Double Digging

Here is an example of the Double Dig process used to loosen compacted soil with hand tools. Double Digging is recommended by John Jeavons, in his book How to Grow More Vegetables, as a way of rapidly improving compacted soils. We are double digging the Kentucky State University high tunnel in an attempt to encourage salts to leach through the soil more rapidly. (Salt build-up can be a problem in high tunnels, where it never rains.) This two and a half minute video shows about two hours of work.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• organic
• biointensive
• hand-cultivation
• gardening
• high-tunnel

[tulipthehobbit]

This is a great, very informative demonstration of double digging. Beautiful greenhouse going on there.

Please, can the poster of this tell me what the music is and where I can get it? I've been humming it here on the farm ever since seeing the video a few months back. Thanks!

[mbomford]

I'm glad you like the music. It's me and a couple of friends playing an old-time tune called 'Gospel Plow.' We called ourselves 'The Raging Acorns.' We were together as a group between about 2001 and 2003. We made a few recordings, but nothing was released commercially, or online. Others (including Bob Dylan) have recorded 'Gospel Plow.' Helena Triplett plays banjo and sings lead in this version. Helena released a commercial CD called 'Green are the Woods' in 1999. You might be able to find it.

[organicgardener66]

i love the sound of the spade going thrue the dirt and i subed for u too bye

[luc649]

Now it's to 8 to 5..keep up the good work.

[luc649]

Nice greenhouse, dont understand why you got only 7 likes to 5 dislikes ? ...I guess " double digging " means something else for some people.

[allwedoissell]

Great!

[hempseed57]

Why is this person getting exercise and being healthy?!?!?! Doesn't he know there is a fossil fuel burning machine out there that can do this for him. God get with the times man. That should get some responses. Great work! Love the whole set up.

[ElShadaiLives]

Does exposing the microbial life in the soil to the sun kill it?

[tulipthehobbit]

Thank you so much for your reply! That's some great music, for sure. I'd never heard the song before and your band presented it in such a down-home kind of way. Really pleasant to listen to, and great to sing while you're working the soil. I am grateful for your reply, and your explanation about your band and Helena's CD. Real talent.

Best Wishes!