What if you could grow a productive garden in the middle of a drought — without constantly watering your beds?

In this episode of The John Lovell Show, John sits down with Mike Herbert, a regenerative farming expert with 13 years of experience in soil development, organic farming, livestock, homesteading, and drought-proofing land. Mike has built a thriving family homestead using methods that seem almost impossible at first: hugelkultur beds, deep mulch, buried wood, swales, and water-retaining soil systems that help keep the ground moist even during dry conditions.

John visited Mike’s property and was shocked by how much food his family was growing with far fewer inputs, less watering, and less dependence on the normal garden supply chain. From potatoes and ginger to livestock and family food production, Mike explains why many gardeners may be working harder than they need to — and how building soil the right way can make a homestead more resilient.

If you are starting a garden, building a homestead, preparing for drought, or trying to become a better provider for your family, this conversation will challenge the way you think about food, soil, water, and self-reliance.

In this episode:

How Hügelkultur beds help retain moisture
Why buried wood can improve soil over time
How swales slow down and capture water on your property
Why deep mulch can protect soil during drought
How to grow food with fewer outside inputs
What regenerative farming can teach modern homesteaders
Why food security starts at home
How farming can build family culture, work ethic, and generational skills

Mike Herbert is not a full-time farmer living apart from the real world — he is a builder, contractor, husband, father, and homesteader who has learned how to produce food while still living a full and busy life. That makes his approach especially helpful for families who want to grow more food, waste less water, and build practical resilience without turning their entire life upside down.

Topics covered: drought proof garden, Hügelkultur beds, swales, regenerative farming, no water garden, homesteading, organic gardening, food security, soil building, deep mulch gardening, family farming, self-reliance, growing food in drought, sustainable gardening, water retention, permaculture, and how to feed your family in hard times.

Watch the full episode and learn why John says he may have been gardening wrong for years.