Bealtaine Cottage is a permaculture smallholding, as followers of this blog know.
In permaculture we mulch, mulch and carry on mulching, building up the soil as we go.
Over the past two years I have been creating Potager gardens near the back of the cottage, using stone found on the land to create raised beds.
Into these beds I have packed raw wool, compost, ash, leaf mould and shredding…lots and lots, layer upon layer, of shredding.
Plants are planted into bottomless pots onto the top of all this, so their roots can spread down deep into the goodness!
This year has seen the extending of these beds to cover yet more of the gravel.
The most useful tool in the permaculture gardens is the shredder!
I pile the shredding on the soil, wherever there are plants growing, spreading it around the base and everywhere in-between.
Not only does this suppress the weeds, but it feeds the soil and therefore the plants.
You can see this practice at work here in the tunnel.
After a few weeks, the shredding take on the dark look of soil, making it look like the soil has been just tilled…it has not!
Caring for 3 acres, I can assure you that I do not dig and I have no one who helps!
Does it work? …see for yourself.
No sore back and an abundance of food!
Bealtaine Cottage is also on YouTube…with over 110 videos about Permaculture, planting, growing and living.
Over 600 blogs from Bealtaine Cottage in the archives here.
Thank you for supporting this blog
Can you tell me when you talk about the ash is that ashes from the fire, we use a mixture of coal and briquettes would the ashes from the fire be something to add to the layers, I added a layer of straw yesterday and this eve , I read that this may not have been a good idea; little confused , it also seems that well rotted manure is something invaluable in the no dig garden , so this will be something I will be trying to source this weekend along with the rhubarb crowns and some plants that I have seen on your website , looking for the name of that lovely pink flowering tree that you have featured in one of the videos I cant seem to catch the name and the subtitles on the utube video seem to miss it also sounded like rise or similar , hope I am not pestering you too much with all my questions , just starting this project and a little confused but getting things done bit by bit. Kind regards kathy.
I scatter ashes from wood fires around the trees over a wide area. I add used straw from the henhouse to beds and compost heaps, depending on the time of year and growing season. Fresh straw can be put around such things as Rhubarb and strawberries as well as a weed suppressant around Blackcurrants and other fruit bushes. The pink flowering bushes in early and mid spring is Ribes, much loved by the bees and the fruit by the birds.
Blessings XXX
Blessings to you also Colette and thank you so much for the name of the the flowering bushes this is my no. one item i wll be searching for this next few days , If you are ever selling plants or seeds please let me know , as I would prefer to buy from you than search the nurseries and I could get them picked up by either myself or my husband John we will be buying plants and seeds in the next few weeks so if you are selling any please dont hesitate in letting us know , as the ground is similar to what Bealtaine was in the beginning of your gardens your seeds and plants may be well suited, Kind regards Kathy, looking forward to buying your book also when you have it published, many blessings and thanks again for the name of the Ribes. xxx
Please come and collect some plants, cuttings and seeds, as a gift from me on behalf of Mother Earth…email me…next weekend would be a good time for me!
Blessings on your work XXX
I have private messaged you on face book , thank you so much Kind regards Kathy xxx
Ok….got the answer below! 🙂
What is it that you shred?
Hello Colette…may I ask, why do you use bottomless pots instead of taking the plant out of the pot? Also, I have some of your valerian seed…when is a good time of year to sow it?…many thanks for your time
I use them directly onto soil for more depth for annual vegetable roots. Scatter the seed directly onto limestone gravel for the best results…anytime, especially now.
Blessings XXX
Reblogged this on Ned Hamson Second Line View of the News.
Reblogged this on Bealtaine Cottage and commented:
Growing food this way really couldn’t be easier!
Here in the US shredders are not that common. Would you mind explaining more about what a shredder is and does, including what you would not put in a shredder (i.e., what plants would not be good to shred). Also, do you use the shredded material immediately? Or do you age it before putting it on your plants? I currently have a compost pile where I put everything, but I’m thinking that a shredder might make things a bit easier so I don’t have to lug compost around. 🙂 Thank you!!
A shredder chops up garden waste into tiny bits.
All small, woody type material is excellent.
The material is used immediately.
Blessings X
Thank you! –Jeanne
I think that the shredder that Ms. Colette is referring to is called a “chipper” in the U.S. (The machine that makes mulch from small trees, vines, plants, etc.)
Yes…I do believe it is. Though mine is electric and quite a small thing.
Blessings XXX
I think that the shredder is what we in the US would call a wood chipper — but Collette’s is electric and I’ve never seen one in the US that is not gasoline-powered. I am very curious about the shredder as well.
The Shredder is very European in that it caters for gardens that are relatively small. It’s a great option for me as being electric and living in sight of Wind Turbines, I feel like it’s not reliant on imported oil, or contributing to air pollution.
Hello Colette
I read Ruth Stouts book and have been working my yard and garden with mulch that way since. Even when I lived in a city I did the gardens like that. Now that I have arthritic problems its even a better way to garden. I can see with a small amount of help I can garden the rest of my life.
Blessings to you
I’ll second that!
[…] The No Dig, No Till Garden (permaculturecottage.wordpress.com) […]
[…] The No Dig, No Till Garden […]
[…] The No Dig, No Till Garden (permaculturecottage.wordpress.com) […]
[…] The No Dig, No Till Garden (permaculturecottage.wordpress.com) […]
Hi, Love the posts and enjoy waiting for the next ones. The workshop sounds amazing as I have an acre that is currently being planted. An opportunity to learn from you and nature would be inspiring. My own goal is to see a permaculture system work and the abundance it brings and the security of self provision while being positive to nature. Thanks for everything 🙂 All the best Regards Chris
Three people have so far signed up for the workshop and I hope to facilitate about 4-6. My email is coletteoneill2010@hotmail.com
Wonderful post! Does most of your mulch come from you site? If so, is it mostly twigs and trimmings that you shred?
All of the mulch comes from the gardens here. As I coppice the trees, the smaller twiggy type branches are shredded. I also shred lots of willow. I have more than I can use!
Thanks! We are considering getting a chipper/shredder for this reason on our little farm.
Excellent post. I agree, no need for digging. ‘Gardening’ should never been too hard to do. Like you I use shredding to layer my raised beds and fill the composter with. It works a treat every time! One day I’d love to come over and visit your cottage.
I have a follower from England coming to the July workshop! Any time you are in Ireland you can of course visit!
Oh what a good idea Colette! I wish I could attend! Maybe you could have someone video parts of it for all of us “across the pond.” Would love to be there. Patti
That’s a good idea!