How I Built a Sustainable Suburban Homestead in 3 Years

[@epicgardening]

A book three years in the making - order Epic Homesteading and get a free pack of seeds with your order by 1/29/24: growepic.co/3vJGnom - If you're not in the USA, check the supplemental guide for links on where to purchase: www.epicgardening.com/epic-homesteading-book/ - thank you all for coming along on this journey with me. Keep on growing, Kevin

[@theheardhomestead]

I was right🎉🎉🎉🎉❤ 📖

[@SylviaDallas]

Is it on Amazon?

[@mayasalter1624]

I already preordered and received it! Love it! 🥰

[@mayasalter1624]

@@SylviaDallasYes, but it is not an autographed copy and you don’t get a package of free seeds.

[@gracewhitmore8198]

Same

[@charissawirick4700]

There is a large group of (us) millenials moving back to old ways. Sourdough, gardening, farming, preserving, and homesteading are all coming back into the light. It's a daunting task sometimes, but your channel and book make it so feel within our grasp! Here's to those of us that are ready for a simpler, slower life!

[@MarkTrades__]

amen brother. Fellow millennial in the same mindset. Something has gone wrong in society. The more I work with the ground & to help my fellow people & surroundings. The happier I am. Nothing else like money, has the same affect. What society currently deems "success" seems to leave the majority who attain it unhappy. I've been there & all it did was allow me to impulse buy dumb crap whenever I wanted and then have a hard time sleeping every night because of the stress of the job, STUPID

[@randiruhn657]

Not just millennials 😘😉

[@bdb1052]

Agreed I am with you! Next spring I should have enough to buy a house and get started!

[@mrssmayberry]

Gen z here and I feel the same. I'm still in an apartment but I'm trying to start gardening on my balcony this year, and hoping my knowledge and experience will grow and I'll know enough for when I have a house and land to play with :)

[@voodoobunny13]

Old ways minus the bigotry is the ideal. Growing my own food and saving money doing so? Nice. Misogyny, racism, and a bizarre fear of science? Ehhh, no thanks. I like a nice blend of "old ways farming" and "modern social values."

[@Leekle2ManE]

Regarding Tilling: I started getting into gardening a little over a decade ago. During my 'research' I learned there was a thing called lasagna mulching to improve soil or even just spreading free tree grindings and letting worms and other critters pull the organic matter into the soil. Over the years since then, this idea of low energy soil improvement has gained a lot of popularity amongst KZbinrs to the point where some people started looking down on the notion of tilling. "Do you know the carbon footprint you are creating using a gas tiller?". But the thing presenters gloss over and commenters don't seem to catch is that it takes YEARS for the slow method to improve soil below. And if a person is on hard clay, most of the nutrients can wash away before nature can move the organic matter into the soil. So while I personally am going the slow method, the notion that someone might want to jumpstart their process by tilling organic matter into the soil shouldn't be frowned upon. 3-4 hours of tilling to get healthy, food-sustaining soil in a year's time? Seems to me that carbon burp of running the tiller gets offset pretty quickly by growing more produce quicker than it would have taken the slow route.

[@zacherybutter7349]

You’re totally correct and we cannot get dogmatic about this - we need to be sensible and understand the natural processes. I also have a heavy clay soil which needed to be tilled well and mixed with manure, compost, and some soil. Then I threw in about 50 earthworms and 100 red worms. I’ll let them do the work for a long time to come. Afterwards, I covered the area with soil l I’ll be using for gardening and then alfalfa hay mulch.

[@YourCapyFrenBigly_3DPipes1999]

I second this! 👏 We all love and respect regenerative land techniques but of course, sometimes the only sensible choice is to work in a bit of tilling.

[@catherinesanchez1185]

If all land was natural , tilling wouldn’t be necessary but usually we’re dealing with land that has been driven in , plowed , beaten , had everything alive sucked out if it for generations !! Tilling is simply a way to speed up fixing the land and bringing life back to it . The sooner the better . Dogma tends to be negative in many spheres and one of those is gardening

[@ThePizzaGoblin]

while my experience is limited, I never understood the stigma to tilling. It just seems like a perfectly good solution

[@lamdao1242]

@@catherinesanchez1185yep

[@StardewHomestead]

You and Jacques have been carrying me through winter 😭 I'm so ready for spring

[@epicgardening]

Spring is COMING!

[@jakefrechette3224]

This is why Daffodils are my most beloved flower. They are the heralds of the Spring. Maybe something only us Northerners can fully appreciate after knowing the depths of Winter. (Not trying to gatekeep)

[@MrEzekiel1982]

I agree. I would watch anyways but if they didn’t live in the zone they do we wouldn’t have so much time to keep us interested. Hard not to be jealous!!!

[@OneGirlsGarden-uy3dc]

Word!!!

[@ashton8987]

Preach

[@ethanknokke1518]

Amy balcony or big city house owner, just get quails, 2 quails is the equivalent of 1 chicken. They require far less space, they lay way more eggs, they make 0 noise. Their eggs are healthier anyways and a thousand fold cheaper to keep and take care off

[@deb8416]

The first garden we had was the best one we've ever had. I guess it was the right place at the right time. We bought 2 pallets of broken black cow, cow manure bags and 1.5 pallets of compost from Home Depot. One of our friends came with his huge tractor tiller and tilled approximately 1/8 of our acre of property. We dumped all of the bags that we had and he tilled that in as well. We had so much produce that we were handing it out to all of our friends. The past 10 years have been tough gardening. I've bought a lot of books and watched more videos than I should have, but I'm still learning. My parents were farmers, and my father knew so many tricks and remedies that I wish I would've paid more attention when we had our gardens. Hopefully, I'm armed with all of the natural remedies and a successful compost pile to get me through this summer. The weather in Florida is a daily coin toss; so much so that I think our local weather man is in on it. Good luck to all of you, and may your gardens grow green, lush, and productive this year.

[@AshW-l5e]

We were going to try chickens soon so I appreciate the quail tip. I’ve had chickens before and had so many issues with them that is why I’ve been hesitant. We moved to acres so I was hoping that would solve the problem, before it was seriously a small in town now we are in the countryside so we have a coop and a whole run already there. I’ll check in on quails though because I only want the eggs not to kill them for meat.

[@Thecarcissist12]

Do chickens and quail get along ok? I'm curious about doing both

[@bethb8276]

Growing wherever you happen to be makes me think of that saying, "bloom where you're planted", and make the best of what you have idea. Your place is amazing after 3 years! My yard is so much smaller, but I'm pleased with some of the progress I'm making, and inspired to do more now! Thanks!

[@epicgardening]

Love that!

[@FrozEnbyWolf150]

I was speaking to my arborist earlier, and he said sometimes you want to go with the smaller, younger trees, instead of the older, more expensive ones. The reason is that, when it comes to older trees, some orchards will cut back the roots heavily to get them to fit into the pot. As you might expect, this causes a lot of damage, and the tree has to expend energy to regrow those roots. It's very likely that a younger tree that has not suffered any damage will grow up faster than an older tree that has been cut like this.

[@imafan26]

True. Younger plants in general are more adaptable and transplant better. You would have to cut a lot of roots off when you transplant a larger specimen and you have to reduce the canopy as well.

[@MarkTrades__]

smart. That makes alot of sense. Thanks for sharing.

[@juliesmith6228]

Definitely! After a couple of years the younger tree is usually the same size or BIGGER than the older one would be if planted at the same time 🙂

[@AlanaLee-xv2qy]

I like the urban/suburban slant of this. We have a suburban "homestead" (23 raised beds, two trees, 3 bay compost, and massive amounts of canning and fermenting) in San Jose, so it is nice to see what others can do with their smaller land spaces. Keep up the great work.

[@saal0]

Europeans reading this 👁️👄👁️

[@epicgardening]

you can do a TON with that, that's amazing

[@AlanaLee-xv2qy]

@@epicgardening Yes we are planning our 4th season now and eat something fresh or preserved from last season every day.

[@LaraFabans]

I'm over by Good Sam and trying to for years. Some are better than others...I just need to get organized. But the last 3 years, my plants have been eaten overnight and I think it's rats :-( If you ever want to do a seed exchange, let me know!

[@Peachy08]

I live on a half acre in a neighborhood. First thing I did was put up a cute picket fence. Then I put a hedge of pretty lime light hydrangea in front of it. Then I turned my front yard into a raised vegtable garden beds with flowers mingled in. I put a green house in the back yard and a 12×12 chicken run and turned an old childs playhouse into a coop. I got 3 chickens and made one half of their run into a compost making area that the girls put yheir magic into. Luckily I live in the exburbs. All wooded area next to me and behind me. No HOA to worry about. It is all working out wonderful!

[@carolbarrett6492]

When I rescued my first chickens years ago, I at first was happy to get eggs. Then I learned that every egg lain should be fed back to whomever laid it to give her back a little of the nutrients lost when laying it. They were two little hens who grew to love me and seek me out. On the weekends if I slept late, they would go under the covers next to me to lay their eggs. I could hear their high-pitched pained squeals (not very loud) as they endured the process of squeezing out the eggs. All color would drain from their faces- obviously painful. They endured that almost daily which wore them out and they died before the age of three from tumors of the reproductive system and from egg material that stayed inside them and accumulated. One of them had had to have surgery to remove stuck eggs. After that I learned that humans have bred them to lay 300+ eggs per year when all other birds lay only 12-20 per year. The bodies of chickens have been changed by greedy humans to be egg-laying machines. It's not fair. We don't need eggs (contrary to what people in the egg business tell us). I have fourteen rescued chickens now, and all fourteen are implanted to stop the egg laying that otherwise kills them early. Whereas my first rescued chickens died at under three years old, my current ones are between 7 and probably 12 years old. Because they are not laying eggs, they can live a lot longer. It is important for each of us to take a stand and become responsible consumers. Oh. And getting eggs from someone with backyard chickens is just as bad. Ask yourself why there are mainly hens. Where are all the roosters? There should be an equal number of roosters, right? Well, they are killed at birth and the ones who slip through the system and discovered to be roosters only when they start to crow are given to "a nice person who has a sanctuary"- someone like me- who will then spend thousands of dollars on vet bills, etc. for that rooster over the course of his life. (Not fair) Or they are dumped out in the country or in parks where they cannot take care of themselves. Every day I see chicken rescuers passing messages about some rooster(s) who have been spotted wandering around after having been dumped. So the neighbor with backyard chickens participates in animal abuse. All use is abuse. It's not fair. We cannot know what we don't know, so now anyone who reads this knows.

[@mikemorton954]

"There is water that comes from the sky..." I'm in the UK. It's late January now and it's rained almost every day since October. I'm thinking of building an ark.

[@_JimmyBeGood]

🤣🤣🤣

[@Mohasark]

@@_JimmyBeGood hahaha same in Belgium, started building the ark, it's a metaphor haha

[@JOSEPH-vs2gc]

if you build it upside down you get a roof

[@MarilynC.Cooley]

Building a sustainable suburban homestead over three years is a significant achievement that combines creativity, dedication, and a commitment to self-sufficiency.

[@WinsomeWinslet]

I'm so glad you put a focus on HOAs and regulations! When we bought a home we wanted to do a few homesteading type things, we found out later that not only could we not keep chickens, we couldn't even have a shed unless it matched the house (custom shed!). So yes, pay attention to the rules of the HOA and the town regulations before you purchase any property.

[@maramatkovic1568]

can you have quails as pets?

[@WinsomeWinslet]

@@maramatkovic1568 sadly no.

[@juliehorney995]

Would love more detailed workarounds for those of us living in an HOA. For example, we can do a couple of rabbits but not chickens or fowl. No solar panels but hope to do a generator or portable solar panels. Rain barrels are in process as long as the view is shielded by a bush from the street. Fruit guilds maximize growing fruit trees and bushes, sustainably/regeneratively. Thanks for this encouragement; everyone can do something!

[@saal0]

No solar panels is a crazy rule 🫠

[@MikeDiEva]

Hey, corn is botanically a grass, meaning you can replace your lawn with it and they can't say anything 🤣

[@jbuck1975]

​@MikeDiEva then they would say the grass is too tall

[@epicgardening]

Will have to do that in the future!

[@NatashaAllisonMissionAFamily]

The trampoline garden: kzbin.info/www/bejne/emK8mIx8bJ6Yqqs

[@catiepower3550]

Rain capture has been a great investment in my space. Orchard is the plan for 2024. Expanding the garden again 2025.

[@CodyCameron-k7d]

i started watching you a few days ago when i finalyl got my garden going and i cant stop watching and learning

[@Convict2Corporate]

Branding. His branding is so good I associate his face with reliability and trustworthiness.

[@Seraph318]

This is awesome, I would love to see you try another Apocalypse grow challenge now that the homestead is all established and stuff :D

[@epicgardening]

Honestly going to do it

[@Seraph318]

@@epicgardening That's so awesome! Looking forward to it :D .

[@zach9036]

A VERY important point came up in this video and it was a quick 3 second thing, so I figured I would point it out. When he was talking about the raised bed garden, he pulled the carrot up and said "not that good, we will try again next year.", that is one of the most important lessons I have learned in gardening. Sometimes things don't work out, sometimes things go wrong, sometimes you make mistakes and it seriously effects things... there is always next year. Learn from them, think about how to improve. My first year gardening I almost killed my entire garden with one silly mistake. I planted my garden in a very compact (but cheap) top soil. I lost over half of my plants because the soil was too compact. The raddish and carrots did horrible, the green onion didn't come up, the tomatoes struggled all season, the beans died. I did some research, added in a lot of garden soil, and different meals, bone meal, blood meal, kelp meal, and some lime, worked it all up and sit over winter. The next year everything did way better. It is okay to fail, it is okay to lose crops, just don't let it stop you.

[@gardenboydon]

Gardening is just a beautiful experience. If you're new to gardening and read this, just have fun with it. You'll be surprised by what you can do

[@christophergetchell6490]

Awesome work for just three years! I'm lucky to have no HOA and lax zoning regulations, mostly limited by the amount of space I have here on about an acre of which I turned the back quarter of useless land into productive and relaxing permaculture gardens and a home office/studio at the center of it!

[@jaketallorlin223]

Great video guys. A lot of good info packed in there. Bought my homestead in 2017. One regret I have is not planting fruit trees until this past year. I always thought I will get to planting an orchard eventually, but that obviously was a dumb decision. Should have been the first thing I did.

[@epicgardening]

Yes, fruit trees should go in ASAP!

[@MyFocusVaries]

​@@epicgardening You know what they say. The best time to plant a tree is 10 years ago. The second best time is today.

[@yvonnemoncho2731]

kevin thank you very much, because of you i have 20-week year old chickens in my yard, growing vegetables...its urban farming at its best. thank you and take care!!!!

[@j.l.emerson592]

Back in the early 2000s, my landlord put in a large patch of dewberries & raspberries. Then he put in a small septic tank about halfway between the house & the berry patch. He routed the shower & sink water from the bathroom & the laundry water to the small septic tank. I asked him why he did that with a septic tank... He said he did it to settle any foaming from the soaps we used. (Back then, most soaps had lots of foam & phosphates and special soaps were VERY expensive) He had already routed the kitchen sink water out to the orchard of pecan trees, peaches & Asian pears. The outlet for the kitchen water did foam up some & there was also some grease from washing dishes, pots & pans. So, I guess it was probably a good strategy for reusing water under the existing conditions.

[@alexstill9933]

I put this on to fall asleep but you are so concise and well spoken I was engaged the entire video, great presentation

[@Hopeless_Ideas]

i started watching you a few days ago when i finalyl got my garden going and i cant stop watching and learning

[@epicgardening]

Enjoy the rabbit hole

[@Hopeless_Ideas]

@@epicgardening will do

[@luciedallaire8598]

Wow! Seeing your vidéo showed me that I have all that plus bees on my 10000 sqf property… It’s a very good feeling. One decision that I made that I would do again is to extend the outside chicken run to include my 3 part compost bin! The chicks are always in it scratching and eating and working on it! It’s soo perfect.

[@mercurybard9794]

Unfortunately, where I am in Illinois doesn't allow water catchment. However, in the next couple of years, I'm considering putting in a rain garden to return some of the water from my downspouts back into the soil. I really appreciate all the knowledge you, Jacques, and Chris have shared on the channels.

[@MarkTrades__]

Sounds like a chicago suburb? Just leave. Illinois sucks. I'm from wisconsin and leaving the midwest climate was one of the biggest quality of life improvements I have ever experienced. I am not making light or joking here. Its like everyone up there has stockholm's syndrome about the winter. "Its not that bad, oh its so nice out today (its 40 degrees and overcast, and theres nothing happening in the area thats fun because everyone is sheltering, meanwhile now much further south & they have events all year, people always outside, always getting in their dose of nature - im telling you)"

[@mercurybard9794]

@@MarkTrades__ except I actually moved here for the weather 😅

[@bellepfeiffer3630]

Great video of the big picture. The first step is to figure out what part of the established lawn to eliminate and which part of a treed yard gets the most sun. For the last three years, I have taken pictures on a sunny day at the beginning of May every hour to try to figure out which part of the yard will not be shaded by a bunch of enormous tall trees. Last summer I did manage to get a bunch of tomatoes and green beans - no bell peppers yet. Right now I'm growing in really large pots that can be moved if needed to deal with the position of the sun through the summer.

[@PrimeAesthetic]

Loved the video :). I'm about 1-2 years behind you. The garden/homestead is kind of complete for now till I can do some fairly major realignment of the backyard. Moving the shed so a chicken coop can go in its place, redo the fence as it's falling apart, after the realignment I'll be able to put in a 3-4 composting bay system. I did get fruit trees (3 apple, 2 pear) in last summer so hopefully in about 2 years I can let them produce fruit and install several rain barrels for water collection with a water pump. However, we are already canning dill pickles/beans/carrots, tomatoes for sauces, we had a huge garlic harvest last fall and we are preserving those bulbs now :).

[@lgmadkelt104]

Just ordered. My wife and I bought our home last year and are really hoping to use your guide to help our homesteading adventures to be successful!

[@epicgardening]

Have fun!

[@kieranomahony00]

I rarely comment on videos but I feel like I should. You have done an amazing job and I have learned so much from you over the years. I would love to one day have a lovely, thriving and productive space like this. Thank you so much for your videos and I hope 2024 is another epic year for you.

[@JohnSmith-j2j]

Great video as always! I think tea bushes would make a great addition to the homestead. It could make for an interesting series about growing and processing your own tea

[@angelagrahampottery5682]

We got solar about 3 years ago and outside of a monthly payment our bill is usually about $10 a month and I am also a potter so firing a kiln for practically free! Chickens, and front yard garden! ❤

[@coverscornersurburbanhomes6235]

We have a 2 acre suburban homestead. We raise chickens (both meat and layers), turkeys, rabbits, veg. garden, and fruits. It serves multiple purposes for me. It's a huge stress reliever, but more importantly, it nourishes our family with healthy "organic" (not certified) food. I love to share my passion with others as much as I can. Thanks for sharing! ~ Stephanie

[@lisasagmiller1056]

When knowing if you CAN do what you want, also have your utilities marked out. You don't want to dig into, or put something permanent over an underground line you might need access to one day. You might think you know where your lines are, but you might have neighbor lines running through your yard.

[@donnaokane502]

Thank you for making this video! I plan on sending it to my peers who don’t seem to understand what homesteading is / what I’m doing with my yard! Thanks

[@frenchysandi]

Mid winter here but warmer than normal which puts me in the gardening mood, but it’s like false labor it’s not going to end happy. I am in zone 4b. So ordered your book instead which gives me something to dream about. Today am going to repot African Violets instead, it’s called dirt therapy.

[@CropCircleChannel]

I’m always impressed by the high-quality production and attention to detail in your videos

[@ceecee-thetransplantedgardener]

This is just Epic. No BS or jokes.

[@Lonelupin]

I’m putting together my first garden patch this year. I’ve had much over it all winter to prep it for the spring. It’s only about a 15x25 area but I should be able to get quite a lot out of it this year I hope. ❤️ thank you Kevin

[@epicgardening]

Good luck w/ it!

[@fatboy41bty]

I can't express just how perfect the timing for this video was. Looking at a house move soon got me looking at garden ideas and found your channel yesterday. So many ideas on my head now and I can't wait to adapt this for Australia and get a produce garden going. The way you communicate these topics of brilliant and makes me feel like it's not going to be as daunting as I would have thought.

[@zyante1]

The best build ever. You found a great spot in a hard city. Ours is in east county so it’s far and no one really lives there full time because of the distance but we have 2 acres. So we do look at your ideas and what you’ve done.

[@genesmith4642]

As a new subscriber noticed that you are an excellent communicater with a great attitude and valuable content. Would not hesitate to buy your book.

[@Favilein]

I have 2 aquarium inside. And i use the wastewater as a fertilizer for my greenhouse. Never saw such beautiful cucumbers anywhere. They are twice the sice of a store bought one. Love how we use what we have for creating something new.

[@K_P_R]

You have me pumped to start my orchard! Thanks for dropping a book!

[@WalkingBackwardsIntoTheFuture]

I’m starting my three year plan as we speak! Going to post my blue prints up tonight when it’s ready

[@trippydalejr]

I’m from southern Alabama and satsumas are a delicacy in my family my grandpa planted 5 before he past and we love them! Most delicious kind of orange!

[@PJJoys]

Everything you mention are the things I’ve been thinking about. So good!

[@yingle6027]

How did you grow the passionfruit over the water tank? That was a really cool idea, I want to do it!

[@Thingys-Jill]

This was one of the nicest videos! So encompassing. I've been watching you since the beginning and it's always a wonderful way to sip a cup of tea. If I'm at my dining table, I can watch my "Girls" play in their free-range area. I do quite a bit of what you do except on a 7500SF suburban lot. Yes, I even have an orchard. Merry Christmas!

[@cam5020]

It’s crazy how healthy you look and intelligently you speak. I truly believe working and being so close with nature has a lot to do with it!

[@TherealMarkyMars]

when it comes to the first flush filter... instead of a horizontal pipe, use a 45 degree below where the horizontal or entry to tank would be.. this will cause an even better first pass flush. Think that when the debris that comes down the pipe with the rain water, it's also passing by water that is overflowing into your 'clean' tank... you want everything to settle to the bottom of your collection pipe so by having a 45 lower you won't have the chance of the debris getting 'sucked' into the clean tank as it passes by your clean water flow. I hope I articulated that well enough for those who know to understand.. if you know you have seen how there are still some debris, albeit very small pieces and amounts but it builds up over time in your clean tank... the tip I'm explaining will help to negate that minor issue.

[@juliesmith6228]

Definitely buy the book! I still use the book I bought 30 years ago which covers these topics which is probably a bit outdated now but honestly BUY the book!! Plan, plan, PLAN & know why you are giving it a go >>food security

[@benmartling]

Hey Kevin, hope 2024 goes well for your projects and you get to relax a bit more

[@Chaychay500]

You're one of the smartest people I've seen on YT in awhile. I've learned so many tips from this video. The way you made your shed roof slanted to bring water down to your property 🧑‍🍳 💋

[@kristenoom6134]

We have septic and well so it is greywater system but also blackwater. We do have a barrel system for rain water so we don't put pressure on our well to water our homestead but at the current moment it is manual process of using buckets to collect water and pour into the barrels... Ultimately I want to get the barrels to self-fill in the long term, but we need to see how much water we end up using through the year and empty most of the water before freeze and take the pump out as well before winter. Seeing how much water we use will help us determine next steps for the rain barrel system. I want to get hens next year but we are in a rural area with wildlife with many predators so we have to consider the safety of our flock plus a way to keep them warm in the winter as we are in the UP.

[@QuincyR525]

I learned to garden with my grandparents years ago. More recently, I have followed you on KZbin creating playlists of Epic Gardening related videos. I This video is wonderful for the new gardener or the long term gardener that wants to expand their gardening with new ideas and/or techniques. Before I finished watching, I felt I must have your companion book. It’s ordered and I can wait to start reading. Thank you for all you do.

[@larrystrayer8336]

As a horticulturist; this video is excellent beginner’s indoctrination to homesteading / self sustaining and rewarding lifestyle. Regardless if it’s in the “city” or “way out there “ Excellent job of condescending a huge complex topic.

[@epicgardening]

Thank you!

[@J0ND0EKILLAH]

I’ve been watching your videos for many years. I’m happy to see how much your garden has grown, especially coming from your old spot.

[@Tallacus]

You are living the dream Kevin, good work!

[@ALMill11]

I mean, I knew what composting was, but your description helped me understand it a little more in-depth. You have helpful insights. Thanks.

[@jvalfin3359]

I have to say, as someone that lives near the arctic circle I'm incredibly jealous of people who can grow things year round. The snow can cover up the ground for up to 5 months up here! I'm limited to indoor growing at that time, and as there are only 5 hours of daylight and even less that finds it's way inside, nothing really grows. I really only have about 3 months of actual growing time per year.

[@imafan26]

I am a frost tender flower. I don't even like it when the temperature goes below 70 degrees. But then again. I don't have heaters or winter clothes. The first time I saw a picture someone had taken of themselves in Canada. I asked them why they took a black and white photo. Then, I realized she was wearing a red coat. It is always green here and only non native plants lose leaves in the fall.

[@MarkTrades__]

as someone who previously lived far north like you, I found moving near the equator was a HUGE quality of life improvement. The darkness & inability to go outside into the fresh air and sunshine is not natural or right for humans to endure, IMO.

[@imafan26]

@@MarkTrades__ me too. I visited my friend in winter. I did not like not knowing where the sun was, all the closed windows and doors, and the cooked air.

[@rpdx3]

Great vlog! I have a bunch of raised beds, an in-ground bed, a bunch of fabric pots up to 60 gallons, potted blueberries, blackberry bush, a bunch of figs in containers and in the ground, an espaliered apple tree, as well as several regular dwarf apple trees, and some other odds and ends in the backyard of my fancy arse patio home. Installed a rain barrel and plan on putting in another. Have serious portable solar, but hope to install whole house solar and battery this spring. Thanks for the inspiration!!❤

[@hopesickmeier3216]

I just ordered your book! I am in mid-Missouri, zone 6A(ish) and I teach garden education to PreK-4th grade. I've been doing this for 7 years now and it's the best gig in the work world! Love your videos and information!

[@ikreate4u]

Thank you so much Kevin! It is EPIC that you have freely shared this video to inspire and illustrate practical approaches to homesteading from “where we are now..” I am looking to start again as soon as I find my new home after living in a townhome. I have actively gardened here but long for my own private space again. I never thought I would miss my .85 acre home but it just isn’t as much fun when you have to as permission to do everything. It is so important for me to be in a situation such as yours where you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Lesson learned. I look forward to buying and reading your book. You are my go to gardener and I share your channel often. 🌱💕💕🌱

[@penquin875]

I have been following you for a long time. Purchased a few Birdies last year and moved into my new home on a few acres. Just purchased your book the other day. Can't wait for it to arrive. I am looking forward to starting my garden this year. Big dreams but am going to start small and grow as I learn. I will use the 5 Birdies I have and plant a few fruit trees. Planted 2 Blueberry bushes in the Fall and hope they survived the deep freeze the south got the other day. Thank you for sharing your journey; I'm excited to start mine.

[@YKkris10]

I started watching this video, thinking it was long and I wouldn't watch it all...just got to the end. It had me hooked all the way, great video! 🥰

[@jaydenburrell9418]

Yall make my days better and im sure you hear it all the time but you are an inspiration and you remind me of the beauty in the world when i dont feel good

[@rexawrex4947]

I know you've had some folks on the channel that talk about different climates, I'd personally love a video as in depth as this in colder northern climates. That being said, what an excellent video Kevin! You rock

[@JasonEvangelho]

25:31 the best single frame of any Epic Gardening video ever.

[@jeballantine]

Wow, thank you for sharing this awesome video. This is such a thorough overview of a homestead and the various energy/water/composting/etc. systems that can go into it. I will definitely use some of these helpful tips as I create my own smaller version (like spacing citrus trees 4 feet apart and keeping them relatively short). Much respect for what you are doing and for sharing this wealth of information. I will definitely be adding your book to my small gardening library soon as well.

[@rajingbutterfli]

I love that you and your team have provided this!! ❤❤❤

[@yqqoq]

I think you are missing irrigation system here which I think is really important especially since you have it set up to every single bed you have. Idea for future vid 😘

[@mrnumberone615]

What an awesome video Kevin. I've been watching you since you 1st started your dragon fruit containers. Your channel has exploded since then and I'm glad your passion has given you success. I'm also grateful for all of the knowledge you have given out. 🤙 You're an inspiration to alot of people.

[@catherinesanchez1185]

You are such an excellent speaker and explain things very well . Your videos have been very helpful even though I live in a totally different zone ( northern MD). I bought my 2nd Birdie bed a couple months ago and I’m waiting for the weather to get warm enough for me to put it up without my hands arthritis acting up . I do the Hugel thing and my first bed did really well last summer . Having a tall bed made it so much easier for me to take care of it and WAY less work . My Dad was skeptical, but after the 45th tomato , he was won over!

[@LKBean]

This is a great overview. I think taking about irrigation with setting up the raised beds and before adding soil is super important. I'm learning this this hard way now that I have all my beds in place and filled with soil. I have to drag a hose across the property in order to water the beds, and will need to figure out automated irrigation so I'm not standing out there every morning in the heat of the summer.

[@ubiquitousLeees]

Thank you again for all of your hard work. I hope all of your homes and gardens fared well through the flooding in SD this week!

[@autumnfairy8543]

Love all this info, definitely getting the book! Quick note about your hummingbird feeder, the nectar should be clear! The red dye is not needed and can be potentially harmful to the hummingbirds! So if you're buying nectar instead of making them at home, please get the clear ones without the red coloring!

[@anandlakshmanan9708]

when you pointed out the first shed it was in an area that had alot of sunlight.that took away from plants that neede a lot of sunlight like citru plants etc

[@kijo3401]

So much great information, Thank you. You make all of this look like it is a reachable goal for us newbies. I am grateful🙏and inspired.

[@deliamak]

Love the water project. It's genuine. Someday I'd get a place of my own. Your videos help me prepare for my future home. Thank you.

[@nancystrickland1623]

Thanks Kevin!! When I get my next check I think I’ll get your book.

[@epicgardening]

Only if you can afford!

[@dicasabella]

I enjoy your videos, they are so useful. Since I have memory we are growing food back in home but I just figured out many technics that we could use to be more effective. Thanks so much. Gracias

[@NotPalliot]

Nice! When I have my own land, I'll remember this! Thanks er- I mean Kevin!

[@shauneilscott]

Thank you for this video. The advice answered some of my questions and leaves me laughing at myself. Gardening is an amazingly rewarding hobby. Keep growing! Looking forward to the tree announcement❤!!

[@bonnielass82]

Way to GROW on your book! It's definitely on my wishlist. I love following your channel because it's always educational and easy to watch and understand.

[@jennbasil]

I love the book. I'm on chapter ... can't remember the number, indoor growing. It reminded me to start some broccoli sprouts which I'll be harvesting and enjoying tomorrow 😊. Perfect timing since most everything else froze to death. I can't wait to read some more. Thanks for writing the book, Kevin. ❤

[@epicgardening]

So glad you enjoy it Jenn!

[@debbieflores7256]

Congrats on the new book! I know it takes a lot of time and effort. We all appreciate it! Can't wait to get it.

[@earleencadwell8373]

Love what you have done with your homestead.

[@nicatquliyev5128]

10:33 it's a good carrot, it has good personality

[@RooBars]

What an absolute unit and 9:05

[@simpled5755]

I bet he's got a kid. Them's some dad muscles.

[@entenknew]

The hen close up shot tickles me 😂

[@marymccormick7806]

Awesome Kevin. Glad you wrote this book. I’ll need to check out❤

[@juliesmith6228]

Excellent cover of lots of the aspects! Well done 💗 I will show this to the students and save my words & voice 😂

[@ashleychoi9379]

Dude I swear I've met you before, I'm here in SD too that's so crazy! I want this type of life so bad!!! Can't wait to do this in the future someday ♥️ love the content!

[@NiamMorjaria]

Can't wait for spring!!

[@MariaRamirez-mo5fl]

Are fruit trees be able to grow in grow bags? Plz answer me, ty ❤ garden it’s my therapy…

[@kummiekins]

25:28 . I double tapped 3 times cos her face in my face just made my morning 😂. It’s a shame I live in an apartment, container gardening is the best i could do. Edit: and again at 27:23 . She’s judging me so harshly and I’m not even mad 😂

[@kerrytoby7041]

I think near Vancouver Canada I would get enough solar for lighting and fridges and freezers and some outdoor stuff and sheds. I wouldnt connect solar to the grid. I would get a generator for back up. We get lots of sun in the summer.

[@alpackapalooza]

I’m still on Step 1 (get a place with an outdoor space) lol, but this is the dream!!❤