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Today we discuss why wicking beds may be the very best solution for a large majority of families looking to grow their own food.  While they do cost more to build in the beginning they give it back in lifetime cost quickly if done correctly.  This is due to reduced labor, increased success and some tips and tricks I will tell you about today.

Join Me Today to Discuss…

• What exactly is a wicking bed and why do they rock
• Mixing up the right soil mix for your wicking beds
  • Most organic potting soil will work but is expensive
  • 50-50 native or purchased top soil and compost
    • Lighten this with pearlite or something like expanded shale
    • Mixing in chopped up leaves is also a great idea
    • Cap the last few inches with no pearlite if you use it
    • Do not buy pearlite in tiny bags (it means you hate money)
    • How much?  Trust your instincts on lighteners.  Really TRUST YOURSELF.
• Different types of wicking beds
  • Large rigid containers
  • Self watering planters (grow buckets, etc)
  • In ground beds (generally done with pond liner)
• Flow though vs. static wicking beds
• Keys to good design
  • Use media excluders
  • Separate bottom reservoirs and soil with weed cloth AND a perlite layer
  • Allow for over flow
  • Make over flow levels adjustable and serviceable
  • Generally run you water level a little bit into the soil layer
  • Mulch, mulch and mulch
  • 6-8 inches of water
  • 12-18 inches of soil
  • Use a well draining media – lava rock or sand with drain pipe is best
  • Use scrap pipe, etc in the bottom media
• Tips and tricks I have learned over the years
  • Use “rice patty method” to get rid of weeds seasonally or every other season
  • If you use a hose pressure will push water out your over flow before it is really full
  • Timers with a once a day run time that over flow to a reservoir are set and forget
  • Use fish and/or BT Dunks/Bits to control mosquitoes
• Developing and improving fertility
  • Yes you can add nutrients to the water (limited)
  • Compost/mulch should be added frequently
  • My four part fertility program
    • GS Plant Foods Liquid Kelp
    • Garrett Juice
    • Dr. Earth Premium Gold Fertilizer
    • Mycorrhizae Fungal Inoculation – I don’t use this as heavily anymore I explain why in the show
  • Mineral Supliments
    • Bloom City Cal-Mag Growing Supplement
    • Liquinox Iron Zinc Chelated Solution
    • Azomite – Often Best Sourced Locally
    • Green Sand – Also Often Best Sourced Locally
    • Dry Molasses – Also Often Best Sourced Locally
  • Worms – Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm or Worms.com are good sources
• Final thoughts – It’s more work in the beginning and less work forever – The ROI for a single family garden is not even in question!

Resources for today’s show

• I am Back on Twitter – Shadow Ban Lifted
• Follow Life With Jack on Instagram
• Join the Members Brigade
• Join Our Forum
• Walking To Freedom
• TspAz.com
• TSPC on Discord
• TSPC Group on Telegram (group chat)
• TSPC Telegram Channel (just messages from me)
• Jack on Flote
• Jack on MeWe
• Join Me on Odysee
• Buy Crypto Safe and Easy on CoinBase
• My Favorite NoKYC Cryto Exchange CoinEx
• Get Paid in Bitcoin with Strike
• SOE Tactical Gear – Where I get all my cool shirts
• Self Reliance Festival 
• BT Misquito Bits
• AM Leonard Garden Trowel
• If I promised anything as a link not here tell me in the comments below and I will fix it thanks.

Sponsors of the Day

• Backwoods Home
• Butcher Box

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