1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,984 Hello everyone, 2 00:00:00,984 --> 00:00:02,716 Rob Greenfield here in the garden. 3 00:00:02,716 --> 00:00:04,301 And today, I am going to share my 4 00:00:04,301 --> 00:00:05,887 tips for beginner gardeners. 5 00:00:06,336 --> 00:00:08,106 So if you are out there feeling like 6 00:00:08,106 --> 00:00:09,457 you have a black thumb, 7 00:00:09,457 --> 00:00:11,447 feeling like whatever you plant dies, 8 00:00:11,458 --> 00:00:13,405 and you are dreaming of 9 00:00:13,405 --> 00:00:14,695 having a green thumb, 10 00:00:14,950 --> 00:00:16,111 dreaming of growing 11 00:00:16,111 --> 00:00:17,272 an abundance of food 12 00:00:17,272 --> 00:00:18,796 and having that fresh food 13 00:00:18,796 --> 00:00:20,320 on your table to eat, 14 00:00:20,567 --> 00:00:22,648 then this is the video for you. 15 00:00:22,870 --> 00:00:33,193 [music] 16 00:00:33,193 --> 00:00:34,988 I actually feel like I am in a really 17 00:00:34,988 --> 00:00:36,651 good position to be able to share 18 00:00:36,651 --> 00:00:37,667 these tips with you. 19 00:00:38,057 --> 00:00:39,788 The reason why is it is not that 20 00:00:39,788 --> 00:00:41,573 long ago that I was a complete 21 00:00:41,573 --> 00:00:43,358 rookie gardener myself. 22 00:00:43,716 --> 00:00:45,960 Go back just 3 years ago 23 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:48,130 and I had grown very little food 24 00:00:48,133 --> 00:00:49,660 and then I launched into 25 00:00:49,660 --> 00:00:52,333 a year long project of attempting to 26 00:00:52,333 --> 00:00:55,200 and successfully growing and foraging 27 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:57,209 everything that I ate for an entire year. 28 00:00:57,209 --> 00:00:59,402 During that year, I grew over 100 29 00:00:59,402 --> 00:01:01,475 different foods in my garden. 30 00:01:01,740 --> 00:01:03,511 So I quickly went from a beginner, 31 00:01:03,511 --> 00:01:05,283 who had grown very little, 32 00:01:05,497 --> 00:01:07,555 to a pretty experienced gardener, 33 00:01:07,555 --> 00:01:10,210 who has spent hundreds of hours 34 00:01:10,210 --> 00:01:12,366 in my garden and other people's gardens, 35 00:01:12,366 --> 00:01:13,828 both in the United States 36 00:01:13,828 --> 00:01:15,770 and in other parts of the world. 37 00:01:15,770 --> 00:01:17,890 So I am in a place where I can still 38 00:01:17,890 --> 00:01:22,100 remember the nights of frantic searching online, 39 00:01:22,100 --> 00:01:25,395 and calling friends, and seeds not sprouting, 40 00:01:25,395 --> 00:01:28,483 and plants dying and just that fear. 41 00:01:28,483 --> 00:01:31,490 To now having the confidence 42 00:01:31,490 --> 00:01:34,038 and really being way beyond that beginner stage. 43 00:01:34,333 --> 00:01:36,382 So that is why I am really excited 44 00:01:36,382 --> 00:01:38,836 to be able to share this advice with you. 45 00:01:38,836 --> 00:01:40,953 From a recent beginner to a now, 46 00:01:40,953 --> 00:01:43,071 pretty decent gardener. 47 00:01:43,434 --> 00:01:46,371 So my 1st tip is a really simple one, 48 00:01:46,371 --> 00:01:48,408 and that is to start small. 49 00:01:48,955 --> 00:01:50,594 A lot of people have this dream 50 00:01:50,594 --> 00:01:53,106 of turning their whole yard into a garden 51 00:01:53,106 --> 00:01:55,152 and growing and incredible amount of food. 52 00:01:55,152 --> 00:01:57,517 That is a wonderful dream to have. 53 00:01:57,624 --> 00:01:59,713 I completely support it. 54 00:01:59,713 --> 00:02:02,190 But what a lot of people miss out on 55 00:02:02,190 --> 00:02:04,298 is the fact that it does not happen 56 00:02:04,298 --> 00:02:06,594 over night that you go from having 57 00:02:06,594 --> 00:02:08,586 very little gardening skills, 58 00:02:08,586 --> 00:02:11,010 to all of a sudden this paradisical garden. 59 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:13,738 Everybody has to start somewhere. 60 00:02:13,832 --> 00:02:15,521 For a lot of us who do not have 61 00:02:15,521 --> 00:02:17,211 gardening in our background, 62 00:02:17,214 --> 00:02:18,552 our parents did not garden, 63 00:02:18,552 --> 00:02:19,959 where we are starting kind of 64 00:02:19,959 --> 00:02:21,106 from scratch as adults, 65 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:24,199 starting small is one of my absolute 66 00:02:24,199 --> 00:02:27,039 key places for beginner gardeners. 67 00:02:27,405 --> 00:02:28,903 That could mean a small raised 68 00:02:28,903 --> 00:02:30,054 bed in your front yard. 69 00:02:30,238 --> 00:02:32,266 It coud mean some plants 70 00:02:32,266 --> 00:02:34,295 on your balcony or on your windowsill. 71 00:02:34,581 --> 00:02:37,519 Do not put yourself down for 72 00:02:37,519 --> 00:02:39,198 any amount of food that you grow. 73 00:02:39,388 --> 00:02:40,731 Any amount of food you grow 74 00:02:40,731 --> 00:02:42,774 is a really positive step forward. 75 00:02:43,069 --> 00:02:45,212 So start small and each season, 76 00:02:45,212 --> 00:02:47,756 you can add on more and more and more. 77 00:02:48,020 --> 00:02:50,422 This will also build your confidence 78 00:02:50,422 --> 00:02:51,474 one step at a time. 79 00:02:51,777 --> 00:02:53,316 If you start with way more 80 00:02:53,316 --> 00:02:54,855 than you can possibly handle, 81 00:02:55,102 --> 00:02:57,127 often it gets away from you, 82 00:02:57,320 --> 00:02:59,130 you become overwhelmed, 83 00:02:59,130 --> 00:03:01,617 and then you just kind of lose it all. 84 00:03:01,920 --> 00:03:03,763 So, if that is the case for you 85 00:03:03,763 --> 00:03:05,309 and you do not think you can 86 00:03:05,309 --> 00:03:06,743 go big right away, 87 00:03:06,743 --> 00:03:08,177 absolutely start small. 88 00:03:08,404 --> 00:03:10,394 Now, if you have so much free time, 89 00:03:10,616 --> 00:03:11,693 and you really think 90 00:03:11,693 --> 00:03:13,162 this is what you want to do, 91 00:03:13,162 --> 00:03:15,206 I am not discouraging you from going big, 92 00:03:15,423 --> 00:03:17,429 but definitely, one of my 93 00:03:17,429 --> 00:03:19,259 number one tips is start small. 94 00:03:19,259 --> 00:03:21,638 If you feel like that is what is 95 00:03:21,638 --> 00:03:22,971 needed for you at the time. 96 00:03:23,185 --> 00:03:25,090 Next up is keep it local. 97 00:03:25,305 --> 00:03:28,002 Really try to seek out the local resources. 98 00:03:28,414 --> 00:03:30,816 The truth is that the gardening 99 00:03:30,816 --> 00:03:33,218 knowledge is almost everywhere. 100 00:03:33,220 --> 00:03:34,711 It is often that we pass it up. 101 00:03:34,711 --> 00:03:36,183 We do not realize that anybody 102 00:03:36,183 --> 00:03:37,109 gardens in our area 103 00:03:37,109 --> 00:03:38,755 because we are not looking for it. 104 00:03:38,755 --> 00:03:39,799 We do not realize it. 105 00:03:39,799 --> 00:03:42,203 But everywhere around the country 106 00:03:42,203 --> 00:03:43,257 and around the world, 107 00:03:43,257 --> 00:03:45,244 there are local resources 108 00:03:45,244 --> 00:03:47,231 that really know that area well. 109 00:03:47,396 --> 00:03:49,175 Seek out local nurseries, 110 00:03:49,175 --> 00:03:51,695 local seed companies, local gardeners. 111 00:03:51,729 --> 00:03:53,993 If you are driving around your neighborhood, 112 00:03:54,119 --> 00:03:55,276 and you see a garden 113 00:03:55,276 --> 00:03:57,684 in someone's front yard, knock on that door 114 00:03:57,684 --> 00:04:00,093 and say hello and talk to them. 115 00:04:00,093 --> 00:04:01,678 A really great way to go local 116 00:04:01,678 --> 00:04:03,071 is community gardens. 117 00:04:03,276 --> 00:04:04,610 Join a community garden 118 00:04:04,610 --> 00:04:07,057 so that you can learn what plants 119 00:04:07,057 --> 00:04:09,945 are growing well there, get support from them. 120 00:04:10,182 --> 00:04:13,173 Another thing is local classes. 121 00:04:13,173 --> 00:04:15,369 If you can find classes that are in your area, 122 00:04:15,369 --> 00:04:17,977 that is a great way to get the knowledge 123 00:04:17,977 --> 00:04:19,281 that is based on your area. 124 00:04:19,281 --> 00:04:20,585 And then books, as well. 125 00:04:20,771 --> 00:04:22,463 Check out your local library. 126 00:04:22,463 --> 00:04:24,140 Often they will have books that are 127 00:04:24,140 --> 00:04:26,211 based on your region or your state. 128 00:04:26,389 --> 00:04:28,354 For example, when I was in Florida, 129 00:04:28,354 --> 00:04:29,851 I got Robert Bowden's book, 130 00:04:29,851 --> 00:04:32,179 which was Florida Fruit and Vegetable Gardening. 131 00:04:32,179 --> 00:04:34,208 It was geared exactly towards my 132 00:04:34,208 --> 00:04:36,573 area and leaves out so much of the 133 00:04:36,573 --> 00:04:38,938 information that I did not need. 134 00:04:39,184 --> 00:04:41,670 It focuses on the information that you need. 135 00:04:41,670 --> 00:04:43,768 Keeping things as local as you possibly can. 136 00:04:43,768 --> 00:04:46,327 And then that moves into the next one. 137 00:04:46,541 --> 00:04:48,207 They are pretty much tied together. 138 00:04:48,408 --> 00:04:50,028 That is garden as a community. 139 00:04:50,369 --> 00:04:51,553 Garden together. 140 00:04:51,891 --> 00:04:53,670 There is no reason to do this alone. 141 00:04:53,926 --> 00:04:55,596 If you are at home alone, 142 00:04:55,596 --> 00:04:57,258 doing this all by yourself, 143 00:04:57,258 --> 00:04:58,823 and all you are doing is looking 144 00:04:58,823 --> 00:05:01,450 on the internet, facebook groups, 145 00:05:01,450 --> 00:05:04,311 things like that, watching Youtube videos. 146 00:05:04,311 --> 00:05:05,742 Sure those things are helpful, 147 00:05:05,742 --> 00:05:08,842 but it is easy to feel 148 00:05:08,842 --> 00:05:10,962 really overwhelmed and unempowered 149 00:05:10,962 --> 00:05:12,262 when it is all by yourself. 150 00:05:12,479 --> 00:05:14,642 So get involved with others. 151 00:05:14,855 --> 00:05:17,054 When I had my garden in my front yard, 152 00:05:17,054 --> 00:05:18,970 I would have people drive by 153 00:05:18,970 --> 00:05:20,887 and I would see them stop and look. 154 00:05:21,068 --> 00:05:23,424 I would encourage them to stop by. 155 00:05:23,424 --> 00:05:24,840 One time I even had someone 156 00:05:24,840 --> 00:05:27,638 knock on my door and he very timidly said, 157 00:05:27,638 --> 00:05:29,997 "I know this is awkward, 158 00:05:29,997 --> 00:05:31,507 but I have been dreaming 159 00:05:31,507 --> 00:05:33,832 of starting to grow food with my kids. 160 00:05:33,832 --> 00:05:36,158 I just had to knock on the door and ask." 161 00:05:36,422 --> 00:05:38,096 I walked him throughout my garden, 162 00:05:38,096 --> 00:05:39,893 sent him home with a bunch of food. 163 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:42,410 Gardeners love that. 164 00:05:42,413 --> 00:05:44,049 Gardeners love to share their time 165 00:05:44,049 --> 00:05:45,054 and their knowledge. 166 00:05:45,325 --> 00:05:47,818 So get involved with local people. 167 00:05:48,084 --> 00:05:49,322 Joining a community garden 168 00:05:49,322 --> 00:05:51,201 is one of the simplest and easiest ways 169 00:05:51,201 --> 00:05:52,275 to do that if you can. 170 00:05:52,275 --> 00:05:53,563 Another thing you can do 171 00:05:53,563 --> 00:05:56,231 is volunteer at local organic farms. 172 00:05:56,953 --> 00:05:58,638 There is a website called WOOFing, 173 00:05:58,638 --> 00:06:00,664 World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. 174 00:06:01,082 --> 00:06:03,703 It is www.wwoof.net. 175 00:06:03,963 --> 00:06:06,211 That is a great way to just emerse 176 00:06:06,211 --> 00:06:07,799 in local food growing. 177 00:06:08,005 --> 00:06:10,335 You can also travel and do it as well, 178 00:06:10,335 --> 00:06:12,666 so there is no need to do it alone. 179 00:06:12,666 --> 00:06:14,019 The resources are out there. 180 00:06:14,019 --> 00:06:15,305 The knowledge is out there. 181 00:06:15,305 --> 00:06:16,633 The community is out there. 182 00:06:16,633 --> 00:06:18,361 Gardeners welcome people in. 183 00:06:18,361 --> 00:06:19,510 So do not do it alone. 184 00:06:19,719 --> 00:06:21,006 Do it with community. 185 00:06:21,006 --> 00:06:22,833 Now keeping on that theme of local, 186 00:06:22,833 --> 00:06:24,300 but moving into actual plants, 187 00:06:24,300 --> 00:06:25,768 moving into the planting. 188 00:06:26,020 --> 00:06:27,920 Where do you source your seeds 189 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:29,087 and your plants? 190 00:06:29,368 --> 00:06:32,510 For me, it is all about local varieties. 191 00:06:32,732 --> 00:06:35,129 So seeking out local seed companies 192 00:06:35,129 --> 00:06:38,111 and local nurseries that have been growing 193 00:06:38,111 --> 00:06:39,842 these plants in your region 194 00:06:39,842 --> 00:06:42,371 for years or even decades. 195 00:06:42,631 --> 00:06:44,678 How that works is if a plant is 196 00:06:44,678 --> 00:06:47,461 designed for that area, 197 00:06:47,461 --> 00:06:48,832 it already knows the insects 198 00:06:48,832 --> 00:06:50,233 that are going to attack it. 199 00:06:50,233 --> 00:06:52,075 It already knows the weather patterns. 200 00:06:52,156 --> 00:06:53,680 This is a plant that is designed 201 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:55,204 to grow in that area. 202 00:06:55,413 --> 00:06:57,171 So if you can buy your seeds 203 00:06:57,171 --> 00:06:58,757 from local seed companies 204 00:06:58,757 --> 00:07:00,530 that produce them in your area, 205 00:07:00,530 --> 00:07:01,860 as well as nurseries, 206 00:07:01,860 --> 00:07:03,861 this drastically increases your 207 00:07:03,861 --> 00:07:04,863 chance of success. 208 00:07:05,118 --> 00:07:07,565 Whereas going to the big box stores 209 00:07:07,565 --> 00:07:09,683 and buying the plants that have been shipped 210 00:07:09,683 --> 00:07:11,968 from who knows how far away 211 00:07:11,968 --> 00:07:14,800 from some sort of centralized distribution center. 212 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:16,613 Those plants might not be 213 00:07:16,613 --> 00:07:17,926 designed for your area. 214 00:07:17,926 --> 00:07:20,192 For example, where I did a lot of my 215 00:07:20,192 --> 00:07:23,395 gardening in Florida, big fat juicy tomatoes, 216 00:07:23,395 --> 00:07:26,599 like beefsteak tomatoes, do not do well there. 217 00:07:26,819 --> 00:07:28,219 What does really well is the 218 00:07:28,219 --> 00:07:30,321 small everglades tomato. 219 00:07:30,571 --> 00:07:32,503 With the everglades tomato, 220 00:07:32,503 --> 00:07:34,671 a person with a black thumb... 221 00:07:34,671 --> 00:07:36,060 Boom! Green thumb, 222 00:07:36,060 --> 00:07:38,794 and tomatoes in incredible amounts. 223 00:07:38,794 --> 00:07:40,468 But if you are trying to grow those 224 00:07:40,468 --> 00:07:41,934 big ones that are not adapted 225 00:07:41,934 --> 00:07:43,740 to that area, black thumb. 226 00:07:44,078 --> 00:07:47,024 It dies, molds, gets tomato blight 227 00:07:47,024 --> 00:07:48,827 and you do not get anything 228 00:07:48,827 --> 00:07:51,035 and you walk away feeling like a failure. 229 00:07:51,478 --> 00:07:53,919 So seeking out your local seed companies 230 00:07:53,919 --> 00:07:56,651 and your local nurseries is a huge 231 00:07:56,651 --> 00:07:58,284 step in the right direction. 232 00:07:58,284 --> 00:08:00,786 When a lot of people start planning their garden, 233 00:08:00,786 --> 00:08:03,289 they start planning what they want to plant. 234 00:08:03,406 --> 00:08:04,988 What they do is they think about 235 00:08:04,988 --> 00:08:06,450 what their favorite foods are. 236 00:08:06,690 --> 00:08:08,348 They even walk down the grocery 237 00:08:08,348 --> 00:08:10,771 store isles and think, 238 00:08:10,771 --> 00:08:13,042 "Ok, these are my favorite things to eat, 239 00:08:13,042 --> 00:08:15,314 so this is what I am going to plant." 240 00:08:15,314 --> 00:08:17,609 Sure, that can be beneficial, 241 00:08:17,609 --> 00:08:19,396 but here is the downside of that. 242 00:08:20,017 --> 00:08:22,369 If you are doing that, most of our 243 00:08:22,369 --> 00:08:25,518 grocery stores are based on globalization, 244 00:08:25,518 --> 00:08:28,083 where food is shipped in from all different regions, 245 00:08:28,083 --> 00:08:30,263 where it does really well in this area 246 00:08:30,263 --> 00:08:31,803 and not well in that area. 247 00:08:32,178 --> 00:08:34,934 If you do it that way, you will often 248 00:08:34,934 --> 00:08:36,542 end up planting things that just 249 00:08:36,542 --> 00:08:38,371 are not going to do well in your area. 250 00:08:38,663 --> 00:08:40,567 So I think the best thing to do, 251 00:08:40,567 --> 00:08:42,355 instead of going to the grocery store 252 00:08:42,355 --> 00:08:43,924 and asking what you like to eat, 253 00:08:43,924 --> 00:08:45,499 talk to people in your community. 254 00:08:45,762 --> 00:08:48,548 Ask them, "What grows so rediculously 255 00:08:48,548 --> 00:08:51,997 well that you cannot even kill it?" 256 00:08:52,076 --> 00:08:53,366 What grows so well that it 257 00:08:53,366 --> 00:08:54,603 becomes a problem because 258 00:08:54,603 --> 00:08:55,730 there is so much of it? 259 00:08:55,851 --> 00:08:57,172 Plant those things. 260 00:08:57,461 --> 00:09:01,060 For example, here in this garden 261 00:09:01,060 --> 00:09:04,659 that I am in, mint is taking over like crazy. 262 00:09:04,903 --> 00:09:07,840 I just made a video about 263 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:09,758 easy plants to start growing. 264 00:09:10,006 --> 00:09:11,115 This is one of them. 265 00:09:11,115 --> 00:09:13,080 Plant what has the fewest pests. 266 00:09:13,342 --> 00:09:14,549 What grows really easily. 267 00:09:14,750 --> 00:09:17,518 Then, once you have mastered 268 00:09:17,518 --> 00:09:19,776 those easier plants, then you can 269 00:09:19,776 --> 00:09:22,035 start to get into the more difficult ones. 270 00:09:22,353 --> 00:09:23,850 Maybe you love blueberries, 271 00:09:23,850 --> 00:09:25,347 but they grow in acidic soil. 272 00:09:25,366 --> 00:09:27,088 So if you do not have acidic soil, 273 00:09:27,088 --> 00:09:28,584 you do not want to start there. 274 00:09:28,584 --> 00:09:30,818 But once you get more experience, 275 00:09:30,818 --> 00:09:32,765 then you can work with changing 276 00:09:32,765 --> 00:09:34,053 the pH of your soil. 277 00:09:34,066 --> 00:09:36,236 That is a little bit more advanced gardening. 278 00:09:36,236 --> 00:09:37,830 So again with the grocery store. 279 00:09:37,830 --> 00:09:39,169 We have become disconnected 280 00:09:39,169 --> 00:09:39,979 with the seasons. 281 00:09:40,086 --> 00:09:42,018 Being able to get most things 282 00:09:42,018 --> 00:09:43,941 at any time throughout the year, 283 00:09:43,941 --> 00:09:45,725 but one of the absolute most 284 00:09:45,725 --> 00:09:48,068 important things is to plant the right 285 00:09:48,068 --> 00:09:49,621 things at the right time. 286 00:09:49,871 --> 00:09:53,334 If you try to plant tomatoes early on 287 00:09:53,334 --> 00:09:55,728 in the spring when it is still very cold, 288 00:09:55,728 --> 00:09:57,746 and the soil temperature is very low, 289 00:09:57,746 --> 00:09:59,394 you are going to have a hard time. 290 00:09:59,394 --> 00:10:01,418 Because in colder climates, they like heat. 291 00:10:01,418 --> 00:10:02,539 Same goes for basil. 292 00:10:02,539 --> 00:10:03,926 That is going to be later on. 293 00:10:03,926 --> 00:10:05,979 Early things, for example, 294 00:10:05,979 --> 00:10:08,838 kale can be started earlier and actually, 295 00:10:08,838 --> 00:10:10,845 in very hot places, it does not 296 00:10:10,845 --> 00:10:12,859 do well in the peak heat, 297 00:10:12,859 --> 00:10:14,873 because it likes the colder temperatures. 298 00:10:15,096 --> 00:10:16,768 It is really important to plant 299 00:10:16,768 --> 00:10:18,920 the right things at the right time. 300 00:10:19,149 --> 00:10:20,907 You do not have to figure out 301 00:10:20,907 --> 00:10:22,326 each individual plant. 302 00:10:22,516 --> 00:10:24,048 What you have to do is simply 303 00:10:24,048 --> 00:10:25,580 find a planting schedule. 304 00:10:25,830 --> 00:10:28,438 You can check at local universities. 305 00:10:28,653 --> 00:10:30,418 Often their extension program will 306 00:10:30,418 --> 00:10:32,183 have a planting schedule. 307 00:10:32,351 --> 00:10:34,812 Some community gardens will have them. 308 00:10:35,034 --> 00:10:36,868 You can also just go online and 309 00:10:36,868 --> 00:10:39,563 search for, for example, if you live in New York, 310 00:10:39,761 --> 00:10:42,516 "New York planting schedule" 311 00:10:42,682 --> 00:10:44,477 This will help you to plant the right 312 00:10:44,477 --> 00:10:45,922 things at the right time. 313 00:10:46,230 --> 00:10:48,209 By doing that, ensure 314 00:10:48,209 --> 00:10:50,189 the success of those plants. 315 00:10:50,392 --> 00:10:52,059 As far as the details, 316 00:10:52,059 --> 00:10:54,207 like how far apart do you plant 317 00:10:54,207 --> 00:10:55,253 each different thing, 318 00:10:55,253 --> 00:10:57,627 like tomatoes or kale or arugula. 319 00:10:57,856 --> 00:10:59,771 How deep do you plant the seeds? 320 00:10:59,771 --> 00:11:01,473 And should you transplant, 321 00:11:01,473 --> 00:11:03,954 as in starting from pots in a greenhouse 322 00:11:03,954 --> 00:11:05,634 or in your house, or direct sow 323 00:11:05,634 --> 00:11:06,855 the seeds in the ground. 324 00:11:07,112 --> 00:11:08,943 For that, I recommend following 325 00:11:08,943 --> 00:11:10,629 the instructions on the back of the 326 00:11:10,629 --> 00:11:12,046 seed packs that you get. 327 00:11:12,379 --> 00:11:14,690 And really importantly, getting a book 328 00:11:14,690 --> 00:11:17,143 for your area, which I mentioned at the beginning. 329 00:11:17,354 --> 00:11:19,838 A lot of these books that are based on your area, 330 00:11:19,838 --> 00:11:21,230 they give you those details, 331 00:11:21,230 --> 00:11:22,882 so you do not have to seek it out 332 00:11:22,882 --> 00:11:24,322 for each individual one. 333 00:11:24,322 --> 00:11:26,042 So in this video, I am not going to 334 00:11:26,042 --> 00:11:27,892 go into those details because they 335 00:11:27,892 --> 00:11:29,743 are based on each area. 336 00:11:29,743 --> 00:11:33,331 Instead, get a local book for your region 337 00:11:33,331 --> 00:11:36,353 and follow the instructions from the seed companies 338 00:11:36,353 --> 00:11:37,636 where you buy those seeds. 339 00:11:37,636 --> 00:11:39,861 There are a lot of other details, 340 00:11:39,861 --> 00:11:44,323 for example, sun and water and soil. 341 00:11:44,323 --> 00:11:46,073 You could talk about that for hours 342 00:11:46,073 --> 00:11:47,964 and hours and hours, but I want to give 343 00:11:47,964 --> 00:11:49,126 just a few tips on that. 344 00:11:49,126 --> 00:11:52,040 As far as sun goes, for beginner gardeners, 345 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:54,135 I generally recommend full sun. 346 00:11:54,327 --> 00:11:56,416 Now if you are in a shaded area 347 00:11:56,416 --> 00:11:58,607 like I am right now, that is really difficult. 348 00:11:58,607 --> 00:12:00,973 There are plants that can grow well in shade, 349 00:12:00,973 --> 00:12:03,939 but generally, most plants need a lot of sun. 350 00:12:03,939 --> 00:12:06,482 Make sure that you are not under the shade of a tree, 351 00:12:06,482 --> 00:12:08,659 or where your house casts 352 00:12:08,659 --> 00:12:10,196 shade for half of the day. 353 00:12:10,421 --> 00:12:12,374 So before you plant your garden, 354 00:12:12,374 --> 00:12:14,300 keep an eye on that spot 355 00:12:14,300 --> 00:12:15,718 and remember that the sun 356 00:12:15,718 --> 00:12:17,056 changes throughout the year. 357 00:12:17,306 --> 00:12:19,080 So planting in full sun. 358 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:21,454 As far as water, one of the basic 359 00:12:21,454 --> 00:12:23,574 ways to tell if you are watering enough 360 00:12:23,574 --> 00:12:26,199 is when you grab a handful of that soil, 361 00:12:26,199 --> 00:12:28,475 ideally, it should stay in a clump 362 00:12:28,475 --> 00:12:30,333 that breaks a little bit. 363 00:12:30,650 --> 00:12:33,060 It is basically the consistency 364 00:12:33,060 --> 00:12:35,470 of a wrung out sponge. 365 00:12:35,726 --> 00:12:37,639 Watering in the morning 366 00:12:37,639 --> 00:12:39,266 is the best, before the heat. 367 00:12:39,523 --> 00:12:41,567 If not the morning, then the evening. 368 00:12:41,593 --> 00:12:43,137 Not in the middle of the day. 369 00:12:43,137 --> 00:12:45,887 Another way to test if you have enough water 370 00:12:45,887 --> 00:12:47,997 is you stick your finger down into the soil, 371 00:12:47,997 --> 00:12:49,782 and if it is moist when you get your 372 00:12:49,782 --> 00:12:52,590 finger down to about your second knuckle here, 373 00:12:52,590 --> 00:12:53,799 then that is another sign 374 00:12:53,799 --> 00:12:55,118 that you have enough water. 375 00:12:55,118 --> 00:12:56,619 If it is dry all the way down, 376 00:12:56,619 --> 00:12:58,121 it needs to be watered. 377 00:12:58,329 --> 00:13:01,752 So soil varies all over the place. 378 00:13:01,752 --> 00:13:02,957 And how you are watering; 379 00:13:02,957 --> 00:13:04,390 whether you are in the desert, 380 00:13:04,390 --> 00:13:07,120 or in a very fertile area like southwest Wisconsin, 381 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:09,383 or in Florida, where it is mostly sand. 382 00:13:09,545 --> 00:13:10,809 It is going to vary a lot, 383 00:13:10,809 --> 00:13:12,899 but those are a few tips with water. 384 00:13:13,114 --> 00:13:15,775 Again, local resources are key, 385 00:13:15,775 --> 00:13:17,768 because they are going to know your soil. 386 00:13:17,844 --> 00:13:20,458 Then, another one is healthy soil. 387 00:13:20,657 --> 00:13:23,784 A lot of people, they only focus on the plants. 388 00:13:23,784 --> 00:13:24,934 When they see problems, 389 00:13:24,934 --> 00:13:26,270 they think about the plants, 390 00:13:26,270 --> 00:13:27,858 but the truth is, one of the most 391 00:13:27,858 --> 00:13:30,767 important things is having healthy, living soil. 392 00:13:31,072 --> 00:13:33,740 Take care of your soil. 393 00:13:33,740 --> 00:13:35,312 Take very good care of your soil. 394 00:13:35,353 --> 00:13:38,563 Your soil is your lifesource to have 395 00:13:38,563 --> 00:13:40,642 that healthy and abundant food. 396 00:13:40,854 --> 00:13:42,977 My next tip is to make it convenient. 397 00:13:43,061 --> 00:13:45,145 Now, what I mean by that is putting 398 00:13:45,145 --> 00:13:46,833 your garden in a location 399 00:13:46,833 --> 00:13:48,522 where you naturally go. 400 00:13:48,947 --> 00:13:51,237 If you put your garden in a ten 401 00:13:51,237 --> 00:13:53,500 minute walk on the other side of your property, 402 00:13:53,500 --> 00:13:54,815 where you cannot see it, 403 00:13:54,815 --> 00:13:56,958 it easily becomes out of sight, out of mind. 404 00:13:56,958 --> 00:13:58,911 It is easy to neglect. 405 00:13:59,164 --> 00:14:01,164 So, put it in an area where you 406 00:14:01,164 --> 00:14:02,484 naturally go every day. 407 00:14:02,484 --> 00:14:03,662 Maybe your front yard, 408 00:14:03,662 --> 00:14:05,693 right next to your front sidewalk, 409 00:14:05,693 --> 00:14:07,237 where every day you have to walk 410 00:14:07,237 --> 00:14:08,595 past it to get to your car. 411 00:14:08,595 --> 00:14:10,226 That way, every morning and night, 412 00:14:10,226 --> 00:14:12,141 you are naturally drawn to it. 413 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:13,513 The same goes for water. 414 00:14:13,513 --> 00:14:14,948 Making sure that you have your 415 00:14:14,948 --> 00:14:17,757 water source near your garden, ideally, 416 00:14:17,757 --> 00:14:19,121 whether that is a long hose 417 00:14:19,121 --> 00:14:20,784 or if you do not have a hose, 418 00:14:20,784 --> 00:14:22,505 right next to the spigget where you 419 00:14:22,505 --> 00:14:24,796 have your buckets or your rain water harvesting. 420 00:14:24,796 --> 00:14:28,297 Designing it so that it has a relative 421 00:14:28,297 --> 00:14:29,918 amount of convenience will make it 422 00:14:29,918 --> 00:14:31,199 easier to get out there. 423 00:14:31,324 --> 00:14:32,689 Do not put a whole bunch of 424 00:14:32,689 --> 00:14:33,924 obstacles in the way. 425 00:14:34,058 --> 00:14:35,461 This is really important when 426 00:14:35,461 --> 00:14:36,639 you are getting started. 427 00:14:36,639 --> 00:14:37,931 And you are not used to it. 428 00:14:37,931 --> 00:14:39,181 You do not have that habit 429 00:14:39,181 --> 00:14:40,530 of getting into the garden. 430 00:14:40,530 --> 00:14:43,035 You have a habit of just going to the grocery store. 431 00:14:43,035 --> 00:14:45,267 It is easy to neglect it if it is 432 00:14:45,267 --> 00:14:46,740 out of sight, out of mind. 433 00:14:47,142 --> 00:14:49,259 Deisgn it to be relatively convenient. 434 00:14:49,264 --> 00:14:50,908 When you are just getting started, 435 00:14:50,908 --> 00:14:52,527 and you have an incredible amount 436 00:14:52,527 --> 00:14:53,750 of information out there. 437 00:14:53,750 --> 00:14:55,481 It is really hard to choose which is 438 00:14:55,481 --> 00:14:56,533 the right information. 439 00:14:56,533 --> 00:14:58,414 It is easy to be infiltrated 440 00:14:58,414 --> 00:15:01,216 by chemical mindsets. 441 00:15:01,410 --> 00:15:03,913 The idea that you need to spray things, 442 00:15:03,913 --> 00:15:06,089 that every insect should die, 443 00:15:06,089 --> 00:15:08,013 that the soil needs these massive 444 00:15:08,013 --> 00:15:09,354 amount of fertilizers. 445 00:15:09,354 --> 00:15:11,576 My tip is do not fall into 446 00:15:11,576 --> 00:15:12,631 the chemical mindset. 447 00:15:12,830 --> 00:15:14,462 In my year of growing and foraging 448 00:15:14,462 --> 00:15:16,226 all of my food where I grew over 449 00:15:16,226 --> 00:15:18,361 100 different foods, I never used 450 00:15:18,361 --> 00:15:21,430 a single pesticide, not even organic ones. 451 00:15:21,664 --> 00:15:23,994 These pesticides have only existed 452 00:15:23,994 --> 00:15:27,172 for a tiny, tiny fraction of all the times 453 00:15:27,172 --> 00:15:29,301 that humans have lived off of 454 00:15:29,301 --> 00:15:30,745 the food that they have grown. 455 00:15:30,745 --> 00:15:33,433 You can grow without all of that. 456 00:15:33,436 --> 00:15:35,295 Without needing to have all this 457 00:15:35,295 --> 00:15:37,582 money and these outside resources. 458 00:15:37,582 --> 00:15:39,678 And be able to grow in an organic 459 00:15:39,678 --> 00:15:41,775 and in a sustainable manner. 460 00:15:41,775 --> 00:15:44,305 Next I want to talk a little bit about mindset. 461 00:15:44,529 --> 00:15:47,640 Focussing on a mindset of abundance, 462 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:49,474 rather than scarcity. 463 00:15:49,474 --> 00:15:52,351 Because when you think in scarcity, 464 00:15:52,351 --> 00:15:55,228 it often creates scarcity around you. 465 00:15:55,228 --> 00:15:57,690 But when you design in abundance 466 00:15:57,690 --> 00:15:59,008 and you think in abundance, 467 00:15:59,008 --> 00:16:01,746 it can actually help create that abundance. 468 00:16:01,968 --> 00:16:04,091 A really important part of that is 469 00:16:04,091 --> 00:16:06,394 remembering that in order to have 470 00:16:06,394 --> 00:16:09,314 an abundance, you have to have death. 471 00:16:09,514 --> 00:16:12,434 Death is a part of the gardening experience. 472 00:16:12,669 --> 00:16:15,014 So do not be afraid to kill plants. 473 00:16:15,187 --> 00:16:17,093 In fact, when you kill plants, 474 00:16:17,093 --> 00:16:20,025 think of that as part of your lessons, 475 00:16:20,025 --> 00:16:22,326 part of your learning to becoming 476 00:16:22,326 --> 00:16:23,478 a successful gardener. 477 00:16:23,573 --> 00:16:25,219 In that way, it is not a failure, 478 00:16:25,219 --> 00:16:27,536 it is a part of the success. 479 00:16:27,724 --> 00:16:30,651 Even more imporantly, remember, plants die. 480 00:16:30,849 --> 00:16:31,842 It is not like... 481 00:16:31,842 --> 00:16:34,740 Especially annual plants like carrots, 482 00:16:34,740 --> 00:16:37,638 and kale, and collards, and broccoli. 483 00:16:37,837 --> 00:16:40,373 All of these only live for a period of time. 484 00:16:40,575 --> 00:16:41,999 They have to be harvested 485 00:16:41,999 --> 00:16:43,423 and then they die. 486 00:16:43,627 --> 00:16:45,819 Do not think of death as a failure. 487 00:16:46,016 --> 00:16:48,234 Think about it as a part of the 488 00:16:48,234 --> 00:16:49,892 cycle of the gardening. 489 00:16:49,892 --> 00:16:51,808 Another thing that I mentioned just now, 490 00:16:51,808 --> 00:16:52,779 I mentioned annuals. 491 00:16:52,950 --> 00:16:54,873 Annuals are plants that basically 492 00:16:54,873 --> 00:16:56,346 you plant every single year. 493 00:16:56,589 --> 00:16:58,339 You harvest and you have to 494 00:16:58,339 --> 00:16:59,280 replant every year. 495 00:16:59,515 --> 00:17:01,549 Perennials are plants that you plant once 496 00:17:01,549 --> 00:17:03,782 and they come back for a very long time. 497 00:17:03,858 --> 00:17:06,621 Raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, 498 00:17:06,621 --> 00:17:09,880 strawberries, fruit trees like apples, 499 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:11,842 pears, and plums, nut trees, 500 00:17:11,842 --> 00:17:14,844 Jeruselum artichoke, rhubarb, all of 501 00:17:14,844 --> 00:17:16,474 these foods that come back year 502 00:17:16,474 --> 00:17:18,104 after year are perennials. 503 00:17:18,329 --> 00:17:21,113 I recommend working with perennials 504 00:17:21,113 --> 00:17:23,221 as much as you can because they 505 00:17:23,221 --> 00:17:24,855 generally take less work. 506 00:17:25,079 --> 00:17:26,489 They have a lot fewer pests. 507 00:17:26,694 --> 00:17:27,993 They take less nutrients. 508 00:17:28,207 --> 00:17:30,087 They keep on coming back 509 00:17:30,087 --> 00:17:31,634 year after year after year. 510 00:17:31,900 --> 00:17:34,879 Many perennials thrive on neglect. 511 00:17:35,091 --> 00:17:37,270 Focussing on perennials is definitely 512 00:17:37,270 --> 00:17:39,449 a big tip that I would move towards. 513 00:17:39,676 --> 00:17:42,155 It is often great to start with annuals. 514 00:17:42,155 --> 00:17:43,715 For example radishes. 515 00:17:43,715 --> 00:17:45,215 They produce in 30 days. 516 00:17:45,366 --> 00:17:46,900 That is one of those easy plants 517 00:17:46,900 --> 00:17:48,592 that I mentioned, that can give you 518 00:17:48,592 --> 00:17:49,733 that boost of success, 519 00:17:49,733 --> 00:17:52,304 and that confidence to move forward. 520 00:17:52,594 --> 00:17:54,629 But as you get better and better, 521 00:17:54,629 --> 00:17:57,039 I recommend moving more away 522 00:17:57,039 --> 00:17:58,751 from those annuals and moving more 523 00:17:58,751 --> 00:18:00,464 toward the perennial system. 524 00:18:00,464 --> 00:18:01,480 So there you have it. 525 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:03,274 Those are some of my most important 526 00:18:03,274 --> 00:18:05,069 tips for beginner gardeners. 527 00:18:05,162 --> 00:18:07,170 There are a lot of other ones out there. 528 00:18:07,170 --> 00:18:08,770 If you just start with those ones 529 00:18:08,770 --> 00:18:10,146 Remember to start small, 530 00:18:10,146 --> 00:18:12,544 start simply, maybe start with just 531 00:18:12,544 --> 00:18:14,942 5 easy plants that you are excited about. 532 00:18:15,141 --> 00:18:17,120 If you do 5 the next year, 533 00:18:17,120 --> 00:18:18,854 and you do 5 the next year, 534 00:18:18,854 --> 00:18:21,798 within a few years time, you can be 535 00:18:21,798 --> 00:18:23,683 growing dozens of different species. 536 00:18:23,866 --> 00:18:24,989 Make some goals. 537 00:18:24,989 --> 00:18:26,571 Make some of those smaller goals. 538 00:18:26,571 --> 00:18:28,124 Make some of those bigger goals. 539 00:18:28,124 --> 00:18:30,223 Use those smaller goals to chip away 540 00:18:30,223 --> 00:18:32,404 at that ultimate success 541 00:18:32,404 --> 00:18:34,892 of your giant front yard just 542 00:18:34,892 --> 00:18:37,199 dripping and oozing with food 543 00:18:37,199 --> 00:18:38,346 absolutely everywhere. 544 00:18:38,705 --> 00:18:41,255 I hope that you gained a lot from this video. 545 00:18:41,495 --> 00:18:43,689 If you did make sure that you subscribe. 546 00:18:43,734 --> 00:18:45,967 If you have friends who are beginner gardeners 547 00:18:45,967 --> 00:18:48,276 that consider themselves to have a black thumb, 548 00:18:48,276 --> 00:18:49,740 make sure to share this video 549 00:18:49,740 --> 00:18:51,928 to help them if you think it would be helpful. 550 00:18:51,928 --> 00:18:53,745 If you want to get this out into the 551 00:18:53,745 --> 00:18:55,788 Youtube world, ask questions, 552 00:18:55,788 --> 00:18:57,255 comment in the comments below. 553 00:18:57,447 --> 00:18:59,455 Make sure to give it a thumbs up as well. 554 00:18:59,665 --> 00:19:01,046 I love you all very much. 555 00:19:01,242 --> 00:19:03,521 I will see you again in the garden real soon.