2024 – the third year of NO DIG cultivation

No Dig cultivation is still a fairly new phenomenon in Finland and no book has yet been published on the subject. In Swedish there is already such a book, “Odla utan spade”, which was published in 2021. Our inspirer and teacher is the Englishman Charles Dowding.

At Tallbacka Garden, soil health is a priority in everything we do. We do not turn and cultivate the soil, but leave the cultivation of the soil to the soil microbes. We try our best to ensure that all kinds of insects, spiders, worms, protozoa and bacteria are healthy and multiply. We also try to support the symbiosis between fungal hyphae and plant roots. We manage the growing beds by spreading a 5-8 cm layer of self-made compost once a year. On the aisles between the growing beds we put wood chippings. We do not use fertilizers or pesticides. The biggest challenge for the No Dig cultivation has been to produce a sufficient amount of compost, which was needed even more during the build-up period.

In Tallbacka we have growing beds that have been in poor condition, in other words with little micro-life and a poor ability to retain water and nutrients. It will take a few years of investment for the benches to recover. Completely new growing beds that are built directly on the lawn also need a proper layer of compost about 15 centimetres thick to begin with.

We have tried many different composting methods when we were looking for a compost that suits our conditions and needs. During the garden tour, guests will be introduced to the Berkley Hot Compost method and a solid garden compost modelled after Charles Dowding.

In Tallbacka, the emphasis is on the different kinds of lettuce we grow for sale. Our product is called Tallbacka Mix, which varies according to the season – different varieties, colours, shapes and flavours. During the tour we get acquainted with and taste surprising salad ingredients. In the garden there is also a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, edible flowers and various useful plants including woad, a plant used for dyeing. The novelty for the year 2024 is the root chicory, which we have tried and become fond of during the winter. We have not found any domestic product in the shops. Berries and fruit plants are abundant in Tallbacka among them rare species, such as silverberry, mulberry and quince. All in all, there are over 500 species and varieties. An updated list is available on Tallbacka’s website.

We are constantly working to keep our garden presentable while at the same time being a production garden. Especially dear to us are the growing beds that are built around a theme that changes according to the seasons and years. Inspired by the forest garden ideology, we have planted shrubs, trees, herbs, vegetables and flowers in our growing beds.

In 2022 we organised a course on soil and the open garage was decorated to better accommodate guests. On the wall we have a whiteboard and tables, benches and chairs have been acquired throughout the year. Erik Saanila’s fine photo exhibition on aluminum plate can withstand temperature and humidity. The eco loo is available to visitors and the sinks have access to hot water. The access from Sydmovägen has been widened and the bus has room to turn.

The serving has long been the same, a herbal drink and thyme roll from Roberts Bröd with elderberry juice as a welcome drink. Now there are enough mugs and glasses for a full guest bus. Our system is gradually getting better with more experience. In 2023, honey and herbal salt were on sale. It is possible to pay by card or cash.