weeds in your compost heap

[@lilpipskweek6448]

My grandmother was a farm hand in the 40’s. They routinely used human compost from middens i.e.earth closets. It was the norm then for muck men to distribute this valuable resource. So much more sustainable than sewage treatment today

[@robertevans8024]

Theses videos are what keeps me going to get through the cold, dreary winter months in Philadelphia PA.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Robert and we have some nice ones coming over the winter

[@robertevans8024]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig I look forward to every one of them. I love your greenhouse with the brick foundation. Would love to see more of the inside. And I'm so interested in, and crazy about, compost, I feel like going back to school for a degree in something dealing with soil fertility. But I'm already 55 and having issues with pain from injuries, after being rear ended in 2016. 🤷‍♂️ Anyway, I really feel honored to receive your replies. It means so much to me at this time in my life. You are a great person and so nice. Your videos, voice and personality are food for the soul. So relaxing. 🕊️🙏💖💯

[@traiecto]

As usual, a great inspiration. Kicking me out of winter lethargy and onto my seed bank and books and planning! Thanks for sharing

[@MAuroraCharvat]

Mr. Dowding , you are such a tidy gardener.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

It's worthwhile :)

[@seedaholicgardens9085]

I am so inspired by your approach as it even works for me a disabled gardener, ty!

[@robcrebs4663]

My grandfather put "rabbit wire" around his entire garden, about 3.5 feet high! Along with it he electrified it to keep out the deer! He always had a most beautiful and plentiful garden! He planted enough for him and his daughters! We had fresh, canned veggies all winter! Your garden is beautifully fantastic!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thankyou Rob

[@yellowdogmaher2542]

Hello Charles, Another great vid.I truly wish i was your neighbor .

[@kaylabryson1932]

Another huge snow storm coming through our city and temps at night down to zero ❄️🌨❄️🌨. Everything is already covered almost completely in snow. ❄️. Needed a good therapy video to help with spring fever 🤒 . Thank you🌱

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I don't envy you that

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

and thanks 😆

[@justmare111]

Even in winter, it's just such an impressive garden! Love it.

[@Lauralamontanaro]

Is it just me, or could you just listen to Charles talk all day long! He is so encouraging!!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Laura

[@olgalopez4900]

Xcuuzaebis wntfw todis es me

[@thadgiannetti790]

Wow, your garden is just as handsome in the winter as in the full flush of summer. Really enjoyed this video, so much inspiration and knowledge here!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Thad

[@EmpressKadesh]

I had a hard time finding winter brussels sprouts in any photos or videos or any kind of instructions and it is my first time growing them so I left mine alone entirely just to see what they do. I appreciate the video.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I hope you had some harvests at least :)

[@ginger_wby]

Great update! I got do excited when I saw a 25minute winter update 🌱

[@tiffinyharrington9307]

Mark Foster me too - love the longer videos.

[@duujo]

Simply shooting from a tripod makes such a big difference in production quality, compared with the hand-held selfie-style videos others do. The production value and Charles' soothing manner makes these videos a pleasure to watch!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thankyou 🌷

[@jeffjeffreym1830]

When I was a youngster I used to enjoy double digging. However, the no dig method seems sensible and is clearly productive. And my old back isn't quite what it once was...

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

No dig - go there Jeff!

[@riverunner9978]

👍👍

[@mayfieldmanor5344]

Love your garden and your videos. You are the King of Compost!

[@terriesmith8219]

Love you and your fantastic garden, Charles!! You're living the dream!!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Terrie

[@holyword6348]

Hi Charles. It is true your approach to gardening is calming. Was bringing both parents in and out of hospital the past week, and this was a welcome calm in between. Always love seeing your compost videos and was interested to see how much you put on each subsequent year after you get a good base down. Also liked seeing the various types of soil and compost. Great work!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Many thanks and pleased to help

[@cassgruberman6425]

Big fan of your work. It is particularly well complemented by your son Edward's video and editing skills - I can immediately tell when he's done it

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cool that is interesting and encouraging :) I let him know. He is at home with filming and editing.

[@anthony-me1wu]

I love how he is baked !!

[@ПтицаУдачи-н4г]

Very good! Hi from Russia. We use compost too)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cool I love these distant connections and knowing that so many of us world wide are working like this, thanks 😀 Plus you write English!!

[@ПтицаУдачи-н4г]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you :)

[@LittleJordanFarm]

You are the only gardener I know that has a beautiful garden in the winter..lol..blessings

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks very much. No dig makes a lot of the difference.

[@nicoleduncan6944]

Thank you for the wonderful winter video, Charles! Very informative and inspiring!

[@annegranger6667]

Thank you Charles, for sharing your wonderful garden and knowlege. Like many other gardners in cold climates, I fill the "hungry gap" watching videos on You Tube, reading gardening books and browsing through seed catalogs. When I spend time in my garden, it becomes as much about providing an escape from stress and the crazy world we live in, as it is about growing healthy and wholesome food for my family. Your wonderful presetations and walks through Home Acres are filling this need as well. Well done and greetings from the state of Kansas!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Happy to help with that Anne, may your winter end soon

[@mattsli89]

Wow!! I fell in love with the style you live! I'm so impressed by all your videos. Watching them one by one and I can't stop! Will definitely use many of your patterns im my woodchips garden - for sure mulitisowing - seems to be greatest idea to sow in halfcomposted woodchips. Greetings from Poland!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers Mattsli

[@kiddobee3610]

That is a gorgeous rosemary bush in your ornamental bed 😍

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

It's kind of crazy :)

[@CoreyBornmann56]

Hey Charles, I've been battling rabbits eating our lettuce for years and wondered how you dealt with them. Thanks for talking about that! Greets from central Pennsylvania USA (zone 6A) possibly the rabbit capital of the world...

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

How funny I feel better now :) we don't have too many

[@davefieldhouse5119]

Always enjoy your videos Charles thank you

[@loerkue]

Excited!! Thank you!

[@jamesrichey]

Nice to see your garden in winter. It helps to compare your garden to what's going on in mine at the same time. Thanks!

[@scobydoo3145]

Respect from Argentina!

[@mr.zafner8295]

Thank you very much for including the titles with the particular plant names. Very helpful. You do a wonderful job with these films.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You are very welcome and my son Edward is a great editor

[@sc3pt1c4L]

If I had his garden, rabbit stew would be on my menu frequently.

[@jenniferlanclos9631]

Aloha! My 3-year-old son is perhaps one of your biggest fans. He *loves* gardening and has his own that he started on his own in small plot where we removed a 6 foot round of 30 ft tall bamboo. He hasn't yet figured out the idea of sowing seeds one at a time, so I've come out to see him pouring an entire packet of seeds in one hole. We're not entirely certain what is going to come up since he collects seeds from everywhere and anyone. The people at our farmers' market know his love for seeds and they often give him some of theirs to share. He really wants to grow brussel sprouts, but I do not think they will grow where we are in Hawaii. He would also like some rabbits to visit his garden, but alas, they will not visit in the night! After puttering in his garden for the whole morning, he will come in and tell me, "Mom, I need some wood from the shed." "What do you need wood for?" "I need to rebuild our compost bin. It needs three bins. Not just one. I need a hammer too. And some nails." Thank you for the inspiration! I am glad he has taken a liking to garden videos in lieu of other small child "entertainment" out there. We started watching garden videos to accomplish a tooth brushing and now he would like his teeth brushed all day.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Ah thanks this is lovely to hear. What a fascinating boy! You are right that Brussels sprouts will probably be not good in your climate, I would first try the local vegetables.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

And please say hello from me!

[@giovannifiorentino8947]

Greatly appreciate the titles for species.

[@jeannettestuckelschwaiger5071]

Mr Downing is quite a gentleman. Greetings from France. We do enjoy your vids very much.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thank you Jeannette

[@shakengrain1942]

I had almost figured out that UK "Broad beans" = USA "Fava beans". Thank you for confirming! Regarding human waste, many articles say drugs/pharmaceuticals pass with it now. I would not want to eat food grown with it.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Fair point, it's frightening how many pills are ingested

[@christelchristely2816]

Pharmaceuticals are organic compounds, the microorganisms in the soil make short work of breaking them down. They cause problems at the sweage treatment because of the short time allotted for the microorganisms to work on them, and that waterorganisms are wrong for that work.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

@@christelchristely2816 Thanks for the information Christel

[@pinksalt1057]

Shakin, all your veggies from the store and nuts imported from other countries are most likely using human waste to compost.

[@shakengrain1942]

@@pinksalt1057 Could be. Garden, garden, garden.

[@killjoyredux8361]

I love that you use Ludovico's music in the intro Charles. Perfect.

[@andrewmoon1898]

I did my first year of no dig in 2019, and although I still had weeds, I had a lot less, 95% less. And they are much easier to pull out, just like seedlings. A hated job has become just spending time in the plot. The potato harvest was almost primal, or child like, digging through the soil with my hands. And I gad a good crop, considering the wetness of the ground. But I did have one problem...I had quite a few that were green. This year I am putting more compost on top, but is there a stage I missed pre harvest to protect the ones closest to the surface? Do I need to add another mulch layer a few weeks before harvest? So glad I found this Chanel before starting the plot under my name, as my dads older methods are far more mauling on this clay soil. I have just had to be creative on my compost raw supplies. 👍🤣🤣🤣

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Well done Andrew and thanks for feedback. Creative is excellent. Yes for 2nd earlies and maincrop, best watch under the leaves and when you see any white potatoes appearing in light, drop compost over and onto them.

[@GreenJimll]

I put lawn mower clippings on top of our no-dig potatoes. Its something my Dad did back in the 1970s when I was kid on his (double dug!) potato rows. Turns out spuds are one of the few plants that don't seem to mind the raw nitrogen hit of fresh grass clippings - indeed they grow great guns through it.

[@andrewmoon1898]

Jon Knight will give this a go. Thank you.

[@shiriyata13]

You present information so beautifully that the soul rejoices. Your land plot is like a fairy tale to me. I will teach from your videos not only the proper care of cultures, but also the language. Спасибо, за ваши видео.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Как приятно читать это, спасибо и я желаю вам успехов как в садоводстве, так и в обучении 😀

[@Benji1337]

I had some of that fleece, it was over some salads in the summer, it completely disintergrated in the sun and covered the beds in micro plastic. Absoloute nightmare.

[@GreenJimll]

We had a similar experience the first year we tried using it. Laid it over the beds one weekend in early summer, had a storm during the week and came back to find it shredded and all over the plot. Never used it again since - much prefer a solid micromesh (enviromesh or similar).

[@dusshan1]

thank you for sharing this experience. i am using the same fleece 2nd year already and so far it seems very sturdy, i can even water over it and it still holds together

[@marikalehman8611]

Fleece is used to warm plants and as frost protection, not meant to be used in summer weather at all. If crops need protection in summer then mesh or netting is used.

[@DreidMusicalX]

I hope one day I can get all the knowledge this guy has. I love his garden.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

🌈 you surely can, and thanks

[@lunavera4604]

"looks like a poo actually, I'll put it in the compost heap" I'm dead!!! giggles aside this was helpful thank you

[@byrefilms]

Thank you for your valuable advice as ever. For the last 20 odd years I worked as a freelance cameraman and would work away from home for a few weeks at a time only to return to a weed infested plot. I am now adopting a no dig system and travel a lot less these days but still return to a weed freeish garden since adopting your methods just 2 years ago. " Feed the soil not the plant"! Brilliant mantra!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wonderful news, that makes me happy

[@byrefilms]

One problem I found is the lack of worms. This was due, I suspect, to a flat worm problem. As a dig gardener I found few worms. When I started re-cultivating I found worms for the first time after 5 years of fallow. That spurred me to re-seed native worms to see if that would reverse the situation. An interesting experiment, but difficult to evaluate without compromising no dig principles!@@CharlesDowding1nodig

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes both flat worms and digging to assess worm numbers… not good

[@sycamoreknox9419]

I've wondered if being on a plant based diet and not taking any medicines of any sort would make ones poo a fine addition to compost.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Surely must 😄

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

@serendipidus1 the book about Humanure deals with these questions in a less black and white way. As the original question suggests, not all human poo is the same. It's not true that it needs to reach temperatures that one cannot achieve't home'. History shows otherwise. I have willows near my compost toilet and they are growing fast!

[@clairemcconway6266]

It depends on who is eating the food. If it's the same person, then it's fine. You can't catch something from something that's already been through your own gut. If other people, then read the Humanure book by Joseph Jenkins.

[@sycamoreknox9419]

@@clairemcconway6266 Thanks for the tip.

[@WMHhomestead]

So beautiful! We started no dog 2 years ago and it really does get better every year!

[@ximono]

No-dog gardening, that's a new one 😃 I don't think I'd be able do that..

[@cynthiafisher9907]

With My Hands Homestead No dog. Sounds great to me!

[@jakobbrun6535]

"Lovely" to see that you recycle human waste! Is there a specific reason you don't want to use it in your vegetable garden? I would think that most, if not all, of the bacteria that you don't want coming back into your system will have died off by the time you spread it out - or for sure, by harvest time? Wonderful video as always! It is an inspiration to see how much you have growing in the winter months.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Jakob and I wondered who might wonder this. Yes it makes sense to use it for food, but not when selling vegetables :)

[@moiragoldsmith7052]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig I was taught 2 years of composting. And yes, I agree, beautiful for the flowers; it's all natural so why do we wince at using it for any produce, just the thought makes me queasy 😳. 😂

[@stefflus08]

I wouldn't mind at all if my fruit came from trees were composted human excrement was used, as long as it wasn't a sprayed slurry. My Swedes (we call them Kålrabi (kohlrabi) or Kålrot, so there must have been some confusion at some point) grew a bit slow and were left out until frost hit in late Sept. (67deg N) That resulted in rather thick, woody skins and a rather large portion of the smaller ones were woody by the stem and root.

[@portiaholliday8741]

Us true gardeners know the value of human waste:-)

[@Green.Country.Agroforestry]

I wouldn't worry about using the rosemary from that garden:)

[@nellanddudley]

I'm so thankful for your videos. Just purchased your books and plan to spend the frigid months here in Maryland studying and planning. I own a 40 acre farm with plenty of room to grow a no dig garden. All the best!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks for your book purchase and good luck with the farm.

[@nathanguest9723]

The rock dust is really good stuff, i hope you see good results to.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Nathan

[@anthonyoch8285]

Man, these videos are just so calming and reassuring. Best thing to happen to youtube!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That is so nice, thanks

[@anthonyoch8285]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you for inspiring me to take up Gardening. Ive been looking into studying agriculture and your work shows that care and effort produce something lifechanging.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

@@anthonyoch8285 Great to hear this Anthony, go well

[@JNYC-gb1pp]

8:37 'looks like a poo" haha...the joys of gardening!

[@knowledges393]

I love the nature that u r living in bc of lots of birds and nature sounds bc im living in apartment so whenever i wanna cheer up my mood i watch ur videos it doesn’t matter if i saw them several times before but the funny thing is my free roam rabbit when i start your videos bc of birds sounds she run under the sofa same speed with Lamborghini 😅😅 but I enjoy ur videos thanks

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Haha I thought the rabbit would like them! Nice to hear

[@ArmindaHeart]

I’d love to be able to have that much compost. How do you get your materials for making compost piles?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

See my making compost videos. I keep eyes open for coffee grounds, mowings, old wood to chip, spent hops, add some soil!

[@ximono]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Roughly how much soil would you add, if you don't mind me asking..? I'm about to establish my first compost heap, so I'm learning as much as I can. (Thank you for a brilliant channel!)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

@@ximono No more than 5% by volume

[@brunoaeschbacher8595]

Very inspiring video Charles!! With a Major in agricultural plant science I should know a lot of the theoretical stuff but obviously I had quite some knowledge gaps regarding the garden practice...until I found your channel! 🤓👍 great work!!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice of you to say Bruno and thanks

[@TheMwales]

i also use cat compost on my flower beds, so far so good. It seemed a shame to let it go to a landfill.

[@leoclarke6462]

Your videos really are like a gold mine - thank you Charles

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Very welcome

[@Ed-iz4wm]

When I lived in Japan, over 20 years ago, they used human waste in the rice fields. They don't have a lot of cattle there.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes and they needed it, need it now too! Good land is so scarce for a huge population, like here too.

[@boss_sus8646]

Mr Charles beautiful garden!!!!ok💪🏼💪💪💪👍👍👍👍

[@ห่อเงินห่อทอง]

👍👍👍

[@berniegriffin3117]

Great, Charles. Inspiring to anyone but certainly to this 👵 old colonial boy. Bernie from New Zealand.

[@zenden6584]

I’m new to gardening and I’ve watched so many gardening videos on KZbin and this one is definitely one of the best 🙌🏻.I just could listen to Charles all day , he voice is so so relaxing 😌 it makes it easy to absorb all the information he has 💚

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks for saying and this makes me happy

[@pamnapier-uhl1362]

It is so peaceful in your garden. We are purchasing another home and moving in the next 4-6 weeks. This has changed my thinking on a garden area to be created there. No dig is certainly the way for any bed. True and tested! But your veggie space is so tidy, efficient and lovely. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your garden!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds an exciting time. Thanks, and I wish you a happy move.

[@Tamarind525]

He makes it look so easy! Great to see the garden in the winter, all seasons.

[@jordananderson38]

The Bob Ross of gardening 😊👍

[@walkbyfaithfamily9177]

Beautiful gardens! Even in the winter. Im jealous of your composting set up! How wonderful to have all that made right there for your gardens!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers Micki

[@degaslittledancer6912]

Charles you are so much like the lovely Ken Goodwin in your mannerisms........😊👍❤️

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

How nice!

[@edgardoserrut7368]

Wonderful video! I just started creating an urban no-dig vegetable garden all with homemade compost, mostly sheep manure with hay. With the help of your book 'How to create a new vegetable garden' and your videos I've been getting fantastic results. From lawn to harvesting green beans and early cucumbers 70 days later. Thank you for sharing these videos! I'm in a subtropical climate.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Edgardo this is wonderful news and well done yourself!

[@americanhottopics7373]

Wonderful information and winter garden ! Thank you for sharing!!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks for visiting

[@DanKoerner]

Charles is such a gentleman and lovely person that despite my cynical outlook on life he gives me hope for humanity.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers Dan 🌈

[@scotchcrofter9964]

Awesome garden

[@ullahnadeem6738]

Hi i am DR NADEEM AFRIDI from Pakistan.. i am a big fan of You..in the Holy Quran , ALLH/ GOD says that the one who plant a tree and the fruit it bear eaten by any creature...that farmer will be rewarded charity / SADQA for each fruit.. so you are doing a great job..May Allah reward your hard and smart work.. i love your efforts

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Dr Nadeem I am touched by your lovely comment, thank you, and may your work also be rewarded

[@johnkay4701]

Hi Charles. I appreciate your video of your winter vegetables very much, as this time of the year gardening can be rather downbeat due to cold, damp, & the short overcast days. Thank you. About 8-years ago I read a book titled Humanure by Jenkins, that inspired me to make my own compost toilet; the contents of which is then tipped into a series of normal darlek type compost bins and mixed with normal kitchen waste, garden greens & leaves etc. I leave to mature for longer than you (3-years +), it makes excellent compost for veggies (home consumed). I've just assembled a greenhouse & would appreciate your making a video based upon your practices & experiences with growing fruit 'n' veg within a greenhouse. Mine is nowhere near as large as yours, but at 8ft x 16ft & stuck right in the centre of my back lawn, it should produce some lovely produce & extend the growing season quite a bit & protect from the bunnies & birds. Regards from JohnnyK in cold 'n' damp Colchester.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice comment Johnny and yes it's a great book. Your greenhouse is big for domestic! No promises but shall have a think.

[@johnkay4701]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Given the modest size of my back garden the new greenhouse looks almost ridiculously oversized, there isn't much lawn left around it. Now can you guess? The ground inside of the greenhouse is covered in cardboard & newspapers, together with a 2ft wide area outside around the base; I blame you entirely Charles. My neighbours think I'm quite barmy! Hopefully they'll change their tune if / when they see the wonderful produce by the autumn & in future years. Just a note to anyone thinking of purchasing an XLvida greenhouse: they may be cheap but they are very poorly designed with inadequate assembly instructions. I'm an ex-mechanical engineer & even I had difficulty erecting the thing. Had to purchase x100 additional spring clips to retain the polycarbonate panels & even that wasn't sufficient to prevent them being repeatedly blown-out by strong winds. So now in the process of screwing them in physically with x200 self-tappers. I'll be out there this afternoon finishing it off. Moral of the story: buy a better greenhouse. Regards JohnnyK. PS. Charles, please do a video of what you do DIFFERENTLY within a greenhouse / polytunnel v outside. I can sense the beginnings of a new Charles Dowding GREENHOUSE fruit 'n' veg book.

[@kilirex]

Awesome garden. You’re the best gardener ever 👍👍👍

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

So nice of you 🌺

[@dogfacegaming1128]

i love watching his videos , i can learn a lot plus i enjoy watching him look HIGH while explaining :D

[@Lisa-pe4kq]

Love all the knowledge I get from 'across the pond' but I always have to adjust it to my climate where I have to add water to the compost. Thank you so much Sir.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Lisa :)

[@e7702]

A happy man makes a happy garden!

[@luzvelez2423]

Its lovely no snow. UK. Everything looks perfect..

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Lucky us 😀for now!

[@bluovalgal]

I am continually inspired each time I watch one of your videos! Thank you!!

[@Ash-xx5zd]

Enjoyed this garden tour! And loved all the information and plant labels you provided for us viewers. You're a legend. Thank youuu.

[@ashleycarr5841]

Thank you for all your videos. I am attempting gardening for the 1st time in 3 years and I owe that to you!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That cheers me Ashley :)