5 Easiest Ways to Start a Food Garden From Cheapest to Dearest

[@Selfsufficientme]

G'day Everyone! I hope you are all "getting into it" and remember that you don't have to be self-sufficient in everything; just be self-sufficient in something, which can help a LOT! selfsufficientme.com/support-me/ Cheers :)

[@jacobconway1496]

I love you

[@fabrisseterbrugghe8567]

What do you think of ollas as a way to water?

[@tillys_garden]

We save $1600 a month by growing our own food. All in ground :) on a 600m block south of Brisbane

[@tillys_garden]

Also love the garden planner, I’ve been using this one for 4yrs now 🥰 and it’s amazing to look back at what I had in 2020 to what I have now. And also planning ahead for what I’m doing in the neighbour’s garden, while we try to keep it at zero cost.

[@f-73p21]

@@tillys_garden That's great. I started growing from seed tomatoes, basil and spring onions a month ago (west of Melbourne). Soon I'll transplant the tomatoes and basil into the ground, hope they don't die or get eaten by birds!

[@tillys_garden]

@ they should be good :) Melbourne doesn’t have as many pest issue as Brisbane (but I heard you somehow got our qld fruit fly now 😫, so use organza bags over the tomatoes to protect them after pollination)

[@creatinghanley]

The first 10 seconds of Mark’s video and I’m laughing my head off!! Mark, thank you for the dad jokes and the invaluable gardening info. Yours is my favorite channel, ever.

[@udaaz]

First!!!! Love Mark he is a gem in the homestead community

[@lisaschreiber2893]

yeah I have gotten so much great advice from his channel

[@darksun3525]

Sad sack

[@jamesLescobar]

truth

[@wild-radio7373]

Nice!❤

[@suecampbell4811]

You are the reason we started raised bed gardening and we continue to love our experience. Right now we're growing winged beans and they're holding onto a plumeria tree. We're enjoying harvesting right before dinner, going bed to bed to get a little of some chives, young ginger, hot pepper, etc. You continue to inspire us. You're also looking healthy! That garden work leaves you strong!

[@austintrees]

There's a guy on KZbin by the name of "French Drain Guy" out of Michigan in the USA, he does a bunch of different yard and structural area drains that can definitely help with your boggy swamp mess... Just look at some of his "flooded yard fix" videos

[@Lourin911]

I started my First Sweet potato patch by accident. Lol. It was in my poorly maintained 1st attempted compost pile😅 They were heavenly!

[@GuruEthereal369]

Much love and many blessings to all who read this. 🧡🤙✌️🖖

[@jackiek4159]

Right back at you! ❤✨

[@kimberlylamantia7794]

You have no idea how much I needed to read that right now. Thank you 😊❤

[@patriciatinkey2677]

And back to you!🍀🖖🙏

[@earthmotherwithin]

You are the star of practical garden tips. Thank you

[@Shangrilalives]

I read that as the star picket of garden tips ha ha. He’s that as well!

[@jamiegentry5566]

You are so uplifting, Mark! Great advice as always and your humor was right on time 😁👍

[@Selfsufficientme]

Thanks Jamie! Cheers :)

[@Corrupt2Mur]

Mark really is! Not sure if it helps, but I bought an almanac and I wanted to start again in March. Will be rewatching a bunch of videos to learn as much as possible! 🌱👍

[@ericanolan78]

I am glad your back on KZbin ❤

[@darryldessa6444]

One of my favorite gardening channels on YT. 😊

[@SJ-fj1cj]

We moved to Indonesia where things grow easily, but no bags of dirt or fertilizers available. It’s a challenge but a fun challenge. Your videos have helped immensely.

[@clairewright8153]

I’ve started to cook again from scratch and our bodies and mind are loving it. We have being putting off pulling our thumbs out and starting our own food garden, but now we’ll have to get that done sooner rather than later. Thanks for all your tips in this vlog, it’s really helpful.

[@loricrane5315]

Long time follower. American. Unfortunately right now. I hope more of us follow you in the future. I've learned so much.

[@Detour4it]

Lots of people fail from lack of work ethic, spine, and determination. I've been growing since 1990. It all takes hard work

[@lazarfrenkev4243]

Hard working on your ass in the tractor

[@woollenmaplesgarden]

It requires hard work. Young people nowadays don't want to hear the truth. Everything worth having in life takes hard work

[@suesmyder]

Buts it's really enjoyable.

[@woollenmaplesgarden]

@suesmyder Agreed. Hard work can be.

[@Alan-bi7dm]

Thanks Mark I’ve been gardening for sixty years and I’m still learning.

[@classicalnotes539]

Always happy to watch your videos and learn!

[@katalinhliva4177]

Hi Mark,I love your gardening skills and advice and your humour:)I’m a nurse in Guernsey,Chanel Islands and I think everyone should grow their own veggies and fruits it’s good for saving money and improving mental health.

[@loricrane5315]

As I have aged, your types of raised beds have become awesome . I can't bend as much and I still can garden now because I started building them your wa. Think ahead people.

[@jarhedjack-a8728]

I’m so glad I came across your channel Mark! This has been the single most useful, easy to digest resource for home gardening and farming knowledge I’ve ever found! Keep up the amazing work! Love your content!

[@rhysdehaan]

Thanks so much for another great video Mark. Our vegetable gardens are made of old rainwater tanks, and I'm obsessed with growing Pineapples in pots. 😊👍

[@TinMan445]

Just started all my shallots and onions today here in Canada. Can’t wait for the snow to go

[@ShortbusMooner]

I'm all for raised beds- my back likes them better.. 😉🌿

[@phyrewillow6463]

Perfect timing! Just about to find a new house, and I’ll be starting a garden from scratch. I’ll probably do some in ground and some containers. Have always learned a ton from your videos!

[@lazarfrenkev4243]

Is it on a hillside? I have some tips for you, if that's the case

[@phyrewillow6463]

@ no idea yet, still looking for a property to buy, but I’ll take any tips you have!

[@cyn4rest]

Hydroponics on a small scale can work well. Our DD began with a hydro kit and her veggie-return paid for kit in a few months. She lives full time in an RV and grows her own salad stuff and several herbs. Healthy, inexpensive, convenient and she doesn’t worry about ingesting any Peale chemicals. Thanks, Mark, for another great show. I’m hoping to try gardening again this year. Last year was a failure but I learned a few things 😊

[@kbjerke]

We're still in the throes of winter here in Ontario Canada, yet I'm eager to get into the garden and start growing! I'm using many techniques - in ground, (2 plots about 12' x 12') many 5 gallon containers, as well as a large VegePod. (I love it!) Just began the process of sprouting sweet potato slips, and I've placed the container near my wood stove. For some reason, my dog (Lucy) is fascinated by it and is constantly sniffing it! LOL An order of veggie seeds arrived today, and I'm itching to get going! I must be patient, and not start my seedlings too soon - I've done THAT before, too many times! Another couple of weeks, then I'll begin the year's gardening adventure. Thanks so much for your videos, Mark!!

[@SimplySelfSufficiency-od8ix]

Good video. I like how truthful you are and how you don't just try to sell us your way of doing things.

[@AmandaRPatterson]

The small, self contained, idiot friendly units are great for things that you can't grow outdoors. It's the only way I can grow my own cilantro 10+ months of the year! But yeah definitely not a substitute. Great video Mark. Wishing you all the best.

[@khamsibq]

Mark we need a vid about how to prepare fertilizer from chicken manur

[@JNoMooreNumbers]

My first gardens I turned with a shovel, then started adding compost, then a tiller now griund, raised beds and grow bags and pots.

[@Shazjgus]

I use storage containers I got from the local dump, and five-gallon, food-safe buckets from a candy store. They were all free and I just drilled holes in the bottoms. I got compost from the dump, also free. I did buy some peat moss to the lighten up the compost. The only other thing I had to buy were seeds.

[@TheJohn8765]

Restaurants are also a great place to get 5 gallon food safe buckets. They always have a bunch getting recycled and should be happy to let people take them.

[@Shazjgus]

@@TheJohn8765 Supermarkets and bakeries too.

[@NikkiFeral]

We have been growing our food for few years and now, we are finaly getting chickens. :) We are excited to have our own chicken compost. 😊 You were the first one who inspired us to start growing veggies. ❤

[@risslittleveggiepatch]

I agree with all these options. Anyone can start a garden! There’s no excuse no to grow at least some of your own food! 🙂

[@Gardeningchristine]

I got an old cooler on legs with wheels for $5 and it’s been the best raised bed planter I’ve got on the porch. It’s insulated so I can start earlier and grow later in the season when I cover it with a clear tub.

[@TC-yx2ss]

I've made a few wicking beds from old eskies.I clad them with old palings from a fence I pulled down for my neighbour.You can't tell what they started life as.

[@meganbartlett8453]

Love it Mark ‼️ my raised beds are something i drop back to in times of illness - no energy to take care of the garden or bad weather. Raised garden gives us the everyday needs. Maybe over time i can spread the raised beds into the market garden 🤔😜

[@MarshaShelley-t3n]

Love your channel!! You teach us alot and have a great humor!! Been watching for about 6 years now! I have a postage stamp sized garden. So use alot of pots, buckets and root pouches! I grow in ground on raised ground patches with 4x4s for edges too. So love all the tips you give!! Love from n. Idaho, USA!!

[@lazarfrenkev4243]

I'm in the process of building a stone hillside rised bed 😎 It's making the little hill flat, usable and like a bed. I'm filling the space between the hill and the stone wall with wood, mulch, grass, and topping it with soil and compost. Working on the bed from the bottom of the hill will be delightful!

[@shannonanderson6890]

Happy to see you back Mark! ❤ Great intro to gardening!

[@Selfsufficientme]

Thank you Shannon! Cheers :)

[@ausfoodgarden]

Yeah, big pots are awesome for newcomers. Smaller pots are hard to manage water-wise. My wife and I have moved around a lot and pots let us grow food regardless. I'm a glutton for punishment so have built and moved raised beds too. Good on you Mark.

[@tigerlily222]

We love our Birdies raised beds! I think we have about 10 now. Sturdy Birdies! Thanks MARK!

[@rosemarycharles7164]

My husband built our raised beds , I have a back problem so it helped me to be able grow again

[@zildjiandrummer1]

I've been following you for a few years now, and thank you for always being on top of the general global contexts. Many are looking towards long term resilience given the United States' recent descent into fascism, which is destabilizing the entire global economy.

[@ThomasJenkins-tj2cu]

G'day mate from Central Texas USA. Getting ready to plant my 2nd spring garden. I really get a lot of info, tips and most importantly, inspiration from you. Keep up the good work. Take care, tom

[@cookiegameing179]

All of your videos are very informative and informational thank you for making all of these videos I know you put a lot of time and work into this❤❤❤

[@throbbingjohnson8587]

Love your videos mate, put my first veggie garden in last year and have been watching your vids every night since

[@Doc1855]

Hey Mark, Here in north central Washington state USA we’ve got almost 4 feet of snow on the ground. In March I’ll plant my seeds and keep them in our heated garage until it gets warm enough and won’t frost overnight. Last year when our Cherry and Peach trees were in bloom we had a hard freeze overnight and lost everything except for our apples. A neighbor is building a new house on our road so I got all of the scrap wood so this spring when everything is in bloom, if we’re going to freeze I’ll have small fires in our small orchard so we won’t lose any fruit. I build raised beds every year using decorative bricks. I was loosing a LOT of water between the bricks so after the last harvest 2 years ago I took all of the topsoil out of my garden beds and lined them with heavy plastic and punched some holes so that my garden can drain. It saved us a LOT of water from our well to the point where we now use a drip system to water our flower and garden beds.

[@dethmaul]

I reused the panels from a collapsed quonset hut! They're very thick. I'm quite confident in its longevity. And when you drive over them to make them flat, they're the perfect height.

[@caitlinmanning1292]

We got started using 'no dig', which I found almost as easy as digging in the ground. I would definitely recommend it to new gardeners!

[@lazarfrenkev4243]

So, a lot of mulch?

[@woollenmaplesgarden]

I mean, define a lot. In container growing you're stuck either using a lot of fertiliser or mulching (especially as containers are more prone to temperature changes and water loss). So with that comparison in mind if you have a decent composting setup then it's much cheaper and easier then using a tonne of fertiliser

[@MELOINUSA]

Love your videos. ❤ Thanks for sharing all you're experienced in gardening. 😊

[@djredhareaus38]

I have setup a small nft system in my very small backyard and I love it im growing lots of lettuce and spring onions in there it's a little bit difficult to setup but once you get your head around it it's pretty easy

[@joanneoverstreet72]

Fabulous garden! You’re my inspiration. I recently moved to a new home and starting a new garden. I hope someday it looks like yours. 🌱💚🌻🐝🌲🐓❄️

[@Kermiey]

WOW such a great video Mark, very informative

[@jabeavers]

I'm designing a wicking bed that hooks up to the spigot and keeps the reservoir full all the time. Maintenance free watering! Will probably have one built next year.

[@happy_living_in_rural]

My faverite gardening channel ❤

[@rmishler14]

Congrats on the website Mark!

[@Selfsufficientme]

Thank you! :)

[@marcellacruser951]

We're in a rental with the poorest hard-pan soil you ever saw, so we'll be starting raised beds, wicking containers and some straw bale planting this year. I already have a small flock of hens established and just picked up my first pair of meat bunnies for establishing a rabbitry. Considering that a steady supply of produce isn't guaranteed in the US now, we're really motivated to get going. I'm also planting comfrey and jerusalem artichokes on all our fence lines for fodder and a hands free carb source.

[@Randy_Indy]

I've been enjoying your videos for quite sometime, thank you! We have been using galvanized stock tanks to garden for years and love them. At 68 these 2-ft high beds are a joy!!

[@pj5883]

I just noticed, although I love the logo, that it is N & S America instead of Australia! Took me Forever to notice. Love your info and videos. Thank you!

[@pecker556]

Im excited to hear about the website and store!

[@afox237]

Come for the gardening, stay for the Dad humour and dark humour :p good on ya, thanks for another tips vid :)

[@worksmith5223]

Lovely structured advice on how to get into it !

[@adamgc73]

I got 7 large black plastic pots out the back ...and just recently got a small raised garden bed 😊

[@robertkeen7071]

Top video Mark, ❤ ya summed gardening up in an nut shell 😊 keep it up old son.

[@mikevp5303]

We have 130 linear feet of raised garden 3 feet wide and are planning a drip system for it this summer. We will have access to lots of fish waste this summer and will be trying using this as a fertilizer instead of purchasing from the store. 99% of our information we got from your videos Mark and from The Prairies in Canada We thank you very much.

[@samgriffiths1017]

Your vids always make me smile !

[@Jenbear75]

Some nurseries even have a pot exchange where you can pick up free containers. I visit mine every weekend and have grabbed some great pots form there.

[@mano3867]

I love your videos. I'm planting too many things in my farm it's not hard and very healthy keep you moving

[@stephaniegee227]

I'm always inspired when I watch one of your videos. We have a combination of raised beds, containers, and vertical garden containers. This year we're adding a new raised bed. It doesn't sound like much, but we try to see what worked last time and then see how we can improve on that without hitting gardening overload. One of these days, I hope to have a tall raised bed like one of yours!

[@melanierubin8775]

Love this, and all your work. Thank you for what you do.

[@retadearing4602]

Good to see you back

[@MickyBellRoberts]

Good day my friend, busy as ever.

[@fabrisseterbrugghe8567]

I'm starting my food garden this year. In ground isn't practical for me -- heavy clay and burgeoning arthritis -- but I have two pear trees and two American hazel shrubs going directly into the soil. I have three self-fertilizing citrus trees coming to fill large containers and one shrub avocado for a fourth container. After that, I have two 3x3x3 raised beds for vegetables, with a trellis for runner beans. Wish me luck.

[@Milkex]

terribly needed this. things in America are so scary. we just bought a home in a kind of scary neighborhood and desperately need a way to not starve if food networks shut down. gonna go till some dirt and throw potatoes in

[@Gardeningchristine]

Wonderful video! Relatable,informative,useful! Thanks

[@teebob21]

Like Mark, I started in a roughly 6x6' (2m x 2m) space. I expanded to having 6 large raised beds, then I thought I could do better with gardening in bulk in the ground. Boy was I WRONG! I'm slowly going back to raised beds: not just high expensive steel beds (which I have; and in the US: Vego Garden sells beds just like Birdies), but also 4x8 lumber beds and even 2x2 minibeds in the Herrick Kimball style. I only grow potatoes and sweet corn in-ground anymore. Raised beds for life! :)

[@spicyfm451]

If youre a renter, you cant beat pots. I like a good 50cm top diameter at least. Its the dirt that will kill you for $$$. Buy a moisture meter for about $15 and its hard to screw up the water. Come out in the morning with your coffee check your pots and water if needed. Lots of content on youtube like old Mark here to help you out. A must is start a compost. I compost in a pot with a drilled pvc pipe in the middle to help airflow (home made). Another pot as a lid. Once you start using your own compost, your growing will go next level. Store bought compost is treated, sterilsed and tends to suck. When its time to move, run your pot a bit dry if you have plants to save the weight but dont kill your plant. If you own, get the birdies and wait for a deal if you need to. I love the birdies range, sizes and shapes. Again its the dirt that sends you broke. If youre growing spuds... POTS! Tip em out on a tarp when harvesting and shovel/pour the dirt back in. Remember to not grow the same thing over and over in the same dirt. Food grown in dirt absolutely flogs hydroponic for taste!

[@glennysgardening7838]

Good video Mark really good info for everyone ❤ love the channel mate

[@TONYGODDARD-f2v]

Love watching you .I have a raised garden in 2x chest freezers from the dump cost $5 for both in nz

[@davidholland1124]

Great work Mark 👍👍👍

[@minkademko2335]

How encouraging ❤ thanks for this video!

[@SM-yz5sj]

Love the video. Planning on expanding what im growing.

[@Katherine.2024.]

We bought 4x birdies beds last year thanks to your recommendation, and also having seen them on Epic Gardening. We used your coupon code 😉 We absolutely love them! The biggest issue we had with them was that it was a little bit windy while we were trying to put them together. Horrendous. Do not recommend. If it's windy, cut your losses and wait for a calm day 😂 😂

[@01Barb]

Thanks Mark. Another info packed video. I've been in garden since '21 full time. Mistakes made, always learning, no huge crops but soil quality improving. Fighting Summer bugs now in SE QLD, I managed flowers & cucumber success in my raised beds, garden beds & also trying Kratky hydroponics

[@shelleygoetchius231]

I am doing a combination of all these 5!

[@CorruptPod]

Your videos are the best! ❤

[@rickthelian2215]

Thanks again Mark😊

[@flatlander2743]

I've reposted this video on a couple local-to-me sites promoting the community garden I'm helping to build. The garden is made up of various gardening methods and your video hits them all! Bravo!

[@goldmagnet]

Raised beds are so much better, I've built 4 out of old sleepers with second hand colourbond, 2 round ones which was an old gal tank cut in half and more recently bought 4 birdies ones through your discount. I pretty much live out of the garden only buying meat to suit what's ready in the garden.

[@kthorsen100]

Love all your podcast !

[@φυλακή13]

you're the best mark

[@richardwainwright507]

Great stuff

[@andyjohn5272]

One of your best videos so far. Keep up the good work

[@PabloP169]

We have at least one thing in common, we both started our gardening in Wodonga, although mine was 30 odd years before you. You headed north to sunny Qld, and I headed further south, first to east Gippsland, then Melbourne.

[@WizardInAus]

I would love to know as a fellow Australian what is the best organic solution for a potted garden bed and what raised garden beds you use because they are darn impressive. It is always better to hear a Cockatoo than to see a Cockatoo if you are a bloke 😅. Beer o'clock. You answered my raised garden bed question. Thanks so much.

[@KokoraLife]

Thanks for this! Really great tips.

[@lynmoore8355]

Great stuff Mark love your channel.

[@PepperplacewithShawna]

Thanks, Mark.

[@hmartin751]

I have about ten galvanized beds I pick up on amazon for 20 bucks there always on sale. They hold up well my 5th yr using. I live in Maine and winters are brutal and I have left them out every year all year and they r still perfect

[@scottiv6188]

great job Markus