Hi, Mark. You may remember me commenting to you last year after your vlog on propagating pineapples. I am the guy with terminal cancer who contacted you to thank you for all of the joy I have received from your wonderful work. Much to my surprise, I am still alive and have outlived my oncologist's predictions. It appears God had other plans for me. I am still terminal (as far as I know), but I'm feeling exceptionally well. I received an amazing amount of well wishes from your followers from all over the world. I also received a beautiful letter from you, all of which I appreciate so much. Not only am I still alive, but I have recently gotten a second wind, so to speak, and am using what little strength I have to build a modest raised bed garden to accompany the tiny one I have left over from last year. This year's raised bed is exactly what you showed in today's video using leftover lumber. I actually mustered the strength and energy to build it myself this week. I'm mostly proud that I was capable after all I've been through. Like the one in your video, my carpentry skills were not perfect, but it is just fine for what it is. It was fun for me to see you doing exactly the same project I just did right at the same time. In your last text to me you said that maybe one day you and I will garden side by side in the afterlife (I'm paraphrasing. You said it much more eloquently). In a way, it looks like we already are. How cool is that! Keep being the awesome guy that you are, Mark.

@alicecowan3499

4 жыл бұрын

Chris Shirley God Bless you 🌈🙏🏼👍🏼😉🥬🥒🥦🥕🍉🍓🥭🍠🌶🌽🍑🍎👍🏼😉💜

@mariap.894

4 жыл бұрын

Chris Shirley Many blessings your way and that the second wind last on your sail for a very, very long time! ❤️🙏🙋🍀

@kristineharrower7813

4 жыл бұрын

Chris Shirley sending lots of gardening strength your way Chris, enjoy x

@Selfsufficientme

4 жыл бұрын

G'day Chris!!! I'm glad to hear that you are feeling so well and also well enough to even make a garden bed but it's more than making a garden bed - it's actually making the best out of life and I think this is a lesson we should rehash often to remind ourselves of the bigger picture. Yes, I'm sure God has plans for you mate. I hope this growing season is prosperous! Take care :)

@yukey2587

4 жыл бұрын

God bless you, Chris!

As a 15-year-old boy gardener, none of my friends do gardening. With horrible exams and other things, I love watching your videos, thank you :)

@nataliemarshall3991

3 жыл бұрын

Good on you, follow your passions, not fashions. I've always loved gardening even during my exams so long ago. I followed my dad around the garden as a teenager, and even now so many years later, after exams and careers, etc, I love mowing and weeding and planting. I agree Mike's videos are top banana, very cheerful and informative.

@theman4908

3 жыл бұрын

15 and gardening? I wish i start at your age. Im 30 now.

@netormz2479

2 жыл бұрын

Young homie this is a skill that most ppl don't learn growing up but it comes in handy as an adult when you can grow your own tomatoes, lettuce ect... keep doing you.

@lukaslambs5780

2 жыл бұрын

I’m 20 almost 21 and the same is true for me! Gardening is awesome and is a lifelong passion! Keep growing man! Mark is the best!

@UrbanGardeningWithD.A.Hanks14

2 жыл бұрын

@@theman4908 LOL, I hear ya! I was growing dawn redwoods for 25 years before I finally realized I should put that experience into growing food.

“Remember, it’s just a veggie garden” So simple yet powerful. It’s not pretty, but it’s got your own blood sweat and tears (if it got stressful) so it’s something worth being proud of even more.

@justrynahustle6064

Жыл бұрын

Well said 👍

@seaturtleslastname8286

Жыл бұрын

Sunken cost phallacy is a bitch isnt it lmao

These are perfect for people like me who can't bend down, getting old isn't for sissies. I put some solar post lights on mine, it makes it pretty at night.

@chrisshirley4877

4 жыл бұрын

Kathy Baudoin, what a clever idea to add the post lights. I'm going to check into the cost of doing so in my raised bed garden. Thank you for sharing that idea.

@alicecowan3499

4 жыл бұрын

Kathy Baudoin I also insisted on raised beds this year. Hubby did make them for me as I just cannot get down on the ground like I use to. And your right, growing old IS NOT for sissies! Lol I totally relate 👍🏼😉💜🍠🥬🥒🌶🌽🥕🥦🍉🍑🥭🍓🍋🍎

@Selfsufficientme

4 жыл бұрын

Solar lights! Good for some evening work in the garden or for when you need to pick a few greens for a late dinner :)

@rowbearly6128

4 жыл бұрын

@@Selfsufficientme Does the light affect the plants natural flowering cycles etc? I've always wondered, as I have a streetlight near my garden..

@reneebrown5598

4 жыл бұрын

@@rowbearly6128 I'm more worried about how many insects are going to collect under those lights and if they will eat my garden

Love the mention of people with disability. My wife and I are blind and Sam has a bad knee etc and building a solid high bed from mostly repurposed hardwood was such a good choice for us. We put a ledge around the top and sanded it so no splinters and we can sit or lean on the bed and put our tools and watering can on too. The height, building on a couple of layers of cardboard and finishing with good soil pretty much gave 0 weeds to deal with and in 3 months only 1 or 2 snails. Gardening can be challenging with disability, chronic illness and neuro diversity to the extent that we started a permaculture Facebook group to discuss and try to find solutions. Happy growing all.

Quit giving yourself such a hard time those beds look quite nice

I have big dogs. I have a garden outside my yard but I also wanted to utilize the room inside my yard as well so instead of doing what you did I happened to see an old frigerator on the side of the road. I completely removed all the lines and wires and even the middle between the freezer to the fridge and filled it up with dirt and turned it into my green beans and carrots. I liked the idea so well that I got another one filled with corn

@Berkeloid0

4 жыл бұрын

I wonder whether you could leave the wires in place and grow cold-weather crops in Mark's subtropical climate 😄

@jeil5676

4 жыл бұрын

This makes me think old jacuzzi's would be perfect.

@dartanion0075

4 жыл бұрын

Do you call pot corn?

@Megatron995

3 жыл бұрын

@@Berkeloid0 If you've got the money, your electricity provider's got the time!

@maxinewoolston2296

3 жыл бұрын

How about drainage so they don't get waterlogged?

Now every time I see rotting logs I'm like, ooh my next garden bed lol

@nataliemarshall3991

3 жыл бұрын

Me too. Very distracting! lol

“It’s just a veggie garden” Yes! Thank you! Just get something and get going

@erik6789

3 жыл бұрын

Perfect is the enemy of good. XD

I’m converting my front yard grass to raised beds this year, so I’m very grateful for this easy tutorial! Thank you 🙏☺️

@Selfsufficientme

4 жыл бұрын

Less mowing and more food growing! ;)

“Old Teembah” I just love the way he speaks. So cool, informative and fun.

@wildchook745

4 жыл бұрын

@SeriousName It's because Queenslanders have their own accent LOL. And, too much sun and rain at the same time can make you say, 'teeembah' ...fairdinkum! LOL We are multicultural, so you would most likely hear a Kiwi Australian, a UK Australian, a bogan Australian and blah LOL I have a kiwi accent with a bit Australian and some Irish Haha. I have no idea where the Irish come from LOL

@conflectiz

4 жыл бұрын

Mary Playford KZreadr Ozzy Man says fairdinkum a lot and calls most girls Sheila.

@mrbrown3546

4 жыл бұрын

Every state has slight differences. It's the same with any large country, look at America or England. To confuse things further, some of us move interstate, after a few years it has an effect lol

@donnasteward7670

4 жыл бұрын

@SeriousName No matter what country you are living in there are different dialects/accents, depending on the area.

@ginamac9112

4 жыл бұрын

conflectiz ❤️ love his message. Use what you’ve got. Don’t stress over the pretty. Functional is all we need. Happy growing everyone

I was a master Craftsman before my stroke and you did great the most important thing is to take pride in what you are doing no matter what it is good job mark

Here in the UK we have to either preserve the timber or line the bed with plastic after, to keep the wet soil off the timber and stop it rotting. I have to agree with you though, best way to build one is get out there and do it, 2nd and 3rd one gets better as your skills improve. Stay safe everyone...Steve...👍

@0anant0

3 жыл бұрын

I use heavy duty weed-block fabric as a liner

Hey mate, I just watched your video when you contemplated getting a “real job”. I’m glad it worked out for you and the family. I too was a stay at home dad and I’ve never had a harder more rewarding job. Hello from Lynchburg, Va. I love the channel

@impressivesarasarabrown466

4 жыл бұрын

Good for you 👍 😊 ❤️

@Selfsufficientme

4 жыл бұрын

G'day David, yes mate not easy but very rewarding (and often frustrating) but hey you know exactly what it's like and I don't regret making the decision to be a stay at home dad - I just wish I had more time in a day lol... Things are going much better now with my "content creation career" than a few years back and I have you guys to thank for keeping me motivated. Cheers :)

We have ordered many autumn seeds and I have ordered a greenhouse. I live in on the southern slopes, near Young. Wish me luck. I love your simplicity .. that's what I need. Stay safe and healthy

I love realistic expectations. This is motivation I could actually follow.

This is some magic, me and my dad we’re just thinking about how to do this cheap

@grabithard2534

4 жыл бұрын

Go collect some pallets, or check local lumber yard for scraps.

@itsasickness4939

4 жыл бұрын

My main garden beds are very nice and cost a pretty penny. But the first time my wife came home empty handed from the grocery store I started thinking of ways to increase production. Old lumber or from construction site dumpsters. Corrugated metal, cinder blocks, bricks, kiddie pools, containers, 5 gallon buckets etc... etc... etc... you are only limited by your imagination.

@buttercxpdraws8101

3 жыл бұрын

@SeriousName Wow. That’s some smart motivated druggies you must know. Good on them, better than robbing people isn’t it?

I’m currently building a raised bed with logs from my woods. So rewarding 🌱👊🏻

Thank you so much for this! My wife and I will be building one this weekend with all the help of your video. Stay safe out there during these strange and troubling times, mate. Cheers!

Your beds have always been my favorite! Keep it simple and low cost, focus your time and energy where it really matters! Keep up the great work!

I'm currently building my first raised beds. 👍

@aussiegardener1773

4 жыл бұрын

Me too

@Mary-zj9jz

3 жыл бұрын

congrats I just bought a house and going to plant in ground this year and maybe next too make sure i have a good place for my beds

@MextizaCalifa

3 жыл бұрын

I hope u did great

Mark I just love your videos - thanks for providing such good info and showing how easy self-sufficiency is with just a bit of work!

I love seeing Scooter in the background every time.

I love you Mark, your personality and attitude towards life makes me happy

You are so awesome and you don't leave any detail out! I have learned a lot of great stuff from you! Thank you for your time!! Cheers!

You have done a great job on you're property. I love you're setup and you're videos have inspired and shown me a lot of great ideas. Thank you.

You're so reasonable and soothing. I do want to learn about gardening, but I also just start you up when I want to read a book or do other tasks as background/company, because you're so relaxing. : )

Hey Mark! I've recently discovered your channel and it's inspired me to try and do a garden of my own, on the other side of the Earth here in Europe! Thank you very much for your enthusiasm and good tips :)

I've been trying to build my own raised garden beds for awhile now. I've been a container gardener by use 5 gallon and 20 gallon tubs, but they just don't have that wow factor that raised beds do. Plus it can take a lot on your back to tend to them. I've been watching Mark's videos for a few years now, and after watching this one, I've finally got enough motivation to build one out of recycled materials I had around the yard. So from here in the South, Thanks a Bunch Mate :)

I've gone down this route! My father in law was a SSM Engineer and had some pallets laying about from work so he built a raised bed for me, but when it came to this social distancing I took what I learned watching and built a bed like yours in the video! I might not be a carpenter, but it will do the trick!

Just wanted to say im really learning alot from your videos. Im trying to recycle the wood from a fence that is falling down in my yard that is several years old and basically make as many raised beds as I can from them. Your awesome thanks for the knowledge and ideas

Thanks Mark, we’ve just moved to some acreage & need to put together some garden beds ASAP. This looks like a cost effective solution. Appreciate the step-by-step as there are no carpenters in this household 😂 I’m from Victoria and I have learned a lot by watching American homesteaders & some of the fabulous British gardeners but it’s great to see an Aussie living the life we are aiming for and helping us out with great videos. 👏

I’ve been preparing the grounds in my back garden for a while now with the view to building a studio and some lovely tall raised beds... watching this has given me a bit more confidence about the project ahead, so thanks for that! Only discovered your channel today and boy am I glad I did... even my 8 year old was begging me to click video after video! Good on ya! Cheers from sunny Surrey, England!

Great work Mark. Your explanations are very clear.

Love that you take different people capabilities into account in your advise so it's really nice to see. :) gardening for all!!!!!

Northern Canada here and glad I found your videos. Appreciate all the info and the fact you seem like a genuinely good person. Cheers keep it up I will share and like your videos to help support!

Thanks for the encouragement! I'm just about to build two new raised beds for green asparagus each from 3 used pallet frames (1,20m by 80 cm) purchased for just 9 Euros each. They have metal interlocking corners so I don't think I'll even need the corner posts but we'll see.

Hi Mark This was JUST the video I wanted ; I've seen your Al-sided raised-bed clips and thought that was too costly, so this is GREAT. Love the way you show the steps, and how you cope w the decline. (See you working HARD in the video!!!) Lots of great tips. And: recently I've been wondering how to dig post-holes...hey and here I see it in action w/o a motorised machine ! Synchronicity! Double thumbs up from me. I watch a lot of your videos...they are inspiring, as I can (easily) see myself doing it too. I'm glad you mentioned the super-finished 'Garden & Home' beds and how that kind of perfection can put one off even trying! I'm glad you're using cheap materials (I'll used disassembled pallets) - I've no interest in spending on what I really don't need to. I'm sending this video link (and the one where you fill it in(which I actually watched first)) to a relative in a dry coastal area - who likes to do things himself. Way to go Mark!!!

I built a raised garden bed because of the information this very channel has provided. I just want to thank you for the information and inspiration!! My 28 pinto bean plants have a great home and are looking great!

What a guy. I could honestly listen to you explain stuff for hours. I don't have a raised garden bed but damn I want one now :)

I use old wooden fence sections. Cut them into 2 foot sections, set your posts and screw on the sections. Then cut one of the sections in half. Instant 3 x 6 x 2 garden bed. I never bury my posts and they are on the outside.

I built my boxes with cedar fencing. However I also went lowes and got cheap aluminum flange and spray painted it dark brown and nailed it over the corners. I just used tin snips. I love these taller boxes. One I use as a compost heap.

Your videos always bring a smile to my face. Keep up the great work

Finally, an episode i can relate to...im from philippines and i like ideas that involves recycling...i did build two raised bed using woods from our renovated room its economical and timely a way to fill my day this quarantine...thank u 😍😍😍

I’ve commented this before but you were my inspiration to build tall raised beds a few years back. I’m relatively young and spry but I still love the convenience. Also, we have rock hard clay soil in my area so the added height allows a much thicker layer of loose compost for my plants to enjoy.

Cheers mate ! I'm doing mine tomorrow :) I love the way you explain things it's brilliant !

one of the few youtube personalities that i'd like to meet in real..youre a very cheerful guy, mate.thanks for the vids.Sending good vibes your way

Hi Mike, greetings from Brazil ... I love your channel, you are such an inspiring guy. I bet your videos make a difference in many people's lives. Stay strong. I'm making a raised bed for my mom thanks to you...

Mark, thanks so much for sharing. I was able to find and buy a twist type post hole digger today online. I think that will be so much easier to use than the forceps type I have tried before. We have very heavy clay soil here in Virginia. My hubby and I went to buy the lumber needed for 3 beds. My game plan is to make 6-8 8x4 beds and eventually enclose the whole thing in a greenhouse using the in ground truss for the clothes line that we are not going to use.

Hubby just agreed to let me order one of the Birdie's beds yesterday and used your discount code. Here in the U.S. they are backordered until late June. That's okay. I'll use it for our fall garden. Love the new bed you built. I think it is so important for people to understand that what is important is the ability to grow food (and growing food) and not so much what the beds or containers look like.

I appreciate you putting the unit conversions in the video. What a champ!

Very nice. I had about 20 boards of 2x10 lumber that I kept by demolishing an old fox barn 15 years ago and finally I managed to make 3 raised beds at about 20 inches high. Beds are 4x8 feet each. I will build another one this weekend with the last of the boards. Free material is the best material.

The only useful video I found on you tube for this matter! Thanks, Mark!

🇨🇦 Yes, you look like an official carpenter. I LOVE it! Thanks for the humour & encouragement

Future gardener here, I love your videos! I learned so much ove the last months watching your channel. Keep up the good work!

I love your videos and I barely do any gardening. Your demeanor and presentation make it all seem very do-able, as you were saying those fancy projects you see on TV seem daunting and difficult, but your positive can-do attitude and addressing that it doesn't have to be perfect to be done are extremely reassuring. I love watching, please keep these videos coming!

Looks great. Like the repurposing and saving money. If wanting to spiff up, could paint same color mist green as your birdies beds. I have been mulling over such cost of building several but started seeing what I have already instead. I have some very old rustic, corrugated tin and decking plus saving loads of limbs and logs. So this was very helpful and helps me to make my decision. I am at the beginning of my carpentry skills too; just used my circular saw for the first time. I had a nice curvy cut first time around.

I really really love and enjoy your videos! So informative and you really crack me up often Mark! Keep up the good work! I am going to try this recycle raised bed myself! Thanks for sharing!

I have constructed a bunch of them myself I just used skids and took them apart they were perfect to use.

Just finished some raised beds here. We used landscaping timbers. Figured that using those would take the guesswork out of wondering whether or not they could handle the soil weight and bowing. We are super excited and have been sprouts already growing like crazy. Here in the sub tropics of southern Florida the chickens run wild in the community. We love them but since we are infringing on their land we have to cover our crops in what looks like a coop that would normally be for the birds. It's a nice reversal and I hope it's enough to protect our first raised bed crops. Thank you for all you do Mark. It's tough getting started but your message starting to be self sufficient in just something really keeps us going

I love the solid rimu saw horse there Mark. You are the king of repurposing and budget builds and I truly admire your videography. Good work.

I didn’t build a raised bed this year and after several heavy thunderstorms and a constant onslaught of slugs, I regret it.

I built my raised beds from old 4 by 4s and used corrugated roofing and it's was all free. So far they look good and have vegetables growing in them.

I love seeing proper homemade (ie not perfect) garden beds, it adds more character to a garden. My husband just made me a large raised bed from leftover fencing panels. It's beat up and a wonky but I couldn't be happier. We've started filling it in a Hugelkultur manner after watching some of your previous videos 👍👌

@Selfsufficientme

4 жыл бұрын

All the best with your Hugelkultur bed Marianne! Cheers :)

Love the bed how it turned out !!! Excellent video , thanks !!!

I like the combination of different containers and recycling/upcycling. Some years ago a very talented interior designer showed me how to make mixed materials coordinate with each other. I had mixed picture frames but it applies to anything. She said: make them all the same color, they will look as if you planned them that way. I made mine pewter in color. I have metals, carved wood, straight wood and ceramics - and they look terrific. Yours will too if you can find the time.

You have the best videos on KZread, I looked around. I subscribed last week

We just made our first raised bed. Hoping to make 5 more. Thank you for inspiration!

Thank you, I have had sleepers which have now bowed and I couldn't attach them together. Though after watching this I think if I attach to fencing post first it be easier to build my garden beds

Thanks I have some old pallets lying around and that is a great way of getting rid of the pallets, however I did watch your strawberry vid the other day and saw how you used old pallets for a garden bed. Love your vids

Really encouraging to watch your motivation. Hope to get more into it through the years. Starting with two tomato plants this year. Small yard doesn’t allow for much.

@grabithard2534

4 жыл бұрын

Your best friend is thuricide, might i suggest a bug zapper too also protect.

The more you practice a skill the better you will become. Well done!! For US the pallets should have a stamp of HT (meaning HEAT TREATED) & look clean. Look it up online. Gardening is so therapeutic. Keep safe & healthy.

After watching this video I now plan to make my own raised beds... Thanks a lot for sharing

Love the reuse mindset Mark. Great for the environment and good for the wallet too

I think your carpentry skills are just great! Love watching g your shows. Thank you.

I like this guy. He always keeps it real with the best videos

I think you did an amazing job on that raised bed! It definitely is better to salvage the wood then to just let it go to a land feel. Plus I like the look, both the metal and the wood one. Stay safe friend you and your beautiful family 😊

I love everything you do! You are amazing! 💕

Absolutely fabulous Info!!

You are so incredibly inspiring! Thank you friend!

You are definitely for far my favourite Mark, a book of knowledge

Big thumbs up! I sent this vid to my husband. Hopefully he'll see that we don't need anything fancy to get started ☺ Thanks for sharing as always!

Great video. Helps a lot. Going to build my one in a few weeks.

Accessible content like yours is the key to building a better world. Thank you!

@Selfsufficientme

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching as this encourages me to create more and supports the channel 👍🙂

Hey Mark - Right video at right time for me. I am in process of setting up four of 1600mm*900mm*770mm galvanized beds for our new property at Port Macquarie, NSW. Look forward to see your next video and answering some of base questions around what to fill at what depth in these large beds especially when someone starting from scratch. Regards - Vijay Sachan

great job on the raised bed lyn & matt

I love your work ...very inspiring.

I sure do enjoy your videos...ideas...your FUN PERSONALITY...About 4 years ago, WE built one ALMOST like that...we stapled thick plastic all around the insides, going up from the bottom, so the water wouldn't seep through, and will stay inside the bed. IT IS 4' X 8' ... WE PUT LOGS, ROCKS, LEAVES, COMPOST, etc at the bottom half of the bed...AND the top, around 1 to 2 feet with the GOOD SOIL... each year (because the soil sinks each year) it needs to be added to, to get the level back up to the inch from the top, but it's been worth it, and it's SINKING LESS EACH YEAR ... It's done GREAT for most plants that dont need super DEEP ROOTING...AND we've NEVER HAD TO WORRY ABOUT wood PUSHING OUT...The boards are screwed in...IT COST QUITE A BIT...with lumber costs rising...Ours is also 4 ft high...and we left the four posts (just at each corner) about a foot above, so we can staple plastic over the top, for our COOLER CANADIAN SPRINGS, letting the young plants not freeze...Our 4 POSTS ARE 4" X 4" UNTREATED POSTS...AND WE USED 4" X 1" X 8' BOARDS...It cost us , with the bags of soil added, around $500/CAN. But, with it being our only BIG RAISED BED, it was worth it! But, NICE to be able to FIND CHEAPER WOOD NOWDAYS, AS PRICES ARE RISING HIGHER, AFTER COVID! GOOD'AY MATEY 😃 from So. Alberta, Canada 🇨🇦 🍁 🇨🇦 🍁

You look like a real carpenter to me, Mike. Just like my hubby-he can build anything. It may not be the prettiest, but it is highly functional. I always wanted tall beds, so it is time for me to make some. Have a Wonderful & Blessed Day!

I love all your videos keep up the good work!

Thanks Mark! Always enjoy your content.

I appreciate the discount code and the standard measurement you show on the bottom of the screen.

Thank you Mark. I live in California about two hours away from (Epic) I appreciate you doing this because not everybody can afford those beautiful galvanized beds. I have a 4 x 8 garden bed that’s made from cinder blocks that are three blocks high. And I have one that I bought from Lowe’s. That’s made out of lumber and cross cut garden blocks. It looks nice but it’s just too low to the ground for me. I’ll be 60 at the end of the year so all that bending is hard on my back. It’s maybe 15 inches high so I’m gonna see if I can find some scrap lumber or try and count the cost again with cinder blocks and hopefully talk to some landscapers in the neighborhood an ask for gardening scraps from grass leaves, branches and smaller logs. Thank you again for sharing.

Love your videos. I just wanted to thank you for putting out such great and useful content! I am about to build some beds and have a lot of leftover 2 x 4s and other wider pieces...hopefully I can figure something out asap! After this project, I will be getting chickens.

Love your videos and your attitude

We built ours similarly but used a heavy old industrial wood door cut in half for the ends. We filled it the way you showed us and veggies are growing fabulously. Thank you 😊

@Selfsufficientme

4 жыл бұрын

Awesome! :)

I just built two of those...working on more. Going for six in total. My problem is filling them with good soil. I live on hardpan. Love your channel.

Great job and very motivating.

What a lovely video! Super useful! Thanks

Haven't seen anybody rock the short shorts like this since, John Stockton!😎👍

@tracyobrien2816

9 ай бұрын

I love them!