In a nutshell... (wink, wink):

  ▹ Less work: No tilling or turning soil every season. No fighting non-ideal local soils (heavy clay, rocky, etc)

  ▹ Fewer weeds: Layers of mulch and compost smother weed seeds and the looser soil makes it easer to pull the ones that make it in.

  ▹ Better soil: Natural, undisturbed soil develops structure and retains moisture.

  ▹ Healthier plants: Root systems grow deep and strong in loose, living soil.

  ▹ More yield over time: Healthier soil = more productive plants.​

Start small. Pick a sunny area (at least 6 hours of direct sun per day) with decent drainage. You can build a no-dig bed directly on top of grass, soil, or even concrete. If you do happen to build it on concrete, try to choose a slightly slanted section so that water can naturally run off and not drown roots! Same goes for any areas that don't have naturally good drainage on their own—like heavy clay-laced soil, etc.

Start with a layer of cardboard or thick newspaper (at least 3–4 sheets thick). This kills existing grass and weeds while letting water through.

  ▹ Remove tape, staples, or shiny paper. Make sure the cardboard is clean (avoid anything that originally held cleaners, chemicals, etc)

  ▹ Overlap the pieces to block all light and reduce gaps that the tricky weeds can slip through.

  ▹ Water the layer to help it settle and begin decomposing.

Here’s the basic, easy-peas-y structure: (yup, I went there!)

  ▹ Clean Cardboard (the very bottom)

  ▹ Compost & Soil layer (2–4 inches, or more depending on what you are planting). This is your growing medium. Use finished compost, aged manure, or a high-quality blend.

  ▹ Mulch layer (2–3 inches). Don't skip the mulch!! Use straw, grass clippings, shredded leaves, or wood chips. It protects the plants, helps retain moisture, and keeps weeds to a minimum!! 

If you're planting seeds right away (see Step 4 below), sow the seeds directly into compost before layering the mulch.​

This is the easiest part!

  ▹ Add fresh compost and mulch each season (or as needed)—don’t dig! Just keep the layering process going! The more you layer, the richer the garden!

  ▹ Spot-n-Yank weeds early, and use the Lazy Gardener's Method of Weed Control before anything goes to seed or sends out propagating roots.

  ▹ Over time... soil improves, weeds decline, and your garden yields better an better results!

(And for those of you asking, Yes, "Spot-n-Yank" is my highly technical, scientific term! ( 🤔 "... hmmm maybe I need to trademark that....," he thinks to himself...)