How to Fill Raised Vegetable Garden Beds and SAVE Money

In this video, I show how you can fill a raised vegetable garden bed and save money on soil costs! In this example, I filled my raised garden bed practically for free!
Go here to get Birdies Raised Garden beds (featured in the video) in the USA: shop.epicgarde... and use SSME2020 for a 5% discount.
In Australia, go to birdiesgardenp... and use Code SSMEbird for a 5% discount. In New Zealand, go to birdiesgardenp... and use Code ssmebird22 for 5% off your first purchase.
Plant Doctor Fertiliser: Go to www.plantdocto... and use SSME10 = 10% off products (not shipping).
Ocean2earth Fish Compost: Enter the discount code SSME5 at checkout on their Website here ocean2earth.co... and get a 5% discount on the 1.5L and 3L bags plus free shipping Australia wide!
Harvest Right freeze dryer website: affiliates.har...
For Australian freeze dryer purchase info use the same link above and then contact Harvest Right directly.
Support me on Patreon: / selfsufficientme (the top tier $25 AU enables mentoring from yours truly via an exclusive VIP email where I will answer your questions etc ASAP).
Hoselink Garden Products such as hose reels go here l.linklyhq.com... and you will automatically get a 10% discount on checkout!
My second channel Self Sufficient Me 2: bit.ly/331edDu
New (third) Channel: Self Suffishing Me bit.ly/2LiIWqt
Help support the Channel and buy a T-shirt/Merchandise from our Spreadshirt shop: bit.ly/3lmqMkr or Teespring bit.ly/3neEYO8
Check out www.gardentoolsnow.com/ for tools such as the Prong I recommend to use.
Shop for plants or garden equip on eBay Australia: bit.ly/2BPCykb
Extra raised bed content I mentioned in the video:
Hugelkultur • How To Hügelkultur AMA...
10 Reasons why raised beds are the best • 10 Reasons Why Raised ...
Stay positive and build a raised vegetable garden bed • Stay Positive & Build ...
How to quickly prepare a garden bed • How to QUICKLY Prepare...
Blog: www.selfsuffici... (use the search bar on my website to find info on certain subjects or gardening ideas)
Forum: www.selfsuffici...
Facebook: / selfsufficie. .
Twitter: / sufficientme
Subscribe to my channel: goo.gl/cpbojR
Self Sufficient Me is based on our small 3-acre property/homestead in SE Queensland Australia about 45kms north of Brisbane - the climate is subtropical (similar to Florida). I started Self Sufficient Me in 2011 as a blog website project where I document and write about backyard food growing, self-sufficiency, and urban farming in general. I love sharing my foodie and DIY adventures online so come along with me and let's get into it! Cheers, Mark :)

[@michaelougarezos8963]

i suffered with severe depression after losing my darling 4 years ago.Thanks to you i have taken up veggie gardening and fully enjoy it. Thank you Mark

[@pipellis6672]

Best wishes from a Welshman gardening in France. Be happy, enjoy happy memories and great veggies.

[@stellaq3306]

Good for you. Very fulfilling.

[@ms.farmgirl]

MIchael, Loss is difficult no matter what type it is. Also staying "indoors" and without being in the sunlight, too long contributed to depression. The more light and open air exposure the better for your overall mental & emotional health. Gardening is one of the best organic healers we find in existence. That is why Depression/Anxiety of Gardeners/Farmers is so low it is nearly non-existent, unless they are in financial “make or break” factors situations. If your livelihood [$$] is on the edge then it puts them in a different category. Just general Gardening/Farming is the best Mental Health exercise known to mankind. Even if people are only Gardening in containers on their patio's, or on their sidewalks and paths. it is still excellent sunlight exposure [Vitamin D] and a calming effect on the psyche. I wish you all the luck and success in your GREEN THUMB future.

[@michaelougarezos8963]

@@ms.farmgirl Thank you Suzzy i am feeling much better now but i will always belong to my wife in this world as i know she is waiting for me in the next life.

[@jamaicaninthekitchen4358]

Hi I try juicing celery and see it it helps your depression ,you can add other greens as well,I I heard a herbalist saying it helps to calm the body

[@Pyxe_ZA]

You know what I like about your videos? It’s the fact that you don’t ramble on about nonsense for 90% of the video, and give the helpful content at the last 10% of the video. You get right into it #👍🏼 and make the entire video pleasant and satisfying to watch, without any unnecessary sciences 🙄. Always my go to guide whenever I need a second opinion “other than my own 🤣”. Good man👍🏼👌🏽. Keep it coming

[@rockingrogershomestead]

I definitely ramble on. I need to get better about that as well as just working on better content.

[@FootFungusTreatment_Tao]

Once the yard waste is in place, add layers of newspaper or cardboard to smother any weeds or grass that might come through. This is an inexpensive way to create a barrier and prevent weeds from growing. After that, it's time to add soil. Look for bulk soil in your area, which is usually cheaper than buying bags of soil at a store. Be sure to mix the soil with compost to add nutrients and organic matter to the bed. Another way to save money when filling raised vegetable garden beds is to use organic straw bales. Remove the wire from the bales and use them as the bottom layer of the bed. Straw is an excellent organic material that will break down over time and improve the soil. In the following years, simply add more garden soil and maybe some straw mixed in to keep the bed healthy and productive. By using these simple methods, you can fill your raised garden beds without breaking the bank.

[@horationelson298]

But when he does ramble i love it 😂

[@suewapp3001]

Really enjoy your videos, information is great, I am envious if your area to garden. Inspirational info and so much practical info.

[@sidneyh.l.5890]

Off topic, but I feel like he would give a good hug, he has such a gentle manner

[@tannisjohnson6456]

Definitely a good hugger

[@laura91939597]

🥰

[@Phahel7]

My mate recently said he's the Dad you wished you had

[@toinettehenry4025]

Think he's giving good info. Easy 2 understand. Demonstrates as he goes. Will watch him again. Ur American friend. Txs 4 ur time & info Tee

[@jonathanwiggins5366]

100%

[@TheFirstAstroGirl]

Anyone else just discover this man today and are now on their 10th or so video? Addictive!

[@nataliedowd5568]

Haha. Yes!!!!

[@marykill4923]

@@nataliedowd5568 me too

[@jaxcortez5100]

I discovered him from the Epic Gardening channel who recommended him on one of his videos. Now I’m addicted to watching them both.

[@DanBoergeJensen]

I'm about to start trying to use raised garden beds. Before watching this, I naively assumed that I should fill the entire thing with with the bagged high quality dirt. Good thing I saw this before getting started, that will save me a lot of money.

[@jayecurry1369]

Yea, I think everybody thinks that before they learn better.

[@RichardJohnson-cg2ix]

Me too Great ideas.

[@burritosamigos4548]

Same

[@rebeccaketner816]

Exactly! Also in SoCal you have to prevent gophers from going up into the bed by starting with 1/2# cage wire

[@quintinmarsters1609]

I just started. I removed old bark a few weeks ago. I could of used at the base. Great video.

[@aliaub75]

Can someone give this guy his own tv show....legend!

[@00008Amanda]

I love how he loves the earthworms. A real gardener with a great heart 💜

[@nk-dw2hm]

That was one of the most energetic worms I've seen!

[@dontall71]

My Granpa used to say that earthworms were the best workers he ever had. They never complain and work for free, 24-7

[@ih82bfake]

That gives me some worm feelings!

[@tracycrider7778]

@@ih82bfake yasssssss💜

[@lacplesis484]

This man is a legend.

[@Laachyy]

bet protams :)

[@jeyofronda5973]

Well he is Russell Crowe.

[@MrPaulviles]

When he eats a banana he becomes Banana Man!

[@muthusingaramramanathan55]

jeyo fronda P

[@theorangebaron1595]

YES!

[@erikmilburn51]

My wife thought worms were bad and used to take them out of the soil,i explained to her how they broke down organic plants and bugs and turned them into nutrients for plants,and showed her your videos....now she gathers them up and puts them around her favourite plants....thanks Mark.

[@Helga-fe5xl]

No way! 😅

[@kina7128]

😂

[@bonsatago9220]

That was rather adorable, good on you two 👍🏾❤️

[@wrongfullyaccused7139]

The intestines of the earth

[@Hugo-lm7ed]

Wow the log drainage is like an underground ecosystem full of nutrients for the plants especially when their roots touches it.

[@angelau1194]

Check out Sepp Holzer in Austira he farms up a mountain and uses Hugelkulture (the log drainage) you should see the stuff he grows! Love Mark's channel too : )

[@Baffi_]

Hugelkulture !!!

[@Hugo-lm7ed]

Ohhh it doesnt act like a drainage like rocks do but the opposite. It holds moisture

[@jaredbackus1416]

For years to come by The time that stuff breaks down it'll be black as night full of nutrition and goodness

[@eskay3345]

Those wood roaches scare me . It’s a phobia

[@freedombug11]

One of the best things about this channel is just to see how much he enjoys what he's doing. That's my favorite part.

[@Mulberrysmile]

One thing I recommend for anyone who has voles, moles, or burrowing mice is to put hardware cloth down first, put the bed frame on top of it, then add the soil. I fought in the Great Mole War of 2006 and lost badly, lol!

[@jimandmissylima9789]

Thanks for the suggestion, we fight with burrowing mice, tiny squirrels and moles in Southern California.

[@seedylee]

@@jimandmissylima9789 yes my gophers are annoying. get the right hardware cloth width, i think i got 1/4 inch, not 1/2.

[@travis5452]

I hear that stainless steel lasts a lot longer, but how long will the less expensive material last?... It can be hard to find 48 inches wide with 1/4 inch mesh. (Or even 1/2 inch.)

[@robotnik77]

Maybe put mesh wire on top of the black cloth, then your mix? but if you have a family of raccoons, then that increases the problem 10x. They can climb the box.

[@Lengsel7]

Nail/fasten it to the bottom.

[@Luuminous_Luu]

😂😂😂love the Aussie humour. “A much younger me of yesterday”. Love it. In all seriousness this is so informative!! I just started doing this veggie garden thing. Maybe one day I can get on an off the grid lifestyle!

[@reycroucher7473]

Bless for making this, I’ve been trying to figure out how to fill my raised beds on next to no money and this video saved my wallet

[@pvp6077]

Same

[@caroleshaw9822]

Same here Rey. I have a little tin garden bed and really wanting to set it up and get growing....Now that I know I can put off cuts in the bottom, that is really going to help me on the finance side of things. This video was very inspiring to watch. Thank you!

[@Savedbygrace2128]

Sir, you are a true gem! Thank you so much for all the incredible information you share. I’ve learned so much just in the last couple of weeks from watching your channel and I know without people like you being so willing to share decades worth of hard earned knowledge, I’d be so lost on how to even start growing my garden. Best of luck to you and your family!

[@FootFungusTreatment_Tao]

filling raised vegetable garden beds doesn't have to be expensive. By using yard resources such as grass clippings, leaves, and branches, along with bulk soil and compost, you can create a healthy bed that will provide a great harvest. Using organic straw bales as the bottom layer is also an excellent way to save money and improve the soil. With a little creativity and resourcefulness, you can have a thriving garden without spending a lot of money.

[@jazylou]

I like his no bullshit gardening approach. its all about common sense, easy to do steps. Love it! Thanks mate.

[@denisebrady6858]

Try getting an answer to a question because we can't

[@roflstomps324]

@@denisebrady6858 What?

[@denisebrady6858]

@@roflstomps324 Rolf I have asked numerous question to Mark & have never once received a reply & this also goes for another gardener that emailed me. We live in Brisbane Northside which is Sub-Tropical near Mark & just have no idea why no answers as I have given him my Email / Mobile number etc. If you now why please let me know. Cheers Denise

[@roflstomps324]

@@denisebrady6858 I don't mean to sound mean or obtuse but why would he? What's his obligation?

[@jazylou]

@@denisebrady6858 Hi Denise, If you see the large amount of comments below us, I think it would simply get lost amongst the rest. He is but one person. I wouldnt take it personally. I think hes giving us a beautiful dose of knowledge that we can utilize in our own garden. Abit of research goes along way also. He doesn't live anywhere near me so I have to figure out things that suit my area, zone etc. Good luck, maybe post your questions again in a local garden forum?

[@bettyqueen1235]

You are a brilliant gardener! People only need to watch your videos and take your advice to reap the benefits of great harvests!! Thanks so much for your videos, you are a real blessing to folks just getting started becoming gardeners.

[@adriankap2978]

Love this idea! Using the yard resources to fill is genius! For those who don’t my Neighbor friend is building a 3ft tall raised bed and going to add organic straw bales (wire removed) on the bottom layer. There’s a farm nearby where they’re $4 ea. It’ll completely break down by the next season. It saves in cost the first yr so next yr they just add more garden soil and maybe straw mixed in.

[@kathynix6552]

Straw bale gardening is a thing

[@Bits_Bobs]

"A full thumbs up" coming your way

[@shawtop]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4fUnqeXq6eop8U

[@ProfesserLuigi]

I only had half a thumb to spare, sorry.

[@databang]

🦻I appreciate the attention to your subtitles, “leaves crunch”, “soil falls into wheelbarrow”, “spade scrapes against the wheelbarrow”, “spade crunches into soil”, “birds chirp”, “water sprays”.

[@jharbo1]

Howdie from the States! In a word, gorgeous! So much great information even tho we live half a world apart, the tenets of growing work everywhere. Thanks for the big tip on filling a raised bed on the cheap.

[@niftytwo]

G’day Mark. I lost you over Winter. It’s great to see you back on here. I’m in the early stages of planting more Vegies. Tomatoes, Rhubarb. Thyme , Basil . For now. We’ve had a BIG heap of rain here in THE WEST this Winter.

[@RuskiVodkaaaa]

This is probably the best channel I've discovered by accidents in the last few years. You've earned this sub 👍

[@MaximumSpice]

What an awesome Australian channel, no bullshit, no click bait. Good on ya mate!

[@paintingtracey]

You are such a bright spot in a dark time. Thanks so much, you make this bearable and give us something to do and hope for:)

[@cavanclark3687]

I called a company that removes trees and asked them if they had wood chips that they were wanting to dispose of. Their shop isn't that far from my house and they have tons of the stuff and can't get rid of it so they brought their truck over and dumped it into my back yard. I just filled up the wheelbarrow and filled the beds about 3/4 of the way full and then put topsoil from my yard on top of that. It's been about 8 years now and the level has gone down a few inches but I've replaced that with some other top soil from a landscaping company that removed the sod from a neighbor's back yard in order to install an irrigation system. The sod came with about an inch of soil under it so I just folded it into a compost pile until it degraded down and then put it on top of my garden. The wood chips soak of the rain and slowly release it into the soil above but it doesn't rot away because of the low oxygen environment.

[@Annekarla]

I signed up on line for “chip drop” 1 week later A very large pile of mulch was dumped in front of the house of chipped cypress. It was wonderful! Free!

[@meilim6735]

Love your channel. I live in an apartment with a tiny balcony so a lot of your projects won't work for me but your tips on filling the base of containers with woody waste, direct sowing seeds, and mulching are all adaptable for balcony gardens and working really well! (Used tea leaves make really good mini-mulch for balcony planters hahaha)

[@migueluribe4249]

I had a wonderful raised bed some time ago. For irrigation, I used clay pots with the bottom sealed. You "plant" the pots in the ground and fill them with water. The water transmigrates through the clay walls very slowly, but keeps the bed soil moist. It is very efficient in the consumption of water and takes very little time to fill up the pots. You just need to cover the top to avoid evaporation and mosquitos.

[@JustMe-gs9xi]

you must be in a hot climate???

[@migueluribe4249]

@@JustMe-gs9xi yes, mostly warm. You can do the same in a green house. If pots freze, they will brake. In winter you can take them of the grownd. They work realy well.

[@gregorylow3562]

Always have a soft spot for Aussie from my days in Vietnam. Have been a fan since I moved to southern Oregon. Building my raised now. Thank you

[@julianthomas9817]

I have spent a thousand hours in the last year, reading and watching tips tricks do’s and dont’s to the point where I thought, djeezz it proves that nature for the most part decides whether or not your crop is gonna grow or not, else there wouldn’t be so many different techniques. However you say it in a way that makes sense. You “are” nature. I totally love your work and explanations. your info feels different. Thanks a lot. I want a t-shirt. Greetings to you my fellow earthperson, Julian

[@earthyring4393]

That slow mo dirt flip made me laugh and almost choke on coffee. These videos really are some of the best ways to learn about gardening, I will definitely be mirroring some of the techniques i've seen on your channel this year. I want to grow enough food to be self sufficient for a year, but the growing times in The Great State Of Maine are not very optimal. You have helped many more people than just me travel on the path to healthy living, so thank you for making these videos and allowing people like me to learn from your experience.

[@rachellee5797]

Maine grows rocks right? :p

[@earthyring4393]

@@rachellee5797 Your not wrong about that, seems like there's rocks everywhere here, but wild harvested stone makes for good looking and essentially free landscaping material. Also, Maine does ship tonnes of dirt/stone and land fill to places like Massachusetts every year, so you could say we have a thriving rock market.

[@queenelcene638]

@earthy ring 👩‍🦳🙋‍♀️👁read and👍both of your comments. I concur on the 1st and enjoyed your classy, informative repost, to the joker. Good on you, and good on Maine, for creatively filling the State's coffers. Cheers from Michigan, the 2 mitten State!

[@devinwordell9544]

Looks away from garden for a night, wind blows all the pinemeedles for miles around into your garden.

[@AmericaFirstNow]

I know what you mean. zone 5 here.

[@JohnWilliams-iw6oq]

The timber raised beds are great, I'm making 6 at the moment and the uprights are 100 to 150mm above the edge so that if the beds need netting or covering I can bend a bit of 20mm poly over and with 20mm saddles attach it to the uprights. Almost instant cover support.

[@chickenfoot713]

I’ve been getting so much from your channel for a few years now and I just wanna say keep up the good work, I’m so glad to see so many people catching on to your channel during this crisis. Thank you for everything you do and stay safe!!!

[@dennismoyoconsultant7369]

I love gardening and I follow fellow gardeners. Mark, "Self Sufficient me" is marvelous. He loves gardening, he talks from know how, he has experience, uses simple language everyone can understand. Rest assured, outside there, some one is practicing from your tutorials. Be Blessed.

[@FootFungusTreatment_Tao]

There are many yard resources that can be used to fill raised beds, such as leaves, grass clippings, and even fallen branches. These materials can be collected for free, and when they break down, they will add valuable nutrients to the soil. Composting is another way to create a nutrient-rich soil amendment from yard waste. This can be done by simply piling up yard waste and letting it decompose over time. Composting can take several months, so it's important to plan ahead and start early. Another way to save money on filling raised beds is to use organic materials such as straw bales or hay. These materials are relatively inexpensive and can be used to fill the bottom layer of the raised bed. As they break down over time, they will add organic matter to the soil and help retain moisture. If you're worried about weed seeds in the straw, you can add a layer of cardboard or newspaper on top before adding the soil. This will prevent weeds from germinating and help to suppress their growth. By using yard resources and organic materials to fill raised beds, you can save money and create a healthy, productive garden.

[@nickbezanson3549]

One of the absolute best personalities on KZbin! Keep up the great work Mark! Even though our growing zones are completely different I've gained a ton of valuable information and I thank you for that. Cheers from the east coast of Canada!

[@Selfsufficientme]

Thank you Nicholas! Cheers mate :)

[@tedbaker8291]

Wouldn't it help settle the fill if you watered each layer in, just a bit? The fill and soil looked kinda dry, so watering could help worms, bugs, fungi, etc.

[@Banana2324]

You're videos are always reliable and straight to the point. Keep it up Sir and God bless you always💓

[@erikmilburn51]

Just what i was looking for....got a backyard full of old tree roots,so raised beds are the go,thanks for all your hard earned advice.

[@jfkesq]

I just started my first raised garden bed and I'm filling it up today. Timely video. Thanks!!

[@Selfsufficientme]

All the best with your new raised bed John! :)

[@katseyeview9354]

this is my first year using my raised bed. you sir, have inspired me. I started building it in oct of 2019. i might have to add another 300 lbs or so of soil. I used up tons of compost filling it! I added a video of my garden and raised bed after I built my gourd tunnel! Thank you so much Self Sufficient Me

[@NationX]

It's almost like you read my mind! I've been struggling for the last few days with trying to fill my garden beds without shelling out hundreds of dollars and by far this has been the most helpful solution. I've been watching many of your videos these past few weeks and have learned so much. Thanks a ton and keep that finger green!

[@veronicavatter6436]

Get you someone who thinks your raised beds are cute. That's love right there!

[@vward4871]

How perfectly well-timed! Im ready to fill my first raised bed today! Greetings from Chicago, USA!!

[@_g7085]

Hello from a raised bed gardener in the Chicago south suburbs. Hope it worked out for you : )

[@bernhardjanssen9284]

You a man who given our garden new life impulse fantastic job you are doing I learn a lot today from you thank you so much for this!

[@brennaprull2097]

Your conversation together at the end just put a smile on my face today. Very sweet with each other, and I'm living for your videos!!

[@mariazucchero9123]

Thank you for showing us your gardening skills. We are very thanful we watch your video .thank you for sharing that others like us can learn to become sustainable and self sufficient of growing gardening. Have a wonderful day!God bless you! from Michigan!

[@mikek3658]

Thank you for always mentioning how waist-high beds make gardening easier. I've convinced my parents to let me build (4) 3' x 8' beds out of metal roofing panels next to a 30' row of pole beans. There's about a 5'walkway in between above which I'll install a few cattle panels for an arbor.I cant wait for fresh beans, toms and peppers. Your channel is an inspiration mark keep up the good work

[@Selfsufficientme]

Sounds like a top project Mike! All the best with your build and growing all that amazing fresh as you can get produce. Cheers :)

[@yabbadabbadoo8225]

Mark your vids blitz anything I've ever seen on any portal. I've nver been a Green anything yet you provide encouragement with such simple methods. Thankyou for the time and effort you put into these amazing free to air Vids 10/10 champ.

[@kaledonian]

I love your videos, man. No bullshitting, straight to the topic with some interesting facts and humour, and I love how you try to do gardening in harmony with nature (f.e. worms). Keep up the good work, wish you and your family the very best! Cheers from Hungary

[@aimeeweenig3079]

Found this video after working for hours to try and fill one of three big beds with soil from our woods. We're about halfway done. This is so helpful! I know what I'm doing tomorrow! Thank you from NE Wisconsin!

[@bentahosa6680]

whenever i see worm, i feel a good support to my gardening, they're the natural soil keeper , love this video, give me ideas on my gardening . thanks

[@farnorthpicker56]

We made some raised beds from old tires last year and had great crops in them. Right now we are in the process of building 10 raised beds. They are all going to be hugelkulture style. Once done it will be a lot better for our worn out backs....as long as we survive building them! Lol

[@mariacitronvert3477]

This is a wonderful video. My raised veg garden will be on a smaller scale, but I appreciate learning how to layer it with a variety of materials - some that I already have! I love the care he shows for his worms. It's true, though - healthy insects are a reflection of how successful a garden bed is. Thank you so much, for making this very helpful video, Mark (from Self-Sufficient Me)!

[@SimpleTek]

I absolutely LOVE your channel. you do the best things esp with gardening which is what I'm focused on. Keep it up! Thank you!

[@Rouverius]

Reminds of my old man's advice every time we would lay sod, "Green side up, son."😁

[@morningwoodfarms713]

😆

[@carolinegathercole8473]

I always fill pots and raised beds with weeds veg scraps shredded paper grass, not only does it help fill them up it helps with drainage. Plant roots only need about a 12” depth or less . All compost will eventually compact at the base, so frequent mixing and turning is essential

[@matthewtwright84]

I have a 12 foot trailer full of soil to shovel today. Maybe we need a self sufficient work out video.

[@Selfsufficientme]

Good for the biceps! ;)

[@matthewtwright84]

@@Selfsufficientme you ain't kiddin. I might have to take a post raised bed filling muscle picture in my new self sufficient me shirt when it gets here.

[@SSODP]

@@matthewtwright84 I've got Myself a 'ramp' out of some scrap wood, drive the barrow on it and then simply empty it, no need to shovel back and forth save your back - Work smart ! Cheers

[@jaredbackus1416]

@JW L yes stay away from those. Regular wood lasts a long time Enough time for you to throw your change in a can to save for the next round of chemical free wood. Even better is rough cut lumber!!! I use pallets my self Make sure they have "HT burned/stamped onto the sides HT=heat treated Safe for your garden

[@1Lightdancer]

I just ordered several raised beds more my new garden, and an filling the bottom with brush from one of our bins - mostly last year's blackberry canes and artichoke flower stalks. Next a layer of worm and microbe rich compost, native soil and grass clippings (including fallen dogwood flowers) and Coconut coir. I got a 3 yard bag of raised bed mix from a local garden shop for top dressing the bed. I'm excited to see how it turns out, and to begin planting!

[@docrad9201]

Sincerely dude...you're my Dundee! I love you. Praises and prayers to your family.

[@You_are_not_normal]

Who needs the tv when knowledge like this is available?? Thanks mate god bless

[@someonefamous8671]

"Oh crickey, look at those worms!" Love the channel, thanks for the info as I'm building a raised garden bed in Arizona!

[@d.f.2023]

I filled two 4x16x3 foot beds with soil/compost. An easier way to fill I found is to turn two 5 gallon buckets upside down against the bed and used a piece of plywood as a ramp for the wheel barrow . Easy enough to move around to fill from the sides or ends. Just my 2¢. My next beds I'll try with logs on the bottom. The height is worth every penny. Not only saves your back but makes everything easier to access and harvest and inspect and weed etc. Shout out from New England, USA 🇺🇸. Love love love your vids!

Mike, your videos are awesome! My grandpa used to till the whole garden every year to plant veggies, and he also kept removing weeds all the time, which if I'm correct resulted in having a soil, which dried out quicker than a garden filled with any type of plants, even weeds and he constantly had to water them. Having raised garden beds seem to be a very good way of separating high quality soil from the rest of the garden and seems to be much easier to maintain. Thanks for all the great and informative videos!

[@1949chefjojo]

I find your Tutorials very educational and I find them practical.

[@cathleenlewis3334]

So pleased to have found this channel, thanks. Just the well presented knowledge I needed to start us off with some raised beds. Great groundwork, it's going to be a better year in the garden

[@TnT_F0X]

I turned my old cabinet into a raised bed under my little 5x5ft greenhouse. Increased the space and made it easier for me to spread out my plants. :D Looks like I'll have fresh tomatoes till December, especially if I put my weed growing light out there in the fall. lol

[@garysmith56]

I really appreciate your videos. Just started this last year. I started prepping for a garden right before Covid hit and had a really successful first garden. No raised beds yet... but they are on the way.

[@bookendkidproductions6156]

This man is a hero. He recycles pallets.

[@floridasungarden3308]

Such a great video. Im always trying to figure out how to not spend a fortune on filling my garden bed. This is genius.

[@charlesroberts3910]

I love watching your videos . I was in the garden when I could walk on my own I’m 69 yrs old now , the best part of helping in the garden was eating fresh good tasting stuff , once I told my daughterinlaw that when I was a kid almost all corn on the cob had a worm in it and apples too had worms , she said what did you do , I said we cut them out and ate it . She couldn’t fathom that , but anyhow I know a lot of the stuff u do . But I am open minded and learn from you and other videos . Keep up the good work young man

[@nataliparker3399]

Mark, you are awesome ! Love your knowledge and how much you like working with earth. It is very helpful to know how to build raised veggie beds. I’m going to do it for my parents house. Thanks again for this video.

[@nanettew4398]

I just loved your talking to the 🪱 worms😄. I do the same, save every one I see and carry them to my compost and potting soils with the message; here you are my pals, go, work and multiply! They’re my best little friends.

[@peterc1171]

Hi Mark. Just discovered your Channel and really enjoying it. I’m in Brissy so not far from you. My world is very hectic with work and multiple children (that I know of) but thank you for sharing and allowing me a slow down to enjoy your good advice, humour and antics. My dad was an incredible avid gardener and I may have a green tinge in my thumb but wish I had more time. One day soon I Hope. In the words of my dear old man who is no longer with us ... you could grow grass on a billiard ball. His ultimate compliment for a gardener such as yourself lol !

[@Engwadur]

I like your raised bed, i think it has a nice rustic feel. And it's given me inspiration for how i'm going to deal with a small slope I've been needing to level but didn't know what I would do with the extra dirt.

[@emeraldfox76]

Can't wait to try this out! The soil here is pretty bad and rocky, there's remnants from where the previous owners of the house tried to do a traditional garden, but it didn't appear they had much luck with it. Definitely will be looking into some raised beds, and hopefully I can find a good way to keep the deer out.

[@k.chriscaldwell4141]

I'm half watching just for the accent. The Aussie accent is the coolest there is. _G'd day, mate._ Oh, and thanks for saving me time and money. I would have filled mine with high quality $$$ soil.

[@TamaraVlogs]

Mark thank you so much! You’re teaching me how to garden from scratch! I aim to grow as much of my own veggies and fruits and possible. You’re the best!

[@MelGill]

Thank you! I have saved myself a lot of grief just by listening to your videos!

[@ambranaidoo8666]

I enjoy your videos. They are so interesting and relaxing. I tend to enjoy gardening even more.

[@alouposofficial8094]

Hey Mark make sure to make a video showing all the tools you are using in the garden so that we get an idea

[@That_Handle]

~5:11 - speaking of tools that make the job easier, I noticed the use of the wheelbarrow and shovel and was reminded of an accessory for the wheelbarrow handles I had seen probably over a decade ago which might very well save time and strains due to repetitious shoveling. It's these swinging grips for tbe wheelbarrow handles once you were to align a lumber ramp to the edge of the beds: simplydumpit.com/products/simply-dump-it-pivoting-wheelbarrow-handles

[@That_Handle]

Roll up the wheelbarrow to the bed's edge then lift the swinging handles to dump the contents as opposed to shoveling. 🤷‍♂️👏👍

[@CatopiaCatSanctuary]

You are by far one of the most pleasant people to watch! I am SO thankful I subscribed to your channel!👍🌞🍉🍐🍆🥑🍎🍇🍏🍑🍊🍋🍈🍒🥕🌽🍓🍌🍍🍅🥒🥔🥜🍄🌾👨‍🌾

[@DavidEdwards9801]

Gotta say, as an American in these crazy times, I love my Aussies, GG =) Like that fire-fighter's response to the government official that didn't want to pay "volunteer fire-fighters" fighting to save his country.

[@jacob9208]

One thing I learnt, things that grow up don’t need much space below so fill with as much trimmings, crap dirt etc. Things that grow down need good space below so don’t over fill. Unfortunately our potatoes suffered this year due to filling too much and a really wet start to the season.

[@Wyvern_2]

Me 3 seconds after watching any new video from this channel: I can't wait until the next video is out!

[@neridadamas1649]

Gee all that woody sticks leaves at base of bed. I think thats why your garden is so successful. Using nature so well Love it!:)

[@KabeStark]

Awesome videos! been watching for a few years now from Argentina. I dont even have a garden..

[@PiaPirate]

But you'll be good prepared when you have one in the future!

[@KabeStark]

@@PiaPirate For sure! This +10 hours i invested watching his videos are worth it!

[@KabeStark]

@Boop I have an Hydroponic sistem in my balcony. but i still dream about his kind of garden

[@JoseRodriguez-qc5jr]

Get a mini garden like me, is all I can afford 🤣😂👍

[@michellem634]

I just found this channel and thank God I did. I've been using mainly soil. My garden isn't very deep but I could have saved hundreds of dollars knowing these small yet helpful and efficient tricks.

[@angelachouinard4581]

Just what I needed to see!! I have a ton of fine brush and clippings from when I took out the wild strip at the back of the lot. I also have a lot of odd wood left over from a huge tree branch that came down in a storm. I am putting in raised beds this year as the back has been complaining and was wondering how I could do it without spending a fortune at the garden center.

[@JustMe-gs9xi]

Angela,,, it take ALOT of wood fill, i didn't have solid cut tree like him. I would put in old clippings and ALOT of wood from the woods Piles and Piles.... Wood branches broken up,,,,maybe as but as 5 inches around... i stomped on it, i wwatered it (like i was told),, it shrunk like crazy!!!,,,,, so start saving all the wood you can. i put my old cedar broken fene in there,, some old pine fence. (not painted..),,,, You'll be surprised how much it sinks,,, But his method is really Just right,,, (just put the hardware cloth),,,and don't worry about ants,,,, look up natural ways to stop them, move them,,,just don't use poison,,, I think they hate vinegar,, garlic,, things like that.

[@angelachouinard4581]

@@JustMe-gs9xi Thanks for the input. My biggest problem was they city guy. He himself was nice enough but in this part of the US they are a way behind in both garden and construction techniques. I had to haul a lot of my brush away but I just went around and collected from the neighbors. There are a lot of trees at the end of their life and someone who clear up wood and brush for free makes them happy. It collapsed over the winter and broke down a lot. I will be starting to top it all off again this spring. Some of my collected logs were in the 10 to 15 centimeter range, they worked well. But at first I didn't have enough of that. I used lawn clippings and fall leaves, you name it. Good luck with your garden. Supply chain shot, shortages everywhere, we need to be self sufficient. Take care.

[@samanthaharmon145]

I'm so happy I found your channel I recently moved and for the first time I have a little bit of land to work with and make my own food forest. Your channel has been such an inspiration I love watching you and how passionate you are about being self-sufficient. I just wanted to stop binge watching your channel so I could tell you how much I appreciate you and how much you helped so far. 😊

[@Medic876]

The dad we all wished we had

[@bryanseeds2222]

I could chill with this dude all day

[@brittanyhicks5814]

Love your videos, keeps me motivated with my own garden. It's looking better than ever before, and now expanding! Please keep posting 😁

[@florinnegru8104]

I really appreciate your videos. Thank you for sharing!

[@SpaceLifeSelfSufficiency]

Great video Mark, we have been around for a long time and you have really inspired us, we might live the opposite side of the world but we still try to keep up with you guys with all sorts of tropical plants haha, keep safe my friend :)

[@Selfsufficientme]

Thanks mate - just watched your slug vid - good tips. Cheers :)

[@williamjohnston4192]

Hello I'm a new subscriber here in the USA. I must say I really injoy your site. You are very thorough in how you describe what you are doing in your garden.I particularly like the attention you give to worms and other micro organisms great stuff " Cheers "

[@ICHMUSSMALPIPI]

I learn something new in every video of yours I watch, it's amazing ✨✨😁

[@royriley6282]

We have a very similar philosophy on raised beds, sir. I definitely messed up my compaction though. Thanks for the reminder.

[@TheRhapsodyEternal]

Love your videos. I’m just starting my home garden and you make it seem less intimidating. 😁

[@nirmalimaharaj8104]

Absolutely love this video. I need to see this. Great help. Love from TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🙌♥️♥️♥️

[@candicecfcl2971]

Same here!! 🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹 in the house!! Learning as I go! Hope to do this soon, he's such a good teacher!!

[@stevenmichael4124]

Love your work! Would be good to see more videos on growing fruit trees in pots as I only have a court yard.

[@taniajuedes7621]

Never would.have thought of putting logs to fill a bed. Great idea!