At Dirt Rich Gardens, the methods I teach are rooted in intensive gardening — a hands-on approach focused on getting the most food possible out of a small space. That means carefully prepared raised beds, rich living soil, and planting densities that keep your garden producing from the first thaw to the last frost.

If you've spent any time in the gardening world, you've probably come across terms like permaculture or biodynamic growing, and wondered how they all fit together. Here's the honest answer: they're more similar than different. All three approaches share a deep commitment to working with nature to grow food, while also nurturing the earth and ecosystems that help gardens thrive. Here’s how they differ:

• Intensive gardening brings serious intention to a small space — raised beds, deep soil preparation, dense plantings, and succession planting so something is always growing and always ready to harvest. It takes more planning, but rewards you with abundance.
  

• Permaculture is about designing a garden that largely takes care of itself over time — perennial food forests, minimal inputs, and mimicking natural ecosystems. It's beautiful, low-maintenance in the long run, but typically requires more space and produces less food per square foot.
  

• Biodynamic gardening works with natural energies and rhythms — planting by lunar cycles, using fermented preparations, and treating the farm as a living organism. It's deeply connected to the land and has produced some extraordinary food.

I’m a fan of all three methods because of their shared respect for living soil that supports healthy ecosystems. And I love to teach intensive gardening because it feeds my passion for making the most out of small spaces. It also the best way to create a garden that offers bountiful harvests and a beautiful oasis. I can’t wait for you to experience it for yourself!