Watch This If You Want To Grow Your Own Food in 2026
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Date: 2025-12-23
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Comments and reviews: 20
johndoh5182
This is a tip for people that are short on light hitting certain spots because of structures around block out, say a good chunk of the Spring and Fall light but gives you enough for the summer. I have this issue.
Instead of making a raised bed which may give you enough elevation to give you a little more of the Spring and Fall light, use grow bags and put them on shelves. You can lay down cinder blocks or other durable objects to raise those shelves pretty high. For instance my shelves are elevated about 3' and then the height of the grow bags adds another 1' so the soil level in the grow bags is about 4 ft. off the ground. If I wanted I could throw in another cinder block on each stack to give another 8 of height and that's about the highest I could make them and still work with them in a reasonable way. Or, when that area gets more light in the late spring to early fall I can remove cinder blocks so they aren't elevated so much.
The down side of this is those shelves block out light to areas of other beds, but not the entire bed, but I gain more growing area so I'm better off. However in the late spring to early fall, once I remove some of the cinder blocks to reduce the height then it has no bearing on the other raised beds.
Grow bags add a lot of capability if you think about how you can use them and for me, using them on shelves to elevate the growing area to get enough light is a great use.
reply
This is a tip for people that are short on light hitting certain spots because of structures around block out, say a good chunk of the Spring and Fall light but gives you enough for the summer. I have this issue.
Instead of making a raised bed which may give you enough elevation to give you a little more of the Spring and Fall light, use grow bags and put them on shelves. You can lay down cinder blocks or other durable objects to raise those shelves pretty high. For instance my shelves are elevated about 3' and then the height of the grow bags adds another 1' so the soil level in the grow bags is about 4 ft. off the ground. If I wanted I could throw in another cinder block on each stack to give another 8 of height and that's about the highest I could make them and still work with them in a reasonable way. Or, when that area gets more light in the late spring to early fall I can remove cinder blocks so they aren't elevated so much.
The down side of this is those shelves block out light to areas of other beds, but not the entire bed, but I gain more growing area so I'm better off. However in the late spring to early fall, once I remove some of the cinder blocks to reduce the height then it has no bearing on the other raised beds.
Grow bags add a lot of capability if you think about how you can use them and for me, using them on shelves to elevate the growing area to get enough light is a great use.
reply
katego370
For absolute beginners, I would always recommend nursery seedlings for your first months of gardening. There's just so much that can go wrong with seed starting, and those setbacks really kill a beginner's motivation. Nursery plants are more expensive but at least, you won't be making the big investment of seed starting equipment only to be disappointed. I started off with herb plants because they tend to grow quickly, and they're not as expensive as fruiting crops. Three weeks after buying and you can already start using your own fresh basil.
Then, you can start trying seeds. This way, you have nursery plants that you can keep enjoying, even if the seeds don't work out the first time. The very best seed to start first would be garden cress. You can sow it very densely on some wet paper towels indoors, let it grow for 2 weeks, and harvest. You water with a spray bottle when the paper towels start to dry out slightly. You don't have to think about spacing, sowing depth, soil-related diseases and fungi, transplanting, fertilizer, or when to water. It's so underrated in North America, but in Belgium, garden cress is often used to teach toddlers about plants. If a 3-year-old can grow it, anyone can grow it.
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For absolute beginners, I would always recommend nursery seedlings for your first months of gardening. There's just so much that can go wrong with seed starting, and those setbacks really kill a beginner's motivation. Nursery plants are more expensive but at least, you won't be making the big investment of seed starting equipment only to be disappointed. I started off with herb plants because they tend to grow quickly, and they're not as expensive as fruiting crops. Three weeks after buying and you can already start using your own fresh basil.
Then, you can start trying seeds. This way, you have nursery plants that you can keep enjoying, even if the seeds don't work out the first time. The very best seed to start first would be garden cress. You can sow it very densely on some wet paper towels indoors, let it grow for 2 weeks, and harvest. You water with a spray bottle when the paper towels start to dry out slightly. You don't have to think about spacing, sowing depth, soil-related diseases and fungi, transplanting, fertilizer, or when to water. It's so underrated in North America, but in Belgium, garden cress is often used to teach toddlers about plants. If a 3-year-old can grow it, anyone can grow it.
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noctoi
I wholeheartedly support growing for whimsy and fun. I LOVE that my little kitchen garden in my old rental was like walking through a fairy garden or Star Trek. Black tomatoes and radishes, deep velvety purple potatoes, fiery red amaranth and neon candy pink Kale. Cauliflower in bright green fractal patterns and mauve broccoli. It's made my 49year old AuDHD ass actually excited about vegetables and fruits for the first time in my life.
We've moved into our little homestead now (I'm intimidated but SO freaking happy and excited) and while we missed the summer (Australia) planting window we're already planning for our autumn (fall) season which is a warm season down here in Victoria. We've also got our perennial seeds ready - purple artichoke, pastel mauve and white asparagus, and three different colours of rhubarb - ready to go as soon as we hit another planting window.
And yeah we've got a bunch of fun, heritage chicken eggs in the incubator from the second day we moved in, because we can't do things the boring/easy way
Long story short, making it fun is the only reason my partner and I went from dedicated city dwellers to gumboot wearing, chicken hatching, food preserving semi-urban homesteaders.
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I wholeheartedly support growing for whimsy and fun. I LOVE that my little kitchen garden in my old rental was like walking through a fairy garden or Star Trek. Black tomatoes and radishes, deep velvety purple potatoes, fiery red amaranth and neon candy pink Kale. Cauliflower in bright green fractal patterns and mauve broccoli. It's made my 49year old AuDHD ass actually excited about vegetables and fruits for the first time in my life.
We've moved into our little homestead now (I'm intimidated but SO freaking happy and excited) and while we missed the summer (Australia) planting window we're already planning for our autumn (fall) season which is a warm season down here in Victoria. We've also got our perennial seeds ready - purple artichoke, pastel mauve and white asparagus, and three different colours of rhubarb - ready to go as soon as we hit another planting window.
And yeah we've got a bunch of fun, heritage chicken eggs in the incubator from the second day we moved in, because we can't do things the boring/easy way
Long story short, making it fun is the only reason my partner and I went from dedicated city dwellers to gumboot wearing, chicken hatching, food preserving semi-urban homesteaders.
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j. l. emerson592
In the deep south, we don't have spring & fall. We have summer & winter, hot & cold. And. If you live where we live, it's hot & dry or cold & dry. Sometimes, it gets weird & we'll have cold & wet. But that's rare. At best, in a very good year, we'll get 34 inches of rain annually. We usually endure droughts at least every other year. Then we'll have what is called an exceptional drought. 3 year exceptional droughts are common here. Oh! And. The two huge mega cities are fighting water wars that completely disregard the small, low population rural communities that surround them, drawing the water away from the watersheds & recharge zones that originate on our lands. What's a gardener to do
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In the deep south, we don't have spring & fall. We have summer & winter, hot & cold. And. If you live where we live, it's hot & dry or cold & dry. Sometimes, it gets weird & we'll have cold & wet. But that's rare. At best, in a very good year, we'll get 34 inches of rain annually. We usually endure droughts at least every other year. Then we'll have what is called an exceptional drought. 3 year exceptional droughts are common here. Oh! And. The two huge mega cities are fighting water wars that completely disregard the small, low population rural communities that surround them, drawing the water away from the watersheds & recharge zones that originate on our lands. What's a gardener to do
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natechen2059
I have always have grown so much food that I have adapted a homestead lifestyle. Got a bunch of pear, Asian pear and Saturn peaches with yields over 50 pounds of fruit from the trees. Also have a strawberry patch, blueberry bushes, plus raspberry/wild blackberry bushes (did ok. For vegetables, harvested over 50 pounds of tomatoes as well as peppers, kale, squash and cucumbers. I still have my harvest in the freezer as I have too much to eat. Also have a wasabi plant that is still thriving and producing a rhizome that hopefully will be eaten next year. I am gonna think about getting two pawpaw trees as I want to grow some exotic fruits that can thrive in Massachusetts.
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I have always have grown so much food that I have adapted a homestead lifestyle. Got a bunch of pear, Asian pear and Saturn peaches with yields over 50 pounds of fruit from the trees. Also have a strawberry patch, blueberry bushes, plus raspberry/wild blackberry bushes (did ok. For vegetables, harvested over 50 pounds of tomatoes as well as peppers, kale, squash and cucumbers. I still have my harvest in the freezer as I have too much to eat. Also have a wasabi plant that is still thriving and producing a rhizome that hopefully will be eaten next year. I am gonna think about getting two pawpaw trees as I want to grow some exotic fruits that can thrive in Massachusetts.
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AshleysHomestead
I love watching you guys. You are always cracking me up. I'm in Humboldt County California zone 9b. I do the Ruth Stout method. And have been starting a food forest in the last 3 years with lots of fruit trees, vines, and berries. I grow everything all organic. Only thing I fertilize with is composted chicken manure from my deep litter method from my chickens. I also have a little produce and egg stand that's self serve out by end of our driveway. It's pretty fun. Hey how come you guys didn't do your funny laughing in the beginning of the video! That's one of my favorite parts. I always laugh with you guys
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I love watching you guys. You are always cracking me up. I'm in Humboldt County California zone 9b. I do the Ruth Stout method. And have been starting a food forest in the last 3 years with lots of fruit trees, vines, and berries. I grow everything all organic. Only thing I fertilize with is composted chicken manure from my deep litter method from my chickens. I also have a little produce and egg stand that's self serve out by end of our driveway. It's pretty fun. Hey how come you guys didn't do your funny laughing in the beginning of the video! That's one of my favorite parts. I always laugh with you guys
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wayneu1233
Since I retired and my wife sort of retired, we have committed ourselves to growing as much of our own food as possible.
We grow a bunch of food in-ground, but we also have 12 metal raised beds, at least 24 large pots/grow bags, 2 Greenstalk planters, a small greenhouse and a nice sized cold frame. Mostly we follow Huw Richards’ minimal disturbance gardening philosophy.
In addition, so much of our success must be credited to what Kevin and Jacque are doing on the Epic Homestead!
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Since I retired and my wife sort of retired, we have committed ourselves to growing as much of our own food as possible.
We grow a bunch of food in-ground, but we also have 12 metal raised beds, at least 24 large pots/grow bags, 2 Greenstalk planters, a small greenhouse and a nice sized cold frame. Mostly we follow Huw Richards’ minimal disturbance gardening philosophy.
In addition, so much of our success must be credited to what Kevin and Jacque are doing on the Epic Homestead!
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custos3249
I feel ya with radishes. Had a sudden gap in my garden after some racoons found my containers my first year. I wanted at least a little something to show for what was left of the season, and radishes were about the only option time-wise. After harvest, sat there with a pile, nibbled one, questioned my life choices, then poked around online for ideas and came across a sweet pickle recipe. ABSOLUTELY growing more radishes next season now. New favorite sandwich topping after picked onions
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I feel ya with radishes. Had a sudden gap in my garden after some racoons found my containers my first year. I wanted at least a little something to show for what was left of the season, and radishes were about the only option time-wise. After harvest, sat there with a pile, nibbled one, questioned my life choices, then poked around online for ideas and came across a sweet pickle recipe. ABSOLUTELY growing more radishes next season now. New favorite sandwich topping after picked onions
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CraigBuccalo
Great video I enjoy growing in my Birdies raised beds. They make my gardening easier and productive and almost an epic garden. This last year I started to add flowers in with the veggie's boy did the bees come in the garden. The beds, the flowers, the veggies and the inspiration all have been inspired from you Kevin (not that Eric guy! I cannot thank you and Jacque enough for the advice and growing tips cannot wait for the 2026 season. Have a great Christmas and New Year.
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Great video I enjoy growing in my Birdies raised beds. They make my gardening easier and productive and almost an epic garden. This last year I started to add flowers in with the veggie's boy did the bees come in the garden. The beds, the flowers, the veggies and the inspiration all have been inspired from you Kevin (not that Eric guy! I cannot thank you and Jacque enough for the advice and growing tips cannot wait for the 2026 season. Have a great Christmas and New Year.
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tinad6812
I love gardening and I am going to expand to the front yard this coming season. Today, I actually harvested a bunch of cabbage plants and a radicchio that all survived the last 3 weeks of brutal cold weather, even below zero. I even harvested oregano and parsley that look nice. The cabbage was under a cover, but the herbs were not. Keven, I’m in zone 6 and rosemary doesn’t really like it here. I get small plants. I always admire your rosemary bush. Thanks to you both.
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I love gardening and I am going to expand to the front yard this coming season. Today, I actually harvested a bunch of cabbage plants and a radicchio that all survived the last 3 weeks of brutal cold weather, even below zero. I even harvested oregano and parsley that look nice. The cabbage was under a cover, but the herbs were not. Keven, I’m in zone 6 and rosemary doesn’t really like it here. I get small plants. I always admire your rosemary bush. Thanks to you both.
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epic_gardening
My desire to grow food on the porch of my apartment came when my daughter was born. I grew peas and radishes when I was younger at my parent's place, but not as an adult. When you see a special little nugget and you want to protect her from all of the horrible things found in our food supply, plus the cost of said food skyrocketing, you find a solution like grow bags. Then you discover the Greenstalk to compliment the grow bags and never look back
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My desire to grow food on the porch of my apartment came when my daughter was born. I grew peas and radishes when I was younger at my parent's place, but not as an adult. When you see a special little nugget and you want to protect her from all of the horrible things found in our food supply, plus the cost of said food skyrocketing, you find a solution like grow bags. Then you discover the Greenstalk to compliment the grow bags and never look back
reply
epic_gardening
Bought my first raised beds this year and my gardening experience has transformed. I took my sad little 600 sqft backyard from a dry heat sink to a thriving food paradise that now helps keep our house a little cooler in the heat of the Arizona desert. Not to mention the effect it has had on my mental health. You guys have help teach me and showed me so much that has helped me achieve a lot this year. Thank you!
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Bought my first raised beds this year and my gardening experience has transformed. I took my sad little 600 sqft backyard from a dry heat sink to a thriving food paradise that now helps keep our house a little cooler in the heat of the Arizona desert. Not to mention the effect it has had on my mental health. You guys have help teach me and showed me so much that has helped me achieve a lot this year. Thank you!
reply
cyndikehrli8389
Totally get the squash problem. One year, very early in my gardening journey, I planted 25 zucchini seeds thinking maybe 5 would grow. Wrong! Had 25 vigorous zucchini plants, gave away bags of zucchini, froze shredded zucchini. Couldn’t eat it for years afterward. This year I grew one plant, had 3 zucchini. Ya never know, I guess that’s the fun of gardening!
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Totally get the squash problem. One year, very early in my gardening journey, I planted 25 zucchini seeds thinking maybe 5 would grow. Wrong! Had 25 vigorous zucchini plants, gave away bags of zucchini, froze shredded zucchini. Couldn’t eat it for years afterward. This year I grew one plant, had 3 zucchini. Ya never know, I guess that’s the fun of gardening!
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m0ssy-mel
omg, I was chronically tired for a better part of a decade, and it made my mental health absolute garbage. I found out that at the age of 25, I had sleep apnea, and ever since I've started using a cpap machine, my mental health has drastically improved, aside from the disorders I already had. I'm so glad to hear you're taking care of yourself! Sleep apnea truly sucks.
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omg, I was chronically tired for a better part of a decade, and it made my mental health absolute garbage. I found out that at the age of 25, I had sleep apnea, and ever since I've started using a cpap machine, my mental health has drastically improved, aside from the disorders I already had. I'm so glad to hear you're taking care of yourself! Sleep apnea truly sucks.
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epic_gardening
We are also fans of Birch mattresses, we love ours and I get such great sleep. I listened to a health podcast that highlighted sleeping, it was shared that getting 7 hours of sleep also helps our brain. Sleeping those many hours allows our body to scrub plaque off the brain that could lead to Alzheimer’s. Very interesting and mind blowing to learn
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We are also fans of Birch mattresses, we love ours and I get such great sleep. I listened to a health podcast that highlighted sleeping, it was shared that getting 7 hours of sleep also helps our brain. Sleeping those many hours allows our body to scrub plaque off the brain that could lead to Alzheimer’s. Very interesting and mind blowing to learn
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ceraphi717
My growing choices weren't driven by what was expensive in my grocery bill, they were driven by what's been Removed from my grocery list for being too expensive; which is, nearly all fresh produce. I love vegetables and will eat tons of my favorite kinds, but found myself rationing frozen veggie packs and I knew it was time for a change
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My growing choices weren't driven by what was expensive in my grocery bill, they were driven by what's been Removed from my grocery list for being too expensive; which is, nearly all fresh produce. I love vegetables and will eat tons of my favorite kinds, but found myself rationing frozen veggie packs and I knew it was time for a change
reply
vibratingchihuahua
Unrelated, but I'm particularly interested in nutrient dense heirloom crops. Any chance you can sometimes comment on that aspect of your Botannical Interests (or other garden crop choices) Seems the Ag industry has bred for looks, not nutrition, so if the home grown heirlooms have an advantage there, it'd be good to say
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Unrelated, but I'm particularly interested in nutrient dense heirloom crops. Any chance you can sometimes comment on that aspect of your Botannical Interests (or other garden crop choices) Seems the Ag industry has bred for looks, not nutrition, so if the home grown heirlooms have an advantage there, it'd be good to say
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grisespino5342
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year guys!
at 9: 05 at your feet are lots of weeds or self sowers, coming up thru the wood mulch. Can you just scrape the mulch along to cut the seedlings or weeds and letting them break down into the pathway
Or
Do they need to be pulled Thanks
Great video!
reply
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year guys!
at 9: 05 at your feet are lots of weeds or self sowers, coming up thru the wood mulch. Can you just scrape the mulch along to cut the seedlings or weeds and letting them break down into the pathway
Or
Do they need to be pulled Thanks
Great video!
reply
sassafrasnanc
I've been watching you guys for years. I have done all the things you recommend. My raised beds and grow bags are awesome BUT I have discovered there are Invasive Asian Jumping Worms in many of them. Argh. What a nightmare. Any suggestions on what to do besides throwing away $100's of dollars in soil
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I've been watching you guys for years. I have done all the things you recommend. My raised beds and grow bags are awesome BUT I have discovered there are Invasive Asian Jumping Worms in many of them. Argh. What a nightmare. Any suggestions on what to do besides throwing away $100's of dollars in soil
reply
epic_gardening
I am a beginning gardener, and I went with container gardening. I also bought a raised planter (not a raised bed, but a planter with legs) that gives me a bit more space to work with. I also bought the wrong soil the first time, but I'm a quick study. I have bought Happy Frog since then.
reply
I am a beginning gardener, and I went with container gardening. I also bought a raised planter (not a raised bed, but a planter with legs) that gives me a bit more space to work with. I also bought the wrong soil the first time, but I'm a quick study. I have bought Happy Frog since then.
reply
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