Results from our first-year Back to Eden garden: Corn, Beans, and Squash (Three Sisters Method)

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    The results (and lessons learned) from our first attempt at companion planting corn, bean, and squash (Three Sisters Method) using a first-year Back to Eden garden.
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ความคิดเห็น • 344

  • @Farmerknowsbest
    @Farmerknowsbest 6 ปีที่แล้ว +236

    Corn and beans should be planted as soon as the soil temperature is 10C at 7am. Look ahead 3 days in the forecast, if there is a big rain or a cold rain coming do not plant. 3 days after seeding is a critical time for corn. Cold snap, especially on non hybrid open pollinated corn is a real issue. I would plant the beans a lot closer to the base of the corn plants too. I've had good luck planting the corn on 1ft spacing with 3 beans around each corn plant. The beans almost immediately find the corn trellis and follow it up as each leaf emerges. Beans have a very poor root system and nodualtion, especially if you don't inoculate will occur primarily only on the tap root. Nitrogen while it does move vertically well doesn't move horizontally much in the soil as once thought so position of the plants are critical. With your no-til system AMF populations will be good and nitrogen transfer will be increased but the closer the better. This past year I had amazing success skipping the squash and instead planting cucumbers under the corn/beans as the third sister. Easily the best cucumbers I've ever tasted. Our pumpkins were close by and the vines found their way into the 3 sisters and while at first I thought I was losing yield the pumpkins actually extended my bean harvest well into November in Eastern Ontario as the large leaves took the brunt of the killing frosts ans spared the beans on the soil surface for one more set of flowers to survive.

    • @BackToReality
      @BackToReality  6 ปีที่แล้ว +26

      Hi FarmerSchneck. This is such a wealth of information! Thank you for posting this!

    • @Farmerknowsbest
      @Farmerknowsbest 6 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      We grow about 1800ac of corn a year. HAHA, you learn a few things.

    • @Farmerknowsbest
      @Farmerknowsbest 6 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      Corn has 3 very critical periods. 3 days after planting it takes in its first water. 3-6 leaves is the critical weed free period. Here the growing point comes above ground and the plant is living off the root system, before this the seed is providing most of the nutrition. During the weed free period it is important the plant doesn't see green, primarily other grasses. At 8 leaf the rows around on the cob are determined, stress at this point will cut yield immensely. The next critical period is the 2 weeks after tassel. The plant needs ample moisture and ideally good heat. If your plants are suffering from nitrogen at this point you're in trouble yield wise. Once you're through these periods there isn't much you can screw up. haha.
      Looking your cobs you might want to find a source of boron fertilizer. Boron is critical for the production of pollen and it is a highly leachable nutrient like sulphur and nitrogen. I know you want to stay "organic" so you're on your own finding a source or a cover crop that will make Boron available.

    • @jacobfurnish7450
      @jacobfurnish7450 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      ​@@BackToReality If I may make a suggestion, from what I have learned about N2 fixing plants, they don't share the nitrogen with other plants because they need to invest heavily energy wise in the rhizobia bacteria in the soil that actually fix the N2
      because breaking the triple N2 bond is extremely difficult, so I would assume that the plants would not evolve to share the
      nitrogen. What I would do instead is grow N2 fixing plants separately, compost them, and add them to the soil where the
      corn rhizospheres will be located. Also, the element Molybdenum is not essential for N2 fixation, but it is the most efficient. The alternatives are vanadium and iron. So, you might want to spread a very dilute concentration of Molybdenum over your soil for N2 fixing plants.

    • @jacobfurnish7450
      @jacobfurnish7450 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      (Molybdenum, vanadium, and iron are used in the nitrogenase enzymes.)

  • @jeannebates6990
    @jeannebates6990 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    I am rewatching all your videos just for fun. My mom just passed away at age 94. She would say every so often, “Let’s see what Derrick and Paula are up to.” She loved all your videos. So thanks for teaching us and entertaining us.

  • @doinacampean9132
    @doinacampean9132 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Funny thing, I always envisioned one corn plant, one bean plant and one squash plant - planted together - at the same time - and let them do their own thing... My peas are going up my beets - WELL, NOW I KNOW.... - however - it is always FUN to discover how nature works... :) (unless your food depends on it, in which case....)

  • @fishmut
    @fishmut 5 ปีที่แล้ว +26

    Here’s a tip , you can freeze your corn 🌽 all the leaves on your corn will protect your corn in the freezer and will last a long long time and fresh , try it.

  • @unforkyours3lf730
    @unforkyours3lf730 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Your idea of success is different. Smaller cobs and less time seems like a win to me

  • @admiralking
    @admiralking 4 ปีที่แล้ว +30

    excellent content. I love that these videos are narrated after the fact so we never have to wait for the results! It must take incredible patience to sit on this footage for an entire growing season.

  • @fazer9
    @fazer9 5 ปีที่แล้ว +51

    to correct you, it was originally the 4 sister however since the 4th sister did not produce a crop the pioneer switch it to the 3 sister, the 4th sister would be something like white cosmo. The 4th sister act to repel bugs that would attack the corn. (the 4th sister is usually certain flower that act as a detonator.) Also you may want to try some scented marigold to help with the racoon. They hate the smell of marigolds. I would say sprinkle some marigold seed along your fence and they do produce allot of seeds for next year.

    • @mountainlaurel5264
      @mountainlaurel5264 5 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      thank you for spreading this knowledge. the bee balm plant also know as the ''oswego'' was know as the fourth sister, as well as sunflowers.

    • @fazer9
      @fazer9 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@mountainlaurel5264 Oswego Tea was used by colonists in place of English Tea after the Boston Tea Party. The colonist would go into the forest and dig it up. Like most mint plant bee balm is invasive.

    • @mountainlaurel5264
      @mountainlaurel5264 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@fazer9 that just means eswego is plentiful my friend

    • @thomassmestead6424
      @thomassmestead6424 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I have also heard from Iroquois friends that the fourth sister
      was, (is) a ceremonial variety of tobbacco.

    • @fazer9
      @fazer9 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@thomassmestead6424 tobacco is just one of other 4 sister... tobacco (Nicotiana alata) may repel flea beetles and carrot flies. Additionally, it attracts whiteflies that get stuck on the fuzzy leaves

  • @kensommerville
    @kensommerville 4 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Another video I watched on the "three sisters method" suggested that the squash acts as a defense against critters like raccoons, because of the "spines" on the squash vines. So maybe encircling your corn and beans with the squash on the perimeter. The video also suggested sunflowers, amaranth and bee balm as "additional sisters" that would attract pollinators and keep birds interested in something other than your corn.

  • @SomeRoomtoGrow
    @SomeRoomtoGrow 5 ปีที่แล้ว +41

    Your animations are great! Simple but effective. I like the style and the clearly organized information throughout your videos. New sub!

    • @mspat8195
      @mspat8195 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hear, hear!

  • @rsk9289
    @rsk9289 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Greetings from Nova Scotia Canada! One of the best posts on mulch gardening presented by a layman to layman!

  • @cindyedwards6924
    @cindyedwards6924 6 ปีที่แล้ว +27

    Love that you are doing all the experimenting and I get to reap the rewards! Thank you!

    • @BackToReality
      @BackToReality  6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Lol, our pleasure! :)

    • @jkhenderson1
      @jkhenderson1 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Back To Reality Have you ever had a problem with ants in the garden? This is going to be our first year with the back to eden garden. We have fire ants and I'm not sure what to do? Helpppp! Lol!

    • @BackToReality
      @BackToReality  6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Hi Jan, now that you mention it, we did notice A LOT of ants congregating among the wood chips. However, none of them ever seemed to cause an issue for us, so we did our best to simply ignore them. I can imagine that fire ants would be a lot harder to ignore though... Hopefully someone else her may dealt with this issue and can suggest a solution?

    • @seanregehr4921
      @seanregehr4921 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@jkhenderson1- Chickens are good for insects, but not sure about fire ants specifically. Might be worth investigating.

    • @taylorjones17
      @taylorjones17 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@seanregehr4921 My free-range chickens won't go near fire ants. Fire ants in my garden is a real disaster here in South Georgia.

  • @briantorsell
    @briantorsell 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I loved the production value of your video and how you got right to the point, with no filler. You just earned another subscriber!

  • @portaadonai
    @portaadonai 6 ปีที่แล้ว +34

    1:02
    ** The Eden Method does NOT mean you never water. After many years he now never waters his "Orchard", which is all trees, and the roots of trees go much deeper than a regular garden. Plus he lives in Washington where it rains a decent amount.
    He would still water his "Vegetable Garden" sometimes. Although each year you should be able to water less and less as the soil becomes more fertile and layered.
    ** Also he DOES fertilize. He has chickens and uses their composted fertilizer all the time to improve his soil. That is also mentioned.
    I feel pointing this out is important because someone starting an Eden garden might try to garden without compost, or water - fail - then quit trying the Eden method. Take small steps. The first step is spreading out tons of mulch. Call tree trimming services near you see if you can get some delivered. I use the Eden method and water all the time, here in San Diego with very little rain. But my watering might go months before I need to water again. Depends on the weather and my plants.
    Thumbs up on the rest of the video though

    • @thesilence6543
      @thesilence6543 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      he lives in an area of washington that gets like 10 inchs of rain

    • @Canceriantigershark
      @Canceriantigershark 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      If I remember correctly it is the Ruth Stout method that requires no watering, though I imagine it is after a year or two of building up the mulch layers. I'm sure with some regions this may not be the case though.

    • @thesilence6543
      @thesilence6543 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Canceriantigershark lot of nuance to it as well in terms of what your planting as well

    • @ashtanga2000
      @ashtanga2000 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I just watched a "tour" video of one of these TH-cam families at Paul's place and the guy says "I planted directly into the wood chips and everything came up yellow." LMAO

    • @op3129
      @op3129 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@thesilence6543 total? not doubting - just asking
      (seattle gets ridiculously little rain in the summer, compared to, say, wisconsin)

  • @bethaddis4377
    @bethaddis4377 5 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I just found your channel and really like it. Very good editing clear and direct information. Very good job guys.

  • @tyjo7265
    @tyjo7265 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Of all the farming videos on TH-cam, you have the best format. Great videos!!

  • @sven5415
    @sven5415 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thank you! Very professional and focused presentation!
    I guess this video has been a lot of work, but I think the result is really worth it!

  • @JessieSamanthaEmily
    @JessieSamanthaEmily 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I've read about three sisters in my indigenous studies class and I think it was traditionally done with winter squash, pole beans that you eat dried (like black beans) and the cattle or flour corn. I have heard it doesn't work as well when you substitute summer squash and sweet corn.

  • @caragrandlegardens766
    @caragrandlegardens766 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    This was my first video of yours. I’m new to BTE and the Ruth Stout method. I’m converting my garden this year and really liked what you had to say. (I’m even going to try videoing my transition and results) Thank you. Off to watch more videos.

  • @svetlanapil8089
    @svetlanapil8089 ปีที่แล้ว

    I love your videos, so detailed, informative, and honest! Thank you!

  • @faridaha-hamimed9815
    @faridaha-hamimed9815 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    I find u guys so amazing...man i learn so much...easy garde ing gives me also courage to grow even more...great ideals...simple n fun...n ur videos dont make me feel like a total dummy...u give me confidence to understand n i can do this...thx u so much

  • @blakes9771
    @blakes9771 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    At Cherokee nation we plant in mounds and plant everything on each mound. Plus that looked like sweet corn, maybe try growing flint corn. As far as timing goes after 1week of corn growth, you plant the beans and 1-2weeks after that, you plant the squash.

    • @BackToReality
      @BackToReality  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hey Blake, thanks for the tips!

  • @NapoleonGARDENINGTV
    @NapoleonGARDENINGTV 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for sharing back to eden farming experience!

  • @FairyFrequency
    @FairyFrequency 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Wonderful information on your three sisters gardening experience. Have plans to implement this method into our gardens here in Missouri. Wishing you an amazing growing season ♡

  • @larrywiley1804
    @larrywiley1804 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    I'm a new subscriber. Excellent videos. Very instructional. Thank you. My wife and I play with gardening but I have felt we need to step it up several notches. Thanks again.

  • @NaturesCadenceFarm
    @NaturesCadenceFarm 6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Always love your videos! So well executed with graphics and so easy to understand. 👍

    • @BackToReality
      @BackToReality  6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks so much guys! We really appreciate the feedback! :)

  • @Ann-Marielivingonabudget
    @Ann-Marielivingonabudget 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    I love your gardening videos. Please keep them coming!

  • @jadenbroadway173
    @jadenbroadway173 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    The graphics are very clear, great work

  • @gaiaandreacompagni5393
    @gaiaandreacompagni5393 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Lovely! I hope you try again next year!

  • @chrisinafrica
    @chrisinafrica 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video! Thanks for sharing, looking forward to the fence build...

  • @rebeccasuzannerustigian1257
    @rebeccasuzannerustigian1257 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Well delivered information. Thank you.

  • @Rm-ks8gg
    @Rm-ks8gg 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Excellent video
    Glad I found you guys!!

  • @Schnitz13
    @Schnitz13 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    One minute in and I'm subbed. Great stuff, guys--super useful info and very inspiring

  • @user-lq8ud6yx7c
    @user-lq8ud6yx7c 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    I. subscribed your Chanel because you let the hungry family of Raccoon eat your vegetables. You are so kind. I like it. From Thailand.

  • @YuliyaHardin
    @YuliyaHardin 6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Great videos! My husband and I also tried out the BTE method last year with corn and beans, and we too had similar results of small under-developed cobs. It;s good to know that multiple rows is the fix! Otherwise we were very happy with the method, as we had peas, carrots, tomatoes, dill and sunflowers come up and grow with little watering throughout the season. This year we mulched our garden and addressing the fence issues as well (I posted 2 videos on that). Although I don't think our fence will prevent squirrels and chipmunks from stealing. Raccoons are a toughie.

    • @nic7761
      @nic7761 ปีที่แล้ว

      Little watering very curious about that. what do you think made that successful...and hiw often is "little watering" or how iften woukd you say you watered?

  • @blackcitroenlove
    @blackcitroenlove 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    I'm from a nation that uses this traditionally--Eastern Band Cherokee. None of my settler friends had ever seen it (I live in Connecticut now, where it's mostly Italian-Americans) and quite a few gardeners adopted it because it just works so well.

  • @GoodandBasic
    @GoodandBasic 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Wonderful explanations. Very lucid.

  • @orestezamero9223
    @orestezamero9223 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Excellent video. In the rest of the continent this method of planting corn, beans and squash is known as "milpa". Thank you very much.

  • @edwinmasacayan5886
    @edwinmasacayan5886 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    thank you for all that u do!

  • @joanbarber5384
    @joanbarber5384 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Nice to see you! Love your video's.

  • @sah05319
    @sah05319 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    In the southern US my parents, grandparents, and many before them planted corn and beans together in the same hole at the same time. They would grow and sprout at a pace that worked perfectly to allow the beans to climb fully up the corn stalk.

  • @twilightgardenspresentatio6384
    @twilightgardenspresentatio6384 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you for the education

  • @sunflowerbadger
    @sunflowerbadger 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Fantastic video, thanks ❤

  • @Earthman24111
    @Earthman24111 6 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    The 3 sisters method from the southwest involves planting isolated hills of corn, so that all 3 plants receive enough sun to mature. Planting corn in rows prevents this sun penetration.

  • @TheSdecker2
    @TheSdecker2 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Recently found you and am really liking your graphic explanations. Very cute and helpful! I love seeing you try various permaculture styles, I know thats how I am too, I always want to try it all! haha

  • @collinvickers2345
    @collinvickers2345 ปีที่แล้ว

    Traditionally, at least in some cultures, the three sisters garden were planted in a circular form, rather than rows: a large circular path of corn in the center, beans interplanted with the corn side by side, and with the winter squash planted in a ring around the outside, and allowed to grow into the center wherever a gap might develop where weeds could grow. Additionally, sunflowers or sunroots (the badly named Jerusalem artichoke) were planted in several rows on the windward side of the garden to shield the crops from harsh winds - sometimes on multiple sides of the garden.

  • @thedude1971
    @thedude1971 6 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Fantastic video, love it. So glad for the update! Just a suggestion might want to plant really hot pepper plants along fence. ..might help. We do 1 every 8-10ft with sweet peppers, mint, cilantro in between. Keep us informed!

    • @BackToReality
      @BackToReality  6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Thanks Bob! That's a great suggestion! Even if it doesn't work, you still end up with a bunch of peppers to eat. So, it's a win-win! :)

    • @thedude1971
      @thedude1971 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Back To Reality sure

  • @HelenEk7
    @HelenEk7 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Although the Back to Eden method highly recommends wood chips, they say you can also for instance use hay, leafs, or even rocks. And you can also add chicken or horse manure on the very top. And then the rain will bring it down into the soil. (Which is a great thing to do when you don't have time to wait for the wood chips to break down. So many have chickens on the side, which are fed left overs from the garden.

  • @skpjoecoursegold366
    @skpjoecoursegold366 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    thanks for the update.

    • @BackToReality
      @BackToReality  6 ปีที่แล้ว

      No problem SKPjoe. Thanks for watching! :)

  • @cynthiacarr2093
    @cynthiacarr2093 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Awesome tyfs you're very thorough Great Video!😁❤👍🏾

  • @cristinaferreira2230
    @cristinaferreira2230 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great info

  • @annjones3672
    @annjones3672 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    My Mother told me that when she was a child, the local farmers used to invite the neighbors children to come over and "play" in the corn. Each child was given a corn top with the pollen and they would run through the corn chasing each other. They helped with the pollination process! Course those were larger fields of corn! Love you guys!

  • @samsislewoodworks2489
    @samsislewoodworks2489 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Yo guys are really cool and explain things very well. Instant subscribe.

  • @anniegaddis5240
    @anniegaddis5240 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Sharing!

  • @redinthethevalley
    @redinthethevalley 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    Here on our farm when my garden is beginning to grow, let’s say 4 inches in height, I will keep my hair after brushing it and sprinkle it around the garden and it keeps the deer, skunks and fishers away! I do it a couple times a week at first and then that’s it... trust me when I say I have critters here at any given time I have 30-40 deer out in our fields... good luck and looking forward to seeing more videos and all the best to the Mrs

    • @BackToReality
      @BackToReality  6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Interesting. I've heard of using hair to deter household pests, but never thought to use it in the garden. Great tip, thanks!

  • @VietnamMotorbikeTours
    @VietnamMotorbikeTours 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    another awesome vid

  • @tubaljohn1
    @tubaljohn1 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Love your videos!

  • @dereka3341
    @dereka3341 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    I've used the Back To Eden method, going on two years now. I dump leaves onto the garden, every fall. Now, it's the only way that I'll garden, going forward. Weeds are minimal, I don't have to water, and my soil is filled with dark brown, organic matter.

  • @kevinj8258
    @kevinj8258 6 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    As the comments mentioned you will need to take multiple steps to stop raccoons. My grand parents had two dogs which just slowed the raccoons down. Then they put up reflective pie tins to confuse raccoons. Which worked. Then they hunted them with 22 rifles which worked.
    As others commented you could plant hot peppers on the edges. Also place a solar powered electric fence system. They work. Also use chicken wire fence.

    • @BackToReality
      @BackToReality  6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Good point. I like the idea of incorporating multiple defensive options. That way, even if they figure out one method, they'll still need to contend with the rest.

    • @summerland6397
      @summerland6397 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      My grandparents completely enclosed their garden including roofing it in wire to stop the raccoons.

    • @guillaumelafleche9477
      @guillaumelafleche9477 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@BackToReality Yeah keeping the raccoons away from corn is the main challenge and source of discouragement we experienced in growing corn. This video makes me want to try again, even though I live nearly half an hour away from my parents' land where I garden and would be helpless in stopping them. Anyways, if it can bring comfort, I once saw a raccoon pie recipe that sounded good... assuming the buggers didn't grow fat on garbage.

    • @lancer525
      @lancer525 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@BackToReality At the heirloom garden at the historic site I used to help manage, we had massive racoon problems, until we discovered gunpowder. And no, not in a firearm. A teaspoon of black powder wrapped loosely in a paper towel, set on a damp piece of wood (we had wooden rail fences around our garden) and set alight would create a big puff of smoke, which impregnated the smell of the gunpowder in the damp wood, and that acted as a deterrent to our raccoons. That and chunks of Irish Spring soap in knotted panty hose at regular intervals along the fence. Go figure. Although personally, my grandaddy's 12 gauge would have been a more satisfying solution, they wouldn't let me use it.

    • @tessasilberbauer6219
      @tessasilberbauer6219 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Plus cat fur over & around the fencing?

  • @porit1023
    @porit1023 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    thank you this was very helpful

  • @patrickprudhume8837
    @patrickprudhume8837 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    One way to get better results with less corn plants is to shake the stalks on days with little to no wind

  • @lisakennedy
    @lisakennedy 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video thanks!! I am definitely going to try this method next summer!
    I'm in Australia so Im lucky we have less veggie eating critters!

    • @BackToReality
      @BackToReality  6 ปีที่แล้ว

      No problem! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Let us know how it turns out for you!

  • @tussled1
    @tussled1 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    I’ve never been able to skip out on watering. I end up with funny looking results. I usually have to dedicate a half hour of every other morning to watering until the plants mature, then it’s factoring in the rain we get and supplementing with watering for about a schedule of every three days.

  • @cqammaz53
    @cqammaz53 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    I looking forward to your 3 sister video as I'm hoping to apply this method to my garden soon. My big problem is my raised beds are 4x8 So I would have to dedicate 1 maybe 2 whole bed to this system which leaves only 5 beds for everything else. Great video by the way.

  • @MamaCatkitten
    @MamaCatkitten 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    I love love love your videos. I just wish there were more 😊😊😊

  • @johncmoney8394
    @johncmoney8394 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I had groundhogs mowing my garden weekly. I installed a solar powered electric fence, cost @$150. The next day I caught one on security camera attempting to get under the wire. Not only was the reaction to the shock hilarious, they never went in again. I think our racoons could read the warning signs and stuck with our bird feeder.

  • @Badgeweefixstuff
    @Badgeweefixstuff 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    Wow that was interesting never knew 🙏

  • @indigenouslife9123
    @indigenouslife9123 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    (NATIVE AMERICANS ANCIENT METHOD) of farming,what a legacy for the world to follow.

  • @KingK89956
    @KingK89956 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    5:11 I remember there is talk about using the squash (they tend to have barbed like haires) to try to keep racoons away from the corn.

  • @stevendowden2579
    @stevendowden2579 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    cracking video

  • @darleneswetz8325
    @darleneswetz8325 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Herd “bone sauce “ works great for keeping critters away. We are going to make some this winter for next season as we will be starting a BTE garden. I have spent many hours listeria Paul Gautchi regarding his gardening. Enjoyed your videos.

  • @JesusFan
    @JesusFan 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    New sub here, just liked and subbed, keep up the great work, very helpful!

  • @jmckphotography
    @jmckphotography 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    The last two years I’ve tried this, the squash and beans did not get enough sunlight. I like your spacing ideas- maybe I just need fewer tall things? The first year I did corn & I think I just waited too long to plant beans. This year I did sunflowers & I planted beans sooner, but the sunflowers grew so much faster! 🤷‍♀️ I like your layout suggestion. I might try that next year!

  • @caddmaster100
    @caddmaster100 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I just saw this today and do not know what you decided but you never mix your wood chips with the soil or you will have a nitrogen problem. When I saw this I realized that you never watered each layer from the beginning. I'm glad you did better in the second year. The planting as you did was the real problem with regards to your yield. BTW Fix that fence!😉 I live in a short growing season, Zone 4 Northwood Maine. I start as many things as I can very simply indoors under simple grow lights. They can be transplanted asap and finish up nicely. Corn, like garlic and onions, need to be planted en masse. Be careful to read the instructions and growing recommendations. We like you, practice different types of methods. The one I will always stand by, even though I always have my soil covered is french intensive gardening which is a 3 to 1 yield. 40 years and this has not failed me yet. We are starting again in our new state. I see no reason we should not get the same results here. Bean plants I start inside depending on the beans. Have you thought of vertical gardening along with everything else you are doing? Saves space and can create a pretty arch. Great airflow and helps to eliminate the problems climbing plants tend to suffer from. There are a very few TH-camr's out there that know how to do this well and inexpensively. I can get their info. Have fun while you are learning.

    • @EvenMoreLego
      @EvenMoreLego 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Can you share the references for inexpensive methods of vertical gardening? We grow climbing french beans (and sweet peas and sunflowers) up our west facing garage walll. We rigged up a wire support framework help in place with rawl plugs and eye hooks, then I put bean string on it every year - it works great! But it's not scalable as we only have one west facing garage wall....

  • @SkySweetie
    @SkySweetie 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    I think that's pretty cool that the raccoons got to eat the excess. Friends and family that live in the woods, hehe.

  • @alkggkla5643
    @alkggkla5643 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hotwire!!! Electric fence wire is pretty cheap and really effective 😎👍

  • @TommyRyan
    @TommyRyan 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    I have a 8 foot wire fence and did not keep out the raccoons. Look forwards to what techniques you find useful for keeping the raccoons off the corn. I put a send 6 foot fence with deer netting around the corn and that seemed to help. Good luck and keep up the good work on your TH-cam channel!

  • @manonthemoon237
    @manonthemoon237 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video

  • @hopemarkborn7790
    @hopemarkborn7790 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    If you add raw fish scraps or bait fish to your first planting when you put seed in, it will help boost the plants until the first flowers show. My husband used this method in Texas with the "Three Sisters" system with great results.

  • @katherinelichte1938
    @katherinelichte1938 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    I tried the 3 sister method last year. It was great...everything growing beautiful! But, then the Japanese beetles started eating the bean leaves. And, just days before the corn was ready to pick, raccoons destroyed all the corn. I was sick about it. I am going to try again. But this time....tin pie pans and lots of chili powder. Wish me luck!

  • @nicolasbertin8552
    @nicolasbertin8552 5 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Compost is incredibly rich in nitrogen so you could never have had nitrogen issues. In fact, I learned recently that putting compost in autumn is not a good idea. Compost has unstable nitrogen, it leaks in the water, the rivers... It's not stored like in humus. It's immediate nitrogen available for your plants. It also does not improve your soil, because it's already been digested in the composting bin. It's just a fertilizer. It's useful, but it doesn't build soil, unlike what a lot of people claim (like Charles Dowding who has 20 cm of compost over his whole garden, which is just wrong...). Like you I thought over winter it would build soil and feed the organisms. It didn't. Only the areas with mulch added did. So now I only use compost on parts of my garden where the mulch is young and I know my plants will struggle without the added nitrogen.
    Another myth : beans do not give nitrogen to the other plants, unless you grow them in a nitrogen depleted soil. And even that isn't proven. It's important to understand a couple of things :
    1) The symbiosis between legumes and nitrogen fixing bacteria ONLY happens if your soil is poor. If there's already nitrogen in it (like yours, which has loads), they don't bother activating the symbiosis, nature is lazy.
    2) Even is they activate the symbiosis, they will only give nitrogen to other plants through mycorrhiza. And the amount is still not proven. People thought they measured it, but it was actually nitrogen from decaying roots and nodules. The most nitrogen legumes give is when they die, and all their roots and foliage decomposes.

    • @tessasilberbauer6219
      @tessasilberbauer6219 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Regarding your second point: that's how I plan to use my legume green manures: cutting them down before they set flowers and allowing the roots to decompose in situ. It's likely to give results only much later, but I expect those results to be better than just having my food legumes in the ground.

  • @kennethlemay5283
    @kennethlemay5283 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    You do a really good job at presenting everything and explaining everything along with some little ha-ha's in between. So I have subscribed to your Channel and I'm very interested to follow you. I will say I have done my own Back to Eden already at this time and plan on planting by the end of February here in Orlando Florida. Although to my garden mix I've added mushroom compost which has to sit exposed for about 2 weeks

  • @GinHindew110
    @GinHindew110 5 ปีที่แล้ว +112

    "more corn that we could consume"
    *laughs in mexican*

    • @DvLnDsGyZ
      @DvLnDsGyZ 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Ikr, they must not have a corn mill :P

    • @gavinmacmounsey
      @gavinmacmounsey 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      ya its Masa time :)

    • @datmexboi2121
      @datmexboi2121 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Lmfao 😂

  • @qaosqitty8098
    @qaosqitty8098 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Ah now I know why my corn didn't grow. Thanks for the info

  • @jamesbenefield7638
    @jamesbenefield7638 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Plants some flowers around ya garden. Things with flowers need to be pollinated. I’m gearing up for the the 3 sisters this year. Good luck!!

  • @LampWaters
    @LampWaters 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I took a huge leap and ended up covering half our lot in woodchips. Covered in fall hope for some positive usability our first year just from breaking the soil to dig since I have pretty hard clay that dries out and makes planting and surviving storms and heat difficult.

  • @carolynsteele5116
    @carolynsteele5116 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I think your only problem was that you live in Canada. Most instructions for planting the 3 sisters method say to plant exactly as you did with each sister being started from seed approximately 3 weeks apart. That would work in a warmer climate with a longer growing season. Here in northern Utah I don't think it will work because I have to plant my corn and beans at the same time as soon as the ground warms, and the squash only has enough time for a good harvest if I start seed 4 or 5 weeks beforehand.

  • @LampWaters
    @LampWaters 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great review. I started looking at back to Eden because my corn almost washed away in down pours and storms and I want to keep my soil, protect roots, keep moisture in the heat of summer and more easily plant in our soil. I'm starting my seeds indoors and printed out my schedule for my garden from now till August. First year trying for two planting and harvest seasons. If u have advice on rotation

  • @condeerogers5858
    @condeerogers5858 6 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Electric fence with a remote switch at the house to turn on at night

  • @Napsteraspx
    @Napsteraspx 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    You guys should plant some bamboo someplace so you have a small forest of it for building material. You can split the bamboo canes in half and weave them in between the cedar posts to make a fence.

    • @UnReaLgeek
      @UnReaLgeek 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Napster2002 . aspx Bamboo takes a while to be established and the seedlings are best done in a greenhouse for them to survive. Their climate might also be too cold for it to grow effectively. I know that in the NE US it usually hits a couple of feet at best.

  • @ayers9006
    @ayers9006 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    A voice and timing very similar to Josh Gates from “Destination Unknown”.
    Thanks

  • @metzicrowden8218
    @metzicrowden8218 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    You can use 2 liter plastic bottles for little green houses on plants that need help hardening.

  • @dwightehowell8179
    @dwightehowell8179 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    I know the old books all say squash but in modern terms they mean long term storage pumpkins or something more along the lines of winter squash.

  • @CleoCastonguay47
    @CleoCastonguay47 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    Like your videos. Glad you a some success with your garden. You'll probably want to look into buying an electrical fence to keep the critters out of your garden... :)

    • @BackToReality
      @BackToReality  6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks Cleo! We're really glad you enjoy our videos :)
      And thanks for the suggestion!

  • @siralbastoss2847
    @siralbastoss2847 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Experience tells me, it is better/safer to start seeds indoors.

  • @lukesimonsen6455
    @lukesimonsen6455 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    You guys have any further updates? I am about to build a back to eden and ruth stout garden to see how they do for us.

  • @DonnaldaSmolens
    @DonnaldaSmolens 6 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    according to her book, Ruth Stout ended up having to cover her corn with chicken wire on sides and above because of the raccoons. Love your videos.

    • @BackToReality
      @BackToReality  6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks Donnalda!
      That's interesting... We may end up resorting to that in the future as well.

    • @AhmetMurati
      @AhmetMurati 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      And some bars or metallic pipes to bring strength so no raccoons or any animal that could climb over the garden chicken wire walls and ceiling

  • @PeyaLuna
    @PeyaLuna 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    another good ground-fertilising plant are lupines, they´re really hardy and you can use their seeds like soy beans, make vegan milk and even ice cream - but make sure you get the right sort, the normal garden variety is only suitable as animal feed. i plant them between my tomatoes, now i don´t need fertilizer anymore!

  • @toonsster
    @toonsster 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    The squash has barbed hairs which repel the racoons. The reason the squash gets planted around the outer perimeter is to deter them and is apparently quite successful.

  • @tonibartling3844
    @tonibartling3844 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Love your videos - few sug tho. You can pollinate corn yourself- pollen on hands or gloves and gently brush on all the strings they need to pollinate, maybe use medical disposable gloves. You can help pollinate everything else using a small paintbrush or pulling off the male flower to brush on the females . Also, have you ever heard of a chicken moat and using AM talk radio at night to keep out deer and predators? Deer wont jump a double fence if its four feet wide and keeps weeds at a minimum :)

  • @djordjestosic93
    @djordjestosic93 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hello. Can you record the video about mulching the fruit trees?