DIY Self-Watering Raised Garden Bed with Worm Tower

[@OfficiallyFran]

Don’t forget to take a look at the February 2024 winter update kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5qzfpebn81nipY

[@ciaohoney54]

I GROW WORMS FOR MY TURTLES- THEY LOVEEEE POTATOE PEELS, FOR THEM IT'S LIKE CANDY- EGGSHE::S TOO- GRIND THEM UP IN A COFFEE GRINDER- *ONLY GIVE THAT 1x A MONTH * JUST A SPRINLE - DO NOT OVER WATER YOUR WORMS THEY CAN DROWN!! LOVE YOUR GARDEN!!!!

[@OfficiallyFran]

Thanks for watching and the tips.

[@laqundondavis]

Nothing like a handy Woman

[@OfficiallyFran]

That's ✅️

[@davideberts447]

I like the whole box and worm tower.

[@OfficiallyFran]

Thanks, although we haven't had a normal Michigan winter, the test veggies are still growing, and worms are still there.

[@lorileo4319]

This will be my first garden. Thank you so much for sharing. I'm excited to get started.

[@OfficiallyFran]

That's great. Growing your own is so rewarding

[@margiemiguel8878]

Amazing!!! ❤❤❤

[@OfficiallyFran]

😊 Thanks for viewing

[@gaylesjourneyofprojects]

This is fantastic, thank you.

[@OfficiallyFran]

You're so welcome. Thanks for viewing

[@GalacticGodisCreations]

Amazing

[@OfficiallyFran]

I appreciate your viewing!

[@CDWeaver1]

Great job and I love the project!

[@OfficiallyFran]

Thanks for viewing 😀

[@sandrajaramillo-ruiz9296]

Nice ! Thanks for sharing.❤

[@OfficiallyFran]

Thanks for watching

[@susan5632]

Good job! It looks awesome.

[@OfficiallyFran]

Thanks

[@01Paulsgirl]

You are one talented lady! This is a great idea and I appreciate your execution and explanation. This looks like a sweet set up!

[@OfficiallyFran]

Thank you!

[@TheBrabster]

Great video! I definitely love the look of the wood (and the reasoning) and wish I had a torch big enough to give it a decent try. You gave a bunch of good info in a well-produced video (that wasn't OVER-produced) and it clocked in under 9 minutes?! Heck yeah, thank you, subscribed!

[@OfficiallyFran]

Pick up a torch kit there about $60, and we use it for weed and leaf control also. Thanks for watching

[@tommycoates1978]

Good work !

[@OfficiallyFran]

Thanks for viewing

[@StormCaller5]

Very interesting. I subscribed. Good luck to you on your channel

[@OfficiallyFran]

Thanks 😊

[@evilfong1970]

That looked nasty good on you for not giving up

[@OfficiallyFran]

I was so close to throwing in the towel, but I really wanted to see it finished. Thanks

[@Justjoe_804]

Subscribed thanks for the info i plan on using this

[@OfficiallyFran]

Great, thanks for viewing and subscribing.

[@Wisald]

Fantastic build however you could add aeration holes into upper part of worm tower for better ventilation, you can cover them with breathable landscaping fabric if you don't want any intruders like fruit flies.

[@OfficiallyFran]

You know what? You're so right! I already did after the update because I saw someone else do it on their video. When I do the gardening update, I'll be sure to mention it. Thanks for the guidance and reminder.

[@lizpedroza9965]

I did something similar in a galvanized tub. I layer with clay pebbles and the weed cover, added 4in of soil with worms. Then I placed 2 planting pot in tub, bottom one with worm food and another on top with my garden plant. Hopefully this idea works. It worked in a small raised, so doing it in large scale feels intimidating

[@OfficiallyFran]

Sounds great. Make a video so I can see it!

[@AllforKidsbySusanna-xj8eq]

L I K E 👍👍👍👍👍 💯💥💯💥💯 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@1sttimerebornmom139]

If you see my garden you'd probably laugh. I'm trying lol. Great work.

[@OfficiallyFran]

I only have that one box done, I'm trying to 😆

[@kennethadmire409]

Great job on the raised bed. Loved the worm tower and can't wait to try it. Did you buy the original worms and if so what kind of worms work well? Thanks.

[@OfficiallyFran]

I bought worms from the corner store, but I forgot to take them out of the container while I was building, so only 2 survived. I then walked in my yard and lifted up a cinderblock and some wood, and there were plenty. I just gathered from my yard. Research says red wigglers and night crawlers. That's in my yard!

[@247KW]

I am so sorry about you hitting yourself in the head. I know that had to have hurt. Hope you are doing ok.❤

[@OfficiallyFran]

I recovered after I sat down for a minute.

[@IsaSab]

haha I feel bad that you hit yourself in the head but it's so cute that you decided to put that part in there! I did that as I was training one morning, smacked in the chin with the bar.. ouch. Those mornings..! This is interesting, I am thinking of a self watering bed around an arch that I want to use to grow squash, since they need a ton of water. Thanks for the video! But.. how does it work since there is no "wick"? When the water level gets below the rocks and the fabric doesn't touch the water anymore, how come the water continues to get into the soil?

[@OfficiallyFran]

The wick comes from drying soil. I can add water when I need to. Once it comes out the overflow, I'm done. Then you have rain.

[@arepede1878]

Did you use topsoil actual dirt or potting soil? Most videos show potting soils being used; why not topsoil?

[@OfficiallyFran]

I mixed my own with a combination of top soil, manure, peat, and perlite. Basically, I made potting soil. Since it's a raised bed, you need the nutrients that would be on the ground if you planted normally. The addition of the worm tower gives me the ongoing fertilizer. I hope this helps

[@arepede1878]

@@OfficiallyFran Yes, that helps; so the topsoil mixture was not too heavy for the perforated pipe? I just noticed that the 4" corrugated pipe sits on the stones, not below it. Does it matter?

[@OfficiallyFran]

Yes, this way, the water fills through the rocks and seeps down until almost even with where the rocks stop. If it fills above the rocks, it will come out the overflow. Check out the video in my description....it where I git it the idea. I just added the worms 🪱

[@bettytaylor9430]

?? Where do the worms come from? Do you have to buy them and add them to your raised bed?

[@OfficiallyFran]

I ended up finding some around my yard, under wood, rocks, and moist places. I did buy some, but they died before I could use them. So I just went into the yard.

[@GrowingFood.WilliamGreen]

Soil + water can only wick basically 6 inches upwards. Have you had time to see results from this growing bed yet

[@OfficiallyFran]

Sure have! Works great, Thanks

[@YILDIZ-READINGS-5D]

New research shows it works you also now can use sand with same results

[@OfficiallyFran]

@YILDIZ-READINGS-5D, I know it does because I actually did it. I also use this same kinda setup for houseplants. For some reason, I over water, so by bottom watering, I don't. Im not sure where the 6" came from, but I figured not to try and convince anyone to do anything they don't think will work. Thanks

[@Crazyplantinglady]

How has this plastic held up over time? Any rips or tears? I really hope your head is ok!

[@OfficiallyFran]

It's held up really well, all through winter - no rips or tears. Thanks, my head survived! I won't do that ever again.

[@cherylkygirl7181]

Oh Fran! Make sure the crowbar sharp end is turned away from your face!

[@OfficiallyFran]

You know, after I did it, I realized how wrong it was!

[@allyfrost]

You going back to work after knocking yourself in the head, I love you already. Hope your head is ok! New subscriber, you go girl! Love the burned box look. I just installed Birdies beds and have a vermicompost idea in my deep beds and soaker hose installed.

[@OfficiallyFran]

Ahhh, thanks. I sat down for a couple of minutes. But, I couldn't go to sleep, right? So back to work. 😆