Making good soil quickly.

Pile your woodchip mounds as tall as possible. Because, in three to four years, they will decompose to a 1/4 or less of their original height.

You can use roll out old round bale hay or straw, fall leaves or wood chips. Anything that holds moisture as it decomposes. Using Wood Chips and logs as the foundation is simple and straightforward. Overseed with field peas, beans and Crimson Clover the first year.

Every year thereafter use a mix of crimson clover, wildflower and bulk sunflower seed to cover bare spots and overseed.

Make a good home for earthworms. DON'T EVER spread synthetic fertilizers or fungicides and avoid tilling the soil. That kills your soil biology and earthworms.

These wood chip mounds (image below) were established in the summer of 2015.

First stage, 90 days or so.

Second stage, Overseed with field peas, beans and Crimson Clover. 2016 & 2017

Mycelium (mushroom web) becomes established in the woodchip (or leaves) naturally, the mound becomes a natural sponge holding water.

You can plant tree seedlings the first year as long as each tree is planted in about a gallon of soil to get started.

The wood chip will decompose enough in the second year that the yearling seedlings will happily send their root systems into the damp decomposing wood chips. After about 3 years your chip will look like this.... nice dirt!

This is fall of 2017, setting fruit trees.

This is the 3rd year of mature woodchip mounds. Fall of 2018

These are the fruit trees and bushes in June of 2019

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