Back To Eden - Gardening Method

The back to eden method of gardening - was a gardening movement started by Paul Gautschi in Washington, USA in the 1980's and became popular through a utube documentary in 2016.

His method goes back to Ruth Stout and her deep hay and straw mulches in the 1940's. And other early no-dig pioneers.

Back to eden is a no-dig method in the same camp as Charles Dowding in the Uk - but perhaps goes one step further than him in the use of a surface mulch.

The idea is to cover the ground. That nature as seen in the forest keeps the ground covered with branches, twigs, needles and leaves. Trees look after themselves in this self sustaining way. They feed themselves through the decomposition of organic matter. Suppressing weeds and keeping their roots moist.

Paul Gautschi observed nature and started covering the ground with manure and straw and finally woodchips. Starting in his orchard in the 1980's and then his veg garden in 2000 and beyond. His findings have the potential to further revolutionise the no-dig formula.

By using a thick 4-6 inch covering layer of woodchips he found a great improvement in the composition of his soil.  His soil was a hardpan of clay and rock soil.  After several years of woodchip he then had a rich topsoil with 1000's of worms working to break up his hardpan soil.  This topsoil was moisture retentive and needed little to no watering.  The woodchip kept water in drought and displaced it during wet weather.

He found this environment good for growing fruit trees and fruit bushes and eventually very good for growing veg.

The covering would keep the weeds down - it still needed weeding - but dramatically lower.  The need to water became minimal with the chips retaining moisture.  The woodchips give a constant supply of nutrients and fertiliser to the plants via the action of rain making compost tea for the soil below.

The PH balance of the soil comes closer to 7 (neutral) which Gautschi found suitable for all his plants.

The chips were easy to work in all seasons - not becoming muddy and unworkable.

Paul has found his veg garden to grow in a very healthy way.  Arguing that in being organic and making plant health the no.1 priority rather than treating symptoms with fertiliser and other amendments.  

A plant that is in good health can more easily resist attack by slugs and other pests.His view of garden pests is enlightening too.  Calling them natures police force. He sais pests are designed to take out sick and poor plants, so that only the fittest go on to produce seed.  Veg and fruit that is full of water and less woody, are, he argues less appetising to pests and more likely to go on to produce seed.

Paul and others that visit his garden have found the veg and fruit produced to be superior to commercial organic standards.  It is tastier and sweeter and more tender.  Full of water and full of nutrients from the woodchips etc.  Far superior to traditionally grown fruit and veg.

I plan to test out this method in my own experimental allotment.  To see if the claims are true and if they stand up in the UK climate.  I will post updates on the progress as I go along........

Happy Gardening.

Sage.

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At Kingdom Plants - I try to keep up with new developments in the gardening world tailoring my approach to your unique garden.  If you have a garden that needs attention - feel free to call me in.

Happy New Year and happy gardening this coming season.