Creating New No Dig Beds in the UK and California

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3 жыл бұрын

For World Soil Day (FAO) in December 2020, we compare no dig gardening in two very different climates and gardens. Also with different plus vigorous perennial weeds.
We worked alongside Kevin Espiritu of Epic Gardening in San Diego, southern California and here is Kevin's video • How to Make a No Dig G...
Both videos shows our video calls, and how we organised and compared our gardening.
Soil is the most important part of no dig gardening. We don’t disturb it, and encourage biodiversity through feeding the organisms in soil with compost and other organic matter placed on the surface.
We thought it would be fascinating for us both to create new no dig beds and see the effects of different materials and the different weather and light levels. We have both released our own videos about this project, see them on our respective channels.
World Soil Day 5th December is organised by The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations www.fao.org/world-soil-day/en/
For Starting out No Dig, see my spring video • No-Dig Gardening for B...
Filmed and edited November through December 2020 by Edward Dowding. The editing job was a big one, and on a tight deadline for World Soil Day. We almost ran out of time because of our slow internet speed delaying the up- and downloads to and from Kevin.
Edward did not have time for the final check, but did a fine job nonetheless.
Homeacres is a quarter acre, no dig market and teaching garden in Somerset UK, temperate oceanic climate zone 8, latitude 51N.
For something different, see the creation of a new no dig garden in Latvia on sandy soil with just a little compost • No Dig Vegetable Garde...
For more on laying out beds and paths, see module 3 of my online course 1 charlesdowding.co.uk/product/...
For having soil clear of weeds without any digging, see module 4 charlesdowding.co.uk/product/...
For this information in a book, I published this hardback version charlesdowding.co.uk/product/...
and it's available in North America from Chelsea Green Publishing www.chelseagreen.com/product/...
Thanks to @inatinygarden of Instagram for helping me to meet Kevin in December 2019.
Join my channel for access to perks:
/ @charlesdowding1nodig
As a member, you can watch a new video each month, exclusively for members. Your payments support my promotion and teaching of better, easier gardening. I offer bursaries for day courses and online courses, to individuals in charge of community gardens/allotments and school gardens. Contact us through my website to enquire about bursaries charlesdowding.co.uk/contact-us/

Пікірлер: 934

@epicgardening 3 жыл бұрын

Honored to create my first no-dig bed with you Charles! Many more to come - Kevin

@jimmyb5568 3 жыл бұрын

I see you got a nice new wheel barrow for the occasion Kevin.. very nice. Great vid guys love the collab🖕

@frankbarnwell____ 3 жыл бұрын

Kevin. If you're doing more 4 and 8ft measurements, get a straight stick, pvc or light galvanized pipe cut. but thanks for the video, gents. I'm in a more humid, gulf coast climate. But the rain can stop for month, then 2 or more inches in a day. keep the knowledge coming!

@epicgardening 3 жыл бұрын

@@Michael_McMillan First time I've gotten that critique, curious what makes you say that?

@epicgardening 3 жыл бұрын

@@jimmyb5568 Haha, much needed :P

@epicgardening 3 жыл бұрын

@@frankbarnwell____ Good call!

@ShielaJolo 3 жыл бұрын

I really love the calmness in Charles voice, very soothing really.😁

@simonstones1918 3 жыл бұрын

Have you tried his meditation channel? 😇

@veronicavatter6436 3 жыл бұрын

I watch these as I go to bed.

@JodyAlford 3 жыл бұрын

He is the Bob Ross of Gardening. Not to discredit the creativity that Charles brings by any means. It is the nature of the person I see. A love and passion for the art that brings a cathartic and relaxing joy to his viewers. I also see a parallel in consistent success with objectively positive, yet somehow controversial methodology. (Charles' harvests and fertility remind me of Bob's ability to nestle a cabin into the woods with what appeared to be a single brush stroke.)

@garden_geek 3 жыл бұрын

I love these crossover episodes! I’m a California gardener like Kevin but I’ve learned so much from Mr. Dowding. Thank you both for creating such excellent content.

@JasonLockwood87 3 жыл бұрын

Kevin is such a cool guy. Always amazing to see gardeners sharing ideas and showing genuine interest in each others methods. I can’t wait to see the progress.

@TheStwat 3 жыл бұрын

@@DirtyWiscoKid Sad

@Liap 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome video! When Charles speaks it's like a reading encyklopedia of gardening 🤓 and I mean it in the most positive way possible!

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 жыл бұрын

Love that! 😀 Edward may agree....!

@racheljohnson770 3 жыл бұрын

Kevin is the one that introduced me (via youtube) to Mr. Dowding and the no dig method. I am currently using it to turn my whole front yard into a garden!

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 жыл бұрын

That is awesome!

@julesgoh 3 жыл бұрын

Me too!! Mike from self sufficient me “introduced” me to Kevin. Then Kevin to Charles. And one of them to Huw. Have since made two little no dig beds. 😁

@Imjetta7 3 жыл бұрын

Same here! I’m so thrilled to learn about no dig! Arthritis limits what I can do, No Dig will cut down on my work.

@journeywithnichole 2 жыл бұрын

Me too!

@sergio3601 2 жыл бұрын

Dommage que vos vidéos ne soient pas traduit en français, vous faites un remarquable travail, Bravo !!

@ScottRawdin 3 жыл бұрын

Joy. The underlying motor of your video. Joy of doing it, learning, sharing, experimenting... and a great joy for me to see. Thank you both.

@cynthiahofer2903 3 жыл бұрын

I live in Newport, Washington and created my first no dig garden last year. I am so pleased and surprised how well everything grew. I covered one bed with hoops and plastic and have lettuce, spinach, carrots, beets, onions with snow on the ground. I didn't think it possible. Thanks!

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 жыл бұрын

Lovely result Cindy, thanks for sharing

@Shanmammy 3 жыл бұрын

I live in Rathdrum! I’m going to redo my beds to make them no dig and use hoops with plastic. Did you use your own compost?

@AV_N_DWG 3 жыл бұрын

The back to back "build" of the beds was an excellent idea...Massive fan of both channels. Still learning a lot from both of you! already waiting for the next one!

@catnip1487 3 жыл бұрын

Love it when my favourites team up!

@theseedsoflifebali 3 жыл бұрын

2 legendary epic gardeners. So good to see the old bull and the young bull sharing theories around the same great idea.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 жыл бұрын

Nice description 😀

@rachelpetruccilloart 3 жыл бұрын

That was great, two of my favorite gardeners. Nice to see different generations of gardeners getting together here!

@barrypetejr5655 3 жыл бұрын

Love seeing all this in the very beginning stages in 2 very different climates !!!!!

@carladelagnomes 3 жыл бұрын

Charles and Kevin! Good show! Lots of gardening knowledge!

@tbluemel 2 жыл бұрын

Two of my favorites on one illuminating video! Thanks to both of you!!!!!

@kermitzaba8758 3 жыл бұрын

I play your films before sleeping. I admire your job an praye for you. Good job.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Thank you Kermit, may your sleep be healthy!

@Toodle.Pipp001 3 жыл бұрын

Wow, talk about contrasting growing conditions. As a native Los Angelina who now lives in Dorset, UK. I've worked them both. All you can do with California clay is compost, compost compost, mulch and water. I didn't know what damp was til I moved here. 😆 Nor had I ever owned a winter coat. Definitely no need for sprinklers.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 жыл бұрын

Lovely comment!

@Ricochetmex 3 жыл бұрын

My two absolutely favorite gardeners 😌

@Gotchapic 3 жыл бұрын

Hello Mr. Dowding. I am from Chula Vista, California. I am almost 80 years old. I follow Epic Gardening as well as your channel. No dig gardening is the reason I am able to have a garden. At my age, digging and tilling will make it impossible! To prove the simplicity of it, I show my family and friends my garden with no weeds. Only an occasional one..! I explain how the structure of the soil should not be disturbed. All the things I have learned from your channel and have tried, and have had success! Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. I call my garden an ‘experimental lab’ because I get to try new vegetables and also my ‘therapy garden’ where I find delight and calm! I look forward to see the comparison between your gardens! I live ‘next door’ to San Diego! Thanks again!

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 жыл бұрын

How lovely, a great story for Christmas and I wish you many more years of garden success!

@jennywilliams9594 3 жыл бұрын

I just love seeing and learning about all the different ways of gardening in places all over the world.

@craigmetcalfe1749 3 жыл бұрын

Hey guys! Glad to see you both celebrated my birthday by producing this exciting collaboration day. I worked in my garden at 5:30am to escape the heat of a forecast 33 deg C and saw my neighbor who is another gardener who did not know it was World Soil Day, so I did my evangelistic best to share some of what I have learned from listening to both of you. Cheers!

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 жыл бұрын

Happy birthday Craig

@AlexD988 3 жыл бұрын

Lovely, thank you Charles and Kevin

@deborahhaynes8361 3 жыл бұрын

That was so wonderful watching the two climates. I cant wait to continue to watch the progress.

@robinhazeslip1800 3 жыл бұрын

This collaboration video is GREAT!! Will be rewatching this!

@richstone2627 3 жыл бұрын

Interesting. Kevin's area gets more light and is warmer but the Summer is very Hot and dry. No dig works anywhere as long as you adapt to the environment you're in. Thank you.

@karenl7786 3 жыл бұрын

Relaxing here in Chicago as the winter begins, watching 2 of my favorites!

@chrisholbourn2793 3 жыл бұрын

I’ve been following you both individually for a long time and now to see you collaborate and compare in your different environmental conditions is VERY exciting!! Thanks guys!! Can’t wait for the updates!!

@loretagarbo 3 жыл бұрын

Muchísimas Gracias Mr Charles he disfrutado mucho su video ❤️.

@kennethbarta3477 3 жыл бұрын

I use tulle from fabric shop or Walmart to cover brassicas. Can also buy online. Cheap, and very light. Also used old carpet on perimeter in aisles between beds to keep down weeds.

@RiverPlaid 3 жыл бұрын

I love you and I love Kevin. This is a perfect video.🌼

@angeldee2602 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! The was fantastic to watch! You made my day!

@thenonexpected 3 жыл бұрын

As always, calm and excellent. Cheers sir!

@amarkhanna6518 3 жыл бұрын

I loved this video. Thank you for making and posting it.

@debrabray8855 3 жыл бұрын

Looking forward to this collaboration. Love to watch both of your channels.

@PrayerWarriorMama 3 жыл бұрын

What a great comparison video for two completely different climates. I love watching all your videos Charles and it’s so nice to see Kevin try this method out in California. I can’t wait to see the follow up video!

@dimitarzlatanski 3 жыл бұрын

Fantastic, please do more videos on how to prepare a bed just like you do and start growing. This is really invaluable!

@eneskrma3854 3 жыл бұрын

I think it would be so good if a zoom meeting can be arranged with you with participants from all around the world. Everybody can chat and share their own experiences in their own part of the world this way.

@cynthiafisher9907 3 жыл бұрын

How could that work with so many people? Or do you mean a limited amount, a few?

@helenpenner9899 3 жыл бұрын

This was so great to watch ...legendary Charles Dowding going strong..such amazing huge gardens lovely

@hellosunshine9915 3 жыл бұрын

This was so great seeing you both together discussing your gardening !

@rebeccaofpollywogflatts8976 3 жыл бұрын

Enjoying sitting in on the discussion with these gentlemen.

@capeeddy 3 жыл бұрын

Great idea for a tutorial video. Also, I enjoy the collaboration with you and Kevin. It will be interesting to see the results from two extremely varying climates. Thank you, sir.

@eriklane4808 3 жыл бұрын

Two of my favourite gardening youtubers come together again! Wonderful collaboration, you two!

@shonitagarcia3222 3 жыл бұрын

This was a great share! Way cool to see the comparisons of the gardens. We used to not have slugs over here in Central Texas either. It's usually very dry and hot. And this year I saw slugs everywhere! Climate change is happening more so this year than any other. It's barely December now and I'm growing swiss chard, my lemon tree is making its first lemon. It's a dwarf Meyer. And I have cherry tomatoes! My Cilantro n parsley is thriving so far without complaint. The temps are dropping to 35°F at night for about 4 -5 hours a night and by 4am it rises to the 40°Fs-50°Fs. And it's about 60°F-70°F in the afternoon. It won't officially drop in temps over here until late January -February. My container garden is on the South side of my home on a 12'x4' concrete slab. So it warms very quickly. This is wonderful. Thank you for sharing.

@yanierose5114 3 жыл бұрын

Wow, this was very helpful to hear someone else applying the no dig in a different climate.

@peachesandsugar1 3 жыл бұрын

I live in NS, Canada, have been using no dig veg gardening in my front lawn for past 3 years, love it, it is the only way to go. Thank You Charles.

@stuartmcgoverne2788 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Charles you and Adam from Allotment Grow How channel are the best.

@salinajane3435 3 жыл бұрын

What a fascinating video! look forward to seeing more. thanks for sharing

@Beth_Agnes_Casey 3 жыл бұрын

Wonderful collaboration with two very different climates is so needed. I live in Arizona and can relate tremendously with Kevin’s climate and gardening techniques. Fully enjoyed this

@johnmorgan5495 3 жыл бұрын

Brilliant project, I've just passed to friends who will be starting a new garden in Scotland.

@FoodForestPermaculture 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you kindly for sharing .Peace out fellow earthlings

@aesaavedra1172 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your wonderful gardening lessons /advice. Keep up the good work!

@BD-cu4cq 3 жыл бұрын

Nothing more Godly than sharing knowledge with another human. Thank you Sir. !

@WHM584 3 жыл бұрын

What a lovely surprise finding this video tonight - big fan of both you - true professionals, I hope there are more vids to come in 2021! 👌🤩

@stschubs 3 жыл бұрын

You have been my constant compost motivation and inspiration this summer! Love that you guys did this collaboration!

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 жыл бұрын

So glad! Thanks

@janicejurgensen2122 3 жыл бұрын

Great combo! 2 of my favorites together! I have clay soil and built bottomless beds 3 8x4 beds and only have few weeds popping up occasionally! Ty. This was my first garden. Adding on next spring!

@nathansquires5551 3 жыл бұрын

Great video, looking forward to more in this series with Charles and Kevin. Learning can be entertaining!

@annburge291 3 жыл бұрын

Chihuahua, Mexico, desert, very degraded site, top soil removed with heavy machinery, clay and caliche... ground now grows couch and Johnson grass...my almost no dig method is make a six inch/ 15 cm depth dirt well with a pick building up the sides. I dig three tree holes on the northern side of the well marked with a stick. Grasses mostly left in place. Fill well with as much compost available... about 1 or two inches directly on the grass and in the tree holes. Flood the well twice. Cover all and well walls with two layers cardboard. Wet again. Cover with six inches coarse sawdust. Flood the well. Come back in a week. Plant a peach west/north corner of the bed. Plant nitrogen fixing mezquite or jujube centre north point. Plant a plum east/north corner. To plant the trees, I remove the sawdust and cut the cardboard in a cross and dig a small hole. I then add another cardboard collar around trees when planted and replace sawdust. I plant my vegetables on the southern side of the bed by making port holes in the sawdust. I fill the port with a bit more compost and either plant seedlings or direct seeds. I cover the bed with old mezquite branches to stop the dogs digging for a cool spot. Sometimes grass invades the beds. The next year I smother it again with compost, cardboard and sawdust. By the third year the grass gives up completely. This year we have had 1 mm of rain in 15 months. We water with well water. Evaporation is our biggest issue when summer maximums are in the low 40 C.

@WatashiwaJouhouDesu 3 жыл бұрын

I'm looking forward to making my first bed this spring. This has been so helpful, thank you! :D I always look forward to your videos! Cheers from America!

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Thank you!

@jeshurunfarm 3 жыл бұрын

World soil day. This is also new to me. Respect from Africa 🇿🇦

@bernadettekerbey9117 3 жыл бұрын

Totally loving what both of you do - along with “Steve’s Seaside Allotment” and “Self Sufficient Me” I think you cover all the personality types and weather conditions needed to keep me on track, interested, inspired and experimenting! Merci beaucoup!

@grahamrdyer6322 3 жыл бұрын

I'm glad your at the forefront of this Charles.

@jackspatch14 3 жыл бұрын

Another great video Charles. This experiment will answer a lot of questions to those in climates similar to Kevin’s! Great collab

@johnfisher7925 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your videos helped me so much in my new allotment plot take care

@joycemiller7908 3 жыл бұрын

Wow, what a treat that was! 🥰👏🏽💫👨‍🌾

@nathanguest9723 3 жыл бұрын

Amazing as always mr dowding

@maryoriordan616 3 жыл бұрын

Great video, throughly enjoyed watching you both.

@henysuroboyo2309 3 жыл бұрын

I always enjoy watching your video, I learn alot from it...thank you

@joycecuffy9421 3 жыл бұрын

Fantastic program. Good tips for different climates and different conditions as well as different gardening experiences

@mymountainlife0707 3 жыл бұрын

This is such a cool thing you two are doing!

@ralph601 3 жыл бұрын

This was very interesting to watch the compared beds come together. More videos like this would be nice, thanks. I did a no-dig without the boards after watching one of your vids and it is doing well after three months.

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 жыл бұрын

Noted!

@EsthersGardeningAdventures 3 жыл бұрын

So cool to see these 2 videos from your channel and Kevin's

@camicri4263 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, most interesting! It's great to see a bit of difference even it's the same thing.

@safusp 3 жыл бұрын

Loved this video - my two favourite gardeners collaborating 👍👍

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 жыл бұрын

So glad!

@markwiltshire1852 3 жыл бұрын

Very interesting Charles, I wish that I had come across you year’s ago. I have managed to convert a couple of my mates on our site to no dig this year.

@carmenmariacortesmarin2664 3 жыл бұрын

Love this and all your videos. Thank you for sharing.

@lorrets9775 3 жыл бұрын

It's good to see the differences and similarities, gardening in two parts of the world

@eadjh98 3 жыл бұрын

Nice one guys, can’t wait for comparisons over the next few months, with the lovely weather in Santiago and the dreadful wet ,cold weather of the UK! Could be interesting! 👍🇬🇧🇺🇸

@ringailetervydiene5942 3 жыл бұрын

I am going to buy compost to mulch my beds next fall. I am convinced :)

@jaygriffin7124 3 жыл бұрын

two of my favorite gardeners! Great video!!

@jayneeburks8482 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this video. I am anxious to see the fruits of your very different locations.

@katblyth8153 3 жыл бұрын

Interesting about getting the bulk compost delivered and leaving it for three months to finish decomposing.

@alastairsampson5003 3 жыл бұрын

Brilliant.

@TheWildgypsy1 3 жыл бұрын

Living up in zone 2b (sub-arctic) in northern Canada, my gardeners heart just cries watching you two plant in winter! Oh if only!! I love both of your chanels so much! Im trying to learn how to extend my very short season a little bit for more fun and food! Thanks so much for your teaching!!

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 жыл бұрын

Your season does sound maddeningly brief, and it must be very intense once things start to grow. Uing propagation plus row covers is so worthwhile, I wish you success

@christianpetersen1782 3 жыл бұрын

A lovely video Charles. Thank you.

@riccardocardia4498 3 жыл бұрын

Best regards from Sardinia Italy! 😜

@escaleritaalcielo 3 жыл бұрын

Muchas Gracias por los subtitulos en Español!!!

@pedroplata637 3 жыл бұрын

Thank gracias gracias muy agradecidos .

@sophiematern8357 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent dialogue. Great information 🇨🇦

@LadyfieldFarm 3 жыл бұрын

Made me smile to hear you both talk of an inch of rain. Here in Argyll in the west of Scotland we'll be lucky if we get less than an inch before tomorrow morning. My general rain gauge is leaving a wheel barrow out and it's quite often full over night!!

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 жыл бұрын

Funny! (sorry)

@LadyfieldFarm 3 жыл бұрын

@@CharlesDowding1nodig really enjoyed the video and the interaction between you and Kevin. Thankyou. A question....you dug out the bramble root...the next beds we are going to make are over pasture with quite a number of what the locals call rashes, soft rushes I believe. Should I just mulch over or would it be better to try and dig the root out?

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 жыл бұрын

@@LadyfieldFarm I would remove all the main clumps, a fair job, suggests wet ground

@LadyfieldFarm 3 жыл бұрын

@@CharlesDowding1nodig thank you, yes the ground is most certainly wet. We have however put our polytunnel in the same area with cardboard, 4 inches of cow manure plus 2 inches of bought in mushroom compost and the garlic planted 3 weeks ago is doing really well and the composted area is certainly not waterlogged so we shall see how we go. Thanks again.

@Lauradicus 3 жыл бұрын

Ladyfield Farm, I’m with you. 6” in 24 hours is not too unusual here west of Seattle. I had to laugh about someone complaining of 50% humidity. It’s rare we fall below 80%, even in summer the lowest humidity comes with freezing temps. Diversity is good though, eh?

@brunovirlouvet7942 3 жыл бұрын

Great video guys! I hope you will make some follow up. I’m currently working on some compost (homemade)to great a few beds with Charles’ method of no dig but in a tropical climate

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 жыл бұрын

Best of luck Bruno

@angelinaphebus1525 3 жыл бұрын

I loved this collab! I watched both videos. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Happy World Soil Day!

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@p.s.2221 3 жыл бұрын

5.12.2020 👍🏻🙏🏻 thank you for such interesting comparison!❤️❤️

@lisabevans8107 3 жыл бұрын

I follow you both although your climates are both different from Colorado. I did my first no dig garden last year and had the best veggie garden I ever had.🙂❤

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 жыл бұрын

Lovely to hear this Lisa!

@teddybear1757 3 жыл бұрын

Yay! I'm first to comment! Great video!

@joeyodonnell123 3 жыл бұрын

SECOND !!

@DHW29 3 жыл бұрын

Brilliant as always Charles.

@terraspath2642 3 жыл бұрын

Great info! Excellent collaboration! Happy Yule fellas!

@racheljohnson770 3 жыл бұрын

Would love to see a followup on both beds!

@JasonSmith-tv2zw 3 жыл бұрын

Great look forward to the results. If I was Kevin I would be growing Avocados, the one thing that really doesn't grow in even mild conditions

@epicgardening 3 жыл бұрын

I'll be planting 2 varieties soon!

@przybyla420 3 жыл бұрын

Pomegranates, I was thinking.

@melaniewilliams6499 3 жыл бұрын

So appriciate your information Last year I created a new method from your insightful garden methods. I took all my frames out of my garden beds. Now I am for this first year using your method in my whole garden yet I feel so encouraged to try more experimented beds and am grateful to having such success to share my abundance of fresh vegetables

@CharlesDowding1nodig 3 жыл бұрын

Nice work Melanie!