Full Review - Ruth Stout Method

Look around on Craigslist or some similar site for folks selling hay.

Tell them you don't want the good stuff, you want the old stuff. Usually folks who sell a lot of hay, have a few rolls that are sitting out back that they either couldn't sell or the binding didn't hold up so they couldn't move it well.

They're usually pretty happy to get rid of it for $10 bucks a roll or so. Worth a shot.

Unfortunately, that would hurt the affordability of it. I don't have a truck or no anyone equipped to do the job, so that means renting it . . . to plant potatoes . . . which are dirt cheap at the grocery store. (I know, that's not a very "prepared" thing to say, but once the price tag goes up, it's hard to ignore.)

I may see what I can accomplish with dry leaves, covered with something to keep them from blowing away before the snow arrives to hold them in place. It won't end up being quite the same method as has been discussed, but if it keeps the weeds at bay and provides nutrients for my taters, I'm good with it.

Yeah, that's an issue for sure. Might be able to find square bales though that are old.

Look at lasagna method Inazone, same concept but uses leaves,pine needles, newspaper, ect

http://www.ecosnippets.com/gardenin...teGVpS3lxWGNRMUdQemR3Jm09MyZ0PUFBQUFBRjE2czBB


https://rootsy.org/healthy-soil/?ep...oaS1FMHU0cTFZQlprU3VBJm09MyZ0PUFBQUFBRjE2c3ZN

One more that explains it a little better
“2) Gather materials for your lasagna garden. You’ll need lots of “brown” materials, such as peat moss, straw, wood chips, dry leaves, shredded office paper, sawdust or newspaper. These ingredients are dry and decompose quickly. They’re usually bulky, ensuring light, oxygen-rich soil. You’ll also need “green” materials. If you’ve composted before, you know that green materials are nitrogen-rich matter that is dense and moist. Green materials include compost, manure, untreated grass clippings, animal bedding, yard waste, vegetarian kitchen waste, coffee grounds, seaweed and blood meal.”


https://www.gardeningchannel.com/la...QcmczaGtuMnA3RHdhSTJRJm09MyZ0PUFBQUFBRjE2ekFB

Ok, I have been off for OTGF for a week, but I did manage to get this done:

Aside from going to square bales are easier to handle instead of around, see if there's a paper mill or at a sawmill in your area and you should be able to get all the free sawdust do you want. Or even a tree company that takes their stump grindings home.

Ahh, if not for the lack of compost for my "lasagna" recipe, I'd be all set! But I think I can get most of the way there with cardboard, paper and leaves.

I'm going to check Craigslist for cheap tomato cages. My thought is that, turned upside down and filled with dried leaves in the fall, they could make suitable growing environments for individual potato plants, keeping the leaves or other medium in place as the plants mature.