History continually repeats itself and if we dig deep into the past there are concepts and idea that have been tried previously and reinvented to create the society, we are currently living in. Gardening is no exception to the rule as this practice of a no-dig garden was previously invented in the mid 20th century by a Japanese farmer who believed that natural farming was the way to farm, and he wrote a book about it. Also, an American also who wrote articles and books on the subject of no tilling.
Historically the Indigenous people have practiced this method by using natural organic matter to maintain soil fertility without soil disturbance. This practice has been used for many years. There are other cultures who have also adapted this method and have proved that farming using a no-dig concept is possible.
A no-dig garden is the process of adding layers of organic matter placed on top of the soil. There is no digging or disruption involved and what is produced are health layers of soil producing a rich eco system for plants to grow. A no-dig garden is not limited to this method only but can involve containers and grow bags that serve the same purpose. Any type of gardening that seeks to avoid a no tilling method is considered to be a no-dig garden.
Traditional gardening involves digging the soil manually and adding organic materials like compost or manure to produce a fertile soil to grow crops. The end results are garden beds where plants are grown.
Historically Methods of Farming
The history of Indigenous farming shows that the no-till method using organic matter was effective. They studied plant life and the land and how best to utilize what was available. They developed a natural approach by planting certain crops together to control pests. They were able to use natural fertilizers by adding specific crops that produced nitrogen to the soil. Weed control was done by growing plants like watermelon, squash which acted as a ground cover and a barrier for weeds. Many of their technique have been implemented in our farming methods today.
The Caribbean and other cultures traditionally practice burning the land. I personally never understood this concept as a young person, but I discovered later that there are many benefits to this method. Some of which are rejuvenation of the soil from persistent farming. The removal of contaminants and giving the land a boost along with nutrients added for the future. When there is a forest fire that is controlled, it is beneficial. Unfortunately, some are uncontrolled and that is when it becomes dangerous to both plants and animal life. This can also have environmental issues because of carbon emissions.
Planting crops on slopes by tilling the ground are also methods of preserving the soil from erosion. Adding trees and shrubs help to create shelter and a habitat for wildlife and for pollinators to keep coming. Engaging in crop rotation is effective for the soil and help to produce better yields which have all been utilized in the traditional farming method.
The irrigation system existed in ancient history in Egypt and The Middle East but more recently modernized by Israel who has taught us lessons that a slow and steady water supply to the root of the plant is effective in producing a much healthier produce. Many countries have adapted this method of farming. Along with the recycling of water which assist in water reduction and allows for some preservation.
The No-Dig Advantage
While it is great to get some exercise in while doing some gardening. The no-dig method is just easier. There is no tilling involved which can be considered a back breaking method to get the same results. It is a much quicker way to plant and consumes less of your time than the traditional farming would take especially for gardeners who are older. Once the layers of soil or compost materials are in place then it is just placing the plants where you would like them to grow.
This type of farming allows the natural structure of the soil to remain intact. It involves no uprooting that can cause damage. Natural nutrients or insects that help to keep the soil fertile like earthworms are especially valuable. They loosen the soil which helps with drainage. As the waste from their bodies is released into the soil it adds fertilizers and nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen to the soil. Having earthworms into any soil is one of the best forms of fertilizers for any garden.
Pest destroying your garden can becoming annoying as they demolish the produce, and no one wants to plant a garden that is not economically productive. By engaging in a no-dig garden there is more control of pests. It allows you to select what type of organic matter is being used. There are less contaminants that could be lurking in the soil because you have complete management of its composition. There is also little chance of using dangerous chemicals to treat the plants and this result in much healthier harvest for you. This is also beneficial to the environment producing a much cleaner air.
Weeds it seems you can never get rid of them. They always pop up exactly where they are not wanted and never seem to grow where they belong. They will grow in a freshly planted lawn, a beautiful flower bed or a garden that is just sprouting with newly planted vegetables. The no-dig garden allows you to manipulate the growth of these frustrating plants that no one wants in their garden. By allowing the garden to be filled with layers of organic material it becomes more difficult for weeds to grow. It is possible for birds to deposit seeds and cause some change, but this can be removed quickly and avoiding any overgrowth.
The benefits of companion gardening utilizes space, creates pest control and adds natural fertilizers to the soil. By using this technique in the no-dig garden this allows the garden to conserve the area for other crops to be planted. The other supporting plants acting as companions will assist in providing nutrients for the soil and keeping away pest. Although this technique is done traditionally. It is also beneficial for the no-dig concept.
How to Start your No-Dig Garden
Putting your vision into reality is now your focus. Find a good location to begin and decide and what types of vegetables will be used. Allow a base by adding newspaper and other types of recycled paper my preference is to use a biodegradable fabric and add a layer of compost material like kitchen scraps, eggshells, banana peels, coffee grounds, scraps that is produced from leftover meals. Straw, hay and wood chips are good layers to add. Each layer will need to be watered. Moisture is important to incorporate to each layer as the garden is being finalized.
By spreading compost material in with soil, they will produce a rich organic matter which is great for planting. After completion the garden should be at least three inches or more in height as the final blend of the constructed garden. Alternating this with compost, manure and soil. Finish with mulch as the final layer which acts as a barrier to keep moisture in the soil and keep weeds away.
These decomposed materials will produce a nitrogen rich organic soil. Once this is completed the next stage to select the vegetables that are going to be planted. Vegetables like cucumber, zucchini, onion, garlic, broccoli, bean, and peas are some crops that will do well in this rich organic soil. Use companion gardening as a technique to remove pest naturally instead of pesticides. Using the vertical garden in this space will help to accommodate more vegetables and also attract pollinators to your garden.
Maintaining this garden is important by adding compost material on an on-going basis and making sure it is moisturized and weeds are removed. The end results will be a rich harvest for pure organic food which becomes a much healthier choice to be eaten.
A good way to keep the garden health and pest free is to practice crop rotation. Pest that are familiar with the growth of certain crops in the same area will frequent there or leave eggs or lava for them to return. Once the rotation of crops is in place it makes it more difficult for them to find the same plants that they enjoy. These methods are also useful to avoid the soil being depleted from repetitive planting of the same plants and not allowing the soil to rest. When the garden has been fully settled it is important to keep maintaining it which will become be less hectic to look after once it is established.
Challenges of a no-dig garden
Challenges in keeping this garden optimized can problematic. If you are unfamiliar with this type of gardening, then education is your best way out. Find books that will be of some assistance or study the way others have done this and become successful. If this is your first time, then everything will be on a trial basis and study which vegetables work best in this type of growing conditions.
Also finding enough of compost material could be a bit difficult. If you live in an area that is involved with composting, then there are depots where you can collect this soil and usually, they are already broken down and available as soil and ready to go. Otherwise setting up your own compost system is also possible. It will take some time to gather the amount of material needed for this and it requires time need to have the material decompose.
The moisture level in the soil is not the easiest to maintain. There has to just the right amount of moisture and not become waterlogged causing unhealthy plants. The use of natural fertilizers has been known to be very efficient for plant grown. It is possible that this type of gardening can have deficiencies which are unrecognizable until you become aware of unhealthy plants. The method to counteract this is by having the soil tested but at some point, it becomes inconvenient and time consuming. Not many gardeners are willing to go through this process.
Keeping away bugs like snails is not always possible even with the use of companion gardening which is helpful. There needs be some maintenances of the garden to keep it healthy. Therefore, you are not entirely exempt from these insects that are prone to attacking your vegetables.
Reviewing Both Techniques
Recognizing that both the tradition gardening and the no-dig garden offer similar results. Both gardening techniques come with many challenges. For a population that is aging the no-dig garden allows senior gardeners to participate in outdoor activities. The absorption of sunshine and enjoying the outdoor space without the risk of getting injured during the process seems to be the best solution.
The tradition gardening is much easier because it uses equipment to till the ground. It is much quicker to establish. But at the same time, it is disruptive to the natural eco-system leading to instability of the soil leading to erosion. Once this disruption has occurred the ground is not densely packed and in heavy downpours will cause problems. One way to enhance this disruption is by adding trees and shrubs which help in stabilizing the ground with its root system. It is easier to blend in compost materials with the natural soil, adding the right amount of fertilizer and the results will be much faster and easier method to achieve what is desired.
An irrigation system is easier to be established with the traditional garden. This avoids problems of waterlogged soil in the no-dig garden. While the irrigation system is programmed to apply just the right amount of water needed this avoids less concern with this issue.
Both techniques require steady maintenance. There is aways a chance that weeds are still prevalent in both gardens. It is impossible to eliminate pests and diseases from the garden entirely even with companion gardening and natural pest sprays. It seems that gardens always attract some unwanted visitors. It is a matter of being able to control them to make the garden sustainable.
If you live in areas where there is a lot of sand like Florida or if your back yard is heavy with clay and it seems impossible for plants to have a good topsoil, then I would recommend the no-dig approach this will allow the garden to have what it needs to grow plants successfully. In these examples the no-dig would be the perfect solution for hard to grow areas.
The no-dig garden is not confined to a specific style but can also be placed in grow bags or containers for planting. These bags have now become quite popular for many gardeners, and are available in various sizes at a reasonable cost. It just a matter of filling the bags with the same organic compost and your garden is up and running in a limited time.
This becomes the one of the easiest way to create a garden. What I love about these bags is they are available in many sizes these can be placed practically anywhere, and it becomes easier to put them where you want or relocate them elsewhere of you are not satisfied with the current location. They can be used on balconies, decks and places where the space is limited.
It is sometimes difficult to move away from tradition. It requires a different type of thinking and finding better solutions to existing problems. Or finding a better way of doing things to make the end results easier or better. Renewing your mind is thinking outside of the box.
I am grateful for the lessons taught by the pioneers who were able in harsh conditions found methods to grow crops. They learnt through trial and error and taught their generations from the mistakes they made and how they overcame and were able to grow and farm from their own experiences. Without their knowledge being handed down it would have meant going through the same trials and ended up with the same results. However, we have an advantage that we have learnt through experiences, wisdom and knowledge of plant life we have a better understanding of what works. There is so much more to learn about this planet, and it challenges that we face daily.
It is by continuing to educate ourselves with knowledge that we can eventually hope to make changes for our future. It is encouraging to see that shared ideas from different cultures teaches us different ways of doing things. It encourages us all to learn and hope that in the future will develop easier and more efficient ways of farming that will be beneficial to our population. Changing the way, we use fertilizers and that are not harmful to the society but a natural approach beneficial for our health. The reduction of the amount of pesticides on our food so we can produce and consume a healthier harvest for us all to enjoy.