Nature Hills Nursery generously donated an Elberta Peach Tree #5 Container to Mark and Diane McOmber, the gardeners featured in Back to Eden Film. It is the very first fruit tree that they planted in their Back to Eden Community Garden! You can now watch the unboxing of the fruit tree all the way through planting.
Where is the best place to buy fruit trees?
Nature Hills is based in Florida and offers one of the largest selections of fruit trees available to purchase online. Are you skeptical of ordering a living tree that will be shipped in a box? Don’t be! Nature Hills has excellent customer service if you experience any problems. We have not had a bad experience and highly recommend ordering a fruit tree today!
Keep the soil covered with plenty of mulch (containing carbon and nitrogen) and your trees will thrive!
Can you imagine right outside your door is an abundance of fruits, vegetables, and herbs? You are growing enough food to feed your family and have plenty to share with your community. Today, our industrialized food supply chain is not able to withstand and recover from crises and disruptions in a way that ensures accessible and affordable food security for all.
Thankfully, you can easily start growing your own food no matter where you live and that is exactly what the Future of Food Summit is all about!
During this epic 4-day Summit, you’ll watch over a dozen conversations from food experts including farmers and gardeners who are paving the way toward a more resilient and equitable food system including:
Planting instructions for installing a no-till organic Back to Eden vegetable garden in the Spring and Summer are simple and fun!
What is Back to Eden Gardening?
Back to Eden Gardening is a no-till organic gardening technique that uses wood chips to regenerate the soil, grow healthy plants, and nutrient-dense food. Planting seeds and transplants in a wood chip mulched garden is easy and does not involve preparing the soil by tilling or digging. The benefits are endless! Back to Eden Gardening provides better gardening success and more abundant harvest with less work, less watering, less weeding, and less money. If you don't already own the Back to Eden Gardening movie, order the DVD to watch add free with bonus features sharing gardening tips!
When Can I Install a Back to Eden Garden?Typically, we recommend growers install a Back to Eden garden in the Fall season. This is inline with when leaves and branches fall to cover the soil in nature. The reason we recommend the fall is because all you have to do is lay down weed smothering paper and then 4 inches of fresh arborist wood chips on your soil and let nature do the work to decompose and improve the soil over the winter without the need for extra labor. However, if you haven't already installed a Back to Eden Garden and want to get started in the spring or summer, it's not too late! However, in order to see great results and avoid growing problems you should take these simple extra steps!
Do I Really Need to Install a Weed Smothering Paper Layer First?
If you are feeling lazy and think tilling in the weeds and grasses will save you time and labor, think again! Tilling the weeds and grasses into your topsoil will introduce the weed seeds into your soil and you will find yourself with tons more labor trying to pull them out later in the season! It also destroys soil structure and soil life that is essential to grow the most healthy plants.
If you are installing a Back to Eden Garden on a site that has already been an established veggie garden plot and does not have weeds or grasses you can skip this step. If your garden site is covered in weeds or grasses it is very important to put down a smothering paper mulch layer directly on the soil first. If you skip this step and just throw wood chips directly on top of the weeds and grasses you will soon have a garden exploding with happy weeds and monster grass.
Can the Wood Chips Smother the Weeds Without a Paper Mulch Layer?
Wood chips can effectively smother most weeds on their own without the need for paper IF they are very thick (12+ inches) and this is way too thick of fresh wood chip mulch for planting a happy vegetable garden bed! So, follow the instructions by starting with a smothering layer.
How Do I Install the Weed Smothering Paper Mulch Layer?
In order to prepare your sight, first dig out very tenacious weeds by the root like thistles. You can leave the rest of the weeds and grasses in place. They will add nutrients to the soil and invite beneficial earthworm activity to help the soil. If your weeds and grasses are too tall to easily lay paper over, mow or weed whack them down to a manageable height. There are several options that work well and vary from being free and easily available to more costly.
Weed Smothering Paper Layer Options:
We have personally tried, tested and experimented with all of the above various weed smothering mulches and found pros and cons with each. They all work when used as described above! My personal favorite is the Weedguard Plus rolls, if you have the budget. The investment makes installation much more convenient and it works really well. Plus it is made from organic, food safe material.
Add a layer of at least 4-6 inches of compost on top of the paper mulch layer next.
What is Compost Exactly and Why Do I Need It?
Compost definition: a mixture that consists largely of decayed organic matter and is used for fertilizing and conditioning land. This is a very vague term that can often be confusing for beginner gardeners. It is what we call any organic ingredients that have been combined and decomposed into a medium resembling soil. Traditionally, healthy compost has a ratio of 30:1 carbon to nitrogen ratio. If you are not giving your wood chips and paper the time to decompose and improve your soil naturally by starting in the fall, you will need to add a layer of compost on top of the paper layer in order to plant in healthy, nutrient rich soil. If your soil is clay or dead and you want to plant in it immediately, you need to plant in a medium that provides the right nutrients to promote plant growth. The compost also adds nitrogen to the soil and helps the fresh wood chip layer break down without depleting your plants of nitrogen in the process.
Where Do I Get Compost?
You can find compost for free or purchase it in bulk by the cubic yard at your community municipal yard waste center or privately operated compost yard businesses. Always make sure it's a trusted, clean source and ask what is in it. If you are gardening on a small scale like an urban backyard you can also purchase compost in bags. I always look for OMRI Certified Organic Compost.
Wood Chip Nitrogen Problems & Solutions
Remember the part of Back to Eden Film, for the installation of the Demonstration Garden in Pennsylvania, when they install fresh wood chips in the Spring? First they laid down newspaper and then a layer of about 8 inches deep of aged wood chips (way too thick, oops!). They immediately plant their garden and they start to see tomatoes with yellow leaves. So, they have to add organic fertilizer to fix it. After this section we show the same family installing a second version of Back to Eden Garden in the spring. This time they add a layer of compost first and even a dusting of horse manure on top to be safe. This method did much better for immediate spring planting.
Adding Fresh Arborist Wood Chips
Add a layer of about 4 inches of fresh or aged arborist wood chips. The fresh wood chips have the benefit of having fresh green leaves that provide nitrogen to your soil, which benefits plant growth. Aged wood chips can have the benefit of being more finely ground and broken down.
Adding Composted Arborist Wood Chips
You can choose to skip adding fresh arborist wood chips to your garden plot and use screened and composted wood chips instead. However, these can be challenging to find and are usually not free.
Paul Gautschi directly sows seeds using both of these methods. He plants vegetable seeds in the soil below his fresh, coarse wood chip mulch layer in his orchards and at his second property in Seqium, WA. He also buys screened, composted wood chips to direct sow seeds in at his primary home vegetable garden plot. Additionally, he adds composted vegetable waste and chicken manure to his screened compost vegetable plot. Both methods work amazingly well! If you do not use fresh wood chips with lots of green nitrogen rich leaves you may benefit from adding nitrogen in the form of composted manure or liquid fertilizer.
Pros and Cons of Fresh Versus Composted Wood Chips
From my personal experience the benefits of using fresh arborist wood chips outweigh the cons in the long run. Fresh arborist wood chips win in terms of soil moisture retention, weed suppression, attracting beneficial microbes and fungi growth and building healthier soil that mimics nature. The only drawback of using fresh arborist wood chips compared to composted and screened wood chips is that when germinating seeds you have to be careful to push them aside in order for sprouts to successfully grow. This can be challenging at first or if your mulch is too thick. The other drawback may include increased decomposer pest activity (slugs, pill bugs) especially in very wet climates.
Where Do I Get Wood Chips?
If you are based in the USA we highly recommend you try Chip Drop to make a request to get free wood chip deliveries from local tree trimming services. Make a donation offer, describe what kind of wood chips you are looking for (ie. nicely chipped for gardening) and if you don't get any response initially, keep trying!
Other ways to find free arborist wood chips include:
Calling tree service companies directly to make a request. Foraging wood chip piles on public property. Buying green waste composted mulch from a compost facility.
Do NOT buy bulk landscaping mulch deliveries or bagged bark or wood chip mulch for your vegetable garden!
How To Start Planting in Your Back to Eden Garden Immediately
When you install a layer of paper in the summer or spring to kill tenacious weeds and grasses the paper layer will not have enough time to decompose by the time you want to be planting. For example, WeedGuard paper takes 3-6 months to decay. This should not keep you from planting in the Spring. However, it is important to take some simple steps to allow your plant's root system to access the soil and grow happily!
How to Plant Starter Plants
Using starter plants can be a very successful option for beginners who got a late start on their garden planting season. If you are transplanting start plants, temporarily pull back the wood chips and compost from the surface to expose the paper underneath. You can use a knife to cut an X in the paper. Then simply dig your hole and plant your transplant in the soil. Gently pull the compost and wood chips back around the base of the plant. The compost and wood chips will help the paper decompose, deposit nutrients when watered, and prevent weed and grass infestations without intensive labor.
How to Plant Seeds
If you are planting a row of seeds, temporarily pull back the wood chips and compost from the surface to expose the paper underneath. You must plant seeds directly into your soil or compost -- this is the layer directly underneath your wood chip mulch that is fine, aerated, dark brown, spongy, organic matter. However, your plant's roots will need to be able to get through the paper layer into the soil below, so you will need to cut or hole punch the paper layer where you plant seeds. You can use a dibber to easily make holes in the paper. Make sure the holes are big enough (2-4 inch diameter) for sunlight to access the seed and germinate. Alternatively, you can buy the Weedguard Prepunched Hole Paper to save time and labor. Then simply sow your seeds in the holes. Cover the seeds with compost. Water the seeds. Once your seeds have sprouted and have grown at least several inches tall and put out several leaves you can side-dress your plants with wood chips.
PLANTING TIP: Radish seeds are the first seeds you should plant in your Back to Eden garden to test if the soil is ready for planting seeds. Radish seeds germinate quickly and both the color of the leaves and the health of the root help determine your soil quality. If the sprout comes up yellow, it is an indication that your soil is nitrogen deficient and you will need to add a layer of composted animal manure as fertilizer. If your radishes fail to produce a vegetable root but they still have a healthy top it is a clear sign your soil lacks potassium and phosphorus. You can amend your soil by adding wood ash (for potassium) or bone meal (for phosphorus). If the sprout is green and your radish root is red, your soil is healthy and you are ready to plant in your Back to Eden garden!
The Easiest and Best Seeds to Plant
Depending on the time of year and your growing zone, you may be able to still plant spring/summer seeds or even get started on planting your fall & winter crops at this time. Starting with organic, heirloom and high germination rate tested seeds is important. Here are some of the easiest hand picked selections to help you get started with a selection of best varieties based on the growing season. Remember to plan ahead for fall harvest by planting crops in the summer.
Plant Perinneals to Grow Your Edible Food Forest!
Consider planting perennials as a highly beneficial addition to your edible paradise. Plants like fruit bushes, vines, berries, herbs and fruit and nut trees can last a lifetime without needing to be planted again! They provide tons of benefits to your vegetable garden - shade, saving labor and providing reliable food, while enriching your soil with their leaves and roots. Perennial food forests can dramatically improve the results of your annual vegetable garden and save you work by creating an optimal growing habitat!
Seeds need to be evenly moist to germinate. If you live in a climate that does not get enough rain for your seeds to germinate on their own you should water daily until they come up. Once they come up, stop or dramatically decrease watering. It's easy to over water when you see a dry soil or mulch surface. Always stick your fingers two inches deep into the soil to feel for moisture before assuming you need to water. If it's moist, don't water. You can easily kill plants and rot their roots if you're not careful. Your plant's roots will grow stronger and need less and less watering as they grow.
Enjoy your Back to Eden Garden immediately and watch it get better and better every growing season! Remember to add another layer of 4 inches of arborist wood chips every year in the Fall or whenever the layer is decomposed enough to become thin.
Learn how to start a Back to Eden Garden in Raised Beds or Containers
One of the leading experts on the scientific research behind gardening and landscaping with arborist wood chips, Dr. Linda Chalker Scott sat down with us in an exclusive interview. We wanted to find out the truth about the biggest wood chip myths according to scientific research and trails. You won't want to miss out on learning the shocking answers to many of the most common concerns and misconceptions associated with wood chip mulch!
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott has a Ph.D. in Horticulture from Oregon State University and is an ISA certified arborist and an ASCA consulting arborist. She is WSU’s Extension Urban Horticulturist and a Professor in the Department of Horticulture and holds two affiliate associate professor positions at the University of Washington. She conducts research in applied plant and soil sciences, publishing the results in scientific articles and university Extension fact sheets. In 2020, she was named the new editor for the Western Arborist magazine.
One of the most important decisions a gardener makes is choosing where to buy their garden seeds. We have compiled our top picks of the 10 best seed companies to buy seeds from in 2022. These seed companies offer organic seeds, heirloom seeds, and Non-GMO seeds. Whether you are looking to buy vegetables, fruits, or herbs we highly recommend that you buy seeds from the following seed companies.
Back to Eden Gardening is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our website, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. That being said, we only share our favorite seed companies that we have personally tested their seeds for quality and absolutely love planting in our gardens!
High Mowing Organic Seeds is one of the few garden seed companies that is 100% Certified Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified. Their seed catalog includes over 600 heirloom, open-pollinated and hybrid varieties of vegetable, fruit, herb and flower seed. Their seeds are available for home gardeners and commercial growers.
✔ Organic ✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
Eden Brothers' selection includes over 700 different vegetable & herb seeds. varieties available by the packet or in bulk with additional savings. Plant your home garden with everyday vegetable and herb seeds, or branch out with rare hybrid, organic and heirloom seeds.
✔ Organic ✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
Botanical Interests is Non-GMO Project Verified. They carry over 600 high-quality varieties, including hundreds of heirlooms and certified organic seed, that has been tested several times for high germination rates. Every Botanical Interests seed packet is designed to help gardeners succeed. Featuring gorgeous botanical artists' renderings of each variety, each packet is like a mini-encyclopedia, full of information inside and out, to inspire and assist all levels of gardeners.
✔ Organic ✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
Over half a million customers have chosen True Leaf Market Seed Company for their seed and growing needs. They carry a huge selection of vegetable, herb, and flower seeds including heirloom, organic, and asian seeds. They have a beautiful selection of speciality seeds including microgreens, wheatgrass, cover crops, sprouting, cotton and tobacco seeds.
✔ Organic ✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
Seeds Now has become a favorite of Back to Eden gardeners due to being a seed company that offers Organic, Heirloom, Non-Hybrid, Open Pollinated, and Non-GMO seeds for gardeners and farmers! After using their seeds we can attest to Seeds Now being a high quality seed supplier. Seeds Now sells a variety of seeds including vegetables, herbs, medicinal, and even survival seed bank kits! Get 10% off your oder using the code: SAVE10NOW
✔ Organic ✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
Burpee is one of America's oldest supplier of vegetable and flower seeds and is one of the best places to buy seeds online. They have a vast selection of seeds (and live plants) available for all growing zones and for all seasons. Choose from hundreds of vegetable, herb, and fruit seeds as well as heirloom varieties like rainbow carrots and gold watermelon. Alternatively, you can purchase a wide array of flower seeds, from fast-growing zinnias to perennial tulip bulbs. Additionally, all seeds are Non-GMO to ensure purity and quality.
✔ Organic ✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
Territorial Seed Company is a privately held company, wholly owned by Tom and Julie Johns. Today they grow almost 20% of the seed they offer, especially lettuces, tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash. Their mission is to improve people's self-sufficiency and independence by enabling gardeners to produce an abundance of good tasting, fresh from the garden food, twelve months a year.
✔ Organic ✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
Truelove Seeds is a farm-based seed company offering culturally important and open pollinated vegetable, herb, and flower seeds. Their seeds are grown by more than 50 small-scale urban and rural farmers committed to community food sovereignty, cultural preservation, and sustainable agriculture. They share their profits directly with our growers: 50% of each packet sale goes back to the farmer who grew it! They also carry a selection of seeds facing extinction that are listed in the Ark of Taste living catalog.
Since 2011, MIgardener has prided itself with being family owned and operated with a mission to connect gardeners worldwide. Shop over 750 varieties of vegetable seed, fertilizer, garden tools, and view thousands of free gardening videos.
SAVE 10% NOW with entering this code at checkout: EDEN
✔ Organic ✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
Fedco Seeds is one of the best sources for cold-hardy selections especially adapted to the demanding Northeast climate. Through their product lines and cultural hints, we encourage sustainable growing methods. They offer a large selection of certified-organic cultivars and regional heirloom varieties. Fedco has five divisions: Seeds, Potatoes, Onions and Exotics, Organic Growers Supply, Trees, and Bulbs, and sends out three catalogs annually. They buy products from all over the world.
✔ Organic ✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange offers about 800 varieties of vegetable, flower, herb, grain, and cover crop seeds. They emphasize varieties that perform well in the Mid-Atlantic and Southest, although gardeners and farmers from all over the country grow their seeds. As of 2017, over 60% of the varieties they offer are Certified Organic and over 60% are grown by small farmers they contract with directly. They offer many unusual Southern heirlooms, including peanuts, southern peas, naturally colored cotton, collards, okra, roselle, turnip greens, corns for roasting and meal, and butterbeans. They do not sell chemically treated seeds.
✔ Organic ✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
Since 1975, Seed Savers Exchange has protected the biodiversity of our food system—and our planet—by preserving rare, heirloom, and open-pollinated varieties of seeds in their seed bank at Heritage Farm and encouraging gardeners and farmers worldwide to grow, harvest, and share heirloom seeds as well as recount the inspirational stories behind them. Today, Seed Savers Exchange, a registered 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization, houses the nation’s largest nongovernmental seed bank of its kind, where thousands of rare, heirloom varieties are safeguarded for generations to come—our children, and our children’s children.
✔ Organic ✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
Park Seed is one of America's oldest and largest mail-in seed and plant companies that now sells seeds online. For over 150 years American gardeners have depended on Park Seed Company to deliver the best seeds, bulbs, plants and accessories. Originally founded in Pennsylvania in 1868, Park Seed has become one of the oldest and largest mail-order gardening companies in the country. Their seed catalogs and website offer a complete line of flowers, roses, fruits, vegetables, perennials, annuals, seed-starting materials, and garden tools.
✔ Organic ✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
San Diego Seed Company mission is to provide Southern California with organic local seeds that have been acclimated to the range of microclimates in our region so that growers can be as successful as possible. This woman-owned and operated company believes in sustainable growing practices, seed saving, and healthy local food systems. San Diego Seed Company works with a wide range of non-profit organizations and community gardens to encourage these sustainable practices.
✔ Organic ✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
Pinetree Garden Seeds is a family-owned and operated business that offers more than 1300 varieties of seeds at low prices for the home gardener. Their seeds are sold in smaller packets so that you can try a larger variety of flowers or vegetables. All seeds are Non-GMO.
✔ Organic ✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
Johnny's Selected Seeds is a privately held, employee-owned seed producer and merchant. For over 48 years Johnny's Selected Seeds has been helping families and friends to feed one another. Their focus is on helping you have a successful growing experience. When you buy from Johnny's, you can be confident that the seeds you are planting are fresh, vital, and of superior quality. They guarantee it.
✔ Organic ✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
]]>Before you begin, DO NOT TILL THE SOIL! All of the materials you use to mulch your garden plot are biodegradable and will immediately begin to decompose, breaking down into nutrient-rich soil. It will transform your dead soil into living soil!
Simply cut your grass and leave it in place. Then you are ready to begin!
A step that many people forget is to first add a layer of dampened paper. Apply at least 3-4 sheets of newspaper or WeedGuard and then spray it down with water. Water helps the paper from flying away and it removes any air pockets between the paper and the grass. The goal is to suffocate the grass and weeds so that they decompose.
Do you have tenacious weeds and grasses established where you are planning to install a Back to Eden Garden? Then WeedGuardPlus is for you!
This biodegradable paper weed block offers many advantages:
Saves Time and Money. With WeedGuardPlus, you spare yourself endless hours of weeding, giving you more time to enjoy your garden. And unlike black plastic, you don’t have to remove and dispose of it at the end of the season. WeedGuardPlus decomposes naturally over the course of the growing season, adding beneficial organic material to the soil – with no work on your part!
Helps Plants Thrive. With WeedGuardPlus, your plants thrive without competition from weeds. What’s more, the porous material allows water, nutrients and air to pass through easily. Unlike black plastic, soil temperatures remain moderate and roots aren’t overheated. The result: happy plants!
Benefits the Environment. Organic WeedGuardPlus is OMRI Listed and 100% biodegradable. It’s the natural alternative to black plastic.
Give it a try, and enjoy more bounty with less effort!
Apply at least 3-4 inches of organic compost (the more compost the better) on top of the paper.
Apply at least 3-4 inches of arborist wood chips to the surface of the compost. Wood chips are essential for a Back to Eden Garden.
Sign up for a free delivery of wood chips today!
Apply a dusting of composted animal manure (ie: composted chicken manure) as a natural fertilizer on top of your garden as needed throughout the growing season. Adding organic liquid fertilizers is an excellent way to generate healthy plant growth with rapidly bioavailable nutrients. Do not add chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides!
Make sure your garden plot is always mulched! Mulch provides a protective covering on top of your soil that helps retain moisture which reduces watering, weeding, and work. Wood chips also decompose into rich soil overtime.
Does your vegetable garden plot need edging? If you installed your Back to Eden Garden next to an area with grass growing an edging border is a must to prevent the grass from creeping into your garden. It can also help with creating pathways, and help prevent mulch from spilling into unwanted areas.
]]>But for us vegetable gardeners, what really sets Vego Garden ahead of the rest of the competing raised garden bed companies is the material! We are growing food in our raised bed afterall.
VEGO GARDEN RAISED BED MATERIAL
The company was founded with the goal of launching a modular metal garden bed system with a 20+ year life expectancy, utilizing eco friendly metal materials instead of cutting down trees.
Vego Garden uses innovative Aluzinc steel to manufacture sustainably organic raised garden beds. Vego Gardens are made with food grade 304 stainless steel hardware. Unlike galvanized steel, Vego Garden panels don't rust or leach toxic chemicals into the soil. The steel used is also 100% recyclable and is made using a green process.
Because of the affordable pricing and longevity, Vego Garden is the most cost-efficient way to build DIY garden beds. At only $0.4/ft per year in comparison to wooden beds that cost $3/ft per year and up, there is definitely an opportunity for savings.
HOW TO FILL RAISED GARDEN BEDS AND SAVE MONEY
Once you have assembled your Vego Garden, the next task is filling the raised garden beds before planting. One of the most common questions we've been receiving is how to fill a new raised bed and still save money. There are many different methods out there that work well! We have tried many organic growing mediums to fill Back to Eden Raised Garden Beds. From our experience, the Hugelkultur method is the easiest and most cost-efficient method to fill deep raised beds. But of course, we add a little Back to Eden Gardening twist!
Back to Eden Gardening is a no-dig organic gardening method that emphasizes the health of the soil by mimicking the design of nature. Back to Eden Gardening is one of the easiest methods to use when installing raised beds. Tiling to prepare soil for a garden is not only labor and expensive, it actually increases weed infestations by turning the weed seeds into the surface of your soil. Instead of tilling, disturbing or stripping the soil of weeds, grasses to prepare a garden plot, simply cover the soil to smother them.
This is a vital practice for healthy soil and healthier plant growth. No-dig raised bed gardening allows the soil microbiome, all the beneficial microorganisms and life in the soil to thrive instead of being diminished. The smothered weeds and grasses will feed your plants and soil with nitrogen rich organic matter.
Using free, clean, organic materials like black and white, non-glossy newspaper sheets or blank cardboard works best to smother the weeds and grasses. If needed, first cut down the tops of very tall weeds and grasses and let them lay on the soil. Next, simply lay down the 3-4 sheets of newspaper on top of weeds, grasses and soil at the location of your raised bed garden container. If you don’t have newspaper, use a single layer of cardboard, overlapping to ensure no gaps are left for weed seeds to creep in. If you can, allowing the base of your garden bed to remain open to directly access the native soil below is ideal. An open bottomed raised bed allows for optimal root growth, good drainage and reduced irrigation needs.
If you don’t have a good space for your raised bed with soil below they can also be installed on a hard base such as concrete. But they will need to be at least 2 feet deep for deep rooted plants to have enough space to grow. You will also need to install a drainage layer on the concrete before adding soil or compost. Coarse gravel or stones work great as an organic drainage layer based on hard surfaces.
Set your raised bed garden frame right on top of the paper or cardboard base layer and follow the simple steps below to fill the bed.
THE HUGELKULTUR METHOD + BACK TO EDEN GARDENING
Hugelkultur is the process of layering organic garden waste inside the raised garden bed, before adding soil to save on costs, in addition to attracting and preserving moisture. Of German origin, Hugelkultur translates to “mound or hill culture.” It is especially applicable in areas where soil retention and drainage are poor, which is typical of soils found in urban areas.
The materials used include large rotting logs, sticks and other debris that are layered with grass clippings, coffee grounds, compost, and other organic matter. As the material breaks down, it creates a flourishing environment for beneficial fungi and microbes that mimics the natural landscape of a forest. There are many advantages to the Hugelkultur method, including soil quality improvement, minimal maintenance, and water retention.
In the Hugelkultur method, the large wood pieces are laid at the bottom as they will take the longest time to decompose. The base of logs may take up to 5 years before they break down into rich, wonderful raised garden bed soil. The smaller pieces are placed on top of the larger pieces to fill space, such as branches and sticks, and then grass clippings, leaves, and kitchen scraps. Compost and wood chips are the next two layers of your raised garden bed so you can start planting as the organic matter beneath decomposes.
To create a bountiful garden bed, we highly recommend covering the soil with a wood chip mulch. We mulch the surface of the raised beds with 3-4 inches of arborist wood chips. If you can’t get arborist wood chips as a sheet mulch, consider organic weed free straw as a mulch on your raised garden beds. We recommend choosing organic mulches and fill materials that are locally available to you.
Fresh arborist wood chips or composted wood mulch placed on the surface of your soil will countless benefits. This organic matter will decompose over time, and plant roots will travel deeper into the raised garden bed soil to obtain the nutrition. It will also work as a big sponge, retaining water to maintain an ideal moisture level.
You can actually sign up to get a free delivery of arborist wood chip mulch right to your home anywhere in the United States using the website Chip Drop that our friend Bryan Kappa started!
What are the advantages of raised bed gardening?
We have a food system that’s making billions of people sick. It’s costing our economy trillions of dollars in “sick care” costs and it’s polluting our environment. Most will agree that the toxic conditions of industrial farming must stop.
It’s time for a food revolution!
That’s why our friends, John and Ocean Robbins, created the Food Revolution Summit. It only happens once a year! The best part? It's FREE!
As Back to Eden Gardeners, we know the importance of growing our own food... But we want to learn more about the power of the foods we are growing and eating for our health.
Click right here to sign up for free and get the latest breaking food revolution wisdom.
During the Food Revolution Summit, you’ll hear from 25 of the world's most respected food and health experts. Each interview is highly focused and lasts 45+ minutes. These audio interviews will be broadcast free of charge throughout the Summit.
Imagine how good it would feel to eat foods that create energy, enthusiasm, productivity, and peace during the day while allowing for perfect sleep. And to stand (and eat) on the right side of history and be part of the solution on planet Earth.
We ALL have the power to take a stand for our health and for the planet. It’s time to rise up and say no to the status quo, to a system that doesn’t put our health and happiness first and doesn’t respect the planet or treat animals humanely.
The most powerful shift we can make is with the food we eat.
Want to be part of the solution?
]]>We just had the pleasure of watching The Need To GROW, which was all the buzz at film festivals around the world — winning awards at almost half its screenings. It’s narrated and executive produced by the brilliant actress/activist Rosario Dawson, and it’s a food documentary unlike any you’ve seen before.
Right now my friends at Food Revolution Network and Earth Conscious Life are teaming up to offer it to you for a special four-day FREE screening.
>> DO NOT MISS THIS! You can watch this inspiring film right now — for no charge!
The film follows three underdog solution innovators as they tackle some of the biggest challenges of our times.
For anyone starting to lose hope about the health of our species and our planet, this is THE film you need to see!
You’ll notice familiar faces with experts like Dr. Vandana Shiva, Paul Stamets, and Jeffrey Smith, but this is really a story-driven journey that will leave you inspired. It might even make you cry (in a good way!).
>> Click here to join in this global event and claim your seat to watch it all for free here, now.
P.S. There is a twist halfway through that will shock you, but I promise it’s worth watching until the end. Watch it now and you’ll see what I mean!
]]>The best fruit tree varieties for each grower are wildly diverse and unique based on your specific region and growing conditions.
In my small backyard garden in southern California, I have been having so much fun growing a variety of oranges, lemons, apples, pomegranates, peaches, and even some exotic fruits like bananas and papaya. Each plant offers such unique benefits and specific needs and there is so much to learn!
Some fruit tree varieties have been maintained, passed on, and selected by growers for many centuries. Varieties have been maintained for their superior flavors, nutrients, hardiness, and beauty as an accent in your garden. There's nothing more beneficial to a grower than incorporating perennials into their annual garden space.
Mulching the soil under fruit trees makes so much sense! Adding a wood chip mulch on top of your soil after planting your fruit trees helps execrate the natural function of mulch in nature. Trees naturally mulch the soil with leaves and broken branches that provide essential organic matter for the growth of the plant. No matter what season, getting a load of free wood chips delivered to spread will greatly benefit your fruit trees or orchard. Once established, most fruit trees require less water. When a layer of mulch is applied to cover the root system, fruit trees become quite a drought-tolerant tree. Master Back to Eden Gardener and arborist Paul Gautschi has maintained a thriving fruit tree orchard with his wood chip mulching system for many decades and has never watered or irrigated them despite droughts and moderate rainfall.
Fruit and nut trees add an attractive addition to your landscape, offering stunning flower blooms when many other annual vegetables are still dormant. They provide food year after year without having to replant. But they also serve a vital role in your garden ecology. Fruit trees blossoms attract pollinators and their root systems help host a plethora of beneficial microbes. Trees leaves also perform carbon drawdown, enriching your soil by pulling carbon out of the atmosphere and back into your soil. Fruit trees also offer gardeners a self-sufficient source of mulch, dropping leaves and providing nutrient-rich tree branch trimmings to chip up and return to your soil. Considering the increasing prices of produce, growing your own can be an extremely wise investment.
Planting zones are used as guidelines to determine the hardiness and survivability of various trees and plant species in each geographic area. The hardiness zones are based on the local climate. The USDA determined the zones using average annual minimum temperatures in each region. A plant’s recommended zone is based on the temperatures it can withstand, which is often congruent with the temperatures it would expect to see in its native conditions.
When ordering a tree or plant, make sure to know your planting zone first to determine what plant and tree varieties are acclimated to your growing zone.
Nature Hills Nursery is America's #1 online plant nursery. They are our top pick for delicious, highly recommended edible fruit tree varieties:
Another important thing to consider is what varieties of trees and plants are native to your growing zone. Even if many of these varieties are not categorized as edible fruit trees, they can be greatly beneficial to add to your garden or orchard to create a more resilient and beautiful growing habitat. Native trees have adapted to perform the best in your region's unique soil conditions, climate, drought, or flood tolerance and will have a better natural ability to resist your specific local pests and diseases. You will end up having to put in less work, money, and effort to improve and change your growing conditions to suit the plant's needs.
Some seeds — such as tomatoes and peppers — are best to start indoors or in a greenhouse. Some types of vegetables, such as beans and squash, are best started outdoors. If you want to successfully germinate seeds indoors or in a greenhouse you must start with the right container. I’ve tried them all and nothing compares to the Sili Seedlings trays.
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I was fed up with flimsy seed starting trays that would break, made removing the starter plant a mess and I had to pay to replace them after every growing season. There's nothing more frustrating than patiently nurturing a seed into a healthy sprout only to watch the soil and roots crumble into your hand due to the clumsy, stiff design of plastic seed containers. Additionally, toxic chemicals like BPA, leaching from the trays into my starter plants soil under the heat of the sun always bothered me.
I tried purchasing dozens of different seed starting designs - from metal to heavy duty plastic, compostable coco coir, DIY toilet paper rolls - all the most unusual and popular options on the market. I found that none of these options lasted more than one season long nor were they easy to work with. Finally, I found my forever seed starting trays. Not only do they work better in terms of germination rate, plant health, they are also much nicer to use and better for our own health!
This is my genuine gardening testimony that I hope helps other growers have the best seed starting success! The future prosperity and success of your plants starts with how the seeds are started. What sets my new favorite seed starter trays apart is really their intelligent design and unique material composition. Sili-Seedlings are the only infinitely reusable, 100% silicone seedling trays: BPA-free, food-safe, UV resistant, and FDA-grade silicone. Because of this unique sustainable material, these seed starter trays make starting, growing, and transplanting your seedlings so much easier. The propagation trays are flexible, durable, reusable, and can be sanitized after every use.
I was shocked to learn that by being resourceful and reusing my old plastic seed trays I was inadvertently spreading fungal disease to my soil and plants. When you neglect to sanitize your seed containers in between growing seasons it is easy for bacteria, disease and fungal growth to permeate the material, infecting the soil. However, as an organic conscious Back to Eden Gardener who appreciates simplicity and, the idea of hand washing or sanitizing each seed tray seemed tedious and time consuming. The use of chemical anti-fungals was also out of the question.
When I read that these new Sili Seedling seed trays were dishwasher safe I kind of chuckled at the unusual idea of putting a seed tray in the dishwasher with my dishes. However, it works and it’s so easy. Since the seed starter trays are dishwasher-safe, you can kill harmful fungi, bacteria, or viruses that could jeopardize your garden without any use of chemicals or anti-fungals. First, hose off any loose dirt on your trays before putting them in your dishwasher. Once cleaned, you can use your normal dishwasher detergent on a normal cycle. To sterilize them, look for a "steam" or "sanitize" function on your dishwasher. Once the cycle has completed, you'll have sterilized your trays. If you don’t use a dishwasher it is just as effective to throw the rinsed trays into your sink and soak them in a hot water bath with dish soap.
One of the biggest reasons gardeners have problems in their garden is reusing trays/tools from previous seasons that collected harmful fungi or airborne pathogens. It's unfortunate and very annoying, so if you run into these problems, try using something that can be sterilized. It could save your garden and a lot of your time!
Read our other article to learn more about How to Start Vegetable Seeds and Gardens Indoors. Happy Gardening!
(Original Photography © Dana & Sarah Films. Article contains Affiliate Links)]]>
The top reasons it is import to buy organic seeds for your garden:
1. Support Organic Farmers and Organic Growers
Our number one reason to buy organic seeds is to support organic farmers! You can support the organic movement by supporting organic farms. It's that simple.
2. Eating Organic is Better for Your Health
Organic foods have fewer synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and are free of hormones and antibiotics (animal products). The demand for organic food is only growing as people are making the decision to eat organic for the benefit of their health and the health of planet Earth!
3. Organic Seeds are More Adapted for Organic Growing
This one is really important for Back to Eden gardeners to get a hold of. One of the practices of Back to Eden Gardening is to use organic growing principles. Seeds produced organically are better suited to organic growing conditions.
If you are an organic farmer or organic gardener, it is important to plant seeds that are adapted to organic growing conditions because you don't use synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. The plant genetics contained within a tiny seed will determine if chemicals will be needed throughout the growing season. Thankfully, we can adapt seeds to naturally resist disease and pests, grow in warmer and dryer conditions, all the while requiring less water! How cool is that?
4. Growing Organic is Better for the Planet
Growing organic seeds has incredible benefits to our environment. The way we cultivate food has a huge impact on the planet. Our hope is that the US agricultural system pulls away from relying on intensive chemical farming practices. By buying organic seeds, we are reducing the amount of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers that are being used to grow seed crops.
CONCLUSION
With all this taken into consideration, the best seed a gardener can plant is seed that you saved from your organic garden! The seeds will be adapted to your location, soil condition, and climate giving you the optimal results.
If you can't save all of your own seed, please considering investing in one of our 10 Best Seed Companies that sell organic seeds and heirloom varieties!
]]>Back to Eden Gardening is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our website, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.
The Back to Eden Gardening Summit teaches you how to grow your own healthy food with less work! Our goal is to teach you labor-saving, yield-boosting, money-saving techniques that will empower you to grow your own Garden of Eden! Watch and participate in over a dozen video interviews with the world’s leading experts in the regenerative organic food growing movement. No matter where you live, your soil condition, or your climate, this Summit will inspire you to grow a no-till, regenerative, organic vegetable garden. The objective of this Summit is to take a deeper look into the growing principles that were first introduced in the documentary Back to Eden.
Bio-Complete Compost Bundle - Soil Food Web
Having healthy, functional soil results in several benefits that growers are becoming aware of as the Regenerative Agriculture movement grows. Many of these benefits can be seen in months, rather than years, once the Soil Food Web is restored. That’s the microbial community that drives the soil ecosystem.
Study the science and application methods behind the Soil Food Web Approach in the Foundation Courses, then work with one of Dr. Elaine Ingham's highly skilled mentors to create your own biological compost and master the microscope.
When Ron Finley first grew a garden on a curbside dirt strip in Los Angeles, he got cited—and then a warrant was issued for his arrest. He fought back, got the laws changed, and started a movement. Now the community activist and self-proclaimed “Gangster Gardener” is teaching you how to grow your own food, keep your plants alive, and find beauty and freedom in gardening no matter the size of your space. Start planting a revolution.
Transition to Certified Organic by Rodale Institute
What is “certified organic?” What does it cost, and what’s the benefit? How do I know if I’m doing it right? If you’ve ever asked any of these questions, Rodale Institute’s Transition to Certified Organic Agriculture course is for you! This on-demand, online course was designed to help farmers understand the USDA National Organic Standards and use them as a framework for their successful transition to certified organic production of vegetables, grains, livestock, and more. This course will guide you through the basics of transitioning to certified organic alongside the global leader in organic farming. You’ll benefit from decades of research and experience from Rodale Institute staff, in addition to special guests, partners, and farmers.
Soil Advocate Training by Kiss the Ground
Kiss the Ground's flagship stewardship course introduces a “new, old view” of soil regeneration, explains the principles of regenerative agriculture, shows students different advocacy pathways, and teaches students how to speak about and demonstrate these principles for different audiences. Soil Advocate Training has been redesigned to include not only Kiss the Ground's Don Smith and Finian Makepeace but also many other thought leaders and experts in the movement to regenerate our planet. Our goal is to provide students with new knowledge and perspectives while honoring the origins of this wisdom.
This 8-module course includes lectures, interviews with industry leaders and experts, a curated list of readings and resources, a monthly webinar for graduates, and exclusive access to a Kiss the Ground slideshow for alumni to use in future presentations.
Introduction to Regenerative Gardening by Kiss the Ground
Kiss the Ground's “Introduction to Regenerative Gardening” was created to show everyone, everywhere, that they can be a gardener. Designed with all levels in mind, the course begins with the history of gardening and then takes students from understanding their soil and what to plant, through troubleshooting potential issues, and finally to harvesting. “Introduction to Regenerative Gardening” includes not only Tashanda Giles-Jones, the course designer and teacher, but also many other community leaders and guests with expertise in gardening, composting, regeneration, policy, and more. Our goal is to provide students with the knowledge and tools they need to confidently - and regeneratively! - begin or continue their gardening journey. This 8-module course includes lectures, demonstrations, panels and interviews with industry leaders and experts, a curated list of readings and resources, and a monthly webinar for graduates.
The Herb Garden by Learning with the Experts
Dr. Rachel Petheram teaches you how and where to grow herbs, which herbs to grow, and how to use herbs in food and floristry. We loved that Dr. Petheram is an organic grower who shares her knowledge about how to utilize herbs and keep pests away naturally, without the need for chemical sprays.
]]>There are at least 3 things to consider before buying a wood chipper shredder:
With these things taken into consideration, these are our top recommended wood chipper shredders for your home and garden starting from small electric chipper shredders and working our way up to powerful gas powered wood chippers.
Electric wood chipper shredders are ideal if you need a lightweight, portable, and quiet operation without fumes. Most homeowners won’t need a commercial-grade model, and will benefit from a smaller size wood chipper that functions as a shredder/mulcher.
PRO TIP: When using an electric wood chipper that is handling heavier tree limbs up to 2 inches in diameter, don’t feed it in fast. Allow the cutter blade the time to chip the branch instead of rushing it which could clog or jam it.
This unit will chip branches up to 2 ½ inches in diameter and is also ideal for shredding leaves. There are no hassles with gas or oil. It turns on with the flip of a switch.
This is an ideal chipper shredder for processing small leaves, twigs, brush and branches up to 1.75 inches thick. If you have a small yard and garden, this may be the perfect size wood chipper for you. It is much quieter than gas powered wood chippers and is extremely portable making it very convenient.
Gasoline-powered wood chippers are ideal if you need a little more power to process larger branches than electric models. If you have a larger yard with lots of yard waste, these models are for you!
EFCUT C30 Mini Wood Chipper Shredder has a 15.6 inch cutting rotor with 2 blades + 6 hammers turning out smaller shreds with high feeding speed, grilling device on discharge outlet turning leaves into mulches. EFCUT C30 Wood Chipper Shredder can easily chip, shred and mulch 3 inch MAX branches and limbs with leaves at a high waste reduction ratio up to 20:1.
This chipper shredder easily cuts through branches, sticks, and garden waste up to 3” inches thick. Use this machine for shredding material in your backyard, on a commercial job site, or both. It’s adaptable for the needs of any property.
The WoodMaxx DC-650 is a self-feeding gasoline engine powered wood chipper that features a 6" x 5" infeed opening and can handle material up to 2.5" in diameter. Weighing in at 187 pounds this drum style chipper is equipped with a professional grade Briggs & Stratton XR950 gasoline engine that boasts 6.5 HP and 9.50 ft./lbs. of torque. The material is fed into a sloped infeed bin and fed into the 9" diameter 30 lb. chipper drum that acts as a power feed assist system pulling the branches in at up to 35' per/min. Although the chipper weighs almost 200 pounds it is perfectly balanced and can be easily moved around the work site.
The WC45 is a 4-1/2” capacity commercial and rental duty wood chipper. Choose between Vanguard or Honda GX commercial engines. This machine is highway towable behind any vehicle with a 2” hitch ball. The tool steel knife and heavy flywheel ensure dependable chipper operation for your general tool rental department or your light commercial application. The WC45 comes standard with a high discharge that allows you to throw debris into a truck bed or cart for easy transportation. The HD chute also pivots 180° and has 11 locking points for a wide variety of positional choices.
Commercial-grade wood chippers are ideal for arborists, tree trimming service companies, rentals, or big properties. With more horsepower comes a higher price point but keep in mind that these drum chippers can process much larger tree branches in no time at all.
The Intimidator 12X is one of three 12” capacity drum-style chippers offered by Bandit. This machine is unique as it features a single top feed wheel and a 20" diameter drum with two knives. The 12X excels at chipping palm fronds and other fibrous materials. It is the lightest of the three 12" capacity drums chippers offered with an approximate weight of 4,700 pounds with a gas engine.
Quite simply, Bandit® hand-fed chippers set the bar that other manufacturers aspire to reach. Bandit offers a wide range of disc and drum style chippers for any market, with capacities ranging from 6” to 21” diameter.
Engineered with exclusive features that promote user-friendly operation, high efficiency and operator safety, the BC190XL also delivers outstanding maintenance access and ease of transport. This makes the BC190XL a great value for arborists, landscape contractors and rental stores who need to get rid of their woody waste material.
According to our research, these are some of the best wood chippers from those of you outside of the United States. There are a handful of companies designing innovative wood chippers that produce amazing ramial chipped wood that will making the perfect mulch!
The innovative SPLIT-FIRE® 4090 Horizontal Wood Chipper is safe to operate, efficient to use, and super easy to transport; and move around in the yard and through gates, given the small and narrow footprint of the wood chipper.
4090 Horizontal Wood Chipper is designed for continuous heavy-duty use. It is a self-feeding wood chipper capable of handling untrimmed branches, bark, leaves, and stringy wood to produce consistent ½ inch to ¾ inch wood chips or mulch.
As with all SPLIT-FIRE® brand products, the 4090 chipper is low maintenance; only requiring occasional engine and belt service, and blade sharpening or replacement.
As always, we would love to hear your recommendations for the best wood chippers in the comments below!
Whatever task you put it to, the BX52s will be more than equal for it. Heavily built yet affordable, the BX52s is bigger and better than the BX42s - a highly successful chipper that has proved successful with many NZ farmers. A heavy duty rotor, cleverly angled infeed hopper, 360 degree outlet chute and tough blades have all contributed to this success.
The Linddana TP 100 MOBILE Wood Chipper is ideal for thinning out bushes and chipping branches and whole trees up to 100mm in diameter in gardens, municipalities, cemeteries, housing societies, etc. Owing to the vertical in-feed funnel, the TP 100 MOBILE is a compact machine that does not take up much space. Width 74 cm. The construction also enables a strong in feed without the use of feed rollers.
Africa Biomass Company (ABC) is the only authorized dealer and Bandit distributor for Bandit Industries, Inc in Africa. The Bandit Model 65XP engine-powered hand-fed wood chipper is an outstanding chipper for both tree services performing medium-duty trimming, and rental stores looking for a high-production, low maintenance rental unit. A wide throat opening and powerful horizontal feed wheels help this overachieving wood chipper process stubborn branches and small trees without difficulty.
For zone-specific seed planting instructions, we suggest using the Farmers' Almanac Vegetable Planting Calendar to know when to plant seeds in your garden. The gardening experts at The Old Farmer's Almanac have done the homework for you! Their planting tool is personalized down to your zip code, pulling from a database of thousands of weather station reports, and using the "days until harvest" for the most popular vegetables grown in the home garden. Then, they determine when to sow indoors, transplant, and plant seeds outdoors based on what's best for each vegetable. The planting calendar will tell you the earliest dates to plant vegetables in the spring and the last dates that you can plant for a fall harvest, based on average frost dates for your specific location. All you have to do is enter your location and click the button, "Get Planting Calendar."
Back to Eden Gardening is a wood chip gardening technique that uses wood chips to regenerate the soil, grow healthy plants, and nutrient-dense food. Planting seeds in a wood chip mulched garden is easy and does not involve preparing the soil by tilling or digging. The goal is to temporarily pull back any coarse wood chips from the row where you are planting seeds to expose the soil beneath the wood chips.
Article written by Dana Richardson. Dana is a gardener and documentary filmmaker. She has been growing organic, no-till vegetable gardens for over a decade using the Back to Eden Gardening principles. Her passion is to empower people to grow their own food and inspire more sustainable living through video, photography and writing.
Article photography by Dana & Sarah Films. All Rights Reserved.
]]>Wood chip gardening is the practice of covering your vegetable garden with wood chip mulch. Wood chips are the best mulch to use in a garden! Back to Eden Gardening is the top wood chip gardening method that is perfect for backyard gardens, home gardens, and vegetable gardens. Wood chip gardens conserve water, prevent soil erosion, suppress weeds, and increase soil fertility.
In fact, a 1990 research study comparing 15 different organic mulches reveals that wood chips were the superior mulch for holding moisture, moderating soil temperature, and controlling weeds.
Moisture Retention: Wood chips absorb more water than any other mulch; water which both cools the soil and is slowly released to plants. It was found that covering the soil with at least 2 inches of wood mulch slows moisture evaporation from the soil.
Moderating Soil Temperature: A layer of wood chips also blocks the sun and helps keep the soil cool during hot weather.
Weed control: Weeds have difficulty emerging from beneath a cover of wood chips.
So what are you waiting for? Request a free delivery of wood chips to your home garden today!
Studies have found that one of the reasons wood chip mulch leads to better vegetable gardening results than straw or other mulch sources is because of the slow release of nutrients. Instead of breaking down and disappearing after one season, wood chips continue to deposit compost-tea nutrients into your soil for many years to come. While you are sitting back enjoying your lush vegetable garden a sort of passive natural fertilization is occurring constantly without the need for costly inputs, harmful chemicals, or intensive labor.
Unlike the uniform nature of straw, grasses, sawdust and bark mulches, wood chips include a diversity of materials including bark, wood, and often leaves. The chemical and physical diversity of wood chips containing various sizes and materials of wood and leaf matter enables them to resist the tendency towards compaction that is seen in other organic mulches. The naturally occurring air pockets allow for an ideal combination of air circulation and moisture retention without compacting.
When applied to the surface of the soil wood chips create an interlocked blanket and ideal habitat for beneficial microorganisms to thrive. These environmental conditions provide plenty of air, moisture, moderate temperatures and an ideal rich carbon food source for bacteria and fungi. These microorganisms are the ideal farm employees, working on a fair trade system in which you supply them with wood chip food and they supply you with fertile soil for your food to grow in your garden.
In terms of the economic benefits for the gardener and farmer, wood chips are one of the most readily available mulching resources that exist. Since they can often be obtained from a free wood chip delivery from a tree trimming service company wood chips are considered one of the most cost effective and sustainable mulching material. Plus, the reuse of plant material as a mulch keeps wood chips out of a landfill - a priceless benefit for our environment.
It is not surprising to us that wood chips have been scientifically proven as a superior mulch for enhanced plant productivity. From our personal experience, wood chip gardening is the ultimate no-till gardening method. Anyone who dares to try wood chip gardening will grow to love it!
Fresh wood chips created from freshly cut tree branches sourced from multiple species of trees provide the most well balanced composition for a garden. Fresh wood chips have been fragmented through a wood chipper and have not undergone the process of composting. The resulting small pieces of chipped wood have a variety of shapes and sizes and contain plenty of brown branches, green leaves/needles in the mixture. It is important to understand that the leaves are a source of nitrogen and the branches are a source of carbon. This ratio creates an ideal mulch gardening material when the wood chips have composted.
The words "wood chips” are often misunderstood since people use wood chips as a broad term that encompasses all wood waste byproducts such as bark nuggets, wood shavings, sawdust, landscape mulch. It is crucial to understand the different materials that are lumped into the same category of wood chips and the very different compositions, uses, and applications.
Some of the common materials that fall into the same category as gardening wood chips that we do not recommend the following:
Wood chip gardening is a no-till gardening method that mimics the way the natural forest generates healthy, resilient, fertile soil. Instead of tilling, you simply apply a layer of wood chip mulch to the surface of soil.
Traditionally, gardeners dig, loosen, or turn over the top layer of soil in the Spring before planting. Their intention is to eliminate weeds and make it easier to plant but it literally does the opposite causing more work and more weeds. Tilling the soil kills microbial life in the soil which makes farmers dependent on chemical fertilizers. Plus, tilling releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
In stark contrast, wood chip gardening, no-till gardening, and cover crops keep the carbon cycle in balance. If fact, these growing practices actually sequester carbon in the soil. That is why we cannot recommend enough times to switch to wood chip gardening which eliminates the practice of tilling and the need for chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.
Back to Eden Gardening is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our website, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.
Article written by Dana Richardson. Dana is a gardener and documentary filmmaker. She has been growing organic, no-till vegetable gardens for over a decade using the Back to Eden Gardening principles. Her passion is to empower people to grow their own food and inspire more sustainable living through video, photography and writing.
Article photography by Dana & Sarah Films. All Rights Reserved.
]]>Never get ride of your leaves in a green waste collection bin again! Mulch them instead to quickly regenerate the soil.
Stationary leaf mulchers are heavy-duty machines that are extremely powerful. They’re the best choice when you have a lot of deciduous trees in your yard producing fallen leaves you want to quickly and efficiently shred. Although they are stationary, they are portable units.
The WORX WG430 Electric Leaf Mulcher comes with a mega-powerful 13-amp motor that generates up to an astounding 8,500 RPM for shredding leaves and other small soft materials. It can mulch up to 53 gallons of leaves per minute. The Flex-a-Line blade-less mulching system has an 11:1 mulch ratio. This stationary leaf mulcher disposes leaves and debris directly into a bag making it easy to transport. Features a clean air motor cooling system which reduces the generation of dust. The leaf mulcher easily folds down for compact storage.
The Flowtron LE-900 transforms your leaves into the ultimate mulch with the help of its extra-large, 21-inch-diameter funnel. The Leaf-Eater effortlessly reduces wet or dry yard waste -- including rain-soaked leaves and grass clippings -- into nutrient-rich mulch or compost that you can reuse right in your flowerbeds or vegetable garden. The Leaf-Eater offers the convenience of a range of shredding adjustments from coarse to fine -- it can be adjusted from coarse 8:1 to fine 30:1 particle size reduction. A sliding control lever that’s easy to read allows you to choose the right setting for the job.
Back to Eden Gardening is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our website, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.
Back to Eden Gardening is a no-till gardening method that uses wood chip mulch since it is the absolute best mulch! When we mention the term mulch, we are referring to a layer of wood chips, applied directly on top of the surface of the soil. Scientific studies have found that while most natural mulching materials offer benefits, wood chips used as a mulch may provide the most benefits to gardeners when compared with other common organic mulches such as straw, leaves, or grasses. The best part is that you can usually find a FREE delivery of wood chips near you!
Gardeners and farmers will be amazed by all of the benefits of applying wood chip on their no-dig garden or no-till farm. Wood chips are a carbon-rich resource that has the power to regenerate soil, increase carbon sequestration in soil, and potentially save the planet.
Like all biological phenomena, the effects of wood chips on the soil are both simple and extremely complex. The biological complexity of a soil system can affect processes such as nutrient cycling, the formation of soil structure, and decomposition rates. Studies show that wood chips have the following benefits when used as a mulch in a garden:
Modern agricultural practices including tillage, chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides are destroying the fertility, productivity, and health of the soil. Wood chips are perhaps the most misused and under appreciated mulch in agriculture and gardening for regenerating soil. Our goal is to change that! Wood chips have the following benefits for a gardener and farmer:
Fresh wood chips created from freshly cut tree branches sourced from multiple species of trees provide the most well balanced composition for a garden. Fresh wood chips have been fragmented through a wood chipper and have not undergone the process of composting. The resulting small pieces of chipped wood have a variety of shapes and sizes and contain plenty of brown branches, green leaves/needles in the mixture. It is important to understand that the leaves are a source of nitrogen and the branches are a source of carbon. This ratio creates an ideal mulch gardening material when the wood chips have composted.
The words "wood chips” are often misunderstood since people use wood chips as a broad term that encompasses all wood waste byproducts such as bark nuggets, wood shavings, sawdust, landscape mulch. It is crucial to understand the different materials that are lumped into the same category of wood chips and the very different compositions, uses, and applications.
Some of the common materials that fall into the same category as gardening wood chips that we do not recommend the following:
One of people's first concerns when receiving a delivery of fresh wood chips is, "what type of tree am I getting?" There are in fact some types of wood chips that will actually suppress seeds and plants from growing. Some trees generate naturally occurring chemicals that stifle the growth of competing seeds and seedlings. This process is called allelopathy. By definition, allelopathy is a biological phenomenon by which an organism produces one or more biochemicals that influence the germination, growth, survival, and reproduction of other organisms. These biochemicals are known as allelochemicals and can have beneficial (positive allelopathy) or detrimental (negative allelopathy) effects on the target organisms and the community.
These tree species are recommended to avoid using in your vegetable garden due to their seed germination suppressing allelopathy. Research in your local region if there are other allopathic tree species to avoid.
Myth #1: Wood chips will tie up nitrogen in the soil.
When wood chips are cultivated, tilled, dug or mixed into the soil in any way nitrogen is temporarily tied up and made unavailable for the plant. Nitrogen is essential for healthy leafy greens and plant growth. That's why Back to Eden Gardening is a no-till gardening method.
When you apply wood chips to the surface of soil as a "covering," "layer," or "sheet" nitrogen loss only occurs temporarily at the very surface level where the native soil meets the wood chips. Studies show this layer underneath the wood chips is where bacteria and fungi are actively working to decompose the wood. The nitrogen is quickly returned back to the soil 3 months after the initial application of freshly cut arborist wood chips. Nitrogen is never actually lost, but rather temporarily being used by the carbon to help break it down. This is why we recommend applying arborist wood chips in the Fall season so the wood chips have time to decompose before Spring planting season.
In conclusion, the wood chip nitrogen tie up myth is only detrimental to your garden if you cultivate, till, dig, or mix wood chips into your native soil. When you use wood chips as a mulch, the soil will improve dramatically each year with less and less input required over time.
Myth #2: Wood chips will kill your plants.
What type of wood chips you use in your garden does matter! It is incredibly import that you are 100% aware of what tree(s) are in your wood chips. Before wood chips are delivered to your property, make sure you inquire about what type of wood chips are being delivered. Tell the arborist or tree service company you are using them in a vegetable garden. Why? Allelopathy is the chemical inhibition of one plant by another due to the release into the environment of substances acting as germination or growth inhibitors.
For example, Reformation Acres, shares that wood chips from black walnut trees affected her tomato plants. Black Walnut wood chips have been confirmed by science to contain a chemical that inhibits plant growth. Paul Gautschi had a negative experience with Eucalyptus tree wood chip mulch which inhibited the growth of plants. Make sure you do research about the trees that grow in your local area. If you are certain about what trees are in your wood chip mulch, plants will not be killed through the leaching of allopathic chemicals in wood chips.
NOTE: When you are signing up for a free delivery of wood chips, the Chip Drop app has a place for your to make special requests to your tree service company. Please, make a note if you have any specific requests about what wood chips from trees you are interested in receiving. For example, write, "No Black Walnut. No Eucalyptus."
Myth #3: Wood chips acidify soils.
Studies show when you do not use the right nitrogen to carbon ratio, mulch can increase soil acidity over time. For example, if you use 100% bark, 100% needles, or 100% leaves, you are not mulching properly. Changes in pH may be found in the decomposing layer of mulch but these have little effect on underlying soils. However, it is difficult to significantly alter soil pH without the additions of chemicals.
Myth #4: Wood chips increase pests such as ants, slugs, termites, etc.
The top question we get asked is, "Do wood chips attract termites and pest to your garden?" The first thing to address is that wood chips do not bring pests to your property that are not already present. We have never had an issue with termites nor have we heard testimonies of any gardeners complaining about termites invading due to wood chip mulch. As far as pests, if you have a healthy vigorous plant, insects should not be a problem. Wood chips are the key to building healthy soil that grows healthy plants!
We recommend starting a Back to Eden garden by covering your garden soil with fresh wood chips in the Fall. Autumn is the season in nature when trees naturally shed their branches, leaves, and needles. It also allows your fresh wood chips to decompose in place which helps improve your soil structure for better spring planting conditions. That being said, you can install a Back to Eden garden at any time of year!
One of the top sources for a large amount of freshly chipped wood chips is a local, professional tree trimming service company. After tree service companies have pruned, trimmed, or removed trees, they will chip all of the tree branches on-site. They are often looking for places to deliver their full truckload of freshly chipped wood. Although wood chips are considered a byproduct of tree trimming and pruning, they have endless benefits and economic value if used correctly in a vegetable garden and orchard. Using locally produced wood chips is sustainable and environmentally friendly because it keeps this wonderful resource out of a landfill.
Don’t underestimate the economic and soil enriching value of a free or low cost wood chip delivery from a local tree trimming service. A typical load of wood chips delivered by a tree trimming service can contain up to 20 cubic yards of wood chips! These are usually made from locally sourced, clean freshly cut tree branches.
Looking for a FREE wood chip delivery near you? Depending on where you live, you may be able to get a delivery of wood chips for free.
We recommend you Sign Up for the Chip Drop App to get access to a wood chip mulch delivery! Chip Drop helps connect tree service companies with gardeners and landscapers. The owners of Chip Drop is an arborist named Bryan Kappa based in Portland, Oregon who spent several years hauling arborist wood chip waste to the dump or hard to access free dumping sites. After noticing a growing demand for the wood chip loads ignited by Back to Eden Film, he saw a need to create a service that would help provide arborist wood chips to people who needed them.
It is free to sign up and free to make a delivery request. Sign Up Today!
This is the best online mulch calculator. You can measure your garden area and easily calculate how much mulch you need to cover your garden and orchard.
]]>We have faith that all of our gardens will not just survive but thrive during this coming year despite any hardships that we face as a result of the pandemic. That's why we are recommending the best survival seed kits in 2021 as one of the most beneficial investments to make this gardening season.
ARK Heirloom Seed Kits include heirloom seeds that are grown on a small family farm using the Back to Eden Gardening method! This means the seeds may be genetically adapted to more similar soil conditions to your Back to Eden Garden. We also appreciate the generous quantity of seeds that are provided per seed variety. This makes the cost of the seed kit higher than competitors but this seed kit is actually a better investment when you consider the cost per seed. We also love the FREE Seed Guide that is included which gives you detailed planting instructions, plant uses, and even how to save your own seeds for replanting for the rest of your life! Lastly, you can't find comparable packaging to this seed kit on the market. The unique design keeps seeds safe from natural disasters and helps preserve their viability for up to ten years!
Seeds Now has a Mega Seed Bank that includes 55 different varieties of crops in a re-sealable storage container. This seed bank is your very own supply of open-pollinated, non-hybridized, NON-GMO seeds to be kept on hand in the case of an emergency or the unavailability of seeds.
The Back to Eden Gardening Heirloom Seed Kit is a curated vegetable garden seed kit featuring the most popular, best-selling heirloom seeds that are easy to grow in a Back to Eden Garden. Our selection includes twelve varieties of 2,000 vegetable, fruit, and herb seeds. Now you too can grow many of the same varieties of vegetables seen in Back to Eden Film! We took our time carefully researching, and testing the results of our seed kit varieties to save you time and work achieving the best vegetable gardening results. No matter if you are a beginner gardener or advanced gardener our seed kit includes crops that will grow well for your garden!
Back to Eden Gardening is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our website, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.
Article photography by Dana & Sarah Films, All Rights Reserved. Article Written by Dana Richardson. Dana is a gardener and documentary filmmaker. She has been growing organic, no-till vegetable gardens for over a decade using the Back to Eden Gardening principles. Her passion is to empower people to grow their own food and inspire more sustainable living through video, photography and writing.
]]>Back to Eden Gardening Facebook Group is one of the best places to ask a gardener all of your questions. Learn from an inspiring online community with thousands of gardeners around the world. The group is over 10,000 members strong and growing everyday! Back to Eden Gardening Facebook Group features incredible gardening tips and customized advice just for you! We welcome you wherever you are in your journey back to Eden.
Back to Eden Gardening on Instagram has nearly 20,000 followers! The hashtags #backtoedengarden and #backtoedengardening currently have 30,000 tags on Instagram. That's why you should join us on Instagram and start sharing photos of your Back to Eden Garden! Connect with a friendly global community of Back to Eden gardeners who are daily sharing their gardening tips and encouragement!
Back to Eden Gardening is on Pinterest! Follow us so that we can share your Pins on our Board!
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BEST HEIRLOOM TOMATO SEED VARIETIES
Heirloom tomatoes grow in so many shapes, sizes, colors, and flavors, how do you pick which tomato variety to grow in your garden? Choosing the best tomato seed varieties is important to get the most bountiful harvest. This means not only choosing a trusted seed supplier with heirloom, non-GMO seed varieties but also knowing which varieties of tomatoes are known for delicious and prolific fruit production. The Back to Eden Gardening Heirloom Tomato Seed Kit is a curated collection including the most popular, best-selling, heirloom tomato seed varieties. We brought together the top 10 best-tasting gourmet tomato varieties all in one package totaling over 225 tomato seeds.
HOW TO START TOMATO SEEDS
Starting tomato plants from seeds is easy and requires the proper soil conditions, warm temperatures, and a little bit of patience. Let’s take a look at how to start tomato plants from seed.
WHEN TO START SEEDS
Tomatoes are best to start indoors.The best time to start tomato plants from seeds as starters are about six to eight weeks before you plan on planting them out into your garden. If you get frost in your growing region start growing tomatoes from seed four to six weeks before your last frost date. Transplant your tomatoes two to three weeks after your last frost. You can also search your zip code in a customized planting calendar to find the ideal time to start your tomato seeds indoors. If you start tomato seeds indoors or in a greenhouse you can greatly extend your growing season compared to direct sowing. Starting tomatoes in containers also helps provide the ideal growing conditions
HOW TO START TOMATO SEEDS
Starting seeds indoors is simple and satisfying. As a Back to Eden Gardener, you are probably accustomed to direct sowing seeds in your rich garden soil and watching them grow amazingly with very little work. It's important to understand that the growing conditions for starting seeds in containers are very different from direct sowing seeds. Seeds can be started in small pots of damp seed starting soil or damp potting soil. The soil you plant your starter seeds in has very different needs than the soil you direct sow seeds in your garden. Indoor seed starters are removed from the outdoor cycle of nature where the beneficial insects, soil microorganisms, sunlight, rain, and wood chips do the work for you. That means starting seeds indoors will require you to make a little more effort to create growing conditions that mimic nature indoors! But don't worry, we will show you how to bring nature's beneficial growing conditions indoors and watch your plants grow abundantly year-round.
Tomato Seedlings in Bagged Vegetable Planting Mix (left). Tomato Seedlings in Homemade Compost Mix (right).
Best Seed Starter Soil Mix for Tomatoes
A good quality organic seed starting soil mixture retains consistent moisture, ample aeration, essential nutrients and good drainage. Using your native soil or the wrong consistency of a soil mixture for starting seeds in containers can lead to stunted growth, lack of germination, or seed rotting. This is why it is very important to get the proper seed starting soil to have success germinating seeds indoors. This winter I compared the results of planting tomato seeds in three different organic soil mixtures. Our three organic soil mixtures included a bagged seed starting mix, a bagged vegetable garden planting mix, and a homemade soil mix. Each soil mixture contained varying ingredients. The ingredients greatly effected the soil moisture retention, drainage and nutrient composition. I planted Amish Paste tomatoes in all of the soil mixtures at the same time in the same indoor growing conditions. The tomato seedling growth results were astoundingly different. The bagged vegetable mix performed the worst, it retained too much moisture and caused the sprout's growth to be stunted and wither. The bagged Seed Starter Mix grew the second-best since it provided aeration and better drainage. The winner was the Back to Eden homemade seed start mix. The homemade compost mix recipe contained 60% Back to Eden screened wood chip compost, 30% vegetable compost and 10% composted horse manure with sawdust. This tomato plant grew by far fastest and the mature plant was the strongest. However, since the compost in homemade soil mix retains more moisture than the bagged starter mix it required more attention to frugal watering. For beginner gardeners, I recommend sticking to a high-quality organic seed starting mix. It's worth the investment to ensure your seeds will grow successfully. However, if you are an experienced gardener and have access to aged homemade wood chip compost and vegetable compost you should certainly conduct your own seed starting experiments!
How to Plant Tomato Seed Starters
In each container, plant two tomato seeds to help ensure you have a plant in case a seed does not germinate. Plant the tomato seeds about three times deeper than the size of the seed or 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch (3-6 mm.) deep. Check the seed packet to determine each tomato seed variety's recommended planting depth. Place the seedling containers in a warm place with temperatures that are ideally between 70 to 80 degrees F. (21-27 C.) will provide the best growing results. If you don't already have a greenhouse or don't live in a sauna temperature home you may need a seed starter heat mat for starting your seeds indoors! If you're a hardcore DIY gardener you can alternatively try setting your seed containers on top of the refrigerator to speed up germination on the heat-generating surface. Once the tomato seeds have germinated, you can take them off the heat pad if you are using one, however you should continue to keep them in a warm space. Thin the seedlings as needed and pinch the tops off after they loose their true leaves to create stronger, stockier plants.
Best Grow Lights Tomato Seedlings
Tomatoes love sunshine and need plenty of bright light to grow indoors. A south-facing window will work as a location for setting your starters you have one. Alternatively, a full spectrum grow light placed a few inches (8 cm.) above the tomato seedlings will provide your seeds the bright light they crave. My preference is to use the natural sunlight in a greenhouse and also use full spectrum grow lights indoors or in a greenhouse. The benefits of the LED grow light are that it is more energy-efficient which means lower electricity bills and you can extend the hours of light your seedlings get during the winter. The best growing light option for you will depend on your climate and the design of your indoor space. Try various methods if you can and compare the results!
Growing Tomato Seedlings in a Greenhouse
If you live in area with plenty of sunshine year round, consider using a greenhouse to start your tomato seedlings. You can grow your seeds under natural sunlight and naturally harness solar heating instead of using heating mats and indoor grow lights. However, depending on your climate you may need to add a heating source to your greenhouse. Of course you may also want to add grow lights to your greenhouses in some climates.
How to Water Tomato Seedlings Indoors
Now it's time to mimic nature's rain showers indoors! Tomato seedlings need consistently moist soil to germinate but not excessively wet soil. You'll need to water daily until your seeds germinate. It can take 1-2 weeks for tomato seeds to germinate depending on the conditions. Watering from below, no-work method that ensures the proper soil moisture levels with self-watering containers. Self-watering containers mimic the design of sub-irrigation in nature. The seeding plants draw the moisture stored below the soil up through the roots of the without over-saturating the top-soil. Watering with a mister or spray bottle is another great technique for watering seedlings until the germinate since it provides moisture without overly wetting the soil. Spray the seeds about 4-5 times once or twice per day to keep the soil from drying out. Once your seeds sprout and grow leaves you can switch from a mister to watering with a watering can to ensure the water penetrates down to the roots of the plant.
How to Fertilize Tomato Seedlings Indoors
What's missing from the equation of bringing nature indoors... building soil fertility! In nature organic matter is constantly shedding from plants and trees and regenerating the soil with nutrients along with the help of microorganisms, fungi and animals. In Back to Eden Gardening growers help build soil fertility with no-till arborist wood chip mulch or other organic mulches combined with organic growing principles. Arborist wood chips constantly input nutrients into the soil as they decompose, reducing the needs for fertilizer. However, when starting seeds indoors you'll need to regularly supplement the soil fertility on your own until the seedlings get strong enough to transplant into your garden. Wait until your seedling has grown a set of true leaves to start fertilizing. The true leaves will look more like what the plant's leaves look like when mature. Once the tomato seedlings have a set of true leaves you can give them quarter-strength water-soluble organic fertilizer. Every 2 weeks add fertilizer again as needed. We can't recommend more highly the results of Neptunes Organic Liquid Tomato Fertilizer. Since it is a liquid and made of clean organic ingredients it is more readily available for young plants to absorb. Liquid fertilizers also can permeate into the soil and mulch more easily than dry mixtures. At the stage of beginning to fertilize you can also optionally add a light layer of wood chip mulch or coco coir on top of your soil, slightly away from the base of the plant to help retain moisture and nutrients. Mulch will also help prevent the top of your seedling soil from hardening and preventing water drainage as it bakes under the growing light. Don't add mulch before seeds have germinated and slightly matured.
Problems Growing Tomato Start Seeds Indoors
What are some of the common problems and solutions with growing tomato seeds indoors? If your tomato seedlings get leggy, they are growing tall and not producing many leaves, this means that they need more light. You can move your light source closer or increase the amount of light the tomato seedlings are getting by relocating it. If your tomato seedlings turn purple, they need more fertilizer. Apply the quarter-strength organic tomato fertilizer again. If your tomato seedlings suddenly fall over, they have damping off which means they are suddenly dying often due to fungal disease in the soil. In this case, you may have watered too much or your soil was not a healthy seed starting ideal mixture. Growing tomatoes from seed is a fun way to add some unusual variety to your garden. Another issue with starting seeds indoors can be the plants ability to build resistance to elements like wind. Blow on the plant tops or gently run your fingers across the plant occasionally to help mimic wind and build the plants strength. Now that you know how to start tomato seeds, a whole new world of tomatoes is open to you.
How to Transition Tomato Seedlings Outdoors
If you live in area that gets frost, transplant your tomatoes two to three weeks after your last frost. You can also search your zip code in a customized planting calendar to find the ideal time to transplant your tomato seeds outdoors. Tomato seeds should take six to eight weeks growing indoors before they are transplanted outdoors. They will usually be at least 4-5 inches tall and have developed large leaves and a strong stem before they are ready to be transplanted. If you plant becomes root bound before its time to plant outdoors you can transplant it into a larger container to continue growing indoors until your weather permits.
Tomatoes must be hardened off before they are transplanted into the garden. This means planning for a period of transitioning the plants to the outdoor climate conditions. After any threat of frost has passed, set the tomato plants in your garden near where you plan on planting them. If you have cold nights, set the starter plant outside during the day and bring it inside at night for the first few days. Allow them to harden off, sitting outdoors in your garden, for about 1 week before planting. Where you plant them should be a warm, sunny location in your garden that is ideally somewhat protected from strong winds. To help tomato seedlings become sturdier, you can remove them from the containers and lay them on their sides, covering the roots with soil and leaving the top of the plant exposed. After a couple days, the tomato tops will begin to grow upright. This allows the plants to adjust to wind and shelter themselves while they adapt and strengthen.
How to Transplant Tomato Seedlings in a Garden
To transplant tomato plants in a Back to Eden Garden move the wood chip mulch layer away from the soil in the area you are going to plant. Using a rake or gloved hands, pull back the wood chip mulch layer to expose about a 6'' x 6'' square foot of the soil below. This will make planting easier without mixing a ton of wood chips into the hole. Using a garden trowel dig a hole just large enough for your transplant container to fit in. Placing your hand over the top of the container, tip the container upside down and squeeze the sides to easily remove the starter. Use your hand to gently roughen up the surface of the roots and help loosen them from a root bound growing habit.
If your soil is fertile, simply place the transplant into the hole and cover it with the displaced soil from the hole. Gently press around the base of the plant to remove air pockets. If your soil is very compact or nutrient deficient, dig the hole several inches deeper and wider than the transplant container. Mix several handfuls of homemade compost or bagged compost into the hole with some of the displaced native soil.
How to Water Tomato Plants
After transplanting your seedlings they need plenty of water initially. Water the plant deeply to make sure the soil fills the hole on all sides. Use a lead-free hose and a garden hose nozzle on a "shower" setting to avoid washing out your soil or adding in toxins. If you live in an urban area with treated water also consider adding on a garden hose water filter to remove toxic chemicals. Leave the top of your transplant soil flush with the soil level so the stem is not buried too deep. Water every day in dry climates initially. Once the root system is established you may not need to water again. Wood chip mulch reduces watering needs up to 90%. However, you may need to water at least once a week on a deep soak in dry climates without rain. Push your finger into the soil below the mulch and if it has dried out below the top two inches you can water.
Mulching Tomato Plants Growth
Since tomatoes love lots of soil moisture and are heavy feeders requiring rich soil, mulching the soil around tomatoes is vital for the best results. The best organic mulch for tomatoes is free arborist wood chips in terms of nutrients and soil moisture retention. Add 4-6 inches of wood chips on your soil. Organic seed-free straw or coco coir are also a great mulch options if you can't access wood chips or don't have space for a bulk wood chip delivery. However it does not provide much in terms of nutrients and therefore may require more fertilizing throughout the growing season.
Best Tomato Fertilizers for Growth and Fruit
Fertilize your tomato plants with the organic liquid fertilizer every few weeks if your soil is not fertile. Established Back to Eden Gardeners will have already regenerated deep fertile soil conditions and will need to fertilize less frequently. It is super helpful to test your soil if you are not sure what your soil conditions are before wasting money and resources throwing unneeded fertilizers on the soil. That said, a good quality organic tomato fertilizer that is formulated to provide the ideal ratio of essential nutrients will really improve your results when used properly. It's worth the investment to get a clean, concentrated organic liquid fertilizer. A little goes a long way and it improves your soil dramatically, reducing your fertilizing needs in the future. The main four macronutrients that tomato plants need in order to be healthy are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and calcium (Ca). These are known as the N-P-K ratio in fertilizers. In seedlings phosphorus encourages healthy root development. In young plants it provides for strong stems and leaves. During flowering and fruit set phosphorus promotes fruit development and boosts nutrition in tomatoes. Nitrogen provides healthy green leaf foliage and growth. If you see yellowing leaves on your tomatoes they need nitrogen.
Tomato Cages and Growing Tomatoes in Containers
Staking tomatoes with tomato cages also makes harvesting easier, and can help prevent some pests from finding your tomatoes since the fruit will be kept off the ground. It also saves space for small or urban garden spaces. Tomatoes grow well year round in containers and pots even for those without backyard space. However, some people prefer to allow their tomatoes to sprawl and grow without supports. This has the advantage of allowing more even sunlight exposure to the plant and reducing the need for heavy pruning to prevent crowding within your tomato cages. While tomatoes love sun and heat they actually like some afternoon shade to grow their best fruit.
Pruning Tomatoes For Better Fruit
Tomato plant leaves tend to grow bushy to create its own shade for the vine. This said, it's important to maintain your tomato plants by periodically pruning and pinching off suckers to improve a tomato plant’s health, vitality, and production. Pinch off the suckers, the stems growing upright out of the "armpit" of two other stems. Indeterminate tomato varieties require more pruning to prevent overgrowth than determinate varieties that stop growing on their own eventually. Don't over prune to avoid too much heat exposure or insufficient foliage for photosynthesis.
Tomatoes are so fun and easy to grow! Share your tomato gardening growth and harvest journey with us! Grow your own tomatoes with the Back to Eden Gardening Heirloom Tomato Seed Kit today.
Article photography by Dana & Sarah Films, All Rights Reserved. Article Author Dana Richardson. Dana is a gardener and documentary filmmaker. She has been growing organic, no-till vegetable gardens for over a decade using the Back to Eden Gardening principles. Her passion is to empower people to grow their own food and inspire more sustainable living through video, photography and writing.
]]>Today we will answer some of the myths and facts about mulch and termite problems. Our goal is to teach you how to avoid termites in mulch. Let me start this article by saying that we have never had an issue with termites nor have we heard testimonies of any gardeners having termite problems due to wood chip mulch. Nevertheless, one of the common concerns we receive from gardeners is, "does wood chip mulch attract termite infestations?"
What is the best mulch to use to avoid termites?
Did you know that some types of wood chips deter termites and are even toxic to termites!? Cedar, cypress heartwood, melaleuca, southern tidewater red cypress and California redwood are not edible to termites and decrease a termites chance of survival. Research has proven that Cypress heartwood extracts actually are one of the most effective natural repellents of termites. If you are concerned about termites or already have a termite infestation, ask for one of these types of trees mulch when you sign up for a wood chip delivery. The Chip Drop App is free to sign up for and allows you to make special requests such as this.
What do termites feed on?
Most termites found in North America feed on cellulose-based material like wood, books, boxes, furniture, and drywall coverings. Termites prefer solid wood as a food source since it is higher cellulose and they can build their colony tunneling infrastructure in large beams. For this reason, they do not prefer mulch or composted wood chips. Subterranean termites need a moisture source to survive. Drywood termites do not need any additional moisture and will attack sound wood.
Does mulch attract termites?
Although termites like feeding high cellulose organic matter, wood-based mulches aren't going to provide termites with a source for heavy feeding.
Drywood termites are the most common termites to infest your home. This is because drywood termites feed on dry wood, obviously! They will usually feed on your home's framing, structural timbers, hardwood floors and furniture. However, drywood do not make contact with the soil. They are able to survive with the little bit of water they find in the dry wood they inhabit. Because drywood termites don’t make contact with the soil, putting mulch in your garden shouldn’t affect their population or provide an attractive food source for them. Furthermore since their colonies infrastructures are made up of long tunnels that enable them to work together their ability build this infrastructure in wood chips is not possible.
The second most common termites species are dampwood termites like the Subterranean Termite. Dampwood termites do like moist wood and often can be found eating dead or decaying tree stumps and logs. Again, they work in colonies so wood chips don't provide an ideal structure to build tunnels in like they can in a decaying log for example. Although dampwood would find a layer of mulch an attractive habitat to nest underneath, they rarely are less likely to infest buildings do to their affinity to feeding on wet organic matter, not dry structures. In the case they do try to infest a building they would enter at ground level or have to build mud tunnels to enter through an existing opening into in a house. This enables them to travel without contacting sunlight since sunlight kills termites. Bottom line, although an existing dampwood termite colony may enjoy a moist garden mulch habitat they are not likely to infest your home unless your home has an already existing rotting wood problem. Keep mulch away from your foundation to prevent problems.
Seeds Now has become a favorite of Back to Eden gardeners due to being a seed company that offers Organic, Heirloom, Non-Hybrid, Open Pollinated, and Non-GMO seeds for gardeners and farmers! After using their seeds we can attest to Seeds Now being a high quality seed supplier. Seeds Now sells a variety of seeds including vegetables, herbs, medicinal, and even survival seed bank kits! Get 10% off your oder using the code: SAVE10NOW
✔ Organic ✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
Botanical Interests is Non-GMO Project Verified. They carry over 600 high-quality varieties, including hundreds of heirlooms and certified organic seed, that has been tested several times for high germination rates. Every Botanical Interests seed packet is designed to help gardeners succeed. Featuring gorgeous botanical artists' renderings of each variety, each packet is like a mini-encyclopedia, full of information inside and out, to inspire and assist all levels of gardeners.
✔ Organic ✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
Burpee is one of America's oldest supplier of vegetable and flower seeds and is one of the best places to buy seeds online. They have a vast selection of seeds (and live plants) available for all growing zones and for all seasons. Choose from hundreds of vegetable, herb, and fruit seeds as well as heirloom varieties like rainbow carrots and gold watermelon. Alternatively, you can purchase a wide array of flower seeds, from fast-growing zinnias to perennial tulip bulbs. Additionally, all seeds are Non-GMO to ensure purity and quality.
✔ Organic ✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
High Mowing Organic Seeds is one of the few garden seed companies that is 100% Certified Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified. Their seed catalog includes over 600 heirloom, open-pollinated and hybrid varieties of vegetable, fruit, herb and flower seed. Their seeds are available for home gardeners and commercial growers.
✔ Organic ✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
San Diego Seed Company mission is to provide Southern California with organic local seeds that have been acclimated to the range of microclimates in our region so that growers can be as successful as possible. This woman-owned and operated company believes in sustainable growing practices, seed saving, and healthy local food systems. San Diego Seed Company works with a wide range of non-profit organizations and community gardens to encourage these sustainable practices.
✔ Organic ✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
Johnny's Selected Seeds is a privately held, employee-owned seed producer and merchant. For over 48 years Johnny's Selected Seeds has been helping families and friends to feed one another. Their focus is on helping you have a successful growing experience. When you buy from Johnny's, you can be confident that the seeds you are planting are fresh, vital, and of superior quality. They guarantee it.
✔ Organic ✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
Pinetree Garden Seeds is a family-owned and operated business that offers more than 1300 varieties of seeds at low prices for the home gardener. Their seeds are sold in smaller packets so that you can try a larger variety of flowers or vegetables. All seeds are Non-GMO.
✔ Organic ✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
Since 1975, Seed Savers Exchange has protected the biodiversity of our food system—and our planet—by preserving rare, heirloom, and open-pollinated varieties of seeds in their seed bank at Heritage Farm and encouraging gardeners and farmers worldwide to grow, harvest, and share heirloom seeds as well as recount the inspirational stories behind them. Today, Seed Savers Exchange, a registered 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization, houses the nation’s largest nongovernmental seed bank of its kind, where thousands of rare, heirloom varieties are safeguarded for generations to come—our children, and our children’s children.
✔ Organic ✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
Park Seed is one of America's oldest and largest mail-in seed and plant companies that now sells seeds online. For over 150 years American gardeners have depended on Park Seed Company to deliver the best seeds, bulbs, plants and accessories. Originally founded in Pennsylvania in 1868, Park Seed has become one of the oldest and largest mail-order gardening companies in the country. Their seed catalogs and website offer a complete line of flowers, roses, fruits, vegetables, perennials, annuals, seed-starting materials, and garden tools.
✔ Organic ✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
It is important for us to recommend companies that are leading the movement to preserve heirloom seed varieties. However, it is important to note that even though they may practice some organic growing principles, they are not certified organic and do not offer organic seeds.
Native Seeds Search is a nonprofit seed conservation organization based in Tucson, Arizona. Their mission is to conserve and promote the arid-adapted crop diversity of the Southwest in support of sustainable farming and food security. Currently, they have over 500 heirloom seed varieties in their seed bank!
✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds offers one of the largest selections of 19th century heirloom seeds from Europe and Asia, and their seed catalogs now feature about 1,000 stunning heirloom varieties. Their mission is to provide the seeds of a sustainable food supply for everyone and keep heirloom varieties alive for future generations. All of their seeds can be saved, shared and traded, and they encourage people to save their own seed.
The Back to Eden Gardening Heirloom Seed Kit is a curated vegetable garden seed kit featuring the most popular, best-selling heirloom seeds that are easy to grow in a Back to Eden Garden. Our selection includes twelve varieties of 2,000 vegetable, fruit, and herb seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Now you too can grow many of the same varieties of vegetables seen in Back to Eden Film!
✔ Heirloom ✔ Non-GMO
It would be wrong to not list several other seed companies that we have heard wonderful things about but have not personally tried.
If we missed any of your favorite seed companies, please let us know in the comments below!
For those of you based in Canada, we highly recommend West Coast Seeds. Founded in 1983 in Vancouver, British Columbia their goal is to source and supply seeds of a higher quality than have been available to home gardeners. Following the traditions of organic farming and gardening, untreated and certified organic seeds are their focus. Today, West Coast Seeds offer over 1,000 varieties of untreated, non GMO, non GEO, open pollinated, and hybrid seeds as well as a wide range of quality gardening supplies. West Coast Seeds is certified by the Pacific Agriculture Certification Society.
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Back to Eden Gardening is the revolutionary no-till gardening method pioneered by American gardener and arborist Paul Gautschi. Paul practices a no-dig gardening technique in which he installs wood chips on the surface of the soil. Back to Eden Gardening regenerates soil, conserves water, and restores soil biodiversity while practicing organic gardening principles and sustainable permaculture methods for growing food. Paul has helped millions of home gardeners grow more fresh produce at home with less work and without using chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides.
Paul answers the most frequently asked questions about how to start a Back to Eden Garden and successfully grow food in a vegetable garden and fruit orchard. Gardeners and farmers will learn Paul Gautschi's answers to the most common Back to Eden Gardening problems, mistakes, criticism, and myths including the following questions:
THE COVERING
What materials do you recommend as a mulch?
What type of wood chips do you suggest not to use as a mulch?
Do you recommend using cedar for wood chips?
What have you learned about using hay and straw?
How do you pick out a good source of wood chips?
How do you recommend preparing the ground?
How thick do you apply the wood chip mulch?
How do you recommend eliminating grass and weeds?
When do you recommend applying wood chips?
What if I do not have enough space for a garden?
What if I do not have enough sunlight for a garden?
SOIL PREPARATION
Do you suggest tilling to prepare the soil?
Where do you suggest planting in the wood chips?
How often do you apply a new layer of wood chips?
Do you thin your vegetables that grow in wood chips?
Do the wood chips provide good insulation?
FERTILIZATION
Do wood chips tie up nitrogen?
Do you recommend animal manures as fertilizer?
What types of organic fertilizers do you recommend?
IRRIGATION
How much do you water?
Is moisture a problem with other mulches?
Is mold a problem in wood chips?
WEED CONTROL
How do you recommend eliminating grass and weeds?
How do you manage tenacious weeds like thistles?
PEST CONTROL
How do you safely deal with insect problems?
How do you protect your fruit trees from bird damage?
CROP ROTATION
Why do you not rotate your crops?
PH ISSUES
How do you view pH issues?
]]>This article teaches how to plant seeds directly into your soil or compost -- this is the layer directly underneath your wood chip mulch. Back to Eden Gardening is a no-till organic gardening technique that uses wood chips to regenerate the soil, grow healthy plants, and nutrient-dense food. Planting seeds in a wood chip mulched garden is easy and does not involve preparing the soil by tilling or digging. The goal is to temporarily pull back any coarse wood chips from the row where you are planting seeds to expose the soil beneath the wood chips.
Traditionally, gardeners dig, loosen, or turn over the top layer of soil before planting. Their intention is to eliminate weeds and make it easier to plant but it literally does the opposite causing more work and more weeds. Tilling the soil kills microbial life in the soil which makes farmers dependent on chemical fertilizers. Plus, tilling releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
In stark contrast, wood chip gardening, no-till gardening, and cover crops keep the carbon cycle in balance. In fact, these growing practices actually sequester carbon in the soil. That is why we cannot recommend enough times to switch to wood chip gardening which eliminates the practice of tilling and the need for chemical fertilizers.
We recommend planting heirloom, organic, Non-GMO seeds that have a high germination rate. Not only are you support farms that are practicing organic growing principles, the seeds will also be better adapted to organic growing conditions. Organic seeds are adapted to have natural occurring pest and disease resistance built into their DNA. Click here for our list of the 10 Best Seed Companies of 2021. Although these seed companies are excellent, we encourage you to research an heirloom, organic, Non-GMO seed company near you. A local seed company will advise you on what will grow best in your area and what plants are native to your region. Seeds that were grown and saved in your region are more adapted to your regional growing conditions and may have developed greater immunity to local plant diseases and pests. After you see what plant varieties grow best and which produce you prefer to eat, save your seeds for future planting! Saving seeds from your own garden is the ultimate source of seeds.
First, when planting a row of seeds, temporarily pull back the wood chips from the surface to expose the soil underneath. “Exposing the soil” is a dirty phrase according to Back to Eden Gardening no-till principles. This is the only time you need your soil uncovered. Ideally, you want to expose a row of soil at least 4-6 inches wide. This is easy to do with a rake. The goal is to temporarily remove any coarse wood chips from the row you are planting and prevent wood chips from falling down on top of your seeds. Be careful the wood chip mulch mound isn't too high on either side or it may collapse on your row. It's fine if some fall back onto the exposed soil but a heavy layer could prevent seeds from germinating. You can press the wood chip mounds down in place to help ensure they don’t fall back into the rows.
Take care to avoid disturbing the soil more than necessary. No matter how compact your soil is, do not till, hand rake, hoe, or hand dig into the soil to “break it up” or soften it. This is a job for the beneficial microbes living in your garden! Disturbance of the soil will always do more harm than good.
PLANTING TIP: If you want to ensure your rows are straight, first place a bamboo or wooden garden stake at each end of your garden bed with jute twine tied onto each end. You can use this as a helpful guide for creating each of your rows in straight lines, moving it as you go.
Second, you must plant seeds directly into your soil -- this is the layer directly underneath your wood chips that is fine, aerated, dark brown, spongy, organic matter. It is important for Back to Eden gardeners to understand that seeds need to be in contact with healthy soil in order to germinate and grow. Soil has the organic matter, nutrients, and microorganisms that enable plants to be healthy. Where your soil starts and the depth of your soil depends on the volume of wood chips you applied to the surface and how quickly the wood chips have decomposed.
No matter what type of mulch you use, you always want to plant seeds directly in the soil!!! Therefore, you plant seeds in a mulched garden the same way you do in any garden!
Do I Need to Add Compost?
You may need to add compost if any of the following are true:
How Do I Add Compost to a Wood Chip Garden?
When you are first installing a Back to Eden wood chip garden we recommend adding at least 4 inches of organic compost on top of the native soil. Then adding 4 inches of wood chips. After the first year you usually don't need to add compost again. Only continue to add wood chips. Your native soil will naturally become more fertile every year as the wood chips decompose.
If you don't have enough compost to cover your entire garden, no worries! Just pull back the wood chips and add 4 inches compost directly into the trench where you are planting your seeds. It is helpful to add a layer of compost in your planting row trench to help the seeds receive better sunlight exposure and prevent the wood chips from burying your seeds. This give the plants a head start on getting established while the wood chips take their time to improve your native soil.
How Do I Plant Seeds in Compost?
Pull back the wood chips and sow seeds directly into the compost. You always want to plant seeds directly in the compost or the soil!!!
Now that you understand the importance of planting seeds directly into the soil, here are some of the best ways to plant seeds. Using your thumb and index finger, plant your seeds in the soil at the recommended depth and spacing according to instructions on the seed packet. There are many specific considerations to follow when planting each variety of seed. The smallest seeds are often considered more difficult to germinate than larger seed varieties. It is crucial to not bury your seeds in thick wood chip mulch before they have had a chance to germinate. Small, tiny seeds will not sprout if they are buried in a thick layer of coarse wood chips.
For surface sowing seeds, gently press down the soil to remove air pockets. Sprinkle the seeds directly on top of the surface of the soil and gently press the seeds into the soil. Careful and consistent watering techniques are vital to successfully germinate tiny seeds. Use a mist setting on your garden hose or sprinkler that enables your soil to get sufficiently moist.
For seed planting depth anywhere from ⅛” to 2” we recommend using a rake to make a trench down the center of your row at the recommended depth. You can use a garden dibber, your finger, a pencil, or even a wood chip to create holes for deeper planting depths!
For row spacing, plant according to the seed packet spacing instructions since every type of plant requires different spacing between rows. Unlike a conventional garden, wood chips do not limit or control your row spacing in a wood chip garden. The soil in a wood chip garden is never compact. Therefore, you can walk between rows without compacting the soil. Wood chips are an excellent mulch to add to your walking paths and we highly recommend using them as such.
For seed spacing, we recommend sowing seeds a little thicker and closer together than is recommend on a seed packet. You can always thin the plants later to the optimal spacing between plants. The plants you remove can be transplanted into a new row or used to fill any gaps in the row.
Water to germinate your seeds. Make sure any watering is done with a light shower or misting setting on your garden hose nozzle. You do not want to bury any tiny seeds. Water your newly planted seeds every day until they germinate. Make sure the water filters through the surface of the soil to adequately moisten the soil several inches below the surface. Once the seeds have sprouted and developed stronger root systems you can water less or stop watering completely, depending on your regional climate. We highly recommend investing in a garden hose water filter that removes chlorine, pesticides, herbicides, VOCs, and other chemicals.
Maintain the rows as needed until your plants are established. Check on your seed rows daily to monitor their growth. If you notice large, coarse wood chips debris has fallen into a section of your rows, gently remove the debris by hand to ensure the germination of your seed is not inhibited. Larger more hardy seed varieties like beans and squash will have an easier time pushing up through wood chip mulch than tiny, delicate seed varieties like lettuces, carrots, celery.
Lastly, once your seeds have sprouted and have grown at least several inches tall you can side-dress your plants with wood chips. Once the plants are somewhat established gently pull the wood chips back around the base of the plant being careful not to bury the plant or its stem too deeply. Do not complete this step until plants have had plenty of time to establish healthy leaves and strong root systems.
PLANTING TIP: Radish seeds are the first seeds you should plant in your Back to Eden garden to test if the soil is ready for planting seeds. Radish seeds germinate quickly and both the color of the leaves and the health of the root help determine your soil quality. If the sprout comes up yellow, it is an indication that your soil is nitrogen deficient and you will need to add a layer of composted animal manure as fertilizer. If your radishes fail to produce a vegetable root but they still have a healthy top it is a clear sign your soil lacks potassium and phosphorus. You can amend your soil by adding wood ash (for potassium) or bone meal (for phosphorus). If the sprout is green and your radish root is red, your soil is healthy and you are ready to plant in your Back to Eden garden!
The most common problems with planting seeds in wood chips usually has to do with the following issues:
Thankfully, all of these problems can be remedied by adding compost and planting seeds directly in the compost!
The traditional Back to Eden Garden instructions are to install your first year Back to Eden Garden in the Fall. First laying down a weed-suppressing paper on top of your soil and then adding wood chip mulch on top. In this case, the paper and wood chip mulch have sufficient time to naturally decompose over the winter while your veggie garden plot is assumed to be remaining dormant. After about a 3 month period of time during the winter, the paper layer will usually have completely disappeared and the wood chip mulch will have begun decomposing and improving the native soil, making it perfectly prepared for planting while you sit back and relax.
If you are installing a first-year Back to Eden Garden in the Spring and want to plant your garden immediately you absolutely must add compost! We recommend compost from your compost bin, local compost facility, or any OMRI Listed compost for organic growing.
Do not plant seeds directly in or covered under a layer of fresh arborist wood chips that have just been applied to the soil surface! Fresh wood chips require time to decompose -- at least from Fall to Spring -- before the soil underneath the wood chip mulch is ready to plant. If you plant seeds directly into the top layer of fresh coarse wood chips, seeds will not have adequate growing conditions based on the following problems:
Seeds fall down too far from sunlight getting buried with coarse wood chips and may not germinate.
Seeds that may sprout will not have the soil needed for the plant roots to grow healthily.
Therefore, it is best to always plant directly in the soil beneath the wood chip mulch!
Probably the most common myth is that wood chips will rob nitrogen from the soil and plants. Nitrogen depletion is a temporary problem when fresh wood chips are tilled into the soil, which is why you should only use fresh chips as a surface mulch.
It is another common myth that wood chips do not contain nutrients and that this is the reason why you should not plant directly into them. Wood chips do in fact provide a consistent slow release of nutrients to the soil, assisting not only plants but beneficial microbes as well. Microorganisms slowly decompose them releasing nutrients into the soil below that is accessible to the plant's roots. Fertile soil will ultimately grow healthy, resilient plants packed with nutrients. The soil food web is an incredibly complete and brilliant system.
Click here to read our tips about the best wood chips to use in a garden!
WHEN TO PLANT SEEDS IN A WOOD CHIP GARDEN
For zone-specific seed planting instructions, we suggest using the Farmers' Almanac Vegetable Planting Calendar. The gardening experts at The Old Farmer's Almanac have done the homework for you! Their planting tool is personalized down to your zip code, pulling from a database of thousands of weather station reports, and using the "days until harvest" for the most popular vegetables grown in the home garden. Then, they determine when to sow indoors, transplant, and plant seeds outdoors based on what's best for each vegetable. The planting calendar will tell you the earliest dates to plant vegetables in the spring and the last dates that you can plant for a fall harvest, based on average frost dates for your location.
SIGN UP FOR A FREE WOOD CHIP DELIVERY TODAY!
We recommend you Sign Up for the Chip Drop App to get access to a wood chip mulch delivery! Chip Drop helps connect tree service companies with gardeners and landscapers.
It is free to sign up and free to make a delivery request. Sign Up Today!
Sign up for a free wood chip delivery from ChipDrop an app that finds local tree service companies working in your area and notifies them that you would like a delivery of wood chips. Find free wood chips and wood chip delivery nearby your home address!
]]>Sign up for a free wood chip delivery from ChipDrop an app that finds local tree service companies working in your area and notifies them that you would like a delivery of wood chips. ChipDrop lets you place a single request to find arborist wood chips nearby that are delivered for free! SIGN UP TODAY!
ChipDrop sends out your request to all the participating tree service companies in your area, giving you a better chance of receiving a delivery of wood chips sooner. The next time their truck is full they can pull up your information through our service and deliver the wood chips straight to your driveway, even if you're at work. Once you get a delivery, they take you off the list automatically so you don't get multiple loads. If you do want another load, it's as easy as logging into your account and placing another request.
"We help gardeners get free wood chip mulch deliveries." -ChipDrop
The free app helps gardeners and farmers find free wood chips from local tree trimming company near their home, community garden, or farm. Although wood chips are considered a byproduct of tree trimming and pruning, they have endless benefits if used correctly in a vegetable garden or orchard. The best fresh wood chips for a garden are created from freshly cut tree branches of multiple species of trees that have been processed through a wood chipper. The resulting small pieces of chipped wood have a variety of shapes and sizes and contain plenty of green leaves and needles in the mixture.
ChipDrop has a basic quality control process so you at least have some idea of the quality of material you're going to receive.
Planting seeds in a Back to Eden Garden is simple. We recommend that you first pull back the wood chips on the surface to expose the soil below the wood chips with a Razorback Rake. The goal is to temporarily remove the coarse wood chips from the row you are planting your seeds. You must plant seeds directly into your soil or compost -- this is the layer directly underneath your wood chips.
]]>Back to Eden Gardening implements organic gardening principles and is considered one of the best sustainable permaculture methods for growing food. Watch BACK TO EDEN film streaming for free to learn how to grow your own food with less work!
]]>In 2011, Back to Eden, a documentary was released about Paul’s gardening techniques. The film went viral and ignited a global no-till wood chip gardening movement. The film has received over 50 million views in 228 countries.
Back to Eden film shares the story of Paul Gautschi and his lifelong journey, walking with God and learning how to get back to the simple, productive organic gardening methods of sustainable provision that were given to mankind in the garden of Eden. Watch the full documentary for free to learn how to grow your own food with less work!
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