Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
This is the second part of my no dig Q&A, where I answer more of your questions which were in a recent competition. I want the answers to help clarify common misunderstandings, share some simple and effective methods, and encourage you to grow more food with less effort.
👉 If you missed Part 1, you can watch it here: youtube.com/watch?v=maFbc8BEu8c
In this video, we look at one of the biggest misconceptions about no dig and compost, the three tools and five vegetables I suggest for beginners, and how no dig compares at a larger scale. I also share thoughts on starting community gardens, how growing food can improve health and wellbeing, and what really happens in compost heaps with weed seeds and roots.
Main takeaways:
Why no dig often needs less compost, not more
Three tools and five vegetables that are great for beginners
Scaling up no dig – what works in gardens versus on farms
The role of no dig in community projects, and how it supports health and wellbeing
Compost heaps, and how to manage weed seeds.
Questions answered in Part 2:
Michelle forktofork – Common misconception about no dig
Thetunit91 – Beginners: 3 Tools and 5 Veg
The.brown.ben – Scaling up, and does no dig depend too much on outsourced compost?
Sarahelizabeth IG – How to start a community garden, life change and health
Katejones8940 – The role of no dig for young and vulnerable people
Lemilan – How no dig can support wellbeing
The18Jaarenouder – Temperature in compost heaps which kill weed seeds & roots.
Wellbeing means positive health, as much as absence of disease. There's more awareness of the health links between soil, plants, and people.
I've been getting to know Shann Jones who founded Chuckling Goat, the number one UK producer of milk kefir. They are leading gut health experts. I’m going to be working with them on information about links between soil and gut health - chucklinggoat.co.uk
You can join this channel by paying a monthly fee, to support my work in helping gardeners grow better, and to receive monthly videos made only for members:
youtube.com/channel/UCB1J6siDdmhwah7q0O2WJBg/join
#nodig #charlesdowding #gardeningtips #communitygarden #soilhealth #composting #growyourown #healthysoil #nodiggardening
🎥 Filmed August 2025 by Carly Dutton-Edwards
🎵 Music: Rory Dunwoodie, @rorydinwoodiemusic IG: rorydinwoodiemusic
00:00 Q1 - What is the most common misconception about no dig?
00:30 Answer - the amount of compost needed, a look at my dig/no dig trial beds
02:20 Using less compost by having a smaller growing area
03:05 Using less compost in the first year
03:44 Q2 - What would be your recommendation for three good quality tools, and what would you suggest are the best five fruits/veg for a beginner in terms of cost payback?
04:05 The importance of not feeling overwhelmed when starting out
04:33 The tools I would recommend - trowel
05:45 Long-handled dibber
06:53 Manure fork
07:42 Five top veg - potatoes
08:32 Salad leaves of any kind
09:44 Garlic
10:39 Courgettes and cucumbers
11:21 Beans and peas
12:10 Q3 - Is no dig scalable and sustainable for larger farms?
12:52 The difference between intensive veg gardening and farming, and the relative use of compost
14:38 Using imported organic matter
15:15 Compost from compost toilet
15:38 Qs 4+5 - How could no dig play a role in improving wellbeing and making food growing more accessible? How does your life change when you grow your own food and how is this helpful?
16:14 How no dig makes growing veg accessible
17:32 The effect of growing on wellbeing
18:31 The benefits of eating own-grown veg
19:16 Q6 - Adding weed roots and seeds to compost heaps
This is the second part of my no dig Q&A, where I answer more of your questions which were in a recent competition. I want the answers to help clarify common misunderstandings, share some simple and effective methods, and encourage you to grow more food with less effort.
👉 If you missed Part 1, you can watch it here: youtube.com/watch?v=maFbc8BEu8c
In this video, we look at one of the biggest misconceptions about no dig and compost, the three tools and five vegetables I suggest for beginners, and how no dig compares at a larger scale. I also share thoughts on starting community gardens, how growing food can improve health and wellbeing, and what really happens in compost heaps with weed seeds and roots.
Main takeaways:
Why no dig often needs less compost, not more
Three tools and five vegetables that are great for beginners
Scaling up no dig – what works in gardens versus on farms
The role of no dig in community projects, and how it supports health and wellbeing
Compost heaps, and how to manage weed seeds.
Questions answered in Part 2:
Michelle forktofork – Common misconception about no dig
Thetunit91 – Beginners: 3 Tools and 5 Veg
The.brown.ben – Scaling up, and does no dig depend too much on outsourced compost?
Sarahelizabeth IG – How to start a community garden, life change and health
Katejones8940 – The role of no dig for young and vulnerable people
Lemilan – How no dig can support wellbeing
The18Jaarenouder – Temperature in compost heaps which kill weed seeds & roots.
Wellbeing means positive health, as much as absence of disease. There's more awareness of the health links between soil, plants, and people.
I've been getting to know Shann Jones who founded Chuckling Goat, the number one UK producer of milk kefir. They are leading gut health experts. I’m going to be working with them on information about links between soil and gut health - chucklinggoat.co.uk
You can join this channel by paying a monthly fee, to support my work in helping gardeners grow better, and to receive monthly videos made only for members:
youtube.com/channel/UCB1J6siDdmhwah7q0O2WJBg/join
#nodig #charlesdowding #gardeningtips #communitygarden #soilhealth #composting #growyourown #healthysoil #nodiggardening
🎥 Filmed August 2025 by Carly Dutton-Edwards
🎵 Music: Rory Dunwoodie, @rorydinwoodiemusic IG: rorydinwoodiemusic
00:00 Q1 - What is the most common misconception about no dig?
00:30 Answer - the amount of compost needed, a look at my dig/no dig trial beds
02:20 Using less compost by having a smaller growing area
03:05 Using less compost in the first year
03:44 Q2 - What would be your recommendation for three good quality tools, and what would you suggest are the best five fruits/veg for a beginner in terms of cost payback?
04:05 The importance of not feeling overwhelmed when starting out
04:33 The tools I would recommend - trowel
05:45 Long-handled dibber
06:53 Manure fork
07:42 Five top veg - potatoes
08:32 Salad leaves of any kind
09:44 Garlic
10:39 Courgettes and cucumbers
11:21 Beans and peas
12:10 Q3 - Is no dig scalable and sustainable for larger farms?
12:52 The difference between intensive veg gardening and farming, and the relative use of compost
14:38 Using imported organic matter
15:15 Compost from compost toilet
15:38 Qs 4+5 - How could no dig play a role in improving wellbeing and making food growing more accessible? How does your life change when you grow your own food and how is this helpful?
16:14 How no dig makes growing veg accessible
17:32 The effect of growing on wellbeing
18:31 The benefits of eating own-grown veg
19:16 Q6 - Adding weed roots and seeds to compost heaps
