Reply To: GQT VS. NO DIG part 3!

[digWinstanley]

Hi John

Listen I have a lot of time for No Dig, and Charles won me over several years ago. I just think what Christine said needs treating with a bit of objectivity – and there is plenty of evidence that GQT (and Ms. Walkden) are broadly supportive of the thinking behind No Dig.

I live in a busy town in Berkshire. I have a 112sqm plot on Bagshot sand. On the basis of a 5cm depth I have concluded – very, very roughly – that I would need 5.6 cubic metres of compost or organic matter to cover it for No Dig. Obviously I wouldn’t cover the whole plot. Even if I went with 3 cubic metres the best price I can get it locally (from a firm who knocks out very good composted stable manure in bulk and supplies all the local garden centres with 4×80 litre bags for a £10) – I’m looking at £200.

As for alternatives – my bins hold one cubic metre each. I crammed two with leaves last year and now have a rough leafmold that has reduced to a quarter of one bin. I reckon I could get a very thin layer on a fifth of the plot. But I only have that much because I have a van and over the course of a week went out with a leaf blower and collected as many leaves locally as I could. I can source stable manure myself – to collect in the van. I’m fairly confident it doesn’t contain traces of Aminopyralid (a major problem for gardeners using manure). Even so I have to put aside a day or so to shovel and transport the manure from the stables then have the space and time for it rot before I can mulch with it. Last year one bin ended up producing a sixth of what went in raw.

Unfortunately these are all considerations that have to be openly acknowledged and there are many gardeners who I’m sure would love to go No Dig but the relative costs, resources, and time can put them off. As it is many people struggle with an allotment as they underestimate the work required. Fortunately I do have the time, resources, and inclination to commit to No Dig.

But out of a mixed site of 70 plots with young mums, retirees, disabled, and relatively fit gardeners only 3 of us do it.