I learn more from gardeners that break the rules than those that follow the mainstream

Luke 10:19 You have helped me tremendously. God is faithful...so are you. I appreciate all you have done for me.

You are so refreshing! Against all advice, I’ve been digging in free wood chip and free Starbucks spent coffee grounds into my recently purchased West Texas red clay yard. I also leave a thick layer of chips on the surface. The yard originally couldn’t absorb rainfall and became slippery when wet. It was so hard it cracked when dry. In just six months after tilling in the wood chip and coffee grounds, I can now see worms where there were none. Huge worms! I’m working in sections of the yard and the first area I worked in the wood chip and coffee grounds, I’ve now added another round of the above because the original till disappeared in the soil. The numerous huge worms appeared and worked faster than I expected. Everyone had said they’d take forever to breakdown and I was originally ok with that because I thought I’d rather have something aerating the clay enough to let the soil absorb rainfall when we get it. I’m shocked at how fast I’m building a nice soil structure. Maybe it broke down faster because I started in July and the summer heat played a part in the speed of decomposition? The second turn of the soil was just done in late December with Gypsum, shale rock, broken down horse manure (free), chicken feed Oyster shells, lump charcoal (because everyone’s talking about Biochar) and of course more free wood chips and many pounds of Starbucks spent coffee grounds. I know I’m very late, but I’m going to see if I can get some winter Rye to start on that area now. We have a little warmth so it can’t hurt to try. It’ll be interesting this spring to see what I have to plant in. I’m so excited because I’m feeling optimistic! Thank you for your videos.

I don't think that you are long winded. I think that you are very informative! As always, great video!

I only have a 20 x 20 ft garden. But they way I have been doing it is working for me. A couple of years ago I can up with a plan to improve my soil. I started composting leaves and a couple of cans of food scapes and had a wood chip dump. I only used the wood chips around the borders of my plots. I have large pile of wood chips I left to degrade. I use a heavy landscaping material on my 4 x 16 ft plots with holes cut out. At the end of the first season I uncovered the plots and put down the compost I accumulated then covered it back up. Next season I uncovered and added more leaf compost and compost food scrapes. I noticed tons of worms. Had a great garden last year. 95% less weeds. Now I’m waiting for those wood chips to break down. Saved a lot of money on compost.

Thanks so much for taking the time to make this video. I too, watched the Back to Eden Garden movie and appreciate your input and for putting it into even more context. You’ve given me a greater appreciation of my clay, for sure!

I think your Jadam Indigenous Microorganisms will take care of your hard clay soil. Best of luck! I enjoy your videos.

Very informative. Many thanks😎

I *did* get a lot out of your post, thank you! Learning to balance soil composition with mostly red clay and my first attempt with wood chips has proven to be back breaking, and at times, and discouraging work too. It's reassuring to see proof that success can be achieved with enough planning, patience, and persistence. Great video!

What little soill we actually have is clay and white caleche. We are using straw for mulch as wood chips are few and far between where we live. Lately, we have been composting in place as well.

Very good explanation!...i perfectly agree with you! ...by the way...in the clay there are absolutely no minerals deficiency!

2:25 in you're talking "why would some hillbilly till wood chips into the soil?" Here in Hawaii if you do have dirt it's what I like to call Mummy dirt. It repels water like a raincoat. The only way I found of getting it to accept water, is to chill in my wood chips. And of course if one had mastered the nitrogen compost tea, nitrogen deficiency in the soil would no longer be a problem 😉 I really like your work. I'm learning a ton.

Oh my gosh I forgot to say well great video thank you for sharing! Oh, and I always click like before I even watch your videos because I know I'm gonna love it!

Amen.. See it in ur mind,... feel it in your soul and TRUST that our father will provide and take care of us...do not forget to thank mother nature...

I have been using 4 & 5-year-old wood chips and 5 year old leaf compost and have had very good success. Lo e you vidios

Wise words my friend

Great video! Good to see ya update ! I got alot better idea of your garden project now. I'm one that has a sandy soil...no clay at all. I've never thot about some of the issues you discuss. Such as plants holding in loose soil. One of my goals was to get to where I didn't need a tiller to prepare to plant, I could just get a hoe and make my furrow. So once again you've given me a few things to think about 😀! Thanks again. I got some more to say but I'll save it for another time!

Ignore the nay sayers. Clay soil has good points and bad over other types of soil. It retains moisture better then any other, but on the flip side, it makes it hard for plants to grow. You are doing right by tilling in bio mass, that is the natural way and all you are doing is speeding up the process a bit. Clay soils have to be 'lightened' up with additives. Kudos to you.

Well said

Buffalo River, floated many three day trips down to the White River Resort, love the Ozarks. Hooooaaah!

Great video

You have reach the depth your tiller will go. You could dig trenches. Run the tiller in the trench, and mix in the wood chips.

Yes, yes, yes. Plus I got this feeling there’s lots of minerals down in that clay that you can’t find in compost . I haven’t had mine tested ever, it’s just a feeling. 👍 from KC

Can you make a video on how you built your trellis? They look great.

People dont pay attention. Here is the stuff Paul uses in his garden( not orchard) 1. arborist wood chips tat has been mixed with the following a) ,chicken poo b) wood ash c) everything from his garden plus grass clippings. he sifts this material from his chicken coop and puts it in his garden where he grows his annuals. Only in the orchard he got arborist wood chips and some places has horse manure and wood shavings

If you have a problem with pests like beetles and such, use ducks to patrol the garden. They also eat snails. They don't touch your garden

Well, clay I've got! Working on the organic matter, but I don't have a tiller anymore.

I was wondering where you can get those used billboard tarps cheap. Do you have a recommendation?

Have you thought of bio char work's great in clay

Respectfully, I think you are mistaken. The method should be to pull the chips aside, plant in the actual ground, then pull the mulch back around it. Have you tried that?

What type of wood chips and best leaves are used in your gardening plan???? Are certain types better than others?????

I think wood chip only takes nitrogen out of the soil while it’s breaking down but once it’s broken down it actually produces nitrogen?

Have a look at Canadian Permaculture Legacy KZfaq channel. Some really good and interesting stuff and absolutely not a big box gardener. Awesome results and all by using nature rather than fighting it. Plus Drs Johnson Su and their bioreactor and Dr Elaine Ingram.

Only your plants uproot. Paul has none of the problems you state. And he has your clay soil . He puts the wood chip( chicken poo, greens and veggie scrap mix) on top of his soil as he said Dont till in just layer I wish you and everyone else will pay attention to the videos before jumping head fist in to something you know nothing about!