Transition to no till method.

[Sun Tzu Lao]

I have a group garden on the property, covers about a half acre so far. We've been experimenting with it for 2 years now, and have been 100% organic so far. I want to transition by next year to the No Till method of agriculture, there is an awful lot to it, more than meets the eye, but I'll try and give step by step updates. If anyone can help me, or if I can help anyone, sweet. I've heard it called the Fukuoka method also. It's a survival garden I guess, with all organic, heirloom crops. We save our own seed and start our own sprouts. Visit my facebook page for pictures or friend me if ya like!

[jeanna]

Hi sun,
Have you looked into permaculture yet?

Here is a forum which is based on that method.
It is the easy way. You let nature do her thing. You just set it up.

permaculture forum... these folks are learning too and they share for free.

jeanna

[theremart]

What is working for me...

with no till, is planting, then putting cardboard around the plant leaving a hole for just the stem at the bottom, then covering the cardboard with leaves, and or mulch.

You don't have to weed with this method and works like a champ.

What impressed me lately was watching a youtube video on a slab of cement they put a pile of soil, then planted sweet potatoes on top. when it came time to harvest they just put the shove underneath next to the concrete up up comes the potatoes.


I just picked up the book Square foot gardening, and I am also impressed by the "lasagna" gardening method. Looks like a great way to do no till gardening.

[carbideTip]

EarthBox

[Sun Tzu Lao]

I've been using companion crops, and soybeans on the sides of the vegetable rows to enhance the soil, and deter pests. For the mulch, I've been cutting down bundles of ragweed, a very woody stemmed plant, about 5ft high, and laying it between the rows, covering that with dead leaves, and covering that with about 3" of fresh grass clippings. I use a layer (8 sheets thick at least) around the plants, or cardboard, and top that with fresh grass clippings. I've noticed mold growing in the decomposing clippings, of course, but I've seen a bit of a decrease in the prevalence of powdery mildew on my squash leaves. I just hope the mulch doesn't encourage tomato blight. I'm hoping to get the group together to add all the soil amendments in the fall, mulch the whole plot, and let it set for the winter... I'm planning on using a good deal of manure, dead leaves, and whatever else I can find that sounds good lol. I'll post up some pictures soon, everything is doing well, save for the fact that we've had over 4" of rain in the past 3 days. Another technique I've been experimenting with is planting flowers around the garden, and letting weeds grow along the fence border, especially the wild mustard. Seems to attract plenty of bees, haven't had any more unfertilized squash, and the squash bugs have all but disappeared due to predatory insects, I surmise. Btw, Permaculture is awesome, still learning about it, probably will be for the rest of my life from the look of things! I'll be sure to experiment more based on what I learn here as well, thanks for the links!

[jeanna]

Wow, sun,
It seems to me that you would be a helpful addition to permies.com.
I bet those fine people could use some of your experience.

I sure wish my neighborhood would allow me to have 4" piles of weeds. I can hide a few inches, but your garden/yard sounds terrific to me!

I look forward to your pictures, too.

thank you,
jeanna

[theremart]

Earth box..

EarthBox

Hi carbide,

I love earthboxes, but hate the price.

That is why I went with self watering containers.

( Excellent how to )
YouTube - building a self watering container

I figure it cost me $21.00 with all the peat moss and PVC and container, and compost.

I have moved up to 55 gal barrels cut in half and I have banana trees growing in two of them, and they are doing great in this Florida heat.

[Vernice21]

I will start this thread with a positive and optimistic note that people will share their techniques.(some of them, maybe )
Lately I was observing a lot of high end skin retouching. What my retouched skin lacks is that fine transition. People talk that a lot of DnB required and when I approached one high end retoucher he or she told me that it sometimes requires even 9 hours of it. Beauty shots. Then I was told by same retoucher that these days not many clients prepared to pay that high price.Certainly there people who will pay that price and other retouchers successfully do that.
So for the less pixel level DnB involved what technique do you use or on the top of that to get that really good transition. But not plastic one.
I use grey 50%, usual curves DnB, also gradient map, colour mode painting.