Comments on: Morag’s Simple & Successful No Dig Garden Method

By: Morag Gamble : Our Permaculture Life

Morag Gamble : Our Permaculture Life — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 14:58:21 +0000

Great question. When things get really dry, one way to get it nice and moist again is to stick the hose under the paper on the uphill side (highest point) and gently let it soak. Before things get that dry I usually try to do, as you suggest, water the plants at the base.

Depending on how your pathways are set up, you could actually have an overhead sprinkler to give the garden a good soak. I do this sometimes because I have designed my little pathways to be water-collecting soaks.

A good idea is to regularly stick your finger in under the paper to check moisture levels and then water if necessary.

I hope that helps. Happy gardening

By: Unknown

Unknown — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 14:44:19 +0000

Hi Morag
I am using many of your methods, thank you for sharing your knowledge. I have changed to your no dig method recently. We have had many weeks without rain and finding the soil is getting drier under the newspaper despite watering. Do you just water the plants at the base where they were planted or the whole mulched area. Its seems the water is not penetrating through the newspaper layer or have I done something wrong.

By: auriel12

auriel12 — Sun, 07 May 2017 11:51:21 +0000

Just found you on YouTube recently and you really got my attention when you were forking the ground barefoot.

Just finished a new bed per your instructions except used straw bales instead of seedless hay. Looked pretty good until the chickens made little nests in the straw. They love it.

I live in Oakland California on about 1/3 of an acre, so we call ourselves urban farmers. We have a fruit orchard with apples, plums, peaches, blueberries, cherries, figs, lemons and some olive trees. Our garden is a re-start every year except for the strawberries, kale, artichokes and asparagus, so hope to make that different soon using permaculture methods. We have 8 layer hens and bees to help us out.
Thanks for all the information and the time you spend to share it with us.

Auriel

By: bruce

bruce — Sun, 29 Jan 2017 06:49:11 +0000

Slugs? Slaters (woodlice)? How do you do this without them exploding and eating everything come spring? Do bulbous weeds give you trouble if present? (e.g. Oxalis, Guildford grass)

By: Narelle

Narelle — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 02:17:58 +0000

Thank you for this very informative article.

Putting the newspaper on top of the new topsoil layer is a fabulous idea.

Have you had any experience with swales? What are your thoughts on them?

We have a sloping site in the Central West of NSW. Hot, dry summers with 600mm of rain per year. Brown clay soil.

Kind regards

Narelle

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 03:44:41 +0000

Makes so much sense. Thank you so much Morag, I am enjoying learning from you and ingenious young Hugh! 🙂

By: Unknown

Unknown — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 04:54:49 +0000

Hi Morag,
I'm wondering what type of seed free mulch you use? Around here (Southeastern U.S.) there is a lot of spoiled hay, but I fear that even though it's spoiled, it may contain a lot of seeds. We've mostly used straw over the years, but lately it seems that there are tons of seeds even within the straw. Just looking for more ideas. Thanks!

By: Morag Gamble

Morag Gamble — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 05:07:45 +0000

Hi Ruth, You can either sprinkle it on the ground as the first layer in the no-dig, or use it to make compost. There are commercial varieties available – check for an organic certification stamp on the bag. Happy Gardening!

By: Ruth Fahmi

Ruth Fahmi — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 05:02:47 +0000

Hi Morag. My daughters and I attended your edible spaces Workshop and are excited to get our no dig garden started. How do we prepare our chook manure to use in the garden? And is there a commercial compost/manure we can use to start now? Thanks, Ruth

By: Morag Gamble

Morag Gamble — Sat, 26 Mar 2016 04:32:13 +0000

I plant straight away, unless I have used lots of fresh manures and food scraps – but usually I like to compost these (at least partly) to being with. If you have a nice blend under the paper, adding a good handful of finished compost into the hole will let you plant immediately.