Terraced Vegetable Garden - E.2 - Building Raised Beds & Topsoil

#homestead #terracedgarden #bushlife
Topsoil and finishing off the raised beds of our terraced vegetable garden was the first thing on our list. Building still needed to be done but we also had to figure out what we were were going to do for fertilizer. The slope of the hill dictated our decision and we built the second raised bed in the same manner as the first, only reversed as we flipped it to make the high side on the front. I ripped a piece of Cedar I'd milled with the Alaskan Chainsaw mill to make a custom fit for the bottom front of the second tier and things started coming together.
Tori dug out a space for the third and final tier and levelled it off, then we both finished off the squaring and hammered in the stakes. But now we had to fill them! And it takes a lot of earth. We'd bought some bags of compost from the garden centre in town but it's not economical to fill our raised beds entirely with that. While Tori was getting started on the third tier, I visited a small family farm not too far away from us. It's a cattle farm and the topsoil I bought from the farmer was basically just aged manure mixed with ample decaying hay, it had a subtle but distinct manure smell. So, I suppose the question is, did I buy manure or topsoil? The answer is that there really isn't that much of a difference. Cows eat only plants and any topsoil is decaying plants. You don't want to use fresh manure - or even semi-fresh. It needs to age, or else it's too acidy to grow I learned. Anyways, the yard of manure cost $50 and I hauled it in a trailer.
So, the topsoil/manure I bought was rich enough to mix about 50/50 with the natural soil we have on our property. And, because our property is predominantly Maple, it means our natural soil would be better than if our property was predominantly Pine. This is mainly the case because decaying pine needles can be too acid-rich for most vegetables. We scooped the manure onto a tarp and slid it down the hill, dumped it into the raised beds and then mixed it in with our natural soil and the compost in bags that we bought with the garden centre. We were happy that it was enough to fill the raised beds because it didn't take long after their construction really lot more soil than we initially thought it would to fill them.
The next steps will in ash from our fireplace, peat moss and some fish heads and guts from my recent catches. We'll then do a couple other things - including going over our square footage gardening practices for maximum yield and of course, we'll plant! stay tuned and watch it come together. And check out E.1 from the raised beds build here. • How to Make Terraced R...
Thanks a lot for watching!
Please subscribe to my KZbin channel for more! Including some big adventures, I'm getting up too in the north this summer. / jimbairdtheadventurer
Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter:
/ adventurer
/ jbadventurer
/ jbadventurer
Check out my website for articles, blogs and other videos you won’t find here.
www.theadventurer.com
Canada: www.amazon.ca/shop/jimbaird-a...
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Agawa Gear:
agawagear.com/discount/JBADVEN...

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Thanks a lot for watching everyone! Please like this video and subscribe to my channel. The project is coming along well so far but lots more to do before we harvest. We'll upload a video every step of the way so you can watch the progress. Check Ep.1 here to get caught up. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpfCooiHmtpknq8

[@kekoamaunakea4473]

Growing some cannabis aka “Smoke” (Medicinal of course), gonna save a bud from my first harvest seal it in a vile until we can spark it on a clear nite somewhere in the Yukon amongst the stars, “and just maybe we’ll be able to see Buck running across the heavens chasing snow shoe rabbits for fun”. ML&Aloha Your Boy Kekoa&Ohana 🌲🌈🐺🌲

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Beautiful

[@christopherslaughter303]

Love that you have a "Worker Bee" wife. Tory definately puts in the work. Im sure that she helps and loves the outdoors is a big reason why you both make a perfect couple. keep the vids coming and look forward to more of your home projects

[@marygordon3032]

All that hard work, l just know it’s gonna be awesome! Thanks Jim and Tori. 👍👍😎😎💯💯

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Thanks a lot! Ya we thing so but it doesn’t mean anything I guess until there are some veggies

[@scottroberts7875]

Jim/Tori/ Westley.. You guys, are the dream team, living the good life on patch of waterside heaven. loving the teamwork , and loving your progress. ATVB, to all you do and all that is yet to come. .Scott Somerset England

[@PacificSolo]

I love the title, I already have an idea of what it's all about! 🤣 I can't wait to see the updates!

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Lol, Tori suggested that I change it so I did. Was worried YT might not like it.

[@peppernc429]

What a beautiful place you two have!

[@giselecontassotdesayvre8090]

Bonsoir...quelle riche idée ce potager en espalier... beaucoup de travail..mais nickel!...quelle satisfaction dans quelque temps... bravo à vous deux👍 magnifique votre vidéo..merci🙂

[@catherinemay1693]

Thanks for the inspiration!

[@pirie555]

Very interesting video.. Great team work.. I was impressed with using the tarp as a drag.. saved a lot of work.. Thank you for sharing.. LG NB..

[@mariar4962]

Tori is not afraid to get her Hands dirty! Your garden is gonna be great

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

That is the truth about Tori and as far as the garden goes. You get what you put into is so I hope we can keep it up and get a good yield.

[@g.s.7022]

A really great place to live. Amazing. The high terrace beds are moving forward and I can't wait to see your plants growing big. With all of your animal neighbors, you will need a very stable and close-meshed fence to save all the future vegetables😉☘️💫🥬 Wow Tori is doing 👍

[@lennyt-man4229]

Looks very good Tori and Jim. Enjoy hearing those rapids behind the house, reminds me of my late dad's brother who had a cottage along the Winnipeg River back in the 90's in Eastern Manitoba.

[@duanesales3174]

AMAZING JOB!

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Thanks!

[@Budge1970]

TO THE PERSON WHO DISLIKED THIS....I'M COMING FOR YOU. THERE WILL BE TIERS

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Nice! Lol

[@young-soonkim6730]

Good Monday Jim, Tori and Westley! You definitely need the fencing around the vegetable garden! I live in a city, but too many little animals in my backyard including the foxes, raccoons, rabbits, skunks, chipmunks, squirrels, rats, mouses and mices... Even though I have the fance around my garden they climb inside! Only thing they don't eat is the garlics, green onions, garlic chives, perilla leaves! Two layers of the chicken wire fancing around the vegetable garden will help.

[@andi2234]

GREAT opening! :)

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Thanks a lot!

[@Gawonii1Austencao]

My Mom heard you say Hi Mom, and she said Hi back, lol

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Haha, awesome

[@rialobran]

You'll be growing giant veg in those beds! Great teamwork too. If I were you, forget the sprinkler and invest in a ski chair lift for that hill! ;)

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Haha, good call! Thanks and I hope we do get a lot of good veggies too!

[@ericgelsinger]

Such a nice video, I love the establishing shots, the reminders that animals share our land (even if they end up eating our vegetables!), and those tracking shots, especially at the end, give a great sense of being right there. Amazing to think that to make a vid of this quality just a decade or two ago would have required a crew of 20. Of course, its not just new technology, its knowing how to use it, and its instructive to see that people who master survival gear and power tools are the same who master cameras. good vids are modern day beaver pelts! Thanks for another great video in these difficult times!

[@briansaucy4871]

Don't let the critters get to all the fruits of your labor...cheers. Great verity of subjects, thanks.

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Yes, good point...this will be a project we handle before too long

[@johnmccormick175]

Looking good!....beautiful property !...stay safe folks.

[@andyteohockguan7243]

Awesome work done and stay safe

[@richardsolomon8076]

Awesome job team, looks great. Be careful with the grinder around glass, the red hot sparks can bed into the glass surface and leave rusty specks. Looking forward to seeing the mill in action :)

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Good tip re the grinder sparks. Didn't know that. ya, the mill makes some nice boards for sure. I got that vid scheduled for next Monday.

[@DawidNaudeIrishSettler]

Hi Jim & Tori. The intro is stunning, plenty of wild life. So the beds are finished, now it's time to make it a greenhouse. With the deer's and other animals they will think every night is CHRISTMAS... 🤠

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Lol, out next steps include protecting the garden from becoming a bunny salad bar

[@DawidNaudeIrishSettler]

@@JimBairdAdventurer lol "SPOILSPORT" ...🤠

[@veganlight2715]

Thank you Jim and Tory for sharing, It is not only the vegetable plots which are of interest, but of course the setting is awesome and incredible, what an amazing place and environment for the wee one to grow up in!!!. The sound of the river in the background is just unbelievable and you must know :in case you get twitches or urges similar to that depicted in the film of ''Deliverance' - which you of course will not as you are with a baby in a very very beautiful place - but anyway... should you get those kind of doubts you are to know those arise . because of lack of support and not because there's anything wrong with either one of you other than lack of support. Wish luck, all the best and a lot of peaceful hours too. WOW - what a venture!

[@trishaharrison6183]

Great workmanship to you both. Can’t wait to see what you get to harvest.😋

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Thanks a lot, did another big push today on it...planting time is coming!

[@jodyreay733]

Thank you sooo much I needed this so bad tonight! I had a bad Covid dream and got up and y’all were here!! You all but a smile on my face! I appreciate all of you! Beautiful video!

[@janetwithers7427]

I love your trail Cam - so many cool animals stopped by. Your terraced garden beds are wonderful. So glad to see you are putting in some gardens. There must be an easier way to move the "fertilizer"..... You have such a gorgeous view from your house. Wow. You and Torrie work so well together. Great Work ! :-)

[@patsyinthesmokies]

❤️❤️❤️ great video

[@patriciabarnes6664]

A flower bed or two would be nice next to the raised beds, just where those rocks are by your steps. Your home's in a lovely setting.

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Yes it would be and actually we have some perennials there, on top of those rocks. Lilies that do quite well.

[@phoenixrisingharley]

Hello Jim and Tori, my husband and I are quite a bit older than you two and we have 61 acres, we watched your video as we are about to make our useless slope out front of house into terraced veg gardens, so nice to watch you two working as a great team, really enjoyed watching, very inspiring to us :) take care

[@lismos100]

If I came to North of Ontario I would visit you! I love your Videos! I think I was two times in your area! Our son lives also in On so we rented some time an RV and had driven through Ontario

[@patbeaudoin4237]

Great job guys looking really good🙂🇨🇦👍🍅🥕

[@marianfrances4959]

You guys rock! 😉🌲🌷🌻🍅🇨🇦

[@HamsterLife_EnglishLearning]

OMG this was so epic. Super awesome view of your back yard. I love the fantastis instrumental tune at the end. The 2nd to last was also my type of tunes. Your sweet baby boy has such wonderful locks of hair!! Tori you are a work horse girl!! Great loving team work! Turned out great. I can't wait to see your garden at the end of summer. Thanks for the fantastic super duper awesome video. I certainly also loved the change of type of video!! That is why I follow Shawn faithfully and TRY to wait patiently for his video's too. They are more my little house on the prairie type video's I grew up with. The video's are more to how my grandparents lived.

[@lastfanstanding999]

I like ya'll design, its really looking cool ! Tori was out measuring, cutting, leveling dirt and than screwing the boards together while Big Jim played in Horse Manure lol :D Horse Manure is the best... and Fish carcasses of course, Dewalt screw tips suck lol ..if you file a little bit off the end they'll grip allot better !

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Thanks and good tip about the strew tips! We got aged cow manure here just because it’s easier to access for us. That is definitely true for the tier tier on this project. Tori lead the charge there. Of course she. You see her working and there’s right shots involved, I’m usually behind the camera and vice versa! Glad you like the project.

[@loganoutdoors9730]

You guys got a pretty sweet spot there

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Thanks!

[@drewa3597]

looking good, beautiful backyard

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Thanks a lot!!

[@Mickey_Bauer]

35:27 what a beautiful backyard, i'm jealous.

[@77tjm]

I must have more of this Baird-family-type content!!!! ASAP!!

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Okay, I’ll see what I can do!!

[@pacificbushcraftandfirecra6358]

Awesome that you use Dewalt tools too Brother... Good stuff! Great progress on the garden beds... they should serve you well!

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Thanks a lot

[@TheGrantAlexander]

Wow! that was some fancy table saw work. If I had done that on my channel everyone would be up in arms about how unsafe it was. I always say if it works and you feel comfortable, then don't worry what other's say. Garden's look great on the hill there, can't wait to see how things grow. When I made a garden in my backyard I put it where we had a giant cedar hedge (over 16 feet tall in some places and more than 8 feet wide). It did not grow anything well for the first few years! Thanks for sharing your hard work!

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

I’ve heard that often the first years isn’t the best but we’re hoping we can make things work. Out garden last year was small and didn’t yield much but we didn’t put much time into it really, so we will see. I haven’t gotten shit for it before but I’ve had a couple real life comments about it. When you’re trying to make lumber, you kinda gotta use the table saw. I just finished milling five 2x4x2.5s. And five 2x4s of the same length. Squared one side of the log with the chainsaw mill and then ripped the 12.5’ slabs twice, getting a long 2x4 and 2x6 out of each one.

[@TheGrantAlexander]

@@JimBairdAdventurer agreed, a table saw makes it so much easier! Have you ever thought of making a jointer sled for your table saw? I have one and it makes it so much easier for making the edges perfectly straight.

[@wyliekylie1]

Great video you guys! Almost makes me wish I had a husband to help me do this to my slope of a yard...almost! I've had measurements for a while now, just have to to get the timber and start digging. You have a new subscriber and fan! Greetings from Pennsylvania!

[@geroldknoebel2402]

Very nice, a lot of work. I hope your late-night guests leave something for you. - You are absolutely right, everything you grow on your own is clean and not contaminated by Bxxer - Moxxxxo. - I think it's great. Greetings from Frankfurt

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

👍 thanks a lot

[@geroldknoebel2402]

@@JimBairdAdventurer Oh yes, I built three raised beds, we don't have that much garden, laugh even the dog, wants his racetrack. I'm using every corner I can get my hands on. Grins, women and flowers, etc. - Everything that goes into the ground, supports, boards, I paint with tar, otherwise it rots too fast. - - On your landslides, sprinkle some dry sand beforehand, then the earth slides better. - Greetings from Frankfurt

[@BackinIN]

Wow Tori ! Jim, you are so lucky to have such a wonderful lady in your life. Is there anything she can't do???

[@stuartkcalvin]

Start video, click LIKE, brew up, feet up :)

[@harrygr218]

looking forward to a bountiful harvest. Hope you don't get all the pests we get in NJ

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Thanks a lot, and we sure do here. There’s wolves, bears, moose, deer, lots of rabbits and mice etc. that cross our property. Of course the issue will be mainly rabbits and deer but we’re definitely going to put up fencing. That’ll likely be the next video.

[@harrygr218]

@@JimBairdAdventurer rabbits and deer are terrible on veggies but i think i saw a ground hog or what we call a hedge hog, are terrible on my garden. they seem to always find a spot to tunnel into my fence. good luck

[@MAJJJJJJ]

Your deck is huge. Just a huuuuge deck.yeah . Why travel you could live happily on that deck. And fish.

[@angler2058]

Jim, your videos are going to 💲zit. 🤣🤣 good job from both.

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

lol

[@lindapetersen1800]

OR CHEESE LOL THANKS FOR THE TIP ON SOME BOXES FOR ME

[@kekoamaunakea4473]

Kimo (Jim) I didn’t know you had carpenter in the blood (Koko). Fricking aye Brotherrrrr!!!🧰🔨🧱ML&Aloha Your Boy Kekoa&Ohana 🌺🤙🏽🌺

[@charleschidester6767]

Came here from my self reliance, subbed immediately.

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Nice, great to have ya here!

[@rickoncordova1]

Great vid Jim and Tori !!! 2 FYI's for you. Jim please show Tori how to use a level properly, [ no disrespect], and #2, please be carefull accepting requests to be friends. I have read they are malicious bots. Who knows what kind, and how much damage they can do to your web site and your personal electronics. They can reek havoc on your life and infect all your computer related stuff and get into all your contact lists. Very Suspect !!!! Rick.

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

That’s what I told her about the level but she explained that it works that way too and I think she’s right! I only responded to that spam bot but did not go and sub to them. Definitely suspect. Thanks!!

[@Gawonii1Austencao]

You should get leather necks for your maul to protect the neck

[@carolandkenlunney5430]

maybe you should put some fencing around so all your woodland critters don't have a meal while you sleep

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

That’s the next step. I got creative with the fence posts today!

[@thizizliz]

Oh wow, really great gardens! Love the spaces between the boxes for better access. How will you keep deer from treating the veg as a salad bar? Your mix of amendments sound great. Oh! Next year for starting seedlings you might use old windows as cold frames. Or just sheets of plexiglass. You'll be eating well!

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Thanks, ya you can see the multitude of animals around here that would like to use the garden as a buffet. The next step will be making some sort of fencing

[@thizizliz]

@@JimBairdAdventurer Looking forward to it. You two seem to have great ideas fo innovative solutions.

[@ElkinsEric]

Jim don’t stand behind the board, if it kicks back your gonna feel it. Just stand to the side. Edit: Can’t wait for the trout fishing video

[@ElkinsEric]

And I’m not trying to be a Safety Sally either.

[@douggibson9084]

Raised beds look great. Black flies out yet?

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Thanks and ya, just coming out now

[@svetlanikolova7673]

my terraced garden looks like yours , but I think i can level it with hey bales and conpost

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Nice!

[@Betty-qd8st]

Of all the names I called my small, bramble covered , yard a “terrace “ was not one . 😂 As challenging as it is , I am growing some things though. Proof we can grow almost anywhere! 🌸

[@NomiSyed1]

Jim, any plans of making a cottage for rent on your property, by the river? Would love to visit :)

[@stuartkcalvin]

1:00 There are five native species of Corvids (crows and ravens) in Australia. These are the Australian Raven, Little Raven, Little Crow, Forest Raven, and the Torresian Crow. Another, introduced species -the House Crow - makes an occasional appearance. It is the only Corvid in Australia which has white in the plumage. The Little Crow is the most common, and not a noisy bastard. Just sayin' 1:20 I'll just put an 8" screw in the 4" timber - that's what angle grinders are for! 2:50 DO not do this at home; Jim can move a mountain in seconds - us mere mortals, a weekend 3:50 Tori nails it 13:00 While Jim adventures, Tori does the business. No disrespect intended. 14:20 gloves Tori, gloves! 15:00 while Tori toils, Jim is probably eating; ready to move the next mountain, or carry a cord of wood in one hand. 15:40 that is hard yakka for three 16:10 Jim comes home after displacing a mountain, after treading on it; the trailer contains the detritus of stomping 17:00 shovelling crap - ain't that the truth 18:00 Jim got 'owned' 21:50 great level 29:35 good product placement - should be Bonds Nice piece, I'll watch it to end :)

[@MAJJJJJJ]

Man I saw the river you live on. Amazing. Why would you travel anywhere. What is the name of that river. And what city. Just crazy amazingly beautiful.

[@k6lsn]

Jim, awesome job by you both. Curious, you may have mentioned it but how are you going to protect the beds from critters? Cage, fence, wire, greenhouse covers? Hate to see all the work get gobbled up. You've obviously got plenty of visitors that I'm sure would enjoy munching away at everything. ☮️ Wheelchair John in Idaho USA 😎

[@gingerfield1089]

I am wondering the same things. I prepared a beautiful garden once forgetting the importance of the fence. Are you going to put a fence up?

[@growth208]

Looks great! How is it working with the water drainage from the top of the beds? Does the rain fall wipe out the beds? We have a very steep slope and are planning to put in raised beds, but curious about water drainage from the slope. Thanks

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

I have had an issue with that and they’ve been in place for several years now.

[@ZXspectrum..]

Oh dear....dont let the sparks from the grinder go onto your glass :(

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Yikes. Thanks a lot for watching

[@carladiaz9128]

We came across these videos and totally copied you. Our raised beds in our sloping garden are in progress. Thank you!

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Awesome, you’re very welcome! Good luck with your garden 🙂

[@paulylah]

What sort of glue was that you used on the triangular pieces to level the tier? Is it food safe?

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

I wouldn’t eat it lol. It’s just regular carpenters glue. Not too water resistant really....actually I think maybe you can eat it.

[@mcbnj]

u guys should grow a little bit of that Ted Baird Kush

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

It’s in the plans, legal here and out son has seizures so we could potentially make CBD oil medication with the right prescription.

[@mcbnj]

@@JimBairdAdventurer that would be fantastic. you look like the typa guy that smokes every now and then and gets headaches or depression from it and doesnt really like it but your brother and wife look like theyre always pretty baked

[@blakesmith257]

Great video as always. You gotta blur our your license plates even though I'm sure Canadian stalkers are quite friendly.

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Lol, good idea

[@gingerfield1089]

Where are you located? It’s beautiful

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Central Ontario

[@tWoforgamenot1]

:)

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Thanks

[@e30325ikiller]

if u put the downer board inside u dont need to screw it

[@sdevine4782]

What happened to ya bench saw guide Jim? 🤣

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Kinda tough running live edge past it but do a good job just eyeballing it with a chalk line.

[@sdevine4782]

@@JimBairdAdventurer Yes you handle that hard wood very well young man 😉

[@jaxdaniels1562]

Hey Bud, where the heck is your Brother? He hasn't made a video in a month now! Is he okay?

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

state of emergency in Ontario has banned all camping in parks and public land and banned all camp fires until a couple days ago. So, not much he could do

[@jaxdaniels1562]

Jim Baird - Adventurer I really like your and Teds videos! I can hardly wait until this shit virus stuff is gone! I am finally over at my little brothers house having a bbq! Haven’t seen him and his wife for two months! Stay safe brother!

[@prebenrnnelarsen4180]

Uu

[@prebenrnnelarsen4180]

Iooo

[@angusCSS67]

Why the loud music? i cant hear you talk

[@villain1409]

I like your trekking vids,but i will also tell you why i had to switch this off,because of Loud music,i find it NASTY trying to listen to you & have to listen to my non taste of music,near enough louder than you. I will not give it a Thumbs down,but i turned it off @ 1:40 , i would rather listen to your power to0ls to be fair.

[@JimBairdAdventurer]

Thanks for the feedback

[@villain1409]

@@JimBairdAdventurer And,thank you for taking as Feedback & not a insult,i mean i wear very expensive earphones sitting @ a Desktop & i never ever cho0se to watch videos with music,in them. I am also a Sub of yours,so i like to be honest,as your wilderness videos are amazing to watch,as i cannot get out & do what you do.