Gardening can save you money

Throughout history, before the large chain grocery stores, people grew much of their own food right outside their door. Today, there is no reason you couldn't do the same, to save money, help relieve stress and eat healthier organic food. In fact, there is no reason why no less than 50% of the food couldn't be grown within 100 miles, or even within a city's limits. There is no reason food has to travel 4,000 miles before it gets to your table.

No Dig Gardening

The idea of no-dig gardening was developed by Esther Deans an Australian. It was developed both as a labor saving idea, and a method to rejuvenate badly depleted soil in a vegetable garden.

It starts with layers of newspaper, add hay, straw and compost in succeeding layers, you can create a growing medium without resorting to digging, one that is rich in nutrients and which will simplify weeding while encouraging your desired plants to grow. The layers compost together, greatly encouraging earthworms. Gardens are maintained by adding manure, compost, etc., and should not be dug up, as this will undo the good work.

The principle of the no-dig has sound foundations. Excessive cultivation of the soil, especially when very wet or very dry, will damage the structure of the soil, and lead to compaction in either case. Excessive cultivation also discourages earthworms, and they are the best free labor a gardener has.

Some followers of permaculture and organic gardening have translated no-dig into never-dig, which is a mistake. If you start with a base soil that is badly compacted, then your no-dig garden will initially work well, but you may find your garden does not continue to perform. The fertile layer you have built up will encourage earthworms, but worms need to shelter from excessively hot, dry, cold or wet conditions. They seek shelter from extreme conditions by burrowing deeply into the soil, sometime many feet down. If they can't find shelter, they die out or move out.

Initial cultivation of the soil before you apply the no-dig system will guarantee a better environment for worms, and thus a better garden for growing your plants, over the longer term. Give the no-dig approach a try – you will be pleased with the result.