The Living Soil Handbook

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Meeting the soil's needs is essential for every market gardener. In this guide, Farmer Jesse Frost shares insights gained from his experiences with no-till practices on his Kentucky farm and interviews with successful market gardeners from his podcast. The book focuses on three core principles of no-till market gardening: minimize soil disturbance, maximize soil coverage, and maintain constant planting. Jesse provides practical advice for applying these principles in various garden environments to achieve individual goals. Beginning with the significance of photosynthesis in living soil, he covers topics such as bed preparation, compost and mulch use, path management, soil biology, fertility maintenance, cover cropping, intercropping, and production methods for seven key crops. The emphasis is on practical tools and techniques for growers aiming to enhance soil health. Jesse encourages a flexible approach, reminding readers that "as possible" is the mantra for protecting living soil—disturbing it as little as feasible in their context. He believes growers need not stress over strict definitions of "no-till"; the focus should be on promoting soil life and biology. This guide aims to inspire growers to create a soil-nurturing no-till system tailored to their unique garden or farm ecosystem.