G'day Everyone, the link to the detailed article on our website is: selfsufficientme.com/how-to-make-an-ibc-wicking-bed-2-ways/ Remember, our new website is coming soon and we will finally have our own merch store plus other helpful resources in the future! Thanks for your support! Cheers :)

@MrJFoster1984

17 күн бұрын

Water storage/drinking water, worm farms, aquaponics, fire fighting trailers, growing beds, Have 12 of them, they are great. If you look online there are fittings available which can adapt to go to fresh water and ag line.

@rohantherockwiththerocketh7871

17 күн бұрын

Mate this is a ripper way to do a bunch of garden beds if you have a few dollars to spare. Have a ripper Mark!

@myshinobi1987

17 күн бұрын

I wonder if you could apply this self watering principal to the Birdies garden beds (the full height ones in particular) as I have three already in Hügelkultur.

@Basskip

17 күн бұрын

Hi Mark/Celia, is there a specific kind of paint we should be using to protect the IBC? Thanks for the great video

@Mr.Binks.

16 күн бұрын

@basskip hi, Celia here, I just used a good quality tinned spray paint.

My garden tip I've been doing for years is. Wash out the compost and manure bags in a wheel barrow then you have the best free nutrient water to add to the garden and plants. Waste not want not ! Happy gardening 👍

@FarmingandCookingFolkCuisine

17 күн бұрын

Bạn thật biết cách tận dụng hết những gì mình có không để lãng phí ❤️👍.

@kathrynbillinghurst188

17 күн бұрын

Thanx ✌️😁👍💐 Good ☝️ one!

@nunyabusiness863

17 күн бұрын

Actually never even thought to do that. I always shook my head at the waste in the corners and sides of the bags, not even thinking about rinsing them out. Thank you so much for this!

@W4iteFlame

17 күн бұрын

That is a good and logical idea. Thanks

@LPD-9

17 күн бұрын

Legend, can't believe I haven't thought of doing this before!

In a quaint little Aussy neighborhood, not too far away, lives a man named Mark, brightening up every day. Once a soldier, now with a spade in his hand, He tends to his garden across the vast land. With a sparkle in his eye and a grin so wide, Mark shares his gardening tips with great pride. On his KZread channel, he's known far and wide, teaching folks to grow, with joy by their side. "Let's Get Into It!" is his famous cheer, As he dives into gardening, year after year. From onions to celery, he knows what to do, With his trusty old shovel and watering can too. His tales are amusing, his humor so bright, As he talks 'bout his garden, in the day and the night. With rhymes in his speech and a bounce in his stride, Mark's gardening wisdom, you'll surely abide. So if you're in need of a laugh and some green, Just tune in to Mark, you'll see what I mean. For a veteran turned gardener, so charming and wise, with his catchphrase he'll say, "Let's Get Into It!" with pride!

@danielleterry2331

9 күн бұрын

Very nice 👍

@user-nn1jr3bm8u

7 күн бұрын

He didn't see it 😭😭

@ml.5377

16 сағат бұрын

A joy to read!

This gave me an idea, maybe a little impractile but if the need arrises and water is really scarce, you could set these up in a row of descending elevation, so you water the highest bed, the water filters through and drains out into the 2nd bed, and so on. Plants that require the most water could be in the highest beds, and more drought tolerant plants could be in the lowest beds.

@RommelManurung

17 күн бұрын

Similar concept to Balinese (among other indigenous cultures) paddy rice field to both maximise and conserve water use

@VK-qo1gm

17 күн бұрын

A brilliant & very practical idea, especially as water is one of our most precious resources

@lelleithmurray235

16 күн бұрын

Yes! That sounds like a very good idea! So much of the water won't go to waste.

@miamikkelsen1

13 күн бұрын

I believe that might be the setup we see in the still picture around 4:48?

@gengar90

13 күн бұрын

great idea

Thank you brother I'm in Texas USA and I'll need to do this very quickly as we head into summer. I appreciate all your videos! Much love

@veganwinter

17 күн бұрын

I think we have similar conditions to you here in Queensland , Aus. Hard growing but worthwhile! Good luck!

@dr.froghopper6711

17 күн бұрын

I’m in New Mexico and I live at 5000’ elevation SW of Albuquerque. We water here like we enjoy sex: long and deep. These totes will help!

@beverlyzoch9042

17 күн бұрын

We live in Southeast Texas and we go from really wet to really dry! This sounds like a good idea. Thanks

@TXJan0057

16 күн бұрын

I really like the way the edges are covered and the use of sand in the water reservoir these are both features I haven't seen in wicking tubs before.

@NHamel123

5 күн бұрын

Jack Spirko has vids on these working in the DFW area if you need more inspiration

I love what she has done with her gardening concept. Only containers that are food-grade and large barrels, the use of wire-mesh trash cans as protectors for the lettuce, well, I'm borrowing that idea to stop chipmunks from digging in my garden beds.

@vginnmusa3128

16 күн бұрын

Keeps rats & quail from eating your sprouts too!

@weirdsweetcoolplants

8 күн бұрын

Why not trap the chipmunks? Then get a campfire, some herbs and spices and some friends. I can see it now: "Chipmunks roasting over an open fire...."❤😂

Wicking beds are the way to go for arid/semi arid areas. Where I am the yard is 100% hydrophobic sand. You can make wicking beds out of timber too, we used some old fence pailings to make raised beds then used a large pond liner for the reservoir. Tree roots can't get in, the plants have all the water they need while not wasting a single drop. The plants don't even wilt in summer! They just make so much sense.

Hey mark im a Farmer in the Riverina about 30 kms west of wagga we have a veggie garden full of 30 or more ibc tubs we use a full size tub and use your method of adding wood in the bottom and we use waste from our feedlot and straw and hay it makes a great mix and the height of a full ibc is great because that’s comfortable to weed and manage being a ex shearer I love the full size containers saving bending obviously we’re lucky enough to have these ibc tubs on hand moret than we can use from our farm cropping program but we’ve also found them excellent for storing of winter wood for the fire just by pulling the Blatter out I’m amazed at the price people pay for them when in reality a lot of farmers just burn them or hand them back into there chemical agents that dispose of them a few phone calls and you will find a lot of farmers are happy to get rid of them and be happy for someone make use out of them rather than burn them

@Selfsufficientme

17 күн бұрын

G'day Brad, ahh the beautiful Riverina... That brings back memories. I spent several years in Wagga when I was an Army recruit and then later as a recruit instructor. I haven't thought of using whole IBCs for Hugelkultur raised beds - that sounds like a great idea! It's also a top way to repurpose these containers. Thanks for sharing 👍🙂

I've never seen an IBC garden bed before, great idea.

Hi Mark my wife and I live in central Vic, we have almost 150 wicking beds it's the only way we can grow our vegetables due to the lack of rain fall here we use 20 mm gravel 150mm thick then a good wheelbarrow load of tree mulch 80 litres of fresh cow manure and soil to fill best garden beds I've ever grown in. our irrigation system is a closed system so we don't wast any water

@Selfsufficientme

16 күн бұрын

150 wicking beds! WOW! Great stuff Danny - I bet you guys grow a ton... or more ;) All the best :)

@traryvery8851

16 күн бұрын

That is so impressive 😀

Love this Mark! I have fond memories of my IBC connected to a gutter, connected to a hose... that overflowed...into my garden...LOL. - Kevin

@Selfsufficientme

16 күн бұрын

Thanks Kevin! Yeah, that's another great idea and useage for an IBC. Cheers mate :)

Good Day Mark, I'm writing to you from Poland. I have been watching your channel for over two years now and I wanted to thank you, it helps me both learn and stay interested in gardening. I absolutely appreciate your unending enthusiasm and kindness. I have a feeling we would disagree about a lot of issues and I absolutely love that it doesn't have to matter at all. I live in a big city, in a block of flats and at times looking at KZread was my only connection to gardening. Right now I am a part of a growing communal garden in the middle of the city hoping to bring some joy and good food to more people. Thank you a lot!

@Selfsufficientme

15 күн бұрын

G'day and thanks for supporting my channel for so long! I agree; the beauty of gardening is how it acts as a perfect conduit to join people together, no matter their opinions on other things. Well done on getting out and getting into it in your communal garden! These growing spaces are gold for city areas, and I wish they had more. All the best :)

Great job. Good tip: have a plugged hole at the very bottom of the wicking bed. Every 12 months or so, the water should be completely emptied out (which is where sand is a bit problematic). Dissolved mineral salts and other nutrients from the soil can build up in the water reservoir that can end up burning vegies after a while 😊

I use IBCs here in Germany for water storage. Prices generally vary from 50-70€ (80-115AUD). If you want a food safe one, you can add another 50% on top. Maybe more. I generally get mine from a guy that runs a logistics company, where I get a pretty good discount.

What a fantastic idea! These raised beds are potentally so much less expensive to buy. Thank you for showing yet another way to garden!❤🌱

I've had these going for several years, except I used 20mm drainage stone instead of sand. They work great for a couple of years but in my case the grass and weed seeds were blowing in and they'd grow the roots into the shade cloth around the edge. It would get really matted in and you can't pull it out, so you end up with a 10cm "tuft" of grass around the edge which eventually takes over. Really need to cut that cloth well below the soil line

A 275 gallon food grade IBC here in Idaho, USA is $350 plus tax and delivery. Just not feasible. I'd be putting a bucket under the overflow to catch that water! I think it's an awesome idea and thoroughly enjoyed the video.

@kyyurtman1416

17 күн бұрын

That's a brand new one. Search Mqrket place for IBC that have been used for food products. I get mine for $40 here in Kentucky. Most of the ones I have gotten over the years have been used to hold sunflower oil, vegetable oil, and soy bean oil. They have always come with the main valves, caps, and cage. Keep looking. You can do the same thing in a smaller scale with 55 gallon food grade barrels. Cut them in half the long way. Place 2 4x4 or 4x6 pressure treated beams parallel with on the ground. Place the barrel half laying on the 2 beams. Find the comfort spot and use metal roofing screws that have the gasket to secure to beams. Add plumbing, sand and soil and your good to go.

@williamrutherford8346

16 күн бұрын

Buy used ones that are food grade or ones contained mulch dye. We have them in Maryland for less than $100. Then split into 2 garden beds.

@vginnmusa3128

16 күн бұрын

I get used ones for $45-100, depending on what was in them, condition (bent cage or base) & source. New unused ones cost what you are quoting.

@traryvery8851

16 күн бұрын

As folks are saying, used food grade is the way to go and if water and heat are issues you will be happy with wicking beds.

@pinkiepinkster8395

13 күн бұрын

Still worth it bc you will now get many years of free food.

That was a very interesting video. It gave me a few ideas for my next garden once the ground is prepared. Maybe not with the IBC, but for raised beds. And from a USAF Veteran, Thank you Mark for your Service in the Australian Military. We Veterans are a Brotherhood.

@autumnwest5854

17 күн бұрын

Thank you for your Service

@Selfsufficientme

16 күн бұрын

Thanks for your service Doug! Cheers mate :)

@Pat206

16 күн бұрын

So true!

That is amazing work I follow u from Saudi arabia We r lacking water in certain ares in saudi arabia I think wicking tub is gud for planting rice at home

Wicked wicking wondrous work. Deserves s double thumbs up

@Selfsufficientme

16 күн бұрын

LOL... 🙂👍

I have never in my life watched views climb whilst watching something. I am so happy for you and your channel Mark. Well done. And THANKYOU for getting into it on camera. You are a smart and wonderful man and I am so glad to have access to such great and wholesome content. Love from Melbourne 🌾⭐

We found some old rubbing alcohol totes for $35 each. The did not come with the caps/plugs. We cut them in half, drilled a few holes for drainage and added sticks, small aged logs and leaves about 1/3 the way. Then I messed up and used topsoil. However, it grew greens and herbs very well. After a year, I added store bought container soil and planted strawberries and asparagus in one. They're doing PHENOMENALLY! We also planted potatoes in another and topped it with bagged garden soil. Those are 3ft tall now and the lemon balm, catnip, collards and kale are all going crazy. Hugelkuter is a great thing even with crappy soil!

@ericv00

17 күн бұрын

Hugelkultur is my way of getting rid of my brush piles, haha! (and I get rid of my grass clippings by using them for mulch) Have to grow veg just to deal with my yard waste!

I actually live in Brisbane. So I can actually use the same guy :) how great ! 👍

Wow. It would be interesting to have a garden tour of her garden someday. Interesting topic.

This is so much more practical than the traditional wooden raised beds that I made out of pressure treated southern yellow pine decades ago in 1983-1984. The sad truth was that in just 11 years, when I was forced by circumstances to disassemble those beds, I found to my dismay that I could take a long-shanked, flat blade screwdriver and with little to no real effort thrust it all of the way through the 1.5" thick 2×8's and 2×10's that those beds were constructed from. I theorized that my soil was so biologically alive that it overcame the anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties of the wood preservative used to treat the southern yellow pine.

As a Northern hemisphere resident, I am always amazed at what you can grow 'down under'. Thanks much.

Just wanted to say been watching your videos for a very long time. And have never commented on any of them until now. Just wanted to let you know I love every video that you've done. Thanks so much for all your insight and hard work 👍 And all that you do! 👍

@Selfsufficientme

17 күн бұрын

Thank you for the kind feedback and also for supporting the channel for so long without getting sick of me! Cheers mate 👍🙂

Oh wow, this could work for me up here in the desert! No water waste - we get 10 inches of rain in a big year, so that's always a good thing. Also I don't think they'd get as hot as the metal ones. Thank you!!!!!!

Great video Mark! I did the same thing but with plastic storage totes for growing TONS of veg in. Been doing it for 3 years now

@NeighborhoodOfBlue

17 күн бұрын

Careful with those. They break down in sunlight as they are not UV-rated.

@ReapWhatYouSowGardening

17 күн бұрын

@@NeighborhoodOfBlue mine NEVER broke down and some of them are even 4 to 5 years old

We're on the brink of a drought here in Florida. I'm grateful that our new chief community gardener had the foresight to install raised beds and drip irrigation! I just wish he hadn't had to use pressure treated lumber. I guess it's all he could find.

@jessicapacella2937

17 күн бұрын

Is that why all my grass is dead

@gidget8717

16 күн бұрын

Yup! When its dry in Florida, your lawn is brown. BUT the rainy season is just around the corner. The first year we lived down here, it rained every single day the month of july. Irma was our first hurricane, we had lived here for 6 years. ​@@jessicapacella2937

@Selfsufficientme

16 күн бұрын

I would use an alternative to treated lumber where possible but having said that, there's no concrete evidence (that I've seen) of serious leeching into food. I still would ensure the harvest is washed properly, especially root veggies like potatoes and carrots. All the best :)

Love this garden chat...and love the Lil tour of her garden. Would love to see it again!

Good day Mark! What a lovely garden your friend has, and an excellent example of recycling plastic. One big thumbs up! 👍

Love this system, love this lady , I’m going to try at least one bed this year. Thanks guys 👍👍🇦🇺🇬🇧

Hoselink hoses and equipment is the BEST…… cheers to hose link

@veganwinter

17 күн бұрын

Agree! Such a good investment.

Licking,Missouri-USA.... totally awesome thanks- more like this please.🌻

I like to put felt in the bottom of my indoor pots to prevent dirt coming out through the drainage and it has the advantage of keeping moisture wicking at the bottom. It's very similar to the water retention of sphagnum moss. I recently started window indoor garden beds of 40L each and it has a water retention part in the center of the bottom while the feet drain out. I put rocks in the feet and felt above before packing dirt to properly diffuse the water from the center puddle throughout the whole bed evenly, at least that's the hope. It also has the advantage of keeping plants roots warmer in pots for overwintering.

I have 10 of these and they work fantastic..I have them placed where a normal in ground bed won't work due to the yard flooding in heavy rain... I paid $100.for each full one and then cut them in half ...making two beds for $50 each.... Plus I have five full ones connected to shed roof gutters ..these are full of water for extra for the gardens when times are dry.... I have these all covered in two layers of heavy duty shade cloth to stop the water from turning green or you can paint them ... My ibcs are all food grade...make sure of that... Mine had vinegar in them so when I got them I fully washed them out with some bi carb soda to neutralise any vinegar that may of remained as a residue... Great video thanks for the share... 💞

@Selfsufficientme

15 күн бұрын

G'day Denise, thanks for taking the time to share your feedback and experience with reusing IBC! Cheers :)

@iluomopeloso

13 күн бұрын

How do they do over winter? I'd love to try this, but I'm worried that the winter freeze would kill all the microorganisms that don't have anywhere deeper to go like they do in raised beds that are connected to the ground.

I so appreciate all the info that helps me grow food!!

The great thing for me about wicking beds is that because they are self contained they are perfect for people who rent. I have half a dozen beds made from 200 litre plastic tanks that I have cut in half and work perfectly. Big enough to grow a decent crop....but small enough to move if needed.

I'm sold! As a desert-dweller this will be incredibly helpful for me.

Ive been thinking of building raised beds for a long time but have always held of because of the cost. The solution to my problem just presented itself. Thank you

These can be made better looking with a wooden raised garden frame built around it. You can make it as cheap or luxury as you like, I prefer the look of horizontal fence palings with a wider thicker wood around the top that you can sit on. Stained or oiled timber looks great and you can use treated timber as it does not come into contact with the soil, or if you do use untreated it will last longer from not touching the soil. In wetter climates you can also make more drainage just drill holes in the bottom. If you build a wooden frame around the IBC, the metal frame is then optional, you can use that for other things. You also then dont need to put pipe around the top of the plastic.

Great video once again about options of growing space in raised beds plus self watering. We can all appreciate the recycling. I also appreciate the lasagna/ compost in place method.

This is so cool! I love the idea.

Wow wow wow The perfect solution for me (too much decking & concrete ... running out of ground for food growing) Now all I got to do is locate those IBC Wicking Beds here in Wellington NZ. Her garden was just as stunning as yours

Around our place, the IBC frames are used for storing and seasoning firewood. The couple of wicking beds have a simple 13mm irrigation pipe outlet which is on a 90 degree fitting so the pipe can be rotated to adjust the depth of water in the ibc

What a clever system! Thanks for sharing.

Wow, what a great video. Mark, thank you so much for posting this.

You are one of the only channels I watch for gardening ideas!

Thanks for making this video, this setup is ingenious.

Thank you both for such a detailed your and how-to!

I love the intro music... I wonder how many people recognized it as an ode to the Little River Band! Love it!

Love it! Cheers for sharing

Epic! I've been waiting for a video on this. Thanks Celia and Mark 👌

Nice purpose for reuse. Happy growing!

Love this! Will be setting up ours soon, this is great.

Thanks for sharing this raised gardening method!

Bio char is the underrated hero of gardeners that not many use. Ancient Amazonian people turned their horrible nutrient deficient sandy soil into usable ultra rich growing medium with bio char. Archaeologists found this soil around their ancient cities, it’s called terra preta. Look it up, it’s a wonderful resource from our past.

Those framed raised beds made from halved blue plastic barrels in the back look hella interesting too! Maybe even a video on them by any chance?

Loved! Loved and loved it heaps! ❤

Bloody hell I’ve just ordered two 9’ raised corrugated metal beds online. I have three spare IBC totes for water collection in my backyard that I purchased from local farmers for $50 each. If you cut them in half you get two beds and you can give them a proper cleaning. This is brilliant.

Love these types of videos!

Love it. And love the layout of her garden.

Thanks for yet another inspiring video you are encouraging an army of people including me to become more self sufficient even if its only in a small way (like me)

Thank You for what you do. Such wonderful people

This is incredible !!! Thank you for making this video

I made my own from scratch following an ABC Gardening Australia video. Worth a look too. Very similar design and works really well. Thanks to you both for the video.

Thanks again Mark, always looking forward to your next interesting video! Cheers! 👍

Luv her garden we need a tour!

Super great idea. What a ripper!

This is super awesome and genius! Thank you both for sharing this video and idea!

thanks Mark! You inspired me to start gardening, thank you!

What a wonderful idea for the home garden. I'll have to give this a go in my garden

I live in Kansas USA . Here the totes are around 30 to 40 dollars a piece.

Really cool idea! We need a garden tour of her place for sure.

Love this format Mark! Let's please have some more of it?

Absolutely love this ❤

Phenomenal idea! I'd take the hose trim off from the top and tuck the fabric under it then zip tie through it to hold it cleaner. maybe even connect the outlet pipes together and catch the excess in a full IBC tote as a catchment system. I might implement this into my future plans.

@Mr.Binks.

16 күн бұрын

Such a great idea!!

This is such a great idea, really considering doing this!

This was really informative! Thanks guys 👍

Beautiful garden and love the wicking beds ❤

Thanks Mark and Cecilia, that was a fabulous, informative video and one which I will certainly try if I can get the containers here in Esperance WA. Love all your videos Mark, have been watching every one for many years now. It’s great that you are featuring other gardeners and their idea too on your channel. Great work 😀👍🌻

Thanks guys

Very interesting idea. Love the video, Mark!

Very good ideas. Thanks for sharing

Love wicking beds!

Thanks Mark, great idea❤

If you're building one of these from scratch, you'll find the IBC comes on its own metal pallet, so no need to raise it up. A lot of companies get material such as ad-blue (which is just urea), or canola oil (used for lubricating machinery) in IBCs. Once they're empty, they send them back to the manufacturer for the deposit, which is only a few dollars. So if you can find someone who's willing to sell you an IBC for the cost of the deposit, you're winning. I built ours after watching Rob's videos, so I used a lot more ag pipe than Celia and just used a thick layer of sugar cane mulch on top of the sand, rather than cloth, to keep the soil and sand separated. It probably mixes a bit after a while, but that doesn't matter once the bed is established. The most important thing with wicking beds of any kind is to use plenty of organic matter in the growing medium, so the water can wick up through it.

@Selfsufficientme

16 күн бұрын

Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with growing the wicking way in an IBC! Cheers :)

What a beautiful garden she has and what great information! Thank you both.

They are great to use I had one the same as this before work very good

Thanks for the video I have been researching this to do soon for similar reasons as not home all the time to attend garden. This video is the best one I have come across

Her handling of that box cutter had me thinking she's gonna nip a finger at any second, or Mark...😂😂😂

@FarmingandCookingFolkCuisine

17 күн бұрын

Bạn giỏi tưởng tượng quá 😅.

@winterlantern5695

17 күн бұрын

She's making needless dangers to herself. Just put the dam thing down or retract it. Just takes 1 second.

@darkknight145

17 күн бұрын

Added blood and Bone!

@Selfsufficientme

16 күн бұрын

I should have played some suspense background music lol... :)

I didn’t know about the website, but I’m glad to now do as those recipes looked wonderful! Great vid, thanks!

Terrific garden. I'm going to look for those beds. In NZ. Many many thanks to you both.

Thanks for sharing this process with easy to follow instructions and now I've seen how it's actually done it should be easy when I approach a project of making my own wicking bed !..👍

Great & informative video Mark. I wasn't aware of this concept.Thanks for educating us

Fantastic ideas Love it

Wow you have some great friends I love real people who share great ideas I love your tubal water sweating system and the drainage that you've provided it's absolutely perfect or should I say genius are you sure you weren't a plant in a past life😅 your garden is beautiful good luck in the future😊 thanks so much for sharing

Omg, l was drooling at the start of your video while looking at your (l think) pomellos. I made wicking beds a fair few years back and l love them. I really should make some more. Thanks

Classy upcycle and how to do it, thanks for this