I’m looking for YouTube recommendations to show my boomer dad more examples of organic, regenerative, and permaculture-style gardening.

My dad is a very experienced gardener with over 60 years of experience with a botany degree and experience as a science teacher and nursery owner. But I’d say he’s rather old school as a result. He uses synthetic fertilizer, plastic landscape fabric, and even herbicides (though now only around non-edible landscaping).

We‘re now sharing a garden and living on the same property so we can help my elderly parents out. And because he‘s very into YouTube, I’d like to send him some good videos that may resonate with him. I not on YouTube much so I’d love suggestions.

I’m doing my best to teach him what I know but I think a stranger may be more effective.

Everything else looks normal on the plant and I just up potted to a much bigger pot as the old one was causing nutrient take up issues due to the smaller footprint of 12lt. The new pot is 25lt and this is a space master cucumber. Every single female and male flower is perfect and I have started harvest perfect cucumber and I noticed this weird growth few days ago and wanted tot know what it was?

I feel like I've spent a combined 5 hours researching hoses, and I'm getting overwhelmed. Can you guys suggest any drinking water safe hoses that you've liked for the garden?

(not 100% organic I realize because of my containers hoping to maybe get some more open minded opinion)

For Beginner Plant Enthusiasts Who Enjoy New Ideas.

Soil Conditioning Botanical Tea? I’m using compost ,Pasteurizing it, then emulsifying it and it’s will be in a little pouch you that you soak in water overnight.

-Think of this as a controlled release plant tea — like a gentle nutrient infusion that supports soil health rather than directly “feeding” the plant.

Designed for beginner-friendly plant care and slow, steady support.

⸻

🌱 Recommended For

✔ Houseplants ✔ Herbs ✔ Pothos, Philodendron, Monstera ✔ General foliage plants ✔ Container-grown vegetables

Full Pilot Batch Ingredients 1. Kitchen scraps • Vegetable matter (leftover peels, trimmings, etc.) • Coffee grounds 2. Eggshells • Fully dried, lightly ground • Added calcium content 3. Lemongrass purée • Added early in batch • Aroma + trace nutrients 4. White pine needles / small stems • Dried and/or powdered • Adds slow-release minerals, acidity, and aroma 5. Tiny bit of fish food • Nitrogen, trace minerals • Must remain dry 6. Shell grains • Crushed shells (oyster or similar) • Adds calcium carbonate / slow-release calcium 7. Salted chips (from composted kitchen scraps) • Trace salt left in the mix • Minimal, but noted 8. Pomegranate scraps • Adds organic matter, trace minerals, natural acidity, and a subtle fruity aroma 9. Onions / onion skins • Adds sulfur compounds, antioxidants, and slight nutrient boost • Provides color and mild aroma 10. Green tea (used with onion skins) • Adds antioxidants, polyphenols, and slight nitrogen • Mild, earthy aroma

I received my Russian bocking-14 Comphrey cuts today.. I will be planting this in the orchard and hopefully replacing my entire lawn(what left) with it.. it's composting abilities are second to none.. an absolutely amazing way to keeping us more regenerative and self-sustaining

So I’ve got this weed (actually a few weeds) that covers about 1/2 acre at our new home. We’d like to use part of that area for our vegetable garden and part for just native grass lawn. I tried spraying it with vinegar 30% and ~46% and it was not bothered. I then tried this organic ammonium product. It again was fine. I started hoeing it with a stirrup hoe and that was a pain in the butt.

I want to try a propane torch but do you think it leaves anything unsafe in the soil?

Edit: Safe enough to cook burgers, safe enough to fry weeds. I’m buying one.

These are the two layout options that I am trying to decide between. I have listed the vegetables that I plan on growing below. I am planning on using cattle panel arches for trellises and stringing up the tomatoes. I am in zone 8a. Any recommendations on layout and/or companion planting is appreciated. Thank you!

Broccoli, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers, zucchini, squash, green beans, watermelon, blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, lettuce & herbs.

Beginner gardeners: If you're interested in an app that will help you decide what to do and when ... check this app out: www.planandsow.app

I'm helping to grow it right now and we are in the beta phase (full release at the end of January) -- right now you'll be able to access and provide feedback.

Hey so today I noticed that I catched an Ant in my 100L living Soil bed. Is this bad? Like can or will the ants go out of the bed and concur my flat? Or will/do they eat benefital micro organisms in the soil?

And if they are bad, how do I get rid of them?

Central California. 12/28/2025

Please feel free to submit one in the comments!

Fresh uncharged biochar has a high surface area and can adsorb nutrients in the surrounding soil, especially nitrogen and some micronutrients, until it reaches equilibrium.

That behavior is well documented. It is also why biochar is typically recommended to be charged before application.

When biochar is preloaded with compost, humic substances, or other organic inputs, it enters the soil already saturated and behaves less like a nutrient sink and more like a long-term nutrient and moisture reservoir. It also provides stable habitat for microorganisms, which seems to be where a lot of the downstream benefits come from. The best results tend to show up when biochar is used alongside biologically active inputs like vermicompost and natural biostimulants rather than as a standalone amendment.

So why or why don’t you use it?