Tag Archives: no-dig gardening

358: Raised Beds!

What are raised beds?

A raised garden bed is one where the growing area is lifted above the surrounding soil. This can be anything from 10cm (4 inches) to a metre (3 feet). The material used also varies from straight compost to mixture of materials layered one upon the other. I would avoid mixing these layers. Mixing soil layers is not a natural process, by and large. Nature layers, humans blend, is a good rule of thumb. The idea behind this entire website is to mimic nature as much as possible rather than repeat the practices that got us to where we are. Continue reading →

Episode 301. Starvation and Conflict Averted?

This is The ChangeUnderground for the 6th of June 2022.

I’m your host, Jon Moore

Decarbonise the Air, Recarbonise the Soil!

Winter has arrived here in Tasmania. We were out for brunch with some in-laws, the wind howling outside and I checked the weather app. 10.3 but feels like -3.3. A very chilly -13 degree wind chill factor. 

But the rain has started. We are considered to have a Mediterranean climate here in Tassie. Autumn took a while to wide up. Warm, above averagely warm with more forecast. La Nina is still pumping moisture onto the mainland which meant we were a little on the short side at some times last year. The predictability of weather is not what it once was. Climate change is affecting us all, to greater and lesser degrees. The early heat waves in India this year are far more serious than a latish start to the winter rains in Tasmania. The former has killed people, the later has not.  Continue reading →

Episode 294. Food Prices & Gardens

This is The ChangeUnderground for the 11th of April 2022.

I’m your host, Jon Moore

Decarbonise the Air, Recarbonise the Soil!

From RTE in Ireland, Quote:

World food prices jumped nearly 13% in March to a new record high as the war in Ukraine caused turmoil in markets for staple grains and edible oils, the UN food agency said today.

The Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) food price index, which tracks the most globally traded food commodities ,averaged 159.3 points last month from an upwardly revised 141.4 for February.

End Quote Continue reading →

Episode 259. My path to No-Dig

This is The ChangeUnderground for the 7th of June 2021.

I’m your host, Jon Moore

Decarbonise the Air, Recarbonise the Soil!

This is My Story And Maybe Yours Too.

Way back in 2004, I caught a chest infection that just wouldn’t lift. After about four months, I ended up one night in Accident and Emergency at our local hospital. Chest X-rays revealed pneumonia. That night, the 25th of August, I “left the building”, twice. The next morning was the turning point, even though it didn’t feel like it at the time. Home ten days later but physically wrecked. Continue reading →

Episode 198. First Principles: The No Dig Garden

This is the World Organic News for the week ending 13th of January 2020.

Jon Moore reporting!

Decarbonise the air, recarbonise the soil!

This week I am drawn to first principles. A new decade, a new start, perhaps or a new decade, refresh our thinking.

So let’s get to it.

What are raised beds?

A raised garden bed is one where the growing area is lifted above the surrounding soil. This can be anything from 10cm (4 inches) to a metre (3 feet). The material used also varies from straight compost to mixture of materials layered one upon the other. I would avoid mixing these layers. Mixing soil layers is not a natural process, by and large. Nature layers, humans blend, is a good rule of thumb. The idea behind this entire website is to mimic nature as much as possible rather than repeat the practices that got us to where we are. Continue reading →