Back to Eden Gardening Method
In 2021 I stumbled upon the Back to Eden gardening method, which is a revolutionary approach to gardening that has gained popularity in recent years. The idea behind it is simple: instead of tilling and disrupting soil structure, you simply cover the ground with a thick layer of organic mulch, such as wood chips, straw, or leaves. Over time, this creates a natural, nutrient-rich environment that promotes healthy plant growth without the need for excessive watering or weeding. I was curious but skeptical and Matt, well he was definitely not on board but decided to go along with it for my sake. I’m sure the entire time he was thinking about how many loads of wood chips he would be removing from the failed garden that year!
I contacted our friend Ethan who owns a local tree company and asked him if he would bring over some fresh wood chips for me. He said sure, and so the next day he delivered a truckload and Matt got to work spreading it in our garden (thanks, honey!).
I’m not going to lie, I was nervous. I had seen videos on this method but I was skeptical. I grew up with till-gardening, weed-pulling gardening, every-single-evening-we-water gardening. How was this going to work? One of the biggest advantages I learned from Back to Eden gardening is that it significantly reduces the amount of water needed to sustain your plants. The mulch layer acts as a natural sponge, absorbing water and releasing it slowly over time. This not only helps to conserve water but also ensures that your plants receive a consistent supply of moisture, which is essential for healthy growth. It makes sense, you know? God made the great ecosystems of the earth to function independently of man, so why did we go and make gardening so complicated? In the Back to Eden Gardening documentary by Paul Gautschi, which is on YouTube, he speaks on the ecosystem of the forest, and how leaves, pine needles, and branches fall each year, but if you move that aside, the earth is dark and moist below. Everything is harmonious just the way God intended it. We overcomplicate things, don’t we?
Another significant benefit of Back to Eden gardening is its ability to reduce the need for weeding. Covering the soil with a thick layer of mulch creates an inhospitable environment for weeds to grow. Additionally, the mulch layer helps to suppress weed seeds and prevent them from germinating, so you spend less time pulling weeds and more time enjoying your garden. It was truly mesmerizing to pull virtually no weeds last year and the few we found couldn’t support their root systems due to the wood chips, so you just lifted them out with no resistance. It was wild!
In addition to these practical benefits, back to Eden gardening also has some more philosophical and spiritual advantages, as I mentioned briefly. By working with nature instead of against it, you can create a sustainable, self-sufficient garden that requires less maintenance and input from you. You also reduce your reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which can harm the environment and your health. Another benefit of this gardening method is that it helps to improve soil health over time. As the wood chips break down, they release nutrients into the soil that can promote better plant growth. Additionally, because the soil is not disturbed as much with this method, it can become more fertile over time, leading to even better results. One thing I will make mention is that in the first year of using the Back to Eden method you may have a slightly smaller crop than normal. This is because the mulch can disrupt the current nutrient balance but to be completely honest we only saw about a 25% reduction in our first year. You can always soil test and amend as necessary your first year to avoid this.
Overall, Back to Eden gardening is a great option for anyone who wants to grow a healthy, productive garden with minimal effort and environmental impact. By following some basic principles and incorporating organic mulch into your garden, you can create a beautiful, bountiful oasis that requires almost no watering or weeding.