No Dig Gardening
On 29th April ODGC welcomed Stephanie Hafterty to talk about No Dig Gardening a leading authority on ‘no dig’ gardening, who has grown her own produce for over thirty years and worked as a professional ‘no dig’ kitchen gardener and designer for over fifteen.
[Stephanie holding her book The Creative Kitchen]
‘No dig’ is not a new concept, it has its roots in cultures across the globe but has gained more converts in the UK as our knowledge of soil increases. Initially it was thought that deep digging was required to aerate the soil, now it is realised that chopping and mixing soil layers destroys beneficial organisms such as mycorrhiza and also releases carbon into the atmosphere. Applying a thick mulch reduces the need to weed as digging brings weed seeds to the surface and an undisturbed soil sequesters carbon.
Stephanie moved to her present home four years ago and set about making her kitchen garden from an area of lawn. This was mown closely and covered with a layer of overlapping cardboard which was well watered and covered with a thick layer of compost. Bark paths were laid between the beds. An annual mulch is applied.
Many materials make suitable mulches, depending on what is being grown. Vegetables benefit from well rotted garden compost or farmyard manure from a source uncontaminated by harmful chemicals. ‘Chop and drop’ vegetation such as nettle and comfrey is suitable for more robust woody plants but would attract slugs to delicate seedlings. Green manure makes an easy and cheap mulch, mustard, buckwheat and phacelia will increase biodiversity and shade the soil as well as protecting against erosion. Intercropping with rapidly maturing crops such as spinach, salads and radishes increases what can be grown.
Stephanie has a greenhouse and a polytunnel so that she can harvest year round. Cloches and mini greenhouses within the polytunnel provide a warmer micro climate.
Clearly ‘no dig’ is a beneficial concept both to the soil and to gardeners’ aching backs.
Ghislaine Arundale
