Choose-Your-Own-Adventure No Till

No-till expert Jesse Frost talks about soil and about choosing an approach to no-till suited to local conditions.

No-till expert Jesse Frost talks about soil and about choosing an approach to no-till suited to local conditions.

In this rebroadcast of the radio show that aired live on July 7th, we talk about soil and no-till practices with market gardener, farm journalist, and podcaster Jesse Frost. 

He’s the host of The No-Till Market Garden Podcast, and he and his wife are no-till farmers at their Rough Draft Farmstead in Kentucky.

Frost’s new book is The Living Soil Handbook.

Choosing a No-Till Model

Frost says that there is no one-size-fits-all model of no-till growing.

It depends on the context — things such as soil, rainfall, climate, and the crops being grown.

No-till is as varied as the growers using it.

3 Principles to Grow By

A successful no-till system goes beyond not tilling.

Frost suggests three principles growers and gardeners can use to guide their approach to tillage:

  1. Disturb the soil as little as possible

  2. Keep the soil covered as much as possible

  3. Keep the soil planted as much as possible

Steven Biggs

Recognized by Garden Making Magazine as one of the "green gang" of Canadians making a difference in horticulture, Steven Biggs is a horticulturist, former college instructor, and award-winning broadcaster and author. His passion is helping home gardeners grow food in creative and attractive ways.


He’s the author of eight gardening books, including the Canadian bestseller No Guff Vegetable Gardening. His articles have appeared in Canada’s Local Gardener, Mother Earth News, Fine Gardening, Garden Making, Country Guide, Edible Toronto, and other magazines.


Along with over 30 years working in the horticultural sector and a horticultural-science major at the University of Guelph, Steven’s experience includes hands-on projects in his own garden including wicking beds, driveway strawbale gardens, and a rooftop tomato plantation—to the ongoing amusement of neighbours.


When not in the garden, you might catch him recording his award-winning Food Garden Life podcast or canoeing in Algonquin Park.

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