TRANSFORMING a Slope into Small Terraced Vegetable Garden Beds

We turned an unused slope into a terraced vegetable garden.
Then we planted it up.
Our land is terraced with schist stone walls, so these are like mini terraces within terraces.
We used natural materials and worked with the slope of the earth to create new vegetable beds.
Past experience has shown that having our veggies as close as possible (nearby) to the house will make things easier in the future.
Let us know in the comments if you believe this to be true for you too.
Meraid and Dan

[@roselynwilliams2]

Such energy you two have. That's such a beautiful garden. Thank you for another lovely video. I love seeing your dreams and visons come to life.

[@NearbyVeggies]

It’s a great feeling for us too when we see progress 😊

[@bealbocht63]

Love the mini terraced veg beds. Great idea!

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thank you so much 😊

[@danabella6540]

Great terrace gardern. Thanks for posting.

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thank you. It’s doing great 👍

[@anniemac3075]

Great little terraces of veg, well done both.

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thanks, Annie. 😊

[@theresadunlop5602]

So excited to see how you reuse and repurpose things! Makes my heart warm! I absolutely love the new triangle garden! I’m excited for the warmer weather and playing in the dirt! Happy growing! 🌿🍓

[@NearbyVeggies]

Enjoy the warmer weather and thank you 😊

[@dallascumming8750]

Well done guys! See you next week!

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thank you 😊

[@dinac7361]

Love watching your channel!! Your property is so beautiful,I specially love the backyard w all the stone terraces ,and your house is gorgeous!! You really work so very hard and take so much pride in what you do .well done

[@NearbyVeggies]

We do enjoy what we are doing, Dina. Thank you 😊

[@iniabellepaz445]

Hi Dan and Meraid, beautiful job on the terraces. You show that you don’t need a lot of space to grow veggies! Maybe you can do a video of cooking with your vegetables when they grow! I would love that. Stay well, to next time.

[@NearbyVeggies]

We’re hoping to do some cooking videos this year (if we can keep the kitchen tidy) 🤫

[@junielaine4211]

Great video

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thanks 😊

[@greetverouden6292]

Then sun en the birds, so beautiful. I m also a bit jealous how quiet it is at your place. Greeting from the Netherlands

[@NearbyVeggies]

Greetings to you too and thank you 😊

[@Diego_Leon]

You are charming, very motivating, your garden is beginning to be very beautiful this summer, it will be very productive, I admit that you inspire me. keep it up couple

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thank you so much 😊

[@elizabethhails3506]

Absolutely excellent!

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thanks 😊

[@brianquinn5060]

Loved every bit of if thanks, wishing you plenty of vegs.

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thanks a lot 😊

[@yoellcall]

Fantastic. Just love watching what you do. So relaxed. I’m learning a lot. Thank you😊

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thanks so much 😊

[@kevinwilkes5969]

Great beds. Should end up with plenty of veg.

[@NearbyVeggies]

Hopefully it’ll be a great year 😊

[@kathleenpitt1981]

A small kitchen garden is so useful! Those poppies are beautiful!

[@NearbyVeggies]

My mum loved those poppies too. Thank you 😊

[@ranakhuman1063]

Ur garden looks great with terraces u have made. Hope to own one hopefully this year.

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thank you and good luck with your plans 😊

[@corinnetonelli489]

Great work as always ..

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thank you 😊

[@frankasturino3416]

Hope you have a good growing season, climate change is really hitting Europe hard with heat waves, droughts and forest fires, especially southern Europe.

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thank you 😊

[@ianandresen2326]

Nice video! I spent $1000.00 dollars on new strawberry plants last year! Only to have a herd of deer come through and eat the new plants! I am hoping some survived the winter!

[@NearbyVeggies]

Wow, that’s a lot of strawberries. I think you’ll be surprised by regrowth. Hopefully the deer didn’t get the lot. 👍

[@stephanieh.777]

It's a great use of a small patch, and I love how you're thinking about giving back to the land and the wild animals with a food forest.

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thank you 😊

[@sevas5676]

You 2 give me hope I can find someone with this mindset to live my life with. Love your channel

[@NearbyVeggies]

That’s lovely. Best wishes and thank you 😊

[@freewoman4434]

The use of peat in compost gives me great pain too! Love your channel.

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thank you 😊

[@NearbyVeggies]

🤣

[@BecomingPortuguese]

Those terraces are quite on the nose with your channel theme! They look great

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thanks a million guys. 😊

[@marieguilainehoareau4882]

I love so much. From Réunion 🇷🇪 island.

[@NearbyVeggies]

Welcome to Portugal 🇵🇹

[@petermcfadden9426]

Lots of hard work, great result.

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thank you 😊

[@danielderoudilhes4413]

Potatoe is the egg of the earth. Wind is your breath. Your sweat makes water. You are gardener. Thanks for your work.

[@NearbyVeggies]

What a lovely comment. Thank you 😊

[@susanyates4233]

What a transformation Dan.

[@danwilkin3031]

Thanks Susan

[@NearbyVeggies]

He did a great job 👏

[@jacquelinesilvabravolatam9952]

great great Idea..I loved your miniterrace. you are doing so so well

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thank you 😊

[@janet5360]

Love your videos. All power to your elbows 😻

[@NearbyVeggies]

Power to the elbows 😊👍

[@leonsaquaponicsandhomegard6793]

Looks fantastic 😊😊😊

[@NearbyVeggies]

Growing well.

[@Gourdboys]

nice

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thanks 😊

[@HD-lv7zr]

Looking good 👍

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thanks 😊

[@linakhoury6623]

Hi🌺 well done, nice beds vegetables . You are amazing couple . Have anice day. 🦋🌺🦋

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thank you 😊

[@bluelilly22222]

Your channel was in my recommended videos of you tube today... I loved your channel n subscribed it. ❤

[@NearbyVeggies]

You’re most welcome here. Thank you 😊

[@davidbutler1666]

Great work. Such therapy watching your achievements. Inspirational!

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thanks, David 😊

[@heidiedwards4160]

That end shot of the triangle looks super..and thank goodness you retrieved the secateurs 😊

[@NearbyVeggies]

Those secateurs have had many adventures. Thanks, Heidi 🥰

[@ruthconstantino6861]

The picture quality of your videos is so sharp, it really it s as if your viewer is right there with you. Love all the new mini terraces to keep your produce nearby 😊.

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thanks so much, Ruth. 😊

[@cogwheel5287]

Hey i am a 22 year old guy that loves your videos! It gives me alot of inspiration especially for the plot of land that i was able to buy together with my girlfriend in northern spain. Unfortunately its quite much on a slope but its still a hectar big and there is alot of water. Gonna keep watching your videos to get more ideas! ❤

[@NearbyVeggies]

Congratulations on your place in Spain. Wonderful to have you here. Thank you 😊

[@oldgold5848]

Great stuff guys!

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thanks a lot 😊

[@ivanlam1304]

The sunny weather at this time of year makes your hard work a little bit easier I'm guessing

[@NearbyVeggies]

It’s actually easier in the winter sunshine. Temperature already getting up to 28 -30C and we’re not used to that at this early stage in the season. 😊

[@monalingan9523]

What a lovely assortment of veggies. I really like the terraced garden.

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thanks, Mona 😊

[@sparky6020]

Nice job!

[@NearbyVeggies]

😊 Thank you

[@offgridwanabe]

That is quite a method for weeding lol and Dan stick with the Kohlrabi it is a wonderful raw veggy. Beautiful little garden in your triangle.

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thanks a lot and we’ll keep growing kohlrabi 👍

[@JayDee-ck4op]

Great work with the terraces Mr Veggie. Love all the planting your doing Mrs Veggie. The colour of those taytos are amazing 🤠 🤠

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thanks very much Jay Dee. 🤠🤠

[@asc3184]

Your place looks very nice n tidy!

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thank you 😊

[@ronguille9721]

You've done a lovely job on the new veggie bed! Many gardeners recommend "curing" the cut end of the potatoes a few day out of the sun. Once dry, a leathery skin will form that will stop any soil borne diseases entering and rotting the potato.

[@NearbyVeggies]

That’s useful to know. We’ll see how we get on with our experiment 🥔

[@Gabriela_73]

👏👏👏Those cultivation beds were very beautiful, how much work they do, I congratulate them, they are a great example!!

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thank you 😊

[@Gabriela_73]

@@NearbyVeggies Meraid, in one of the videos you went to pick mushrooms, could you make a video where you tell how you know which mushrooms are edible? when they started getting interested in growing their own food, and how they learned about crops, I love how resourceful they are at solving things in the garden

[@beniarezende9800]

Adoro acompanhar vocês

[@NearbyVeggies]

Obrigados 😊👍

[@kathrynpupos9103]

You sure accomplished quite a bit. Those should give you plenty of fresh eating soon. Every time you kneel along those beds MY knees cry in pain! 😄

[@NearbyVeggies]

You got that right! We’re harvesting lots of produce from those beds now. 😊

[@thisorthat7626]

Great work on the triangular terraces. Your poppies are going to love your land! They will reseed and will provide beautiful flowers and attract bees. While you can't eat them, they do have medicinal properties. Your work is making a big difference that you will enjoy for decades to come. Blessings.

[@NearbyVeggies]

My mum told me to take some seeds with me when I last saw her alive. They will always remind me of her. 🥰

[@mlev8223]

You remind me of my daughters northern Irish aunty from Derry!

[@NearbyVeggies]

Close. I’m from Donegal which is right next door to Derry. 👍

[@paulettebarber7219]

Love seeing your garden and everything you are up to. Of course I envy you being able to plant in the ground. Where I’m at there is plenty of space but there are only rocks. So I must build beds. Winter is hanging on here so nothing can be put out yet. Hopefully next month. Looking forward to what you are up to next video!

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thank you and good luck with your new beds. 👍

[@mitortuga1161]

very nice and practical

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thank you 😊

[@waynejones750]

You’re both doing a grand job.

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thanks, Wayne. 😊

[@evelyngorfram9306]

That succession of mini terraces looks beautiful. Also, has no one ever told you two how to be old? You're meant to be sitting around doing crossword puzzles and spreading misinformation Facebook, not wrestling ottoman-sized rocks and using olive trees as a luge run for your secateurs. 😉🤣🤣

[@NearbyVeggies]

I think the olive luge should be an Olympic sport 😂

[@paulocelsomoura2026]

Que belo trabalho, parabéns! Estou já quase nos 60, quero ter a energia de vocês!!

[@NearbyVeggies]

Quando trabalhamos mais, temos mais energia🤣

[@maggiemorgan8422]

It’s ‘super’ relaxing to watch your hard graft 😂

[@NearbyVeggies]

Super relaxing on the sofa. 🤣

[@catarinatorres6378]

Ficou lindo! Boas colheitas!

[@NearbyVeggies]

Obrigada, Catarina.

[@tisaninhacerveiraesteves7579]

Olá 😅 ,! Gosto muito da vossa técnica para cultivar os vossos legumes é muito giro. Vocês vivem no paraíso, que paz não há dinheiro que pague. Deus vos abençoe.

[@NearbyVeggies]

Olá 👋 Muito obrigados 😅

[@mesutozsen903]

Eline emeğine sağlık bu güzel video için kolay gelsin hayırlı işler....👍👍👍👍

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thank you 😊

[@kathleendenison8925]

Looking great...it's a wonderful feeling to plant and see your rewards. Hard work produces a bountiful life. ❤❤

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thank you 😊

[@poosmate]

Great job both of you, it looks fantastic! Take care, Poo

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thanks, Poo. 😊

[@julieking4828]

❤❤❤ Just stumbled into your world today. Very impressive terracing.

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thank you and welcome 🤗

[@alittleheavenonearth]

Hey !! I was missing you guys !!! ❤❤❤

[@NearbyVeggies]

We’re here 😊

[@alittleheavenonearth]

@@NearbyVeggies ❤️❤️ love to also have you join us on our journey

[@stevehelliwell9101]

Love it.. Stay healthy you two. Looking forward to the next one. Incidently, what do the purple spuds taste like? I'm interested to know. It's raining in Rochdale too.

[@paisley293]

@Steve H: whenever I hear of Rochdale, I am always reminded of that amazing, energetic, gracious singer Gracie Fields, may she rest in God's peace.

[@NearbyVeggies]

They taste a bit chestnutty but still a potato. 👍

[@stevehelliwell9101]

@@NearbyVeggies Good for roasting then. 👍

[@NearbyVeggies]

Peel them first because the skins are a bit tough (in my opinion) 😊

[@corryjookit7818]

I'm in awe just watching you two. Magnificent Vegies nearby.

[@suzzie5164]

You did a great job making those beds 👍

[@danwilkin3031]

Thanks Suzzie

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thank you 😊

[@nvdb-77]

Wow, cool potatos! Will look into where I can by them in the Netherlands. Suggestion regarding the potatos, if you make small hills/mountains of earth (over the length of your garden), you will get a much bigger harvest, potatoes need loose earth to grow in, when you plant them in flat earth, you will have much less potatos. (only downside, you will have to checkup more often if there is enough water in the ground) I have done both ways of planting potatos in the last couple of years, the small hills worked by far the best! (newest experiment is a bag filled with earth in which I plant the potatos, should also give a good harvest) And great result regarding the garden beds, that area looks much better now!

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thank you. Violet Queens is what they’re called. We’ll wait and see how they grow 😊

[@monicacruz4407]

Lots of goodness in purple things. I tried to make purple gnocci last year, they turned out grey, not very beautiful, but good to eat with a pesto of all the herbs I had growing around potato harvest. I think yours are deeper purple so you might have more luck. I’ve had no luck getting purple sweet potatoes here in Spain… lovely new beds 😍👌

[@NearbyVeggies]

These are violet queen potatoes. Grey food happens occasionally but sometimes that’s the way it goes 😊

[@soniahofmann4969]

I'm curious with so many wild boar do you have any problems with the boars digging up and routing in your garden... you both are such hard workers I cannot believe what you've done on that property I congratulate you on your enthusiasm and Labor of Love Project😊

[@NearbyVeggies]

The boar do dig up the land in our forest zone but seem to stay there. Thank you 😊

[@carolinevanwinkle3755]

Have you thought of hugelculture you bury a few logs on bottom layer, then smaller branches, To cover logs. Straw dirt it’s is a layer procedure. You have a layered approach. Also some mounds are 4-5 feet tall,some 1-3 feet tall. the wood absorbs water and holds onto it so you need. Less water.

[@NearbyVeggies]

We know about that technique. It’s a great way to plant especially if you’ve got lots of material to hand. 😊

[@tamrahawkes3170]

We always cut our potatoes in Alberta!

[@NearbyVeggies]

It’s interesting that people plant the same vegetables in many different ways and get great results. Thank you for sharing that. 😊

[@marcosfigueiredo8515]

Sugestions for fruirá: Cheremoia( there are in Spain), and Caqui , originally from Japan and I think it adapts well to the climate of northern Portugal

[@NearbyVeggies]

We say chuchu in Portugal and I have one growing. 😊

[@marcosfigueiredo8515]

@@NearbyVeggies in Brasil chuchu os anos vegetáveis, see at internet. See cheremoia at internet, completly different. Is a good fruit. In Brasil people like eat chuchu with shirimp. Enjoy😁 And the upgrade at the viu-se? Any News?

[@marcosfigueiredo8515]

Correction: chuchu here Is a vegetable

[@NearbyVeggies]

So the fruit is persimmon perhaps? We have planted it. Still waiting for the license and we keep on planting 😂

[@coby6417]

💐🌟👏👍🍀

[@NearbyVeggies]

👍😊

[@portugal1969]

👍

[@NearbyVeggies]

👍

[@katherineparsons9585]

I’ve never had purple potatoes let us know how they taste. I’ve had purple basil my absolute favourite!

[@NearbyVeggies]

They taste a bit nutty like a chestnut. I love the look of purple basil. 👍😊

[@crivensro]

Lovely terrasses! I saw that you have deers and wild boars on your property. I have both too (in Switzerland, living outside a village in the mountains) and I have to protect my garden or they would just eat everything! How do you cope with them?

[@NearbyVeggies]

We don’t do much except to encourage the growth of native forest and hope that they stay in the woods. 😊

[@margieperse9490]

I've already left the cut side of the seed potatoes in the open air for a day , to "scar/seal over. Thus making them less susceptible to rot. Then plant as usual. Your soil may be dry enough, that won't be a problem?

[@NearbyVeggies]

They’re growing well at the moment. Fingers crossed 🤞

[@kierancooke3556]

Ye should called the purple potatoes Prince Deep Purple 😂 or Deep Purple Prince 😂

[@NearbyVeggies]

🤣🤠You’re funny

[@peterselie6500]

the ratio will be 1 to 10...depending on the concentration...but we used it pure aswell...no worries.

[@Susan.I]

Do the purple potatoes taste any different from the white ones we are used to?

[@NearbyVeggies]

Yes, they have a bit of a nutty flavour. But they look weird as chips. 😊

[@DSesignD]

You guys in Portugal? Anyhow, my MAIN QUESTION is this: aren't you worried about the logs that hold up your beds eventually rotting away?

[@NearbyVeggies]

We are in Portugal 👍When the logs eventually rot, we can simply replace them with others. We have a lot of wood on the land 😊

[@moirasimmerson929]

Have you read the story of Ferdinand the bull, who loved to hang out under the cork trees?

[@NearbyVeggies]

Hi Moira, I hadn’t even heard of that until you mentioned it. So, this morning, I found the book on KZbin and listened to the story. I do love a children’s story. And that was lovely. Thank you for a great start to my day. 😊

[@elisekuby2009]

Have you thought about dipping your cut seed potatoes into woodash? It prevents rot. Or you could just shovel ash into the rows and then plant your potatoes.

[@NearbyVeggies]

We haven’t heard that one. Useful information, thank you 😊

[@elisekuby2009]

@@NearbyVeggies My pleasure.

[@NearbyVeggies]

👍

[@user-fe7un3gf4l]

Paint some small rocks red put in strawberry bed and if the birds try to eat them first they will not like and when your real strawberries come they will leave alone.

[@NearbyVeggies]

What an interesting idea. Thank you 😊

[@patriciahawkes386]

If u cut a potato u should really leave it for a day before planting to harden off

[@NearbyVeggies]

We understand. Our humidity levels are low here so hopefully it will be fine. 😊

[@peterselie6500]

btw...you need the stinging nettles

[@NearbyVeggies]

I knew I’d seen your comment about this but can’t find it to answer the original. Yes, we’re lucky enough to have stinging nettles and we made a barrel full last year. We do the same with comfrey. Very useful stuff. 👍

[@peterselie6500]

@@NearbyVeggies Well...nice...I thought you knew...I got more tips...interested?

[@lksf9820]

Why didn't you grow the crops down the slope instead of across it?

[@NearbyVeggies]

The terraces that go across hold the water for longer and drain with minimal erosion. This is a hot dry country in summer. 😊

[@lksf9820]

@@NearbyVeggies Thanks for the reply. I'm setting up to grow on some slopes in the UK so am wondering which way to go. Going down the gradient is going to make life a lot easier in some ways and cheaper, that's for sure.

[@NearbyVeggies]

Terraces have been used for growing on slopes successfully all around the world for millennia. Growing along the contour is labour intensive to create but easier in the long run and effective.

[@lksf9820]

Yes I'm aware of this. It's dependent on a few factors: Type of soil, weather, degree of slope and if it's covered or not (with crops, mulch or a sheet etc.). If you think about it farmers (here in the UK) don't form terraces, they just grow crops up hill and down Dale.

[@preppyandanimals4833]

When you cut them , you should let them sit for 24 hours to cure prior to planting …. Just so you know ….

[@NearbyVeggies]

I understand. Humidity is very low here so hopefully all will be well 👍

[@carolkar5687]

Learn alot from you. What is the english name for the digging hoe you use? i'd like to buy one.

[@NearbyVeggies]

We think it’s called a Dutch hoe but we never owned one until we came to Portugal. We have five in different sizes. All but one was on the farm already and they are my favourite garden tool.

[@marcosfigueiredo8515]

Correction : “ for fruits “

[@NearbyVeggies]

I knew what you meant 👍

[@marcosfigueiredo8515]

I'm looking forward to seeing the house remodeled. It will take a lot of work. Courage!💪

[@miromedica7878]

Your hubby is going to break his bloomin' back. Please try to not over work yourselves too much, don't climb olive trees, invest in a proper ladder please. How does you health coverage work in the land of Portugal in case you need it?? You will gradually attract roe deer pests to your garden, remember when they chew on your greens the bacteria and enzymes in their saliva is so damaging that even a few bites will eventually destroy an entire plant.

[@NearbyVeggies]

We have a ladder. You can see it in the video. Thank you 😊

[@BuhayProbinsya-ru2ft]

nice

[@NearbyVeggies]

Thanks