June, I'm curious, what are the benefits of digging your beds this way? And I want to make sure I understand what's going on. You're basically taking the top 6" of dirt and putting 6 inches lower, and moving the lower dirt to the top. Right? And you try not to break up the dirt you put on the bottom. And then you add compost to the top of it all. Is that about right?

Do you have any book recommendations?

Thanks!

Lance - The dirt actually never moves from top to bottom. The top dirt all moves left a foot. The bottom dirt does not move anywhere, it just gets loosened.

A couple resources:

I found a you tube video that demonstrates the soil movement and the tools you need;
http://tinyurl.com/4t4xq9

Although this animation portrays the top dirt getting turned more than my book suggests.

There is also this PBS video that is a little more informative:
http://www.mefeediaa.com/entry/1095503/

They mention putting the compost in before you move the top dirt over, which makes sense but I haven't been doing that either.

In the PBS video they also move wide sections at a time where as I only move one shovel width at a time.

John Jeavons also sells a 30min video of the process:
http://tinyurl.com/54vbz3

Which I'm guessing would be one of the more reliable resources and will probably explain in more detail the benefits.

Sorry none of those were books!

I've just started reading the Jeavons book you mentioned and your post really clarified it! I was having trouble picturing it in my head. Of course, I have to wait till next season to do my beds like this, since everything is planted for this season already.

I grabbed the Jeavons book (or one of them) and read thorougly. I'm planting a bed today that I double dug. Pictures forthcoming!

Claire - Great! I'm glad my post can be of some assistance. Its a little labor intensive if you are breaking new ground. But it sounds like you already have some beds developed, so it shouldn't be too hard.

I have a friend that follows his methods to a T and she always had more veggies to me using a plot thats about a quarter of mine if not smaller. She also has the advantage of having taken one of his classes. I would love to take one of John Jeavons' classes one day.