This method will completely transform your soil—no cardboard, no tilling, no synthetic fertilizers. Today, I’m breaking down my step-by-step process for building a no-dig garden using cover crops as a sheet mulch. This is the exact system I use to grow thriving vegetables, eliminate weeds, and build living soil that only gets better over time.
Affiliate links below do pay me a small commission and it's a great way to support this work. Huge thanks to anyone who purchases through these links and discount codes. It's much appreciated and I hope the discounts help!
I learned a lot of these methods from Daniel Mays of Frith Farm, who has been a huge inspiration in my journey. If you want to dive deeper into no-till, regenerative farming, I highly recommend his book:
Link here -- https://a.co/d/7ziiQi8
💰 Get Paid to Grow Cover Crops!
I actually get paid to grow cover crops through USDA grants, and my secret weapon for securing those funds is FarmRaise. They help farmers manage bookkeeping for their Schedule F, keep track of farm finances, and most importantly—alert you to USDA funding opportunities and help guide you through the process. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by farm grants, FarmRaise makes it simple.
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📌 Chapters:
00:00 – Why Cardboard is NOT the Answer
1:00 – How to Start a No-Dig Garden with Cover Crops
3:20 – Step 1: Killing the Grass (Tarping)
5:40 – Step 2: Planting the Cover Crop
8:40 – Step 3: Crimping & Terminating Cover Crops
11:15 – Step 4: Compost & Bed Preparation
14:25 – Why This Works & Final Thoughts
👇 Have questions? Drop them in the comments! Let me know if you’ve tried these methods or if you have your own no-dig gardening strategies.
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🚜 Work with Nature, Not Against It. See you in the next one!
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