HOW TO PLANT A FRUIT TREE - the Ellen White method 

Heads up! Update Feb 2022: My tree died. It was the clay. Very wet season and the clay hole became an underground dam. The tree drowned. I replaced it with a banana tree. Let’s see what happens. Also: The drawing is a bit misleading! Do NOT bury the trunk. The base of the trunk should be at ground level. Not below as it shows on the drawing :-)

You have some serious cinematographic style.

I love how the tree just stands next to it during the process being like "yeah mate, looking forward"

You are so lovely. That long calm warning to sensitive folk was so caring. Nothing like I would do lol.

Yes I’m familiar with this method and Ellen White. She was a truly inspired and prolific writer. Love her writings, if you haven’t read the Great Controversy and Desire of Ages, I highly recommend. In fact the Great Controversy will give great insight as to what’s happening in our current world and what’s to come, very enlightening. Blessings Mr Weedy, love your vids 💗

"You gotta try and think the way a forest thinks." Best sentence I've heard in a while, thanks for the video man.

I used to plant trees digging 1m/1m/1m holes and filling them with all kinds of layers of organic material mixed with my native soil. But I found that because of the depth of the hole you just cannot compact it well enough. It is also called the swell factor (think about all that clay that you removed and still filled your hole to the top).The soil was always settling down during the next several months and the tree was sinking below the soil level. The trees were not happy at all because the roots were constantly being disturbed by the soil movement. And also because the area around the tree was now lower it would get too wet and stay soggy for too long and 2 of my avocado trees just rotted.. What I found worked best for me was to prepare the planting spot in advance. Fill it in with organic matter mixed with soil and just let it sit for several months to settle down and for the soil biology to establish as well. If you are short on time and must plant right away I suggest that you raised your tree about 10 cm above the ground level to compensate for the sinking effect during the next months.

Probably one of the best.. if not best video on RU-vid I've ever seen!

I have friend of mine Living In Melbourne Australia, He used to do the Mrs. ELLEN g White's method. After 2 yrs his grapes apples grape pomelo etc. Produced fruits... That's very good method from sister Ellen G White, she had many books write, a very effective way not just for planting, eat healthy foods and spiritual aspects.. I encourage you to read more of her writings...thanks for sharing. Godbless.

That explains why I wasn't aware of this method of Ellen G. White. I guess she's not just great and blessed with her writings but also with her greener thumb. Great video. Thank you.

Beautiful! When I was young my sweet Dad would grow an amazing garden. That garden fed us during the winter months. He would go fishing....we’d eat the meat or share it with friends. As he prepared his garden he would cast lime, wood ash, bone meal and blood meal. At the time of planting either a plant, tree or seeds , he would place a piece of the fish remains...whether it was the head, skin and other bones. He’s didn’t use synthetic chemicals. Our garden was amazing! Thanks for the information ❤️🙏🏻🇺🇸

I have used the Ellen White Method before and I can speak from experience that it works. I have 3 apple trees planted in a row. One of the apple trees was not planted with this method. Its about 6 years old I would say. The other two are only 3 yrs old and they are taller and wider than the 6 yr old tree. Its amazing to me to see that this method is very different of how the traditional method of planting a tree is. Also for anyone who doesn't want to use a plastic pot in the hole; just use a cement/clay pot. I really enjoyed this video. Thanks Weedy Garden for sharing this with the world.

Great job presenting the ellen White method, I was actually blessed enough to meet Lynn Hoag we have planted quite a few trees using the method he described.

I have never heard of this method and I have grown up around small scale farmers and Ellen White's writing. Thanks for sharing this!

This was an incredible little lady, I have never read anything that compares with her writings, I'd highly recommend Desire of Ages and The Great Controversy

you're inspirational

I believe I have seen all your videos on day of release. It is astounding how much information you have digested and knowledge gained. You're a wonderful storyteller as all of that knowledge is really well represented in the flow of thought and presentation. Thank you.

Love that you walk folks thru your thought processes to make this method apply to your site and your personal context (no plastic, etc.). What a gift!

It's an excellent history lesson, and this video is true to the recounts I've read and seen on this method. However, having studied modern soil science: the stones and pot in the bottom are not entirely necessary. I'm not say you should or should not include it, that's up to the person planting. What I will say is there are other mechanisms we understand better today which make them unnecessary. What this system does is essentially create the conditions for 1 meter of topsoil, after the biology converts the raw materials. And by creating that large of a space of high quality soil, you gave the tree years worth of a head start. So, why no pot (or air gap)? If you have healthy soil biology (annelid's, arthropod's, fungal colonization, nearby annuals and perennial plants) the forage behavior of the macro and micro organisms will ensure your soil stays aerobic. And if you have that underground air gap in anaerobic conditions, the air inside will quickly turn anaerobic as well. Why no rock? Well I actually love the rock, but it does the same function as a stake. However, during the first few year, the stake is more effective as those tree roots still haven't wrapped around the rock. And later in the trees life, the weight of a rock is nothing compared to a full grow mango or avocado. A Dwarf variety might benefit more, but full grown versions won't really benefit long-term and it's just wishful thinking. You also don't need to worry about electrical conductivity. Clay, Sand, and Silt are just smaller sizes of rock. As long as you have mineral soil, you will have the same compounds as the parent rock it was weathered from. As for conductivity, it will happen regardless and it is truly effective when soil is wet or moist. It's why we use EC probes to measure when a plants needs to be watered. As to whether the pant needs outside electrical current, science is still exploring that part and it's not well understood. You may be right, you may be wrong on that one, who knows. Lastly, Sea water can be beneficial. But keeping quantities small and infrequent are crucial. For all the beneficial components, if you change the salinity of your top soil: you will struggle to grow anything in the soil during your life time. And if you accidentally create a high saline or hypersaline soil: you will have to physically dig out and replace that soil. As it takes nature decades and centuries to correct that high of a sodium imbalance. Why did I type all this? because I enjoyed your content. But when you look at a 200 year old planting methodology, parts can be taken out or replaced as our knowledge and understanding has advanced. But this is a fantastic recount of her method.

I love how u admit you dont know on some things and your learning. Thats always the best way. Continuing to learn every day.

I really like how this documents the learning journey. A lot of channels pose as experts, but this is a refreshingly honest take on things. Amazing cinematography work as always. Quality over quantity

I have been gardening for 10 years and I have scoured hundreds (thousands?) of gardening videos on RU-vid. Each channel has their own niches and has strengths and weakness. Without doubt this video is the best I have seen- informative (I had never heard of this method but instinctively and by necessity have been doing this), entertaining and fantastic cinematography. Well done weedy garden you’re a legend.

been planting trees for a long time and even when I dig a square hole I always deeply score the sides of the hole with my spade so when the roots start growing out they can grow into the cuts otherwise it is like planting in a pot again and the roots continue to grow round and not out

You're an incredible thoughtful human. Thanks for sharing and caring. You're an inspiration. One love and blessings.

The amount of love this tree got is EPIC

Your style of video is so refreshing, I'm grateful to have found this channel. Love the pacing and drawing parts!

Your videos are just SO beautiful. It makes me happy to watch them. I would happily watch them even if I weren't obsessed with growing things!

Weedy~ you are a clear vessel that spirit shines through with little to no distortion. 🙏🏼 Namasté my brother. 💚

You're on something else man, a whole new level. Thanks for this video and teaching me how to care for these woody life givers. Much success in your food forest!

You certainly do an amazing job with the cinematography and editing. You truly convey a sense of passion in what you do. Great work and blessings to you. 👍👏

The little world shots mean so much. We live on such a tiny world. I truly hope every living being finds your channel so they can also be inspired to change their little bit of our tiny earth and in so doing change their lives. Lots of love from Africa to you and your wonderful lady.

What a beautiful video. Ellen White was truly inspired and I'm sure woukd have loved that this was preserved. Thank you for sharing 😊🙏

Absolutely astounding gorgeous production quality as usual. Beyond Beautiful. Thank you.

Here’s what I do. Rather than make a square hole (which is a good idea that I never thought of), I use the pick end of a mattock to gouge holes in the sides of the pit. This allows root entry. Before filling the hole I stick a slotted pipe with a cap vertically in one side of the hole. This adds air and can also be used to add water or compost tea. I also place a stone for an anchor. I collect fungi from the forest, mix it with forest leaf mold and forest soil and use it to inoculate my bark chip pile. I do this every time I go on a hike (which is often). I also have a rock pile. A pile of rocks obtained from every rock type in the surrounding area that I crush with a sledge hammer. I obtain these rocks from outcrops and stream beds. Again I collect them on hikes. This is my mineral source. I have compost made from aged horse and poultry manure, biochar, organic vegetable waste, leaves, grass clippings, pine needles and weeds harvested before they go to seed. All from my farm. I also have a pile of river sand. With the exception of the bark chips, I mix the compost, rock dust chips and sand ingredients in a wheelbarrow and add them periodically to the hole as I backfill the hole with native soil. I compact the lifts with my feet until the hole is filled. After the hole is filled I water it all in real good and top it off with the inoculated bark chips. I water it only until I’m sure the plant is beyond shock and then never water it again. My orchard is built on a terraced slope and is self watering. I cut off the suckers but don’t prune the other branches until the tree is established. I want the wind to stress the trunk so that it thickens. Then I prune and shape the tree. I bury logs with fungi and throw some more rocks, bark chips and green manure down periodically. If you dig down, the underlying soil is covered with mycelium. I plant other beneficial plants around and between the trees. If one if my trees ever does look sick, diseased, infested or damaged (which is very rare), I pour some compost tea down the pipe as medicine. My trees are generally very healthy, bear high quality tasty fruit and more importantly, the fruit is packed with nutrients - not like that store bought crap!

Lol and everyone thought i was going overboard tryna mimick mother nature when i planted fruit trees and prepped my garden every year. The only thing i wasn't doing was the air pocket, but, i am definitely adding that to my planting routine. Thanks and namaste, brother!

my granddaddy planted trees close to this - he use to have an Orange Grove many years ago - before 1963... sold and moved to another area of the state, farm and raised livestock until he past @1970

I love how grounded to the earth you are, I am working on that too mate.

Dude, your videos are such great quality. Such a genuine and unique take on a modern vlog/infotube video. Love the hand drawings, love the humble vibe, love the guest lessons from others. Great vibes bud, keep up the great work. Clearly plenty of hard work going into the filming and editing on top of the farm work.

What an absolute gorgeous treasure of a video. Thanks for making this!!!

Amazing! As always! Love Heather's wearable art! Thank you for sharing!

I am so impressed by your videography skills in how you focus on the garden, even though you are filming it on drones, and timelapses and other advanced techniques, including editing. But you don’t notice as you tell the story of the garden and growing. Truly amazing skills and love the commitment to Mother Earth. Thanks brother

Been reading Ellen White books so I know she is legit. The amount of care, editing, music, explanation and time you put into this, can't thank you enough. It is a beautiful video. I like how you mentioned she did it for survival.

Good people take Good pictures. Loved the story of Ellen White and planting fruit Tree. After Herbert White, and his Student and you I am writing it in Turkish:) giving back to the Magical soils of Anatolia.

Another fantastic video! David, your instincts are so spot on. Old, dry logs = air space underground ... brilliant! Thanks for all of your efforts. xoxo

I'm happy to see you are using the square hole method I was waiting to see you use it in one of your videos

Love the video. I liked what you said that you are planting a jackfruit, I planted one in my future food forest.

Good information, great delivery! Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

Have missed quite a few of your episodes, and I am stoked to go watch them. Love seeing this journey. This came up as I’ve just been gifted some amazing Mangos that I am going to sprout seeds from.

Wow what a wonderful video! Lots to take it! Your editing is very as aesthetically pleasing and your commentary is soothing. Thanks for such a great video Weedy!! I’ll try the Ellen White method too :)

This is awesome. Thanks for sharing the Ellen White method for planting a tree. It's obviously a lot of work compared to other planting techniques, but I look forward to doing it.

This video was incredibly therapeutic! Thank you so much for your hardwork 😭👏👏

I appreciate all of the work you put into your videos. Your passion for self sufficiency really comes through. God bless.

Thank you for not using plastic as an air pocket, i really like you videos. 🙂

Amazing quality content. Hard work pays off. Wish I could plant every fruit tree this way!

Also- each of your shows is a place like a relaxing storytime filled with the real treaure of your shared knowledge. Thanks.

High quality gardening/permaculture vids I love it. You’re one of my top RU-vidrs for sure

video after video i'm amazed with your skills ! loved the little "cannot skip add" ;)

Thank you for a Great video i really like your presentation and the picture, also my wife says you got a great peaceful voice!, I've used the same method on some of my fruit trees! Ellen G White is amazing she was at least 100 years ahead of her time with many of her teachings, you should read more of her work, like "counsel on diet" and "ministry of healing" . A real blessing

Your channel is absolutely enchanting.

I appreciate all the time an effort in putting such a wonderfully done video. I particularly love the illustrations because I take shots of my screen to I can quickly view when I need to remind myself of something, so helpful! I have fruit bushes to plant and I’m going to do it Ellen White’s way. Thank you for sharing your gifts with us.🙏🏽

Wow. Who knew Ellen g white was an extremely capable farmer too. Love this video and an instant fan

That's inspired me to get another apple tree for my garden and plant it with this dedication... The jewellery is stunning also... Hadn't considered using diluted sea water once a year in the garden, but i shall now.

The way you speak is very satisfying. Keep enjoying and sharing with us. God bless you.

Wow! What an excellent video. I plant approach 15 fruit trees last year in my front yard in a similar way but I was not aware of this information. In future, I will certainly keep the anchor rock and the small rocks/crusher dust in mind. Great tip with the saltwater, I will be sure to add that to an annual list of things to do in my garden. You are a blessing to us David, thank you so much for sharing your wealth of knowledge and mistakes with us!

Your amazing vibe is amazingly contagious

Interesting. My last block was flat with no run off. Planted citrus level with the ground, with poor results Next row dug holes approximately two feet deep by three feet wide. Filling it with anything and everything that would rot with some good soil. Then planted tree on top of it all hilling it with more compost and whatever soil could find, adding more soil around the trees as they grew: The end result was lot’s of constant good size tasty sweet fruit: While the first row continued to produce very poorly: As you said compost is a major player: Thank you for sharing, I have employed some of your ideas where I can and it has caused me to re think a lot of things: Thank you again

Another great video mr weedy, looking forward to the compost one - my FAVOURITE part of gardening/permaculture 🥰

Beautiful! Thank you for malking and sharing this video🙏🏼

Hi! First time I see you & your videos. Love you video style. I have never planted a tree, however I know the Ellen G. White method of planting trees; she was an awesome writer & her books are still circulating. I love her writings.

Great video mate loved it. I am creating our own backyard permaculture retirement garden and will follow this video when planting our fruit trees. Thankyou mate

I love your videos Weedy…I actually get emotional and shed a tear. Thankyou

Oooh that piece you showed at the start of your partners ad with the bismuth crystal is beautiful

Beautiful I use rooster’s unfortunately not many people can keep them due to council regulations. A lot of the small family orchards being planted in my youth were done in similar fashion with culls. Been quiet a journey since your first video. It was so inspiring. My pioneering grandfather also used to add a big jam tin with two nail holes one midway down for surface roots and one in the base to encourage the tap root. But that was before broad acre made smallholders redundant and modern agriculture destroyed the short water cycle.

Un bonjour à tous, de Nantes (France). Thanks for posting, always good to learn anything about natural gardening... I do practice it as a gardener and have never used anything from the industry. Except for some steel rods planted deep between tomatoes, as I heard about that electricity. Anyway : pour vivre heureux, vivons nature...

Saw your video a couple of years ago. We planted three apple trees last year using this method. Two were 4' tall, another 6' when planted. All have grown beautifully. Two produced apples this year. The two smaller trees have doubled in size! Looking forward to next year already. Thank you!

i love your easy calm presentation and drawings lovely and easy to follow Thank you.

I absolutely love watching your videos. I find a new level of inspiration every time. My only complaint is - can you please make more of them😀👍

It makes for a good day to have awoken to another weedy garden video. Aho great spirit 🕉️

I love that your ad is for your girlfriend's jewelry and that the jewelry is so beautiful! What an elegant tree planting method too! The square hole! How cool! I'm going to watch again and write it down...and share it with others. Thanks

Another stunning video. I appreciate all you do.

Wow, I'm just about to plant several more fruit trees so I'd better try this. I don't have much leaf mould though as most existing trees are ironbark. I might have to stretch what I have with some old hay . Thank you so much.

Almighty Bless you Weedy. Greatly appreciated. 🇰🇪

This video is incredibly well edited. Lots of passion and hard work put on this. Thank you for that. I wish you well

Great video, I feel more confident planting trees now!

We live in high desert with 100% clay soil and rock. Not a single worm survives. 10% rainfall and at 7000 ft. We've been experimenting for 4 years. We do also have sage brush and pinon trees. We also came up with a similar method for growing but I have been afraid to start fruit trees. I am going to try this exactly...thank you!

Uncle weedy didn't get notification I re-watch all your videos from 1-15 frequently This video's are my therapy from depression

The way you explain things is phenomenal. Immediately subscribed after this video

wow such an inspiring video, thank you for sharing this old method for planting trees!

Thank you Ellen White for this jenius method of planting a tree. Thank you Sir, for making this AMAZING video demonstrating her legacy.

Thank you for making these educational and beautiful videos! We have an apple tree to plant this week. We may try a modified version of this as we do not have access to sea water or kelp. Great video! Cannot wait to see your new worm compost set up.

Nice video. I love the "can not Skip Ad"

Another wonderfully entertaining and educational video, thanks again. We really look forward to each episode 👍🌼😀🐝

The method is especially good in snowy cold climates where the ground freezes

Just happened to come across this video. I must say I enjoyed watching it not just because of its information content but also because of its' blend of of audio visuals, the drawings, the narrations, the scene changes, the sounds of birds, seagulls, cows all sprinkled at the right place through out, a work of art indeed. Obviously you take the time to make good videos. Well done. By the way what is the music at 12:54 ? Thank you.

Thanks for sharing. I am moving into a new house soon and I want to plant a few fruit trees in the front yard. I’ll definitely give this method a go. Thank you for the informative, awesome video.

I look forward to your videos. They are inspiring, informative, and beautiful! Thank you.

This is a terrific video. You served a smorgasbord for you tree! 🥑

Here in the southwest US there’s caliche down a few feet. That’s where the Texas root rot fungus can be found. Brookbank recommends digging through the caliche and discarding it before refilling the excavation. Makes for a deeper hole which is more work but it’s less heart breaking than watching your apricot tree die first one limb than another before the rest of the tree dies.

Thank you for sharing, I plan on moving this year and I've got multiple fruit trees that I've planted in grow bags and ill definitely use this method when I plant my fruit trees in their forever permanent spot☺

What a process, there's so much heart and care in it. Also, the jewelry is really, really beautiful - I'll keep it in my mind. I'm thrilled to see how the trees are going to do.