New Moon Blessings- April 1, 2022
This post on Ruth Stout is part of my lunar blog post series. Since the new moon is a time of darkness, my goal with each new moon post is to highlight something that has been hidden or not well know. (Click here for details and past posts.)
Queen of Mulch
I first learned of Ruth Stout in the 1970s, through her writing in Organic Gardening and Farming magazine. That led me to her book, The Ruth Stout No Work Garden Method. The central tenets of her method can be summarized by mulch heavily, don’t work too hard, and be joyful in the garden.
Although the idea of mulching is commonplace today, and is an integral part of no-till and regenerative gardening, that was not true when Stout began writing in the 1950s. Her story is especially interesting because she did not even start gardening until she was 45 years old when she and her husband moved to Connecticut.
And when she got to Connecticut, for many years she simply followed the advice of other gardeners who lived nearby. That meant plowing the soil each year and then using lots of chemical fertilizers and sprays. She had an epiphany one year (she says after talking to her asparagus plants) and decided to forgo the plowing and simply plant in the soil and cover the soil with mulch. And she immediately begin to see the benefits.
Value of Mulch and Not Tilling the Soil
Mulch can be any material that covers the soil around plants, helping to maintain moisture and prevent weeds. Stout preferred to mulch her garden with hay, but there are many types of mulch. Straw, grass clippings, leaves, and even cardboard can be used as mulch. As they decompose, they contribute to the soil.
Stout said, “The unmulched garden looks to me like some naked thing which for one reason or another would be better off with a few clothes on.” And I have to agree. I am always a little shocked when I see an unmulched garden, especially here in Denver when the summer sun can bake the top level of soil. Mulch provides nutrients but also keeps soil micoorganisms alive by moderating the soil temperature.
And mulch will help maintain a looser soil so that tilling is not needed. Digging can harm soil structure and the microorganisms so necessary for a successful garden.
Whatever mulch you choose, you’ll want to find something free of toxic chemicals and sprays. For more information on mulching, check out this article from the Farmer’s Almanac or this one from The Gardening Channel.
Ruth Stout Lessons for Intentional Living
Stout was an early proponent of mulching and it is good to remember her for that. But I think there are even better reasons to honor her memory. She believed life and gardening should be easy and we should explore methods to make it so. Even though she grew all the vegetables for herself and her husband, she had a relaxed attitude toward the whole endeavor.
Her personal philosphy (probably from her Quaker upbringing) was that each person had internal wisdom and they could tune into that for guidance. She shared what she had discovered in her own garden through her writing, but encouraged others to try it for themselves.
Stout was also something of a free spirit. She liked to garden in the nude, which I find fascinating because hay (which she used for mulch) can be pretty scratchy. But I think this just exemplified her attitude of living life on her own terms.
I also love that once she started gardening, she never stopped. She died in 1980 at the age of 96.
Books and a Video
You may already be sold on the benefits of mulch, but I would encourage you to check out some of her books. They overflow with an ethusiasm for life and a joy in gardening. And are also quite funny. They include: The Ruth Stout No Work Garden Book, Gardening without Work, and If You Would be Happy: Cultivate Your Life Like a Garden.
There is also a YouTube video of Stout taking about her life. Check it out here. It’s delightful.
If you are looking for a mindful focus this week, you can’t go wrong with adopting a Ruth Stout attitude and cultivating joy in life and gardening.
“Working in the garden gives me something beyond the enjoyment of the senses. It gives me a profound feeling of inner peace.” Ruth Stout
Ruth Stout’s book was a godsend when I had a large, country garden. Still have my copy although I can’t grow veg in my shady spot. That pup is too cute💛. Happy growing💚
That is so cool that you still have your orignal Ruth Stout book. I’ve lost mine somewhere along the way. She was such an inspiration!
That’s my Millie on the garden path. Happy Spring!
Thanks for info on making sure no mulch has sprays on it that could hurt insect/bug life or maybe even birds.
Debbie, Yes – I was thinking about plants and soil organisms, but you are absolutely right – the sprays can also hurt insects and birds.
I think future anthropologists will be perplexed that humans in 2022 were so easily pursuaded to dump toxic substances onto the earth.
I’m going to check the library for a Ruth Stout book. Is mulching with wood chips discouraged? Do wood chips break down or not? I really enjoyed learning about Ruth Stout.
Debbie,
Everything organic breaks down eventually – I think the biggest concern in the vegetable garden is finding a mulch that is free of sprays so you
are not inadvertently introducing those into the garden.So whether it is straw or woodchips, just making sure of that.
I will be curious to know what you think of Ruth once you get her book. I love that she just gardened forever!