How to do it - Series

Welcome back to another episode of the ‘How to Do It’ video series. This week we’re diving into the fascinating world of weeds—not as pests, but as powerful soil indicators!

Today, we take you on a journey through an unfarmed section of our Nutrition Farm in Applethorpe, where we’ll uncover what these plants are really telling us about soil health, nutrient balance, and environmental conditions. Again this is complemented by the insights of agronomist/consultant Adam Coates  who produces these videos, on another farm near Kyogle NSW.

Weeds are not just random intruders—they’re nature’s response to specific soil conditions. Some seeds can lie dormant for over 70 years, waiting for just the right moment to emerge. Instead of fighting them, what if we learned to read their signals and use them to improve soil health?

Key Takeaways from Today’s Episode:

🌱 Weeds Tell a Story – Whether it’s nutrient deficiencies, compaction, or grazing pressure, weeds reveal exactly what’s happening underground.

🌱 The Five Functional Groups of Weeds – From deep tap-rooted weeds like dandelion that break up compaction, to stabilizing weeds like chickweed, protecting the soil from erosion—each type has a role.

🌱 Smart Weed Management – Learn how to replace problem weeds with profitable crops, increase biodiversity, and even use microbial inoculants like BAM/EM to trigger mass weed germination—depleting the weed seed bank for good!

This episode is all about working with nature rather than against it. If you’re serious about regenerative agriculture, understanding weeds is a game-changer. I hope you gain something of value from this offering.

Hi Everyone,   In Episode Two of Series Two of the “How to Do it” series, you will discover how to multiply Mycorrhizal fungi (AMF).   This is no small thing because these wondrous creatures are amongst the most expensive of commercial inoculums. The reason they are so costly relates to the fact that they cannot be “brewed”. They are hand-harvested from the roots of living host plants. There is a little deception sometimes seen in the marketing of AMF, where it is claimed they are present in liquid fertilisers or that they can multiply in compost. This is nonsense....

Hi Everyone,   Welcome to a new season of the How To Do It Video Series. We have now completed the videos produced for Series 1, so we spent a productive weekend at Nutrition Farms in Applethorpe to film 16 videos for Series 2.   You are in for a treat with some of these, as I will be sharing some really important new strategies that can build your high-production fertility and increase your profit.   The first video in Series 2 showcases how to produce your own high-performance potting mix. I have a commercial greenhouse on my home farm,...