2014 pledge: more mulch, no spray (inspired by ruth stout)
WITH HELP FROM THE LATE RUTH STOUT, I’m asking you to do two things this year: Use lots of good-quality mulch, and use no sprays or other chemicals. Get two nuggets of Stout’s 1961 wisdom from her book “Gardening Without Work,” and take the pledge.
Don’t know Ruth Stout? As I have written before: Long before phrases like “lasagna garden” were making the rounds of the as-yet-uninvented internet, Stout was layering all her organic materials (chopped up cornstalks, fallen leaves and such) on top of her Connecticut garden soil. The idea behind her sheet composting, as it might be called, was to thwart weeds, reduce the need for fertilizers, conserve moisture and spare herself the work of composting in a conventional heap with all the toting and turning of materials.
Her no-till approach rests on the foundational principle of applying mulch, mulch and more mulch, and then simply moving it back a tiny bit each year a bit to make room for a row of seeds or seedlings. (Less soil-turning equals fewer weed seeds exposed to light, and less soil damage by overworking.)
Stout used everything the garden or the trees nearby produced, combined with loads of “spoiled hay,” to mulch her garden. If that’s too funky a look for you in some areas, then compost every last scrap of organic matter first, top-dressing your beds with the finished material, and also create or locate a source of good-quality, aged mulch that will improve the soil beneath it (more on that in the bullets below; the top photo is the mulch I use–notably not giant bark chips that come in plastic bags).
On the other point of the 2014 pledge I’m proposing, I hope I don’t need to explain why I’d like you all to stop using chemicals—whether fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides or fungicides.
Frankly, I don’t even use “safe” sprays and other products approved for organic growing. I rely on a commitment to building healthy soil; practice good garden sanitation; encourage beneficial insects (more on that in the bullets below), and stay vigilant: checking key crops like cucurbits or brassicas daily, for instance, so I can stay ahead of any pest that might show up. I also accept that a little imperfection is natural; the arugula tastes just fine, even with the occasional flea-beetle hole.
Two of my favorite passages from Ruth Stout’s eccentric “Gardening Without Work: For the Aging, the Busy & the Indolent” (Amazon affiliate link) speak to the power of mulch, and the danger of chemicals. Both give you a sense of her irrepressible tone:
the quotable ruth stout
‘I GET LETTERS complaining that mulch won’t kill cockleburs, morning glories, witch grass, vetch. I could add that neither will it plant your seeds nor harvest your crops: I am only saying in a sarcastic, friendly way that just because mulch does one hundred things for you, should it be expected to do one hundred and one?”
‘I DON’T BELIEVE in spraying, and I’m not talking only about the squirting of poison on vegetables we expect to eat. I am against poisoning our little enemies if at the same time I must kill any of our little friends, such as bees, which might happen to be in the vicinity. As one man put it: what would we think of a general who ordered his soldiers to fire on everybody, including his own troops?”
Can I count on each of you to count less on packaged “remedies” this year, if you still use any, and to count more on mulch to help your garden grow?
more help going greener
- My mulch FAQ page, on what makes good mulch and how to use it
- Author Lee Reich on no-till gardening, and making compost
- How organic seed farmer Frank Morton encourages nature’s allies—beneficial insects—to help him succeed
stout’s ‘gardening without work’
RUTH STOUT’S “Gardening Without Work” (Amazon affiliate link), originally published by Devon-Adair Company in 1961, was reissued in 2011 by North Creek Press. I’ve bought two extra copies to share with you. All you have to do to enter to win is answer this question in the comments box below [NOTE: the giveaway is complete]:
What’s your mulching style and preferred material, and how’s it going with the packaged “remedies” over there (fertilizers, pesticides, weed killers)?
Me? As for mulch: I use chopped, aged leaves in my vegetable beds, and some straw or hay only if I can get it from an organic source. On my flower and shrub beds, I mulch with composted stable bedding (top-of-page photo) from an ethical local provider. As for “remedies,” I use a small amount of all-natural organic fertilizer, including concentrated seaweed and fish emulsion, and some lime on the lawn.
Feeling shy, or have no answer? Just say “count me in” or the equivalent, and I will. But I’d love to hear how you’re doing—and whether you can commit to gardening greener in the new year.
Two winners were picked at random after entries closed at midnight on Sunday, March 2, 2014.
Count me in! Wasn’t able to have a garden last year…but have been composting for this year’s garden!
count me in
Leaves, leaves, and more leaves. Adding compost. Just started my first worm bin. can’t wait for the results.
We have a certified organic farm as part of our neighborhood with raised garden beds and pick your garden of herbs, flowers and this year berries for homeowners. Neighborhood composting is encouraged as is raising chickens and bees. Common Roots, a local farm to school program has a plot to teach children where their food comes from with the students helping to plant, harvest and cook vegetables for school lunches. We love our community!
Last year i purchased 4 cubic yards of compost. My garden was the best it has been since I started gardening 12 years ago. I will do the same this year and hopefully cut down on organic solutions to fungal, insect invasions, etc.
Debbie
I remember Ruth very well and have followed her basic directions when I was able to have a garden through the years. I can say they do work. Would like a refresher course by reading her book. I use oak leaves from 20 or more trees and chicken coop bedding and kitchen scraps that the chickens won’t eat [which isn’t much]. Thank you for such a great site.
I have been on Ruth’s journey for the past 29 years on my 10 acres in SW VT where fertile soil depth ranges from 0″ to maybe a 10″. That 10″ the result of all those years of adding anything and everything organic except meats and fats. I did not know of Ruth but I have had to make do with what’s at hand. I don’t till, just scratch over the surface crust to loosen the planting site and make it more receptive to rain. I’m always amazed at the volunteers from around my slow compost sites. At 64 I’m not lazy, but I have a lot to tend with fewer resources including the stamina I enjoyed when younger. Squirrels are my nemesis too. I’ve stopped feeding them anything.
I’ve been gardening using only organic methods over 30 years. I read some of Ruth Stout’s works in the 70’s and incorporated some of her methods into our gardening routine. We also use lasagna gardening in some areas.
First year veggie gardener – trying to learn all I can – taking the pledge- wish me luck!!!!!!!
I love this wseb site, and loved Ruth Stout’s first book, ” How to Have a Green Thumb Without an Aching Back”. That first book was published in 1955! It still sits at my bedside and has aged, along with me.
I garden now, mostly in a large fenced ” Garden Room” in raised beds (deer and bad soil are issues). We mulch with chopped oak leaves and pine needles every fall and purchased pine fines in spring. We make compost with just about anything organic. MY summer problem is in getting the composition right, as the carbon ratio is less available then. Fertilizer is bagged , composted cow manure and Leafgrow.
Lin Clineburg
Lots of mulch here. I’ve never sprayed. We just cross out fingers!
Please count me in!!
We’re still trying to find our groove with these things. As for mulching, we’ve tried cardboard, leaves and hay (sometimes spoiled) from our farmer neighbors. Bermuda grass and some mint that snuck it’s way in on a transplant have been a real challenge in the garden. We also add compost and the occasional bio-char as we have it. The occasional neem oil spray or other organic spray is what we use if needed. We do a great deal of hand picking.
Count me in?,
I’m in!
Paths are mulched with pine bark purchased in bulk. Leaves and grass clippings for mulching garden beds. I have never resorted to pesticides or weed killers, but used to apply Miracle Gro to to help plants get over “transplant shock” when they first went into the garden. No more.
I have been an organic gardener since 1975, but you can always learn something new!
I’ve started organic gardening 2 yrs ago and I’m still learning. This yr, I plan to expand my garden. I love your emails and wisdom! Winning the bk would be wonderful! Thank you for all you do to share your knowledge to help improve others lives!!
use lots of oak leaves, as I have LOTS of oak trees
lots of horse poop from my generous neighbor.
no spray, bug bucket of soapy water, that gets stinky and gross after a week, hoping the bad boys’ friends will smell them floating there and think twice before attacking my beans
Learning so much from Margaret and all the above comments. Thank you!!
I use newspaper and cardboard in my veggie garden, pine bark mulch around flower garden bets and try to plant a lot of things to discourage insects. I use osmocote plant food in containers and fish fertilizer.
Straw for vegetable garden, working on aged leaves for flowers. I have never sprayed. Some hand picking of pests and lots of hope!
Count me in! I don’t use sprays anyway!! ;o)
After retiring from the educational field in 2000 I could not wait to get back to my roots of farming….Sage Hill Farms began as and is still 100% chemical free, compost and mulch are the keys for our success. ( both made right here on site )
Love this site and I am familiar with Ruth Stout and her work.
Delighted to see her legacy being carried forward.
Thank you and Happy Gardening !
BK
I would love to have a copy of the book. I took the pledge about 10 years ago and I do not allow any chemicals on my lawn or my garden. I hand-weed. I use sea-based nutrients for fertilizing. I purchase shredded, aged, non-dyed, non-cedar, hard-wood mulch. This past Fall, I tried something new and had at least 6 inches of leaves placed on my foundation gardens around the house. It will be interesting to see the soil after the thaw this Spring. I need to come up with a plan to nourish the lawn.
I use leaves & grasses & kitchen scraps to compost. Never spray. Marion
count me in, too please
thanks Margaret