How to Build Gabion Baskets

We are incredibly excited to bring you the latest project on the homestead, how to build gabion baskets. We needed to learn to construct gabion like pillars around our roof posts. Not only does this provide more support, but it has the perfect aesthetic for our homestead. Check it out and leave any questions about the build below. Thanks for watching.
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We are Jim and Jessica, a husband and wife team who decided to make the leap from living the city life to an off-grid homestead. We have no training in carpentry or electrical work. We've come armed only with two Permaculture Design Certificates and a whole lot of determination.
Join us on our journey to move beyond a sustainable lifestyle into a regenerative one. We chose to live in the desert because we love the location and we wanted the challenge of bringing this desert landscape into productive abundance.
#diy #gabions #greendreamproject

[@HomeInTheSticks]

Very nice sir and extremely informative, I always learn something new watching y'alls channel!! Never seen that before, good share sir!! Dan

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you so much Dan! That is a fantastic compliment indeed. We feel the same on your videos Sir!🙏

[@feathersky860]

Nice Job 👍👍👍✔️🦅🇺🇸

[@paulgewiss9238]

I went with hog panels from the farm store because they're galvanized and a lot heavier than the concrete mesh. I'm in Pennsylvania and we get forty some inches of rain per year. I've watched a number of KZbin videos on gabion construction and determined that hog rings and wire used in tandem work well for me. Wiring the gabions together is labor intensive, make no mistake.

[@richardobannon6301]

43 years in construction.The best choice by far for rot protection and ease of replacement it need be.One caveat , it would be to mop the post with tar on the bottom and one ft. up, but other than that , great job. Never heard of the gabions before but seems to be a very good idea and looks very nice.Once again , you both are doing a great job.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks so much Richard! Interesting tip on the tar. I should definitely look into that.

[@grannybee6805]

That really adds a pretty finishing touch, plus the stability is icing on the cake.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Exactly! Thanks Granny Bee. I think these will be an excellent addition. 😀

[@tomtom34b]

3:58 Hahaha, yeah! Right at that moment watching that was my thought as well... 🙂

[@singleman1986]

NICE! Not the first time I've seen this, but definitely the best application. Win, win, WIN!

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Eli! We have to put our own spin on things.😉👍

[@thedailydee]

Love how they not only provide strength but look absolutely gorgeous as well. Love them.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks so much Dee! We're loving these. They're so fun to build as well.

[@Dominic.Minischetti]

Wow that’s really cool! And Jessica is truly a wire twisting guru! 👍🏻

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Dominic! She's definitely multi talented. 🙏

[@robertswann4269]

Wow, what a great idea. Talk about using your available resources to the fullest! I'm not a fan of using wood to build fences or posts here in the high desert because of the incredible damage that UV does to wood products, but this method of protecting the post from UV and inadvertently backing into by building a gabion at the base , then covering with a metal roof is brilliant. You have built a 30 year structure. Not easy, with our high winds and harsh UV conditions. Thank you for a very imformative video. Jess, your attention to detail always amazes me. Thank you.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Robert! We're definitely loving the gabions.😀

[@russellharford806]

I'm glad I stumbled upon this tutorial on gabions. I have been a long time viewer of your journey. Always entertaining and educacional. I attempted to construct a gabion and it was a true failure. Now I see how many steps it really takes.

[@teresamexico309]

Thank you very much guys from the Green Dream project! Good ideas for the circular gabion. Lots of recycled mesh can be used to build the gabions, yes I know they would last less than the galvanized ones but in dry places it might take decades to wear off and it is cheaper.

[@13MoonsOverMayhem]

Thanks for the tutorial! They really look nice, too. It’s ice when form and function are both good.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you! We had fun making this video and we've been enjoying building the gabions themselves. 😀

[@PapaPepper]

Love it! I've been wrapping the T-post on my perimeter fencing with these. A little more slender and some smaller gauge wire with smaller openings, but same basic look and idea. They sure do look great. also, y'all are my heros!

[@ourselfreliantlife]

That doesn't surprise me you're already using these.😁 They can add so much stability. Thank you so much! We love learning from you as well. Thanks for all you do.🙏

[@lesliewallace4814]

Good job.. keep'in it real.. !I totally doing it to line my cliff edge driveway with treated logs for fence rails. Thanks for the video

[@StiversHomestead]

I love this so much!! They’re so purposeful but also beautiful. Such a cool idea.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Stivers! We're loving this idea. They've been so fun to build.😀

[@CBsGreenhouseandGarden]

Awesome job done folks! Looks really good!

[@SugarCreekOffGrid]

Whoa there.... Jessica is a wire master 😎 I think they look amazing!! An excellent use of resources. Y'all Rock

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks so much! The only person better at bending wire than Jessica, may be her mother.😮

[@AlmostHomestead]

Those are rock solid. Ha! Nice job guys. We have talked about doing this along the river in the backyard to prevent or slow erosion.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Jay! I think that would be a great idea. They get used a lot for that.

[@irenedavis4629]

Nice work! I love the look. It gives a visual feeling of stability to the posts as well as providing a pretty major anchor. Now I am thinking about what we could use gabions for!

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Irene! These are a great to use. If you have a lot of rocks, why not? They are super useful. 😀

[@FoodForesters]

That is a cool idea to dress up a post and use up left over materials. Great job guys

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Foresters! We're loving building these.

[@SpringRiverHollar]

I love the look of gibion walls , I share all of your videos , so now I have family and customers who are now following you .Your work is a hot topic at the restaurant .

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Wow! Thanks Sherry! I'm blushing over here.😊

[@veronder]

waiting to see someone make a Gabion Shed - then a house lol

[@ltlbnsgarden]

I had never heard of these. Great knowledge you guys share. I think they look really nice, they add a little bit of character. Big thumbs up 😊

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Zule! I'm happy we were able to share something new with you. We love to hear that. 😀🙏

[@ChickenHues]

They look great and definitely go perfectly with your property! Great job!

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Stacey!🙏

[@yvonnestark8989]

Great job Jim and Jessica!! The Gabions look fantastic!!👍

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Yvonne! We think it adds a nice touch. 😀🙏

[@TNOG511]

I love The Gabion I love my Friend Jim in Chile.. He Had Gabions build for Him.. This was Very Cool !!Thanks

[@ourselfreliantlife]

That's awesome! Thanks Mrs. Linda! These make for some sturdy structures. 😀

[@OutWestHomestead]

It does look good and will help sturdy the post. I've seen fence around here when they didn't have post to use. Good job.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks for that. I'm glad to know these have been working out well.

[@Citystead]

They look great! Always giving us those awesome, informative videos guys, we thank you

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks so much Josh!🙏

[@MidlifePrices]

We plan on doing this around the property. Great job! 😊❤️👍

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you! That's fantastic! I'll tell you, these are pretty fun to build. 😀

[@grammiekaren1343]

In love this! It looks great and has functionality to it!

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Grammie Karen! We were so excited to get into this project.😀

[@valerielevitt3016]

Thank you.

[@HighDesertHomestead]

Really artistic Jim, giving your structure some Aesthetics.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you! This is going to look really nice when it's done. 😀

[@karab.8621]

You guys did a great team work. They look awesome!

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Kara!🙏

[@aprilmartin1501]

They look amazing! Might use this idea in the future. Great job!

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks April! These have been so fun to build. 😀

[@HappyFarmsLa]

Never heard of these! You guys are so busy!

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Dani! It seems like we're always working, but little is getting done.😆👍

[@dherrington2001]

Great instructions and information. Thank you!

[@StoneyCreekHeritageFarm]

Morning Jim! After seeing your pictures of these completed on FB, had to watch you and Jessica build them. Pretty cool finished product!

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks so much, Bill! We are having a lot of fun building these.

[@pgnanofarm9776]

Thats pretty neat. I do think it looks pretty cool and functional as well!

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Linda! These have also been so fun to build.

[@PaulOtis]

very nice Jim & Jess! I like how they turned out!

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Paul!!🙏

[@LittleJordanFarm]

That looks Great guys! You did great showing how to do them too. Great video I bet that was fun

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Tammy! Doing these how to's are a bit strange to me.😀

[@HaywireHomestead]

Fantastic! They look cool too.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Jennifer! We've been having fun building these.😁👍

[@ReapWhatYouSeauxLeJeune]

Looks good!! Yalls place is going to be awesome when finished!!!

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you! I'm loving the way these are turning out.😀

[@EssayonsFG]

Great use of resources. Love the way these look. Rob

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Rob!🙏

[@BigSkyAtNight]

So cool! Love love love them!

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you so much!!🙏

[@oldschoolwithamoderntwist6074]

..petty cool 😎 jim they look good and they will work.. I have learned from watching your video... Thanks for sharing

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks so much James! I feel like it's an honor to have taught you something for a change.😀

[@gardeningingnometown5644]

They look real nice.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Rick! Makes it nice and sturdy too.😉👍

[@juanitafoster9834]

Video was very informative as always keep it up.

[@TheHaskinsFamilyVlog]

Wow those look great! Ya'll did great teamwork there!

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Amber! I'm having a blast building these.😀

[@4BlessingsFarm]

Thats pretty awesome. I may do this on some posts on our place. Thanks for sharing

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Very cool! These have been fun to build. Thank you!

[@ATJHTRAVELS]

Great job friend looks amazing and great information homestead projects coming along nicely looking forward to the next one sledgehammered that like button and sharing to Twitter

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks so much!🙏

[@lilibethsilvala1649]

I love it

[@midtexasgardener5422]

Great video as always. Look like your playing Tetris with the rocks. It looks great just 500 more to go.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

😆I know right!? Thanks so much for stopping by!🙏

[@m3xicano4ever]

Wow that looks amazing

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Jose!

[@RVBadlands2015]

Thank you needed this info.

[@DorothysHobbyFarm]

That looks amazing, and you guys stay moving just like us. I think the more we move the better off we will be by the end of the year, or I hope so, haha. Great video. They have those rock walls out here for H braces and wow they are strong.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Agreed Russ! It's best to stay moving and active. Good to get things done now when you have the strength and energy to do them.

[@NonaMaryGrace1952]

Hello Jim and Jessica, they look really,really great. I made me think of the science experiment of filing the container wth lare thinhs and thinking it full smaler particulate things still fit. Rocks / gravel/ sand you get the picture. Really great idea. Oh I already said that. Well it is.💕 NonnaGrace

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Nonnagrace! We appreciate that!🙏

[@MYPERMACULTUREGARDEN]

They really look nice ,,,, very handsome posts !!!!

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Irene!

[@vmorganbogart]

Those look great!

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you!😀

[@et5222]

Great gabion build.... be sure to bend all the pointy ends in and/or down before you walk by too close and rip up a wind blown jacket or shirt. I learned to build incredibly strong gabion corner posts from an old farmer for high tension fencing. The key in wiring in a strong bottom like you did.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks David! We'll definitely have to cut down any wires stick out.

[@AnAlaskaHomestead]

Nice job guys. I seen this method used in Korea a lot.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you! I didn't know they used these in Korea.

[@nampet26]

Brilliant! Never thought of Round Gabions! Local stone/rocks more natural look also possible to cap with cement? 1-2” thick as work surface/ table Inspiration!

[@taylorphillips5118]

Great job.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Taylor!🙏

[@raleighsbudgetlife7162]

That looks really solid. Great tutorial GDP.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Rali!! We're loving these.

[@sandrawinter9960]

Another great video. I think the gabions would also help with "anchoring" the concrete holding the posts in. That rain roof is essentially a "sail" and the wind is very strong in AZ. Speaking of wind, I have been off KZbin for 2 days due to the tornadoes here in Dayton...talk about things going airborne. We are blessed that our house is OK. Many others are not so fortunate.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Sandra! I've definitely been hearing about the crazy weather. So glad you're safe.

[@jamesfagan8474]

Great video guys i love your ideas

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you very much!🙏

[@CluelessHomesteaders]

Nice progress, and much better material choice than the original whisker!

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you!🙏

[@funoutdoorgame]

Good to learn how do it from you.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you!!🙏

[@BR1967FE]

Pretty cool 👍😎 awesome job!!😃

[@ourselfreliantlife]

😀Thank you!

[@MAINEiacGrammiesHomestead]

I think the Gabion looks great 👍 you both worked great together .. Jim you got one special gal there Jessica❤️ ☮️✌️❤️🌷

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Brenda! I'm grateful for her every day. 🙏

[@jackieskitchenmore]

Love it!

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you Jackie!🙏

[@DIYSolarandWind]

So awesome and cheap. The gabion baskets will hold down the fort sarge

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you Sir! We've been loving the gabions.😀

[@londonpickering8675]

Really great vid! Thank you for posting ;-)

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you!

[@heidistirm4328]

Jamie get yourself a short handled screw driver and drill a hole just larger than your wire, and use it to twist your wire tight. That's a standard screw driver so you have a flat side too leverage off of.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

That's a great idea Heidi! I'll pass that along to Jessica. That may really help her along with the garden build. Thank you!

[@ratlifffamilylawns8104]

Hey Jim just viewed you video . I am glad you guys are well .have a great day

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you so much! Hope you are having a great day as well. 🙏

[@JaceJacobs]

🤚🏼👊🏼😃❤️ Very cool Jim and Jessica. I enjoyed watching the process. Spiritually stoned for the win. Namaste 🙏🏼☮️

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Jace!! I think they do have a spiritual quality about them.

[@SlainteFromFlorida]

In Florida we would call this "How To Rot a Post" and/or "How to Build a Snake Habitat". 😁

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Snakes will definitely get inside these. It happens here. As for rotting, you could coat the post with tar to give them extra protection.

[@jackturtle131]

Clever you are that's for sure

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you!!😀

[@happyhobbit8450]

That's awesome!!! Thank You!!! Wondering why you put the bottom wire in ... I never thought of doing it? More stability I suppose

[@janea4777]

For a min I thought you named a stink bug. 😂

[@labken8109]

Cool video

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thank you!

[@ferryengr]

Gabions ("gay-be-on") look great! The gabion baskets provide lateral support like you say, but more importantly in my mind, they help hold the posts down when wind tries to lift the roof straight up. Because you don't have a lot of attachment between the posts and the rock baskets to resist this uplift, the small gravel you placed inside is very important - it locks the post to the rocks by friction. Once the rocks in the basket settle in, it would be pretty hard to pull the posts straight up.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Awesome! I definitely think this was a final touch in making this a solid build. Thank you!

[@ecocentrichomestead6783]

So that's what they are called. This reminds me of the time I did something similar with old tires filled with rock because the place I wanted to put a post was almost at bedrock.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Using tires is an excellent technique as well. A great way to reuse waste.

[@FarmerG]

If you guys plan on using any cages for your garden especially a tomato cage,use that wire. Make them yourself. That’s exactly what I’m going to. Give two-3weeks I’ll make a video. My dad made some 25 years ago with that wire. We still use them. So much better than those small chincey cages.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Agreed G! I think there's a lot of uses for the left overs. So many project possibilities. 😮🙌

[@MidlifePrices]

Forgot to mention this is incredibly sturdy. Dang winds!!! 😄

[@ourselfreliantlife]

I know! At least the winds are supposed to be a bit more calm these next couple of days.

[@kevinauld4367]

I used them for corner post of horses pastor

[@floriebrown2089]

The gabions looks great pity you can't grow plants against It but it is still early days I can see grape vines growing next to it the heat from the rock will provide heat to the vine during winter thanks for the video.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

That's a brilliant idea Florie! That would look great. Thank you!🙏

[@mackdickerson9322]

Great idea! Now,are we going to turn them into planters??? Thank guys. LYMI. Jim, sweet shirt you have on!

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Mack! Planters are a great idea for this technique. 😀

[@OurUpperRoomHomestead]

Those look great. As I was watching I was wondering if you were doing them to stabilize those posts because of the wind, not only smart but creative as well.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

😃Thank you! Definitely doing double duty with these. It's all about stacking functions. 😉👍

[@JamesCouch777]

We have those all over the place here in Arkansas where rocks are plentiful.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

That's really cool! We have a ton of rocks here as well. 🤔Maybe lots of tons, because a ton probably wouldn't be that many.😆 Thank you!!🙏

[@JamesCouch777]

@@ourselfreliantlife lol...I just never knew what they were called...we just call them rocks in a wire cage 😀

[@MetalGearMk3]

Crazy thought, you could add soil on top of the gabion and grow grapes(or something with a vine). This won't hinder the water collecting aspect of the structure. nah bad idea lol.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Lol! I like the thinking though. We could grow things around them. That might still be cool and they could act as a trellis. 😀 Love the crazy thoughts. Keep them coming.

[@brandon6348]

“Jessica never does anything… *take it in… halfway” hahah

[@WelcometoChickenlandia]

Very nice! One question: will rattle snakes try to sleep in them?

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Dalia! No, I think it may be too dense for them to crawl into. I'll keep you posted though. 😁

[@beachlife1411]

Looks amazing , super job ! As a team too , are you doing all the post that way ?

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks Sir! No, we are going to do fourteen of them. That should be over a third.😬

[@McCoysOakHillFarm]

Looks interesting.. wonder if that is were people got the idea for rocks in wire for a corner post. I don't do it makes it hard to repair fence when needed makes more sense in building projects.

[@ourselfreliantlife]

It's possible Liana. I think I've also seen this done in place of fence posts as well.

[@McCoysOakHillFarm]

:)

[@MySliceOfHeavenoutdoors]

Jim and Jessice, Great Job on the Gabion Baskets, they look great

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks so much Joey! We're loving these.😀

[@Jnaathra]

I wonder if the bottom could be left out?

[@moneybay]

looks like it’s a non-galvanized mesh. Is it just stainless? Is it gonna last long? Thanks

[@bendy6626]

Any idea on how long this will last before it starts falling apart? Serious question.

[@Graceforlivingyoutube]

💖Oh ok you are building Gabions ,my love to Jessica my hardworking brother,ok she never goes half way,we love and appreciate you,oh you start from the big flat rocks 💖

[@ourselfreliantlife]

😀Thanks Evelyn!! Yup! Jessica never just goes halfway. 😉👍

[@johnwolf1475]

Why not enclose one end for living quarters? RVs usually don't last without issues.. especially when living in them

[@ourselfreliantlife]

Thanks John. Actually that very idea has been discussed.😀