The following photos and video show how we used weeds to help retain moisture and prevent erosion in our vegetable garden. 

The photo above is what it looked like by the time I got to it!

This next photo shows it about half done…

Here’s how I did it…

I like that video, and I think You can see how I turned an arduous task into a fun experience! Right? 

See the next page to see the Garden afterwards…

Afterwards…

Now, You ask, “How, or why, did We let the weeds get so big!?” 

Truth is we’ve just not had the time to get it done! Sort of! 

Honestly, in June we had a small scale drought, for the third year I a row! So, we wanted to retain the moisture. Then, in early July, came the torrential rains! This has happened this way for the past three years! So, we wanted to avoid the erosion and run off we had last year. Last year the water just run off, taking soil and nutrients with it. Leaving behind water logged rows, with standing water in them! Like this…

Last year I had to dig drainage canals and deal with standing water flooding the rows! So, to avoid that this year, I left the weeds! Let them help retain the water, and nutrients, and avoid the runoff and flooding. It worked quite well. 

The carrots didn’t do as well I’d liked, and our radishes and purple top summer turnips bolted, reaching for sunshine, and didn’t develop much of a bulb. Otherwise I think the experiment went quite well. 

After cutting up, and hacking down, the tall weeds, I tilled them into the soil. As they break down, they’ll add the nutrients back into the soil as they turn into compost and natural fertilizer. 

My concern at this point is, the roots, some may be left intact and may regrow the weeds. However, I tilled it extensively and will try to keep ahead of it. I’ll keep you posted as to the future progress. 

By the way, the Hacking, Weeding, and Tilling took less than two and a half hours!