Last January I posted about the "Back to Eden" site. http://vimeo.com/28055108


I did use one of my small garden spots to experiment with their theory. My results were not good. It was more rainy than normal and the garden spot was not a well drained area. Some seeds did rot in the ground because the area could not dry out. Also the wood chips seemed to draw the nitrogen out of the soil. Nothing would grow well here. When I finally started putting grass clippings on the soil, things started picking up but it was late in the season.

One article in the local paper said the rainy season could deplete nitrogen, but I do think the wood chips was the main culprit. This area has always been a very good garden. Heavily loaded with composted manure, leaves, grass clippings, etc. All my other spots had a banner year of yield.

I did remove all the chips and will stick with what has worked well for me for years.

Do not let this discourage anyone else from trying the method. My neighbor had good luck putting the chips between the rows. My neighbor does standard gardening with long rows and hilled rows to plant in. He had some good crops. I garden mostly with the intensive method and in raised beds except one. In one area 6'x 8' has 432 Texas Sweet Onions planted right now.

Corey