How I Became Self Sufficient in 3 Years (almost*)

Summary

The video script details a gardener's journey from a struggling beginner to a successful grower, providing a 10-step guide for growing one's own food. Key elements include securing space, designing the garden, understanding sunlight, and employing various gardening methods. The importance of garden security, animal integration, composting, watering systems, seed starting, and harvesting are highlighted. The video also showcases the installation of a high tunnel for year-round gardening, emphasizing the exponential growth and learning that comes with experience.

Takeaways

• 🌱 The gardener started with a challenging experience but has now achieved self-sufficiency in vegetables and some fruits for his family.
• 🏡 Space is the most significant variable in gardening, and creativity is key to utilizing it, even in urban settings.
• 🌳 The garden has been designed with a mix of inspirations, including a Japanese-inspired entrance, an orchard, and a pollinator garden.
• 🔒 A deer fence was a crucial investment for garden security, also serving as a trellis for vining plants.
• 🐔 Chickens provide both eggs and natural fertilizer through their bedding, which is composted for use in the garden.
• 🌿 Composting is essential for garden health, with the gardener using a three-bin system and incorporating food scraps and wood chips.
• 💧 Watering systems can range from passive to automated, with the gardener using a drip system and rainwater collection for efficiency.
• 🌱 Starting seeds indoors is a cost-effective way to ensure a continuous supply of seedlings for planting throughout the seasons.
• 🍎 The garden's productivity has increased exponentially over three years, leading to a significant reduction in grocery bills for produce.
• ❄️ A high tunnel is being constructed to extend the growing season, allowing for year-round cultivation of cold-tolerant crops.

Q & A

How long did it take for the gardener to transition from struggling to successfully growing vegetables?

It took exactly 3 years from the start of the garden for the gardener to be able to harvest most of the vegetables his family eats.

What was the initial challenge the gardener faced with the rooftop garden in Brooklyn?

The initial challenge was that the rooftop was covered with beer bottles and trash, and it required an investment of $1,500 to transform it into a mini garden.

What is the significance of the deer fence in the gardener's setup?

The 8 ft tall deer fence is significant as it prevents deer from jumping over and destroying the garden, and it also serves as a trellising system for vining plants.

Why did the gardener choose to create a mini orchard in the center of the garden?

The gardener chose to create a mini orchard because of his love for fruit, the high cost of fruit, and it was a dream to grow a lot of it.

How does the gardener enhance pollination in the garden?

The gardener enhances pollination by creating a winding path with a sitting area and planting more local native wild flowers to attract pollinators.

What is the role of chickens in the gardener's ecosystem?

Chickens provide natural fertilizer through their manure, which is mixed with wood shavings to create potent compost, and they also offer homegrown eggs.

Why is composting essential in the gardener's garden?

Composting is essential as it recycles organic matter into nutrient-rich soil, reduces reliance on external compost sources, and is a key component of a self-sustaining garden ecosystem.

What is the advantage of using a drip irrigation system in the garden?

A drip irrigation system is advantageous because it delivers water directly to plant roots, reducing evaporation and water waste.

Why does the gardener start seeds indoors?

Starting seeds indoors allows for control over temperature and early cultivation, ensuring a continuous supply of seedlings for planting throughout the seasons.

How does the high tunnel extend the growing season in the garden?

The high tunnel uses the sun as a heat source, retaining warmth to protect crops during cold months, allowing for year-round growth of cold-tolerant vegetables.

What is the gardener's goal regarding the harvest from his garden?

The gardener's goal is to achieve self-sufficiency in vegetables and gradually increase the percentage of homegrown fruit, aiming for 90% of his produce to be grown in his garden.

Outlines

00:00

🌱 Starting a Garden Journey

The speaker shares their gardening journey, which began three years prior to the script. Initially, they struggled with growing due to pests and poor growth but have now reached a point where they can harvest most of the vegetables their family consumes. They plan to detail a 10-step process suitable for any gardener, regardless of size or experience. The first step is space, which varies greatly depending on one's situation. The speaker emphasizes that even in urban settings, with passion, one can find a way to grow food, sharing their own experience of starting a garden on a rooftop in Brooklyn. They then discuss the transformation of a 1-acre suburban property in Long Island into a productive garden, highlighting the importance of space utilization and the countercultural aspect of gardening in suburban environments.

05:00

🏡 Garden Design and Security

The paragraph discusses the importance of garden design, which the speaker finds to be a creative and enjoyable aspect of gardening. They stress the need to not be too attached to the existing space and to start from scratch, shaping it according to one's personality. Understanding the sun's impact on the garden is also crucial for creating microclimates. The speaker shares their experience of designing their garden, including installing a deer fence for protection and to create boundaries, and incorporating elements inspired by Japanese architecture. They also mention planting an orchard, vine fruits along the fence line, and creating a pollinator garden with native wildflowers. The paragraph concludes with a discussion on the importance of garden security to protect the harvest from local wildlife.

10:01

🐔 Gardening Methods and Livestock

In this section, the speaker talks about their gardening methods, which are a blend of inspirations from various gardening creators and books. They describe their garden as having a James Perion-style food forest with no-dig garden beds, focusing on soil health through compost addition rather than soil disturbance. The speaker emphasizes the importance of organic matter and diverse planting for a healthy garden ecosystem. They also discuss garden security, particularly against deer, and how their investment in a deer fence has paid off by protecting their garden and even doubling the growing space. The paragraph also covers the role of chickens in the garden ecosystem, focusing on their natural fertilizer rather than their financial viability. The speaker shares their method of using chicken bedding compost to enrich the garden soil.

15:03

🌿 Composting, Watering, and Seed Starting

The speaker delves into the importance of composting for every garden, describing their simple three-bin system and the benefits of using homemade compost to reduce reliance on external sources. They discuss different watering methods, from relying on natural rainfall to using an automated drip system, and the use of rainwater collection for gardening. The paragraph also covers the process of starting seeds, highlighting the cost savings and the importance of having a controlled environment for seedlings. The speaker shares their setup for seed starting and the benefits of growing seedlings year-round. The paragraph concludes with a discussion on the exponential growth of harvests as the garden systems improve and the gardener gains experience.

🌨 Winter Gardening and High Tunnels

The final paragraph focuses on winter gardening and the use of high tunnels to extend the growing season. The speaker introduces Todd, who is setting up a high tunnel that uses the sun as a heat source to maintain a warm environment for crops during cold months. They discuss the benefits of having a high tunnel for year-round gardening, the types of crops suitable for winter growth, and the importance of season extension for homesteaders. The paragraph also touches on the construction and features of the high tunnel, including its durability and the ability to regulate temperature. The speaker expresses excitement about the potential of the high tunnel to be a game-changer for their homestead operation. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for viewers to get inspired and start their own gardening journey at any level.

Keywords

💡Gardening

Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants as part of horticulture. In the video, it is the central theme, as the speaker shares their journey of transforming a struggling garden into a productive one. The narrative illustrates gardening's challenges and rewards, emphasizing the importance of patience and learning from failures.

💡Exponential growth

Exponential growth refers to the rapid increase in quantity or size, often seen in natural processes or financial contexts. The video uses this term to describe the speaker's garden's development, which started with initial difficulties but eventually led to a significant increase in yield, highlighting the potential of gardening when given time and care.

💡Space

Space, in the context of the video, is the physical area required to establish and maintain a garden. The speaker emphasizes that despite living in an urban setting, they managed to create a garden by transforming a rooftop, demonstrating creativity and resourcefulness in utilizing available space for gardening.

💡Compost

Compost is decomposed organic matter used to enrich soil. In the video, the speaker discusses the importance of composting as a means to improve soil health and fertility. They mention adding compost annually to feed the soil, which is crucial for supporting plant growth and is a key component of sustainable gardening practices.

💡Permaculture

Permaculture is a design system that mimics natural ecosystems to create sustainable and self-sufficient habitats. The video references permaculture principles, such as diversity and soil health, which the speaker applies to their garden to create a thriving ecosystem that produces healthy and flavorful vegetables and fruits.

💡Garden security

Garden security in the video pertains to protecting the garden from wildlife and other external threats. The speaker discusses installing a deer fence to safeguard their garden, illustrating the need for measures to protect the investment in time and resources that a garden represents.

💡Chicks

Chicks, or young chickens, are mentioned in the video as part of the speaker's homesteading efforts. They discuss the benefits of raising chickens for both eggs and their natural fertilizer, emphasizing the integration of animals into the garden ecosystem for added benefits such as nutrient-rich compost.

💡Drip system

A drip system is a type of irrigation that delivers water directly to the plant roots, conserving water and reducing evaporation. The speaker in the video has installed a drip system with an automatic timer, showcasing a method to efficiently water the garden and maintain plant health with minimal effort.

💡Seed starting

Seed starting is the process of germinating and growing seeds into seedlings before transplanting them into the garden. The video highlights the speaker's seed starting room and the benefits of starting seeds indoors, such as cost savings and the ability to have a continuous supply of seedlings throughout different seasons.

💡High tunnel

A high tunnel, also known as a hoop house, is a structure used to extend the growing season by providing a warm environment for plants. In the video, the speaker discusses the installation of a high tunnel to grow cold-tolerant crops during winter, demonstrating an innovative approach to year-round food production.

💡Harvest

Harvest refers to the gathering of mature crops from the garden. The video describes the speaker's progression from a low initial success rate to a point where they can harvest most of their family's vegetable needs, exemplifying the payoff from the investments made in gardening systems and practices.

Highlights

Gardening journey started with challenges but led to a successful harvest after three years.

Space is the most significant variable for gardening, and creativity is key in limited urban spaces.

Investing in a rooftop garden in Brooklyn transformed a neglected space into an urban oasis.

Gardening in a suburban environment is a counterculture practice that can be fulfilling.

Designing a garden allows for personal creativity and should consider sunlight for microclimates.

A deer fence not only protects the garden but also serves as a trellising system for plants.

Incorporating fruit trees early in the garden plan is essential due to their longer maturation period.

Creating a pollinator garden with native wildflowers is crucial for a healthy ecosystem.

Utilizing wood from a fallen tree for lumber and creating raised beds for the garden.

Building a mini vineyard with grapevines to produce grapes, showcasing adaptability in the garden.

Gardening methods are a blend of inspirations from various gardening experts and personal style.

A no-dig garden bed approach focuses on soil microbiology and adding compost annually.

Garden security is vital, with a deer fence being a significant investment for protection.

Raising chickens provides natural fertilizer in the form of composted bedding and manure.

Composting is essential for garden health, and a simple three-bin system can suffice.

Watering systems, including drip irrigation and rainwater collection, are crucial for garden maintenance.

Starting seeds indoors can save money and ensure a continuous supply of seedlings for planting.

Harvests increase exponentially with improved gardening systems and experience.

A high tunnel extends the growing season, allowing for year-round food production.

The video aims to inspire gardeners at any level to start their own food-growing journey.

Transcripts

so I started my garden exactly 3 years

ago and early on it was terrible I

couldn't grow sh things were getting

destroyed by bugs eaten by animals or

just not really growing well in general

but gardening is a journey about

exponential growth and exactly 3 years

to the day I started I am now harvesting

pretty much all of the vegetables that

my family eats and some of the fruit and

today I'm going to be breaking down

exactly how I got there and a really

simple to follow 10 step that process

where no matter what size Garden you

have or what level Gardener you are if

you follow along on this process you

will optimize your

Harvest all right up first is the

biggest variable by far which is space

you're going to need space to have a

garden or grow your own food which is

going to vary dramatically depending on

your situation now I'm sure a lot of you

are living in an urban setting and space

is very hard to come by but I will say

one thing if you are p passionate enough

about growing and you have that itch you

will figure out a way to grow food point

being I was living in my apartment in

Brooklyn 10 years ago the building had a

rooftop that was exclusively used for

throwing party covered with just beer

bottles and trash I invested $1,500 to

start a little mini garden up there and

transformed what was a pretty shitty

roof into an Urban Oasis at least for me

it was a little piece of heaven at that

time now was it dramatically lowering my

grocery bill absolutely not but it got

me in the game I started connecting more

to what I was eating learning how to

grow food for the first time and most

importantly it got me dreaming of bigger

plans like getting a space like this

which is the current Garden I've been

building out for the last 3 years a lot

of you have followed this journey this

is 1 acre in the suburbs of Long Island

and I would say about 50% of the

property is growable with the sun and I

am slowly using every piece of space

possible to grow food which I'm sure my

neighbors are slightly confused when

they walk by but gardening and growing

your own food at least in this country

will always be counterculture to some

degree not many people are doing it

especially in a Suburban environment but

do not let that stop you growing food is

as natural as it gets humans have been

doing it forever all right so you have

your space where you want to Garden the

next logical step is designing that

Garden which to me is one of my favorite

parts of gardening because you can

really let that inner creativity just

shine now one thing I've learned is it's

important to not be too attached to the

existing space whatever was there we're

trying to create something special from

scratch that's really just like a

Showcase of your own personality and

it's also important to get at least a

decent understanding of the way the sun

works in your environment cuz it's going

to create little microclimates and the

more you understand what's going on the

less changes you'll have to make later

on in your garden so I was basically

starting from scratch in this Garden

outside of one existing plot that they

were growing in this was the sunniest

space on the entire property but it was

completely overgrown so I ripped

everything out I weeded it I brought in

a bunch of compost and some wood chips

got some beds in there and started

planning right away the next thing I did

was put in a deer fence for protection

which also created some nice boundaries

in the garden and gave me the ability to

create a nice entrance and I love

Japanese architecture so I went with the

sort of Japanese inspired her

immediately after that right in the

center of my garden I put in a mini

little Orchard because I love fruit and

it was always a dream to just grow a ton

of it and fruit is very expensive so I

have all different types of Asian pears

apples peaches nectarines and then on

the perimeter of the garden I planted

some cherry trees and some pons and then

Vining fruits all over the fence line

and it's vital to get those fruit trees

in as soon as possible because they're

going to take at least 2 to 4 years to

start producing next there was an

existing area with a ton of w wild

flowers and I wanted to amp this area up

a bit so I created a little winding path

with the sitting area and brought in a

ton more local native wild flowers with

the idea that this space would be

dedicated to bringing in pollinators to

the Garden which is super important next

there was a big walnut tree in the

garden that had to come down because it

was leaning towards the house oh so I

ended up slicing that up for lumber

which is finally dry after 2 years and

my dad has been already making some

incredible furniture with it but the

Milling process destroyed a big part of

the front area of the garden so instead

of just growing the grass back that was

there I built four raised beds and I

brought in wood chips to fill in the

entire area and after a year I saw that

the grapes on my property were growing

very well so I ended up building a very

mini little Vineyard planted a bunch of

grape Vines which should produce a ton

of grapes in the near future so that's

been 3 years of progress in the main

growing area and I've got a lot more

that I'm doing and things that I want to

do but before I get into that let's talk

about something very important which is

your gardening approach or your method

or your style which is so massive in the

success of your garden now I'm not a

gardening expert there are other YouTube

channels dedicated to that and what I'm

going to do is tell you some of my

favorite that were extremely

inspirational for me and really getting

up and going and developing my own style

we've got James perion epic gardening

Hugh Richards Charles Downing the

millennial Gardener these creators were

the biggest inspiration for me and it's

just like getting into cooking you find

a few creators you like they all have

different styles and then you pick the

pieces that best suit your needs so the

gardening methods that I'm using are

kind of a mash of all the things I've

learned from them plus books that I've

read of course there's thousands of

amazing gardening books out there but I

would say overall my garden has that

James persion Style Food Forest where

you've got a ton of fruit trees working

in tandem with garden beds producing a

lot of vegetables but all of my garden

beds heads are a no dig style where I'm

not digging up anything I'm not

disturbing the soil microbiology I'm

just adding compost on every year to

feed the soil and when I first started

gardening I will say I was extremely

frustrated with growing vegetables

nothing would grow and what I learned

was that my soil just really wasn't

alive at that time over time as I added

a lot of compost and organic matter the

bug started coming the microbiology

really started to thrive and that's when

things started to grow as well as really

just enhancing the diversity of things

that I'm growing and this Garden is

completely organic I'm following as many

permaculture rules as possible trying to

mimic a really diverse ecosystem that

you would find in nature giving you the

most healthy and flavorful vegetables

and fruits possible all right so the

next thing I want to talk about is your

garden security because you are about to

plant and all you can eat buffet for

every animal and every Critter in your

local environment and of course you're

going to be sharing food with a lot of

them automatically there's no way to

keep everything out I mean the deer in

my area are out of control and they've

only gotten worse since Co so one of my

early Investments my biggest investment

in the entire Garden is this thing right

here this big deer fence this is 8 ft

tall high enough that a deer won't jump

over because they will pop right over a

standard 6ot fence and I looked at

cheaper non-permanent Solutions but I

ended up just biting the bullet invest

in this Fortress and it was one of the

best decisions I ever made and I know

that because I've opened this fence or

left it open a few times a deer has

wandered right on in and just decimated

my garden in one night that's all it

takes now this deer fence was a bit of a

double whammy cuz instantly it opened up

about double the amount of growing space

because as you can see in my garden I

use it as a trellising system for so

many different plants anything Vining

I'm growing on on this fence pretty much

every single square inch of growing

space is taken up by grapes or berries

or tomatoes or melons so obviously your

security system doesn't have to be this

intense but I will say if you're

thinking about a fence try to think

about how it can be multi-purpose so you

can actually use it as a growing space

as well all right let's talk about

chickens or animals in general in your

garden or your homestead or whatever

you're doing so of course you don't need

animals you don't need chickens to have

a proper working Garden I was lucky

enough to inherit this entire chicken

coup now in that time I've also raised a

bunch of chicks from babies a lot of you

followed Along on that Journey so I've

got a decent amount of experience over

the last few years with chickens and to

answer the main question that most

people have are chickens financially

viable versus just buying eggs in the

store and the answer is 100% no they are

not it is a much better deal even to buy

really high and eggs at say a farmers

market for $10 a dozen vers raising your

chickens between the cost of upkeep of

the coup and feeding the chicken you're

never going to win that game with a

backyard flock of say five to 10 hands

but there's one thing that most people

completely Overlook when it comes to

having chickens in their Garden which is

their natural fertilizer AKA their

so I put bedding or just wood shavings

in my chicken C the chickens sleep there

they poop on it and then every week I

clean that out and pop it in a separate

compost pin right next to the coup this

mix right here you've got the nitrogen

in the poop and the carbon in the wood

chips is all you need to break down into

some incredibly potent compost now if

you have a deep bedding system in your

Coupe you don't need to do separate

compost for this it just breaks down in

the coup but I'll just mix this up every

few weeks and after a few months I can

sprinkle this in my garden and I can say

that my vegetables didn't really start

growing well until I started adding this

nitrogen rich compost to the Garden

things just started exploding and it

really showed me the importance of

animals in your garden ecosystem so yes

the Homegrown eggs are incredible they

blow away the standard Supermarket eggs

that is one Element but the fertilizer

is just as important in that cycle of

life and overall chickens are really

easy to raise the most important thing

to know is that every other predator in

your area enjoys the taste of chickens

just as much as humans so your main job

outside of feeding them is keeping them

safe so making sure when you do invest

in your Coupe it's got to be secure and

there's plenty of detailed videos on

YouTube on how to do that but take your

time and do it right all right so we've

made it over to the composting area to

talk composting which is essential for

every Garden at some level because the

thing is composting can be a little bit

overwhelming you can take composting to

the highest level and have systems that

are heated and break down in one month

or you can do lazy composting which is

what I do I just have a three bin

composting system where I throw in any

organic matter and vegetative growth for

my garden whether it's weeds from the

property or dead plants it's all going

in the compost system and I do my best

to balance the green nitrogen stuff and

the brown carbon stuff I do my best I'm

not great at it which is why this

compost doesn't get hot but if you just

throw everything in a bin it will break

down over time and turn into what looks

like soil that you can throw back on

your beds to feed it now over here I

have two plastic bins for all my food

scraps and the plastic is to ensure that

animals don't get in because they will

come for those tasty food scraps and I

just take bins of my food scraps throw

them in the compost and then to balance

out all that nitrogen all that fresh

stuff I take these wood chips right here

Pine shavings and I throw that on and I

just sandwich them in between and that

breaks down into this over here which is

beautiful compost that I can throw on my

garden to give it more nutrients and

life the beautiful thing about making

your own compost is that you're less

reliant on bringing in compost from

outside so sources which is a big money

saver and really closes the loop in your

own garden ecosystem so I would say in

your garden at the very least just one

of these bins just start making compost

it's really simple and it will open you

up to wasting less so let's talk

watering and just like composting a lot

of different ways you can go about

watering your garden simplest way is

just let Mother Nature do its job and

when it rains your garden grows but

ideally you have some type of automated

system system to have more regulation in

your garden and also to do less work I

have a drip system that's set up to an

automatic timer connected to my hose

this Waters the entire garden and I love

drip style watering because it goes

direct to the source you get less

evaporation less water was but I will

bring in sprinklers from time to time if

it's really hot or I need to germinate

seeds that I planted and I recently

about a year ago got this big jug right

here 1,000g rain rain collection which

is hooked up to my gutter collects the

rain fills this thing up and then

ultimately I put this back into the

Garden in some form now right now I just

have it hooked up to a hose and I just

water things that are dry around the

garden but I would like to build this

system out to the point where I am

watering my entire garden with rainwater

because rainwater is a much cleaner

Source than the municipal hose water cuz

it's not treated it's gone through the

filtration of the sky which is magical

and it's why your garden looks so

amazing after it rains so stay tuned and

we'll see how I continue to develop my

watering system in my garden all right

we're in my basement in my seed starting

room to talk about something very

important which is starting your own

seeds probably the easiest way to save a

bunch of money right up front because if

you go to nurseries you will get crushed

by buying little seedlings the cost adds

up quick I've been there many times to

the point where I'm like I'm done with

this I am starting my own seeds so I

bought this three tier indoor grow

system because seeds do not like

temperatures that are really cold or

really hot so you need to create an

environment that they're going to thrive

and in the summer when it's super hot

this environment is controlled and where

I'm starting seed and also nurseries are

generally going to be stocked up on

seedlings in the beginning of Spring and

that's generally it but if you're

serious about growing food you want

seedlings in the spring the summer the

fall the winter we want little seedlings

ready to be planted at all times and the

only way to do that is to do it yourself

now that setup could be as simple as

putting them in a window that gets a

bunch of direct sun or you set up a mini

little Greenhouse outside whatever it is

buy yourself some seeds or save seeds

get yourself some trays and start

growing your seedlings for massive cost

Savings in the garden all right speaking

of saving a ton of money let's talk

about these juicy harvests so a lot of

the stuff I've talked about before is

investment in systems to really get your

garden operating now let's talk about

the payoff and for me in the first year

maybe year and a half I probably had a

25% success rate with my greens my soil

life just wasn't developed enough I

didn't have enough diversity in my

garden so things got destroyed by

insects and animals and I just didn't

know a lot about gardening but as you

invest in your systems as you improve as

a gardener the Harvest start to come and

they start to come big let me tell you

it's kind of exponential it's not like a

slow increase it's like every year seems

like an explosive growth compared to the

year before I am officially at the point

where I can go into my garden every say

3 days and treat it like my own personal

Farmers Market I see what's fresh I pick

it and I let the produce decide what I

am cooking for that day so in just about

2 and 1/2 years with some early

struggles I am eating about 90% of my

own vegetables and maybe 10% of my own

fruit at this point but I think that

number number will dramatically increase

every year to the goal of getting 90% of

my fruit as well obviously I can't grow

bananas yet I do have some ideas in the

backyard for that so again it was a bit

scary investing in the garden early on

cuz it doesn't feel like it's quite

giving back to you but once the system's

there gardening is almost free if you

complete that Loop if you're composting

yourself if you're saving seeds growing

your own seed Lings all you got to do is

put in work at that point and I love the

work that's at least in the growing

months you might be thinking what do you

do in the winter and that brings me into

winter gardening we're going to head out

to the Garden to talk to Todd who's

setting up a system that can help me

grow food all winter long yo Todd hey

how's it going good How how how are you

doing enjoying the the nice weather

since yesterday it was rainy so just

getting this thing ready for the cover

how close are we to the plastic cover uh

very close so we're doing some wind

supports and some you know some snow

supports and then we're ready to close

off the end walls and then we cover it

with the top a high tunnel uses the Sun

as its heat source so as the Sun hits it

it gets warmer in the structure and the

structure is closed off in a way where

you're playing a game you're trying to

hold as much heat as you can in the dark

parts of the night until you reach

morning and Sun can hit it again and

that keeps your crops alive through the

cold months I can be growing in here all

winter long you're not going to grow

tomatoes and cucumbers in the winter

you're going to grow carrots beets kale

various salad greens spinach those are

the things that like cold weather so

you're going to kind of work with the

season there and then what am I growing

in the summer in this the main crop

grown in high tunnels believe it or not

is tomatoes because you can plant the

tomatoes so much sooner than you

normally would cucumbers as well they

like to run up trellises and you can get

a lot of cucumbers and yeah that's what

you do in the summer why would this be

good for a homesteader or just a home

Gardener so being able to grow as much

of your food as possible having a high

tunnel or you know just some form of

season extension is absolutely vital

because you'll be able to grow all year

round and and have some form of fresh

crops to supplement storage crops like

you know onions garlic and all the the

winter squashes our structures are built

to last heavy gauge large diameter steel

tubing for the main supports you know

you got some big big tubes the

intricacies of the members we have

running the full length for wind that

can help support weight for snow high

quality end wall material you know it's

really really heavy duty so it's built

to last we have YouTube videos for

almost every single step of the process

Todd's also a YouTuber I do my best you

know because these are DIY kitted anyone

can build them but the videos make it a

lot easier the high tunnel you're

building is a 14 and2 a wide structure

it comes with a few special features

that will help you grow all winter two

layers of plastic it's going to be

inflated as an extra layer of insulation

hard plastic on your end walls that's

also insulated it's double layer and

you'll also have roll up sides so if it

gets hot in there because when the Sun

hits this it does warm up even in the

winter you can easily roll up your sides

and without electricity ventilate and

let that hot air out so you'll be able

to grow all winter you know in the

summer and also keep the temperature

regulated nice well this is going to be

a game Cher on this Homestead operation

I'm excited to get this thing up and

going can't wait to get this thing

covered look what we have here we've got

row already in place I've got seedlings

from the basement I'm ready for some

winter planning this is just super

inspiring coming into this warm space

feeling like I've got opportunity in the

cold months total Game Changer but for

me the goal of this video was to spark

inspiration at any level of gardening

the key is just getting in the game so

you can start learning and connecting

with what you're eating if you want more

Garden videos check this out right here