Good.
And they are correct. For me, it is easier than using chemicals and additive to make thing grow. I keep the soil healthy, it keeps the plants healthy.
Using chemicals changes the soil balance, at least for me. Years ago I can remember having to check the soil for nutrients (those test kits), pH then adding what was required and checking later on in the month.
Now I just keep the soil healthy by adding nutrients in the form of leaves, compost and yard waste. Never have to check for anything, no need to, the soil takes care of itself, at least for me. Scoop up a handful and smell it. Dig a shovel in and check for worms. Things look a bit dry, water them. Too rainy, check for drainage. Weeding is about the only tedious task and even that gets easier after a few years as I only get wind-blown seeds sprouting.
Cost wise: it costs in labor but saves hard cash. I buy nothing for it, just use labor to move materials around. What I consider free.
Costing more at the store is true from what I understand. It isn’t that the output of those farms is less, it is that the quantity of ‘saleable’ merchandise is less. Saleable meaning pristine, blemish-free produce. Most consumers have an aversion to purchasing something that has a blemish on it or is misshapen. All those potatoes in the market are exactly the same size and shape, same with the squash, tomatoes or anything else. One little blemish and no one will purchase it. I eat just about anything from the garden, no care what it really looks like only if it is ripe and ready to eat. Bad spot on a squash, cut that part off. Something ate a hole in a string bean, break that part off. Carrots are not completely straight and uniform in size and shape? Might make some harder to scrub off but they taste just the same.
I never had any problems using wood chips as mulch unless they were all evergreen/acidic. Used mixes and worked fine. They just take a long time, years, to break down. I do favor purchasing loads of what is called ‘triple shredded hardwood’ mulch from the local guy. Mostly shredded bark and within a year breaks down into soil.