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Gardening Fun for Kids: Discovering No Dig with Charles Dowding

An email arrives, from Jess Kim:

“I home educate my children and also have an allotment.
I was amazed by how much our methods change the ground we walk on every day and I know my children think the mycelial network and wood wide web are incredibly fascinating and I think it’s one of the major benefits of no dig as a method.
I don’t want to just let a load of children loose on our copy of your book on a mucky allotment so I was just hoping for a child level overview that I could show them on my laptop at the start?
My children love what you do so much I would love to spread the message a bit more round this corner of the world! I’m always amazed by how much all of my children’s friends love spending the day outdoors tech free helping on the plot and ‘adventuring’ and I’m hoping we can encourage more to join us!”

Thanks for writing Jess and I hope the video helps. There is a lot of information here, and I’ve not presented it in kiddy language. I notice how children really understand no dig because it’s common sense, they get it! They just need details about methods and procedures.

00:00 Introduction
00:35 What does no dig mean?
00:57 Examples of vegetables you can grow
01:55 What is soil? We look at an area of ground that has been dug out to make a pond, and I explain the different layers of soil
02:12 Topsoil
03:15 Holes made by earthworms
03:37 Subsoil
03:44 The water table
04:20 Creating a no dig bed for growing veg
04:37 Cardboard on top of grass
05:22 A look at compost, which goes on top of the cardboard
06:01 What is compost?
06:41 A look at my Small Garden
07:30 What can you learn from my book, No Dig Gardening for Children?
07:53 Do you have any questions?

My No Dig Children’s book can be purchased from my website: https://charlesdowding.co.uk/product/no-dig-childrens-gardening-book/
and in the usual online places, and bookshops.

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19 Replies to “Gardening Fun for Kids: Discovering No Dig with Charles Dowding”

  1. I made my daughter her own garden bed. She’s allowed to plant anything she wants as long as it’s in season ❤❤❤ Very exciting

  2. I'm 49 and might buy this book for myself, probably learn Alot from it, I have ADHD and find most books difficult to follow sometimes due to lack of information, I have Organic Gardening the Natural no-dig way Charles Dowding Veg journal and can understand them better than gardening books from other authors, both fantastic books ????????

  3. Congratulations on your book Charles! Where is the best place to purchase from Canada? My children would love this, they are 9 & 6.

  4. GIVE IT A TRY KIDS !!!!!!! ENJOY NO DIG NOW WHILE YOUR STILL YOUNG AND DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A JOB AND TAXES AND ALL THAT GROWN UP CRAP !!!!!

  5. SINCE IMPLEMENTING NO DIG, OUR WEEDS HAVE DISAPPEARED SO MUCH THAT WE FIND OURSELVES PLUCKING A COUPLE HANDFULS OF GRASS BLADES AND JUST THROWING THEM ON THE BEDS TO SIMULATE WHEN WE HAD WEEDS !!!!!! VERY NOSTALGIC !!!!!!

  7. IT’S AMAZING HOW A MAN WORKS SO HARD PROMOTING SOMETHING THAT IS ABOUT NOT WORKING SO HARD !!!!!! VIVA LA NO DIG !!!!!!!!

  8. I love this understated and knowledgeable man
    ❤️????????????????❤️

  9. Hello Charles, what a marvelous garden you are a teacher. I send you greetings

  11. This is great! The world needs more books like this, teaching children things that are actually beneficial to them and the world around them. ????

  12. Great sharing again Charles and someone forgot to add the super hero cape on your illustration drawing of yourself. Thank you and best wishes Jason from Melbourne Australia.

  13. I ordered 2 for our granddaughters and think this is a fabulous idea to get the little ones started.

  14. A children's book is a wonderful idea. When I was 10 years old I got a lovely little book about gardening for children and it opened my eyes to gardening and the beauty in nature. Today I am on my way to be self-suffient in vegetables and fruit, so the book led my on an exciting path. I hope your book will inspire many children! ???? ????

  15. Congratulations, Charles! I've learned so many things from you! My garden is flourish! Keep going! ????

  16. What a lovely book, Charles. Good luck with it – but I know you won't need it. I don't know any other modern publication like it.

  17. Your carrot seed spacing in the small garden is so tidy, Do you have a trick to such nice spacing or just a steady veteran hand?

  18. Thank you for sharing the email from Jess. It is an exciting time.
    I should get your book not only for my grandchildren but also for my Grown children. Two have stopped their gardens and one never tried. One book for each so they don't fight over it. lol.
    Always a pleasure watching and learning from you Charles.

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