Woodchip Handbook: A Complete Guide for Farmers, Gardeners and Landscapers

The Woodchip Handbook is a comprehensive guide to using woodchip in regenerative agriculture and horticulture, covering its various applications, benefits, and techniques. Author Ben Raskin, Head of Horticulture and Agroforestry at the Soil Association, draws on his extensive experience and expertise to provide practical insights and inspiring case studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 04 November 2021
Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing Co

Ben Raskin's extensive work in diverse locations has made The Woodchip Handbook an invaluable resource for exploring the endless possibilities offered by woodchip. Authored by Charles Dowding, the renowned expert in No Dig Gardening, this comprehensive guide is the first and only complete resource on sourcing and utilizing woodchip, a plentiful, affordable, and environmentally sustainable material. Whether you're a seasoned grower or landscaper operating on a farm, garden, or greenhouse scale, this handbook is your go-to guide for harnessing the power of woodchip.

The Woodchip Handbook serves as an essential guide to the diverse applications of woodchip in regenerative agriculture and horticulture. With his extensive practical experience in using woodchip, Ben Raskin, Head of Horticulture and Agroforestry at the Soil Association, brings forth the latest research from around the globe and showcases inspiring case studies from innovative farmers.

Within the pages of this book, readers embark on a journey to unlock the tremendous potential of woodchip in enhancing soil health and plant growth. Woodchip serves as a natural mulch, providing effective weed suppression, temperature buffering, and water conservation. It can also be used as a growing medium for propagating plants, serving as a decomposing source of warmth for hotbeds, and even as a carbon-rich compost ingredient that supports beneficial fungi and microorganisms. Moreover, woodchip can be applied as small-sized ramial chipped wood to boost soil health, acting as a powerful soil health booster.

In addition to its agricultural applications, woodchip finds its place in edible and medicinal mushroom cultivation. It serves as an ideal substrate for growing a wide variety of mushrooms, offering sustainability, versatility, and durability. Furthermore, woodchip can be used for footpaths and ornamental landscaping, providing a sustainable and aesthetically pleasing solution.

While some of these woodchip techniques, such as mulching and the renewable harvest potential from coppicing and pollarding trees, have been practiced for centuries, there is always new science to be discovered. For instance, the role of salicylic acid from willow woodchip in preventing tree diseases or promoting growth is a recent discovery that has significant implications for the forestry industry.

The Woodchip Handbook is a valuable resource for anyone interested in exploring the world of woodchip and its many applications. Whether you're a farmer, landscaper, or simply someone passionate about sustainable gardening, this handbook provides you with the knowledge and tools you need to succeed. By harnessing the power of woodchip, you can create healthy, thriving ecosystems, promote biodiversity, and contribute to a more sustainable future. So, why wait? Get your copy of The Woodchip Handbook today and embark on a journey of discovery and innovation in your garden or farm!

Weight: 316g
Dimension: 154 x 230 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781645020486