He had to replace the plastic posts with sturdier wooden posts, so he was like well heck I'll just make a video updating on the status of logs and such in this and educate while I reexcavate my raised bed. Lol
Hmmm...you don't have to be ashamed to admit you're only watching this channel because this guy is mondo gorgeous. I do. I don't even have a garden. Or yard. I'm not even outdoorsy. I only go outside so the dog can pee. Even he doesn't like to go outside. It's why he pees on my new rug that I had delivered and ordered online because I never go outside.
This is an older video so you probably won't see this comment. But I wanted to thank you, Mark, for doing that hard work just to show us what happens to the debris that is at the base of a raised bed. That was a massive effort on your part, simply for education. Kudos to you!!
@Robert Spence Remember that there still was ~ 45 cm of *garden-soil* on top of the logs and stumps! You will not get a good result from your plants without _that_
So happy to see that there ARE other people in this world that actually get excited about decomposition of organic matter in the garden! LOVE this guy! ❤️🙂
that me think too what happen to us when we too are gonna buried like that one day..gonna be interrogated to what have we done in this world...the right acts and the right faith...peace!
I am building beds this weekend and have piles of branches and logs I was going to do the same - but roaches?? Now I am wondering and doing more research.
I’ve been doing versions of this with lumber by-products for awhile. What he doesn’t mention in this video is that nutrient rich humus gets added to your existing soil as a result of the decomposition (like the sweet smelling black layer under the leaves of the forest floor). Great benefits to all growing things in your garden. Downside is that while the wood bits are rotting they steal Nitrogen. If you do what’s suggested here, plan on adding N periodically. Watch the leaves; they’ll tell you when they need it.
Thanks for your comment. Was going to write the same exact thing. Always curious to see how plants growing on hugelkultur raised beds or with thick layers of straw work in terms of lack of nitrogen.
@@squadabingo9113 leaves lose their green when there's a lack of N. More of a yellowish green and pale as well as smaller size and less in numbers. Whereas plants that get plenty of N have thick and vibrant green foliage. Nitrogen is for tops, Potassium is for stems and overall growth support, and Phosphorus is for storage and reproduction.
Good note. I got some chemical fertilizer instead of soil for a Christmas gift way back and that's actually EXTREMELY good for me, since I didn't want to overload my soil with nitrogen when nitrogen isn't something any land in my state is very rich in
@@WhatHappenedIn-vt3vq Be very careful using chemical fertilizers when doing living soil, it is toxic to the microbes. Natural dry amendments would be better for organic.
Used this method last year when I built my first raised bed. Saved me a ton of money filling up the massive 8ft x4ft raised bed. Grew lots of vegetables and some fruits too.
I don't like bending and turning. Hard on the back. Buying soil is harder on the pocket book. In our 70's and have a no dig/no till. Blessed with hardwood trees in the fall/black gold.
What a positive and perfect man of the earth! You literally are the reason why I decided to take up farming again. My garden is flourishing from your advice and tutorials. I’m so glad you’re so dedicated because you inspire average people to be better. Much love from USA, Mark 🖤
I used your recommendations when I needed to fill some new raised beds, it is an excellent opportunity for me to dispose of some forest floor debris and save money on purchasing soil. It has worked wonderfully. We have been rehabilitating a piece of property that was owned by a hoarder and we have been able to use a lot of the collected wood pieces that had not rotted away to build new beds. We have been working on it for three years and we feel we will be able to complete most of the rest this year.
@Crappyshooter, Having a wood cockroach crawl up your leg when wearing those wide leg shorts would give anyone the heebie jeebies. A spider would be much worse!
I seem to absorb information better when it's delivered with an Australian accent 😆 What an absolutely awesome idea for a raised bed! I'm disabled and struggle with tasks that require me to bend down, which as you may imagine, doesn't help with gardening lol. I've been trying to think of a good way to build a raised bed high enough for me to use without kneeling/bending over and this is perfect 👌 Thank you so much for the idea and wonderful demonstration of this magical process of nature, great videos dude big ups from Prince Rupert in British Columbia 🇨🇦
We made some with 10' 2x12s. Bought 3 untreated & 3 treated. Cut 2 of each in 1/2, then use those 4 the short sides. Make boxes, then stack on top of each other with treated on bottom. You can add 2x4 or 2x6 rails to the top sides for sitting/weeding spots. We also used scrap wood on the inside to anchor the boxes together at each corner & on long sides/middle. We got the idea off YT somewhere, I can't remember now. The treated wood was used on bottom, but not top bc of chemicals. You don't want them getting into your plants, but the bottom level won't Rot as fast if you use it there. Fill bottom with wood chips, limbs, stumps, leaves, etc then cover with dirt & plant
I have to thank you, man. On days when I just don't feel like doing anything in the garden, I watch one of your videos. By the time it's over, I'm fully inspired and ready to rush out back and "get into it"! 😉 Thanks for that.
Did a 6 foot down Hugelculture garden 10 years ago - my best garden all these years. Duh, dawned on me to do it in a raised bed. Once again - best raised bed hands down. The deep moisture makes everything thrive!!!!!!!!!!!
You, sir, are my kind of gardener, and human. Who would go out in the rain to make a YT video? Who would dig back through over four years of video footage to select clips of the filling of the bed with wood, and who would have that much footage organized well enough to find things? You are also a good teacher, by knowledge and by personal experience. Pleased to subscribe, and thank you for your numerous gifts to all of us.
I now know what to do with my dead tree limb wood piles. I’ll dig the topsoil up and fill the low places in my yard with the wood. Then make shallow raised beds in these areas of my yard. Texas USA
The point of using these logs is these beds are basically large flower pots. They dry out very rapidly (much quicker than ground soil) so that's the point of the tree trucks "acting like sponges". In the main ground the will have little effect, either the dirty is wet enough or you are in drought.
Thanks for this... I have a whole bunch of branches and such from some front yard garden "renovations" that I thought I'd have to arrange a skip for... now I'll just cut them up and add them to the soil.
Four years ago my daughter had a couple of small, dead trees taken down in her backyard. She rented a small trencher for a couple of shallow ditches to lay the trunks in then mounded dirt over them for hugel beds. Tomatoes love it!
Thank you for doing this video. It’s one thing to talk about the benefits of hugelkultur, but even more helpful to see what has happened 4 years later.
youtube's been recommending this to me for a couple days, and i'm glad i've finally watched it. this is really interesting. the way that an ecosystem grows and thrives from something as simple as logs. it's fascinating. also the genuine passion for what you're doing makes this even more of a joy to watch.
I love the way you FEEL your garden. I am in the high desert Arizona. I would LOVE gardening in the rain.And your experiment WAS/IS indeed worth it. Rotten thumbs up for sure!👍
I'm in the valley! just started a raised bed a few weeks back! if you are looking for az tips look up greenies garden. they are in QC. they have an insane backyard also.
You need to watch Geoff Lawton on RUclips as he travels the world setting up Hugelkulture beds in 3rd world countries in deserts - really inspiring and very successful.
I love science. I love these videos when you "dig deeper" into what's going on in the garden. Knowing these processes makes us better gardeners, or so I believe. *_Thank you so very much._*
Definitely worth it! I've always wondered what goes on beneath the soil of a Hugelkulture raised bed, and how long it takes to decompose. Thank you SO much for doing this video! Now, I know it's worth doing the Hugelkulture, in my beds. You're awesome! I love watching you, even though I'm located in the States. I've learned so much from you, and your enthusiasm is contagious.
They still find viking ships deep underground, used as burials from the 8th-11th centruy that still haven't completely rotted away. Some woods can last to the point that they petrify, rather than rot.
Howdy from Finland! My wife and I are using Hugelkultur in our new raised garden beds due to your videos. Thanks for all of the great information you put on RUclips.
I always appreciate that you show yourself working and sweating and getting dirty. So much more real (and gives me a better idea of what to expect) than the typical gardening videos! Ty for all your hard work.
I just said the same thing in a comment. I can't believe (actually I do believe it) that there are people out there that would give this man a thumbs down...what a shame!!
Michael Murphy - me too! Always excitedly looking for his next video. Would you believe he's my bed time reading, I mean watching! Can't get enough and have learnt so much.
He is genuine and is a hard worker. Many of us resonate with this type of soul and are in good company 😊 garden work is not for couch potatoes lol pun intended lol He is a true inspiration thats for sure
I just planted tomatoes in my first hugelculture bed. No sides, just put cardboard down and threw logs, dirt and grass clippings on. Couple inches of compost and peat moss mix on top and voila! I'm still debating on building sides sides or just leave it as a mound. Looks a little bit like I buried someone in the back yard 😂
Mounds are just fine and great Halloween Decor, just add a skeleton hand or two out the top. I unfortunately can't have mounds what with all my chickens free ranging. Have to waste time and money putting up sturdy sides. AND a fencing around the crop, those brats dig up everything including potatoes. Tppppttttt!
I did all of my raised beds this year with this method. Garden production has been amazing this year and I can’t wait to see what next year brings. I love the fact that all I need to do is to top it off with a mix of compost and soil next spring. I’m adding 6 new beds for next year and will be starting them all like this. I’m starting them early so the summer/fall/winter can do it’s thing on them before I top them off with chicken compost and soil for planting.
mark, your channel was the first i watched when i decided to use hugelkultur. now after doin it, seeing what it looks like after years, i know i made the right choice. im not doing raised beds but using mound method so i can make tiers of veggies. i watch your videos like a hawk on a rabbit. cant get enough. thanks brother.
Thanks mate! Yes the mound method also looks very natural and whilst I do have the raised bed structure I like the low cost and efficiency of the original mound way of doing it also. Cheers :)
Ravensflies, What do you mean by using the mound method and making tiers of veggies? Does this apply to melons strawberries etc. as well? Thanks in advance.
@@annemoler6257 yes melons, beans and strawberries as well as tomatoes and some squash. instead of using a box i just pile up the wood, then put leaves all over it, water for weeks and then soil goes where the plant will be and it gets planted. seems to be working so far:D
What a fantastic "Macro Biology in Action" lesson! I always 'knew' those processes happened in the woods & forests, but to actually _see_ _it,_ _in_ _action_ in a backyard garden was something really special to watch. Thank you for the "Up, Live & In Person" video. It was really great to watch!
I did this to my garden beds (two of them) 3 years ago! I still hit the logs when I turn over the dirt and also when I add compost. I am excited for my gardens after watching you tear apart your garden so we can see the decomposition that has happened in four years time! I have had pretty good produce out of each garden and I am looking forward to next years produce! Thank you for your video!
The logs aren't there to quickly rot. Quite the opposite. If you wanted it to rot fast you use chips or leaves. The logs slooooowly rot giving nutrients over many years and hold moisture for a long time. It's a long term amendment.
I had a similar question as to why you would turn over the soil. I thought the whole point of this method was that you didn't have to turn over the soil because it defeats the purpose and destroys the ecosystem you have created in the garden bed with this method.
You still turn/till the top layer, for planting purposes. That seems to be what the OP was saying. They accidentally hit the buried logs when turning the top.
Having implemented this same method in all my raised beds 4 years ago I was intrigued to see the results. What I’ve found is I never have to water the plants which confirms what I was told when I built the beds. Love your enthusiasm.
Buried wood is a much different ecosystem than puked stems and leaves. It breaks down in a very interesting fashion, making an entire world along the way!
anonymous one , yes you are right! But once it breaks down it will return the nitrogen to the soil! So in hugel culture you must have the wood below the root level or add nitrogen(or well rotted wood).so is this useful when you have a deep bed or is it preferred? Would wood rot just as fast with the addition of water if it wasn't buried. So wood or wood chips are good to fill in a box, dual purpose as is also composting, or use wood chips as a mulch on top but don't have wood bits in the soil where the roots are. This is what I am trying to work out. Great video! Showed how it worked?👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Old chunk of coal. , I can see what you say. I think this is an interesting idea but for specific situations. We have an acreage with a fallen down popular mess. I would dig down and make a pit. I am up north and it is a cool wet summer here. We would have to have some machinery to do the hard work though. My husband was very taken with how Prince Charles did it. It would be great to see more studies on this.
I enjoy rewatching all your videos. They have helped me so much with my container garden that I have recently started with raised beds. Thanks again for all the great videos
That was a huge amount of work just to satisfy our curiosity. I, for one, was delighted to see it and feeling a bit guilty. I’ll get over the guilt. I’ll never forget how great this system is! Thank you.
How can not giving a big like to someone who did so much effort just to show us his work, awesome video, thanks for sharing such a great informative video and wish you best of luck for your gardening
Thank you for your great ideas. I used this method of burying small logs (not as large as yours) and twigs/leaves in the bottom of my raised bed, covered with rotted hay and horse/goat manure and saved a great deal of money since I was able to buy fewer bags of soil mix for the top half. I live in the Sacramento Valley of California.
I have been doing this for years thinking it would be beneficial to critters and the soil. Nice to see that it actually is a big help. Great video. Thanks 😊
It’s amazing how well the wood held up over the course of four years. I would’ve suspected that all of it would be soft and crumbly to the touch. It’s awesome to see that you created it extremely effective micro biome though
@@Selfsufficientme that was cool to see...several of the long legs were gone and near gone as they were closer to surface.. .stumps at bottom had zero air and no plant roots taking up nutrients. I bet if a tree was in that bed the stumps would go faster. Good info though....u see people plant in raise bed and the next season the soil is compacted and the bed is half empty .....now we know....start with 18 by 18 inch stumps then long legs then smaller matter to avoid the refill issue! 👍❣
PoleGem , yes, great comment, I guess when you have more compaction you would have a slower rot rate. More compaction would mean less oxygen an important factor in rot rate. So is there a way to add oxygen? Also would throwing green manure on help as well
Most of the cellulose eating soil microbes are towards the surface. Think about where a fence post rots off….about three inches below ground to above an inch above.
I restarted my little garden this summer thanks to you. With quarantine I have all the time in the world, and your videos just gave me the extra motivation I needed. I’m growing 5 tomato plants(two from suckers), a mandarin tree, and some basil. I forgot just how magical it can be to spend time gardening, and you brought that back for me.
I just bought a bunch of Birdies raised beds and filled them with some logs that have been sitting outside for about four years. I chucked some soil on top then finished it off with a layer of compost. Looking forward to getting some tomatoes and capsicums growing in them.
@@paydenwilhelmson7742 Woah that sounds amazing. Come to think of it, it does make me happy just touching and interacting with soil. Only I use gloves though.
@@paydenwilhelmson7742 You're right. He has said in one of his videos how he likes the feel of the fresh soil in his hands. It could even be the same one where he says he loves the smell of it, too. After what he's been through with that accident which caused the arm to look the way it does, it's understandable.
I'm so excited for this! You were the first one I ever saw talk about Hugleculture and ever since I've wondered what it would be like long term in the bottom.
thank you for doing such a GREAT job filming, showing/presenting, teaching us all how to do this. You truly are a motivation for SO many, and you do a fantastic job doing so. You deserve all the success you have here on utube. I believe growing our own food will be absolutely critical soon, and it's never too late to start steppin in that direction. So thank you for all you do and the motivation to go out and do it too.
Like a "mom and pop" business! All business on the top, and living quarters in the basement! 😆 Thanks for sharing, inside the box!! Hope you have a great weekend and God Bless.
I’m so pleased that this video has millions of views. I completely stumbled on it, but watched the whole thing. I think it’s great that there is so much interest in valuable subjects like this.
sterotypes are sterotypes for a reason. doesnt mean it is 100%, just a generalization. people werent offended by everything until recent times. normal well adjusted people find them funny in most cases(save the few stereotypes meant to be harmful). discernment has been lost to pure emotional responses by a certain group of people...
I always hate bothering the bugs & worms! LOL bugging the bugs! BUT ~ I just learned about wood roaches! Now I need to research if this is also what folks call water bugs. I have an old bathroom that needs some TLC and I see this there...TY for this! It may be 2022 but the knowledge is timeless!
The guy inspires me a lot into getting down to get dirty in the earth! He does his thing with passion! Very phsicially, emotionally, and spiritually uplifting!
I just ordered some raised beds, watching your video gives me the confidence and knowledge to start my journey. With our economy tanking here in the US, time to go back to self sufficiency. The best part of all this is the wiggly worms 🪱 and fun eco-life living in the beds!! Going to share your videos with my garden loving friends!!
2:33 "plenty of activity in this bed" 😂 I love it. And seriously, I love your videos. I put some organic matter from extra cuttings in a bed earlier this year and I'm hoping it's starting to break down nicely and improve my soil. I love your enthusiasm!
I did this it will definitely improve your soil!! I grew a 14ft tomato plant in my bed. I started it at the beginning of quarantine. It's now September. I dug dip to see how it looks and the logs are still there but very soft with worms. I covered it back up with soil and planted my collard green seeds. I have 5 beds 3 of them are 4 ft deep those are the ones with huge tree logs.
Thank you for taking the time to share this with us. I chose to go down the hugelkultur and no dig high raised beds route because of your previous videos. I'm about 6 months in so it's great to see what kind of ecosystem I'm creating for the minibeasts deep inside my beds right now. 👍💚
Another great video, i didn't know about hugelkultar until i started watching your channel. I had been annoyed at people dumping pruning and garden waste in the bush behind our house yard. Now its being made into a hugelkultar bed. 😀
Thank you for sharing! I didn't know "hugelkultur" was a thing, just thought I was being thrifty chuckin' mulch and yard junk in the bottom of big containers. I use "decent" sized logs and bamboo as natural garden bordering too, because I like watching the fungi that grow and decompose them. Now I'm inspired to make bigger, deeper garden beds!
Same here! So nice to find a process where cheaper is better. The guy on Ripe Tomato Farms just did a video on replanting garden beds this week that was also quite helpful. Love this guy here! Both are simple, friendly, straightforward teachers. Between the two, I'm so much better at it now!
I can’t wait until I have a garden so that I can learn to to grow my own produce and reconnect with the natural world after years squeezed in a tiny flat in a big city. This is very inspiring.
You just remind me my grandpa...and your smile just brings a smile on my face and when ever you post any video , it brings happiness . Keep doing the great work , stay safe and stay healthy. Lots of love :)
Mark, you are one down to Earth man. From the looks of the scars on your arm, it looks as though you’ve spent time wrestling crocs, or tigers, or juggling chainsaws, but still the bugs give you the heebs. I love it! Thanks for sharing your garden and the knowledge you have with all of us. Cheers!
I'm new to the channel (and even newer to gardening) and I'm so glad I found it. Has the feeling of getting advice from your favorite uncle that wants you to thrive and has so much fun while teaching you
Absolutely amazing! Love this! Watched it with my kiddos and my 5 year old was fascinated by the red/brown bugs. We just started this hugalkulter method this year in our new keyhole Garden!
I love this method! So glad you did the follow up video showing the decayed matter! I’ve been doing heugle cultures all over the land and working with your same concept in all our beds! Thank you!
Dear friend: Forgive the intrusion. Your breathing while digging reminded me of me before my 4 way bypass. Seems like people love you and you have a lot of passion for this. Please for the sake of you and your family, please have your heart checked out. I’m a physician, and you have some risk factors for coronary arterial disease. Don’t want to see you as another statistic. Too many middle aged men from Northern European ancestry just keel over and take a dirt bath. If I am wrong, at least I err on the side of caution. Cheers, mate. Thanks for the video.
Dear David, I truly appreciate your watchful eye, and hearing. Most would ignore so hats off to you. I truly hope he is okay, that shoveling got him winded. GOD BLESS GOD SPEED
I too noticed that he looks fit and healthy from all of the manual labour but was breathing heavily. Granted we only saw some of the footage of the digging, but I was surprised by the breathlessness.
Heavy exercise, like digging, actually makes a person breathe harder. Really. He’s healthier by far, with his lifestyle, than most desk jockeys could ever hope to be.
This is a beautiful demonstration on decomposition. I’m glad there are people that are dedicated enough to update on something they did 4 years ago.
Definitely. I try to keep track of things in my yard but am too disorganised.
So true!
decomposition is amazing!!
He had to replace the plastic posts with sturdier wooden posts, so he was like well heck I'll just make a video updating on the status of logs and such in this and educate while I reexcavate my raised bed. Lol
were still doin it! if you have a back yard and youre not growin somethin, anythin at this point, youre doing yourself a disservice.
Never thought I'd be watching a video of a man digging up old logs, but it was quite interesting.
Hmmm...you don't have to be ashamed to admit you're only watching this channel because this guy is mondo gorgeous. I do. I don't even have a garden. Or yard. I'm not even outdoorsy. I only go outside so the dog can pee. Even he doesn't like to go outside. It's why he pees on my new rug that I had delivered and ordered online because I never go outside.
He destroyed it... it was doing just fine
@@NelsonClickuse vinegar to get rid of the smell. Put some in a spray bottle and dilute 50:50. Spray it on. Smell disappears! You’re welcome! 😊
This is an older video so you probably won't see this comment. But I wanted to thank you, Mark, for doing that hard work just to show us what happens to the debris that is at the base of a raised bed. That was a massive effort on your part, simply for education. Kudos to you!!
not just for education, it's for himself too, he explained that he had to replace the bed corners and sides with better building material
@Robert Spence Remember that there still was ~ 45 cm of *garden-soil* on top of the logs and stumps!
You will not get a good result from your plants without _that_
Mark is the best. I wish I could shake his hand and tell him “G’DAY!” and talk gardening!
So happy to see that there ARE other people in this world that actually get excited about decomposition of organic matter in the garden! LOVE this guy! ❤️🙂
that me think too what happen to us when we too are gonna buried like that one day..gonna be interrogated to what have we done in this world...the right acts and the right faith...peace!
We out here 🙂
You are not alone
I am building beds this weekend and have piles of branches and logs I was going to do the same - but roaches?? Now I am wondering and doing more research.
"Want to come back to my place and checkout my compost pile and worm farm?" ;)
This man radiates such a kind and caring energy for gardening. His passion for this is infectious! I am now ready to get back to my own little garden.
Same here!
He definitely does that! Very contagious.
Totally.
I’ve been doing versions of this with lumber by-products for awhile. What he doesn’t mention in this video is that nutrient rich humus gets added to your existing soil as a result of the decomposition (like the sweet smelling black layer under the leaves of the forest floor). Great benefits to all growing things in your garden. Downside is that while the wood bits are rotting they steal Nitrogen. If you do what’s suggested here, plan on adding N periodically. Watch the leaves; they’ll tell you when they need it.
Thanks for your comment. Was going to write the same exact thing. Always curious to see how plants growing on hugelkultur raised beds or with thick layers of straw work in terms of lack of nitrogen.
When do the leaves tell you they’re ready?
@@squadabingo9113 leaves lose their green when there's a lack of N. More of a yellowish green and pale as well as smaller size and less in numbers. Whereas plants that get plenty of N have thick and vibrant green foliage. Nitrogen is for tops, Potassium is for stems and overall growth support, and Phosphorus is for storage and reproduction.
Good note. I got some chemical fertilizer instead of soil for a Christmas gift way back and that's actually EXTREMELY good for me, since I didn't want to overload my soil with nitrogen when nitrogen isn't something any land in my state is very rich in
@@WhatHappenedIn-vt3vq Be very careful using chemical fertilizers when doing living soil, it is toxic to the microbes. Natural dry amendments would be better for organic.
I totally didn't search for this video, but I'm glad RUclips did recommend it.
Me too
I totally agree!
Same✌
Same....
I have no idea how/why this video showed up my recommendeds yesterday, but hey , mysterious ways and all 🤷♀️😅
I like this guy’s personality. Seems like a good dude.
He seems really friendly
He buries his enemy in his garden to fertilize his corps
I feel like I can see in his eyes he's a good guy, and he loves gardening.. wise...
I said the same thing. I sub after watching the first 5 mins of the video. He seems wicked friendly.
So....and your point is?????
Used this method last year when I built my first raised bed. Saved me a ton of money filling up the massive 8ft x4ft raised bed. Grew lots of vegetables and some fruits too.
I don't like bending and turning. Hard on the back. Buying soil is harder on the pocket book. In our 70's and have a no dig/no till. Blessed with hardwood trees in the fall/black gold.
It's amazing how built he is from all that gardening work. It's basically a gym that makes food.
I think he was in the military as well
He was once a militair he said. But he also says that this is a perfect workout.
ruclips.net/video/FM7L9xieSXk/видео.html
Always a great workout in the garden! Best gym ever :)
@@Selfsufficientme - Justin Rhodes calls it Nature's Gym. BTW, you sure could double for Russel Crowe in Gladiator.
What a positive and perfect man of the earth! You literally are the reason why I decided to take up farming again. My garden is flourishing from your advice and tutorials. I’m so glad you’re so dedicated because you inspire average people to be better. Much love from USA, Mark 🖤
A true custodian of the earth!!!!
I used your recommendations when I needed to fill some new raised beds, it is an excellent opportunity for me to dispose of some forest floor debris and save money on purchasing soil. It has worked wonderfully. We have been rehabilitating a piece of property that was owned by a hoarder and we have been able to use a lot of the collected wood pieces that had not rotted away to build new beds. We have been working on it for three years and we feel we will be able to complete most of the rest this year.
7:20 I don't want to be near anything that makes an Australian say "Gives me the heebie jeebies now".
😂😂😂
😆😆😆
@Crappyshooter, Having a wood cockroach crawl up your leg when wearing those wide leg shorts would give anyone the heebie jeebies. A spider would be much worse!
Right?!
yeh right.
I like this guy. He is a great host. Magnetic personality.
All ozzy dads are
Aussies are either magnetic or enigmatic. Either way they keep it lively I reckon.
He is sooooo sweet
I seem to absorb information better when it's delivered with an Australian accent 😆
What an absolutely awesome idea for a raised bed! I'm disabled and struggle with tasks that require me to bend down, which as you may imagine, doesn't help with gardening lol. I've been trying to think of a good way to build a raised bed high enough for me to use without kneeling/bending over and this is perfect 👌 Thank you so much for the idea and wonderful demonstration of this magical process of nature, great videos dude big ups from Prince Rupert in British Columbia 🇨🇦
We made some with 10' 2x12s. Bought 3 untreated & 3 treated. Cut 2 of each in 1/2, then use those 4 the short sides. Make boxes, then stack on top of each other with treated on bottom. You can add 2x4 or 2x6 rails to the top sides for sitting/weeding spots. We also used scrap wood on the inside to anchor the boxes together at each corner & on long sides/middle.
We got the idea off YT somewhere, I can't remember now.
The treated wood was used on bottom, but not top bc of chemicals. You don't want them getting into your plants, but the bottom level won't Rot as fast if you use it there. Fill bottom with wood chips, limbs, stumps, leaves, etc then cover with dirt & plant
I have to thank you, man. On days when I just don't feel like doing anything in the garden, I watch one of your videos. By the time it's over, I'm fully inspired and ready to rush out back and "get into it"! 😉 Thanks for that.
I have never thought people would do such a boring garden job, while attracted more bored people watching happily.
I was so waiting for this Because i have buried 10 year old wood in my garden and wanted to know what happens
ruclips.net/video/FM7L9xieSXk/видео.html
10 years was about the time it took forthe yardto start sinking over some logs I buried.
The first time reading this i read “i have a 10 year old buried”
@@LmaoMoni hahaha
Bad writing i guess😅😅
LmaoMoni same for me! 😂
I’m glad I’m not the only one who gets excited about stuff like this.
Did a 6 foot down Hugelculture garden 10 years ago - my best garden all these years. Duh, dawned on me to do it in a raised bed. Once again - best raised bed hands down. The deep moisture makes everything thrive!!!!!!!!!!!
First guy who's been able to get me excited about rotting wood! 🤣🤣🤣
ruclips.net/video/FM7L9xieSXk/видео.html
The deep moisture in the bed is like having an aquafer under your entire garden
Does this work in any climate?
What a great experiment to dig it down! Both ways work well then! Cheers :)
This man is so dedicated he stood in the rain and filmed a video about digging up logs.
What's wrong with rain? I love rain 80% of the time I go out when it starts to rain literally just to be out in the rain
@@CemboATG It doesn't look to warm where he is, so I'm assuming its not the every other month sunny warm rain
@Flood Watch i love rain
@@irodroan2769 He's Aussie. It's hot most of the year.
@@CemboATG All that spade work, plus free water cooling!
You, sir, are my kind of gardener, and human. Who would go out in the rain to make a YT video? Who would dig back through over four years of video footage to select clips of the filling of the bed with wood, and who would have that much footage organized well enough to find things? You are also a good teacher, by knowledge and by personal experience. Pleased to subscribe, and thank you for your numerous gifts to all of us.
he is awesome i love this channel and how he shows us years later what happened to stuff.
RUclips comments are so weird
This guy is one in a million, I really enjoy watching, learning and just listening to him talk.
I now know what to do with my dead tree limb wood piles. I’ll dig the topsoil up and fill the low places in my yard with the wood. Then make shallow raised beds in these areas of my yard. Texas USA
The point of using these logs is these beds are basically large flower pots. They dry out very rapidly (much quicker than ground soil) so that's the point of the tree trucks "acting like sponges". In the main ground the will have little effect, either the dirty is wet enough or you are in drought.
Thanks for this... I have a whole bunch of branches and such from some front yard garden "renovations" that I thought I'd have to arrange a skip for... now I'll just cut them up and add them to the soil.
This kind of content, interest in nature and learning how It works has encouraged me to pursue a second career as biologist now
Wow! How are things?
I'd binge watch a tv show by this guy. Very wholesome, educational, and just in general pleasant. Thanks for sharing!
A docuseries, each episode revolving around a different gardening plant or concept, would be great.
Four years ago my daughter had a couple of small, dead trees taken down in her backyard. She rented a small trencher for a couple of shallow ditches to lay the trunks in then mounded dirt over them for hugel beds. Tomatoes love it!
My husband peered over my shoulder and asked "When did Russell Crowe get into gardening?"
Lol
Was he not entertained?
As soon as he finished Fightin’ round the world!
Are you not entertained?
😂
Thank you for doing this video. It’s one thing to talk about the benefits of hugelkultur, but even more helpful to see what has happened 4 years later.
youtube's been recommending this to me for a couple days, and i'm glad i've finally watched it. this is really interesting. the way that an ecosystem grows and thrives from something as simple as logs. it's fascinating. also the genuine passion for what you're doing makes this even more of a joy to watch.
I love the way you FEEL your garden. I am in the high desert Arizona. I would LOVE gardening in the rain.And your experiment WAS/IS indeed worth it. Rotten thumbs up for sure!👍
ruclips.net/video/FM7L9xieSXk/видео.html
I'm in the valley! just started a raised bed a few weeks back! if you are looking for az tips look up greenies garden. they are in QC. they have an insane backyard also.
Prescott
You need to watch Geoff Lawton on RUclips as he travels the world setting up Hugelkulture beds in 3rd world countries in deserts - really inspiring and very successful.
Tombstone, here.
I love science. I love these videos when you "dig deeper" into what's going on in the garden. Knowing these processes makes us better gardeners, or so I believe. *_Thank you so very much._*
Thank you Kirsten! :)
Definitely worth it! I've always wondered what goes on beneath the soil of a Hugelkulture raised bed, and how long it takes to decompose. Thank you SO much for doing this video! Now, I know it's worth doing the Hugelkulture, in my beds.
You're awesome! I love watching you, even though I'm located in the States. I've learned so much from you, and your enthusiasm is contagious.
Love your curiosity & it's fascinating that there's still solid wood after 4 years. Thanks
They still find viking ships deep underground, used as burials from the 8th-11th centruy that still haven't completely rotted away. Some woods can last to the point that they petrify, rather than rot.
Howdy from Finland!
My wife and I are using Hugelkultur in our new raised garden beds due to your videos.
Thanks for all of the great information you put on RUclips.
G'day Rich, thank you and your wife for supporting my videos! Cheers :)
Same here. You’ve had a big impact on how we do things in the garden here in our country Vic. home
I always appreciate that you show yourself working and sweating and getting dirty. So much more real (and gives me a better idea of what to expect) than the typical gardening videos! Ty for all your hard work.
Something about this guy, i just love him.
I just said the same thing in a comment. I can't believe (actually I do believe it) that there are people out there that would give this man a thumbs down...what a shame!!
Michael Murphy - me too! Always excitedly looking for his next video. Would you believe he's my bed time reading, I mean watching! Can't get enough and have learnt so much.
He is genuine and is a hard worker. Many of us resonate with this type of soul and are in good company 😊 garden work is not for couch potatoes lol pun intended lol
He is a true inspiration thats for sure
I started my first raised bed/ gardening experience last month because of him, and it has been so good for my soul.
Thanks Michael and I'm glad your raised bed build is going well too! Cheers :)
I just planted tomatoes in my first hugelculture bed. No sides, just put cardboard down and threw logs, dirt and grass clippings on. Couple inches of compost and peat moss mix on top and voila! I'm still debating on building sides sides or just leave it as a mound. Looks a little bit like I buried someone in the back yard 😂
Lol you forgot the Rose's
The mound is the original way - low cost and effective but yes does look a bit like a shallow grave lol... Cheers :)
@@Selfsufficientme lmao i was thinking that but didnt want to say it , so thanka for being my voice on that haha too funny
Mounds are just fine and great Halloween Decor, just add a skeleton hand or two out the top. I unfortunately can't have mounds what with all my chickens free ranging. Have to waste time and money putting up sturdy sides. AND a fencing around the crop, those brats dig up everything including potatoes. Tppppttttt!
Humankulture....
I did all of my raised beds this year with this method. Garden production has been amazing this year and I can’t wait to see what next year brings. I love the fact that all I need to do is to top it off with a mix of compost and soil next spring. I’m adding 6 new beds for next year and will be starting them all like this. I’m starting them early so the summer/fall/winter can do it’s thing on them before I top them off with chicken compost and soil for planting.
This guy is the Steve Irwin of gardening
Crikey!!!
Well said.
😄 awww... I just found this channel and I thought this too.... what a nice compliment for him.
When he said, "Let's get in there!" I had the Same Thought! Even without the accent, he has the same positive disposition.
Indeed
mark, your channel was the first i watched when i decided to use hugelkultur. now after doin it, seeing what it looks like after years, i know i made the right choice. im not doing raised beds but using mound method so i can make tiers of veggies. i watch your videos like a hawk on a rabbit. cant get enough. thanks brother.
Mark is truly a great guy!!
Thanks mate! Yes the mound method also looks very natural and whilst I do have the raised bed structure I like the low cost and efficiency of the original mound way of doing it also. Cheers :)
Ravensflies, What do you mean by using the mound method and making tiers of veggies? Does this apply to melons strawberries etc. as well? Thanks in advance.
@@annemoler6257 yes melons, beans and strawberries as well as tomatoes and some squash. instead of using a box i just pile up the wood, then put leaves all over it, water for weeks and then soil goes where the plant will be and it gets planted. seems to be working so far:D
I watched this video and did the same… I just turned the beds over for planting and the soil is definitely improving. 👍
I feel like I have just taken a master class. Thank you.
What a fantastic "Macro Biology in Action" lesson!
I always 'knew' those processes happened in the woods & forests, but to actually _see_ _it,_ _in_ _action_ in a backyard garden was something really special to watch.
Thank you for the "Up, Live & In Person" video. It was really great to watch!
I’ve got acres to clean up and you just gave me the best idea ever!
I did this to my garden beds (two of them) 3 years ago! I still hit the logs when I turn over the dirt and also when I add compost. I am excited for my gardens after watching you tear apart your garden so we can see the decomposition that has happened in four years time! I have had pretty good produce out of each garden and I am looking forward to next years produce! Thank you for your video!
Why do you turn over the soil?
The logs aren't there to quickly rot. Quite the opposite. If you wanted it to rot fast you use chips or leaves. The logs slooooowly rot giving nutrients over many years and hold moisture for a long time. It's a long term amendment.
I had a similar question as to why you would turn over the soil. I thought the whole point of this method was that you didn't have to turn over the soil because it defeats the purpose and destroys the ecosystem you have created in the garden bed with this method.
@@crystalh450 true
You still turn/till the top layer, for planting purposes. That seems to be what the OP was saying. They accidentally hit the buried logs when turning the top.
I've watched his videos for years and just can't get enough. Such a wholesome lad.
Having implemented this same method in all my raised beds 4 years ago I was intrigued to see the results. What I’ve found is I never have to water the plants which confirms what I was told when I built the beds. Love your enthusiasm.
Buried wood is a much different ecosystem than puked stems and leaves. It breaks down in a very interesting fashion, making an entire world along the way!
anonymous one , yes you are right! But once it breaks down it will return the nitrogen to the soil! So in hugel culture you must have the wood below the root level or add nitrogen(or well rotted wood).so is this useful when you have a deep bed or is it preferred? Would wood rot just as fast with the addition of water if it wasn't buried. So wood or wood chips are good to fill in a box, dual purpose as is also composting, or use wood chips as a mulch on top but don't have wood bits in the soil where the roots are. This is what I am trying to work out. Great video! Showed how it worked?👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Old chunk of coal. , I can see what you say. I think this is an interesting idea but for specific situations. We have an acreage with a fallen down popular mess. I would dig down and make a pit. I am up north and it is a cool wet summer here. We would have to have some machinery to do the hard work though. My husband was very taken with how Prince Charles did it. It would be great to see more studies on this.
After 10 months mines (from fallen tree) is already looking like wood chips!
I did this with three raised beds 3x8x2 this year. I’m in California, U.S., so excited to watch your videos. Well done!!!
I enjoy rewatching all your videos. They have helped me so much with my container garden that I have recently started with raised beds. Thanks again for all the great videos
That was a huge amount of work just to satisfy our curiosity. I, for one, was delighted to see it and feeling a bit guilty. I’ll get over the guilt. I’ll never forget how great this system is! Thank you.
Thank you Jody! :)
How can not giving a big like to someone who did so much effort just to show us his work, awesome video, thanks for sharing such a great informative video and wish you best of luck for your gardening
Thank you for your great ideas. I used this method of burying small logs (not as large as yours) and twigs/leaves in the bottom of my raised bed, covered with rotted hay and horse/goat manure and saved a great deal of money since I was able to buy fewer bags of soil mix for the top half. I live in the Sacramento Valley of California.
How did work?
I have been doing this for years thinking it would be beneficial to critters and the soil. Nice to see that it actually is a big help. Great video. Thanks 😊
It’s amazing how well the wood held up over the course of four years. I would’ve suspected that all of it would be soft and crumbly to the touch. It’s awesome to see that you created it extremely effective micro biome though
crumbly?? MORE LIKE CRUNCHY!!!!!!! 😡
Yes and we get a lot of rainfall here too so I expected the stumps to be softer by now also. Cheers :)
@@Selfsufficientme that was cool to see...several of the long legs were gone and near gone as they were closer to surface.. .stumps at bottom had zero air and no plant roots taking up nutrients. I bet if a tree was in that bed the stumps would go faster. Good info though....u see people plant in raise bed and the next season the soil is compacted and the bed is half empty .....now we know....start with 18 by 18 inch stumps then long legs then smaller matter to avoid the refill issue! 👍❣
PoleGem , yes, great comment, I guess when you have more compaction you would have a slower rot rate. More compaction would mean less oxygen an important factor in rot rate. So is there a way to add oxygen? Also would throwing green manure on help as well
Most of the cellulose eating soil microbes are towards the surface. Think about where a fence post rots off….about three inches below ground to above an inch above.
not sure why but i love the part where the worm flops out of your hand and you quickly cover it back with dirt. great stuff!
I restarted my little garden this summer thanks to you. With quarantine I have all the time in the world, and your videos just gave me the extra motivation I needed. I’m growing 5 tomato plants(two from suckers), a mandarin tree, and some basil. I forgot just how magical it can be to spend time gardening, and you brought that back for me.
I love how you show us how to do the build, but also take the time to explain why certain steps are needed.. great job!
I just bought a bunch of Birdies raised beds and filled them with some logs that have been sitting outside for about four years. I chucked some soil on top then finished it off with a layer of compost. Looking forward to getting some tomatoes and capsicums growing in them.
Everyone knew what would happen to the wood, yet its still intersting
Yes but we did not know the level of decomposition.
I LOVE that he doesnt wear gloves. Feeling the earth and all of its stuff makes the whole experience better IMO.
I have read the soil microbes can help with depression!!
@@paydenwilhelmson7742 Sounds interesting. Do you have a citation by any chance?
S Shah it’s not letting me post any links but most studies were done looking at M. vaccae
@@paydenwilhelmson7742 Woah that sounds amazing. Come to think of it, it does make me happy just touching and interacting with soil. Only I use gloves though.
@@paydenwilhelmson7742 You're right. He has said in one of his videos how he likes the feel of the fresh soil in his hands. It could even be the same one where he says he loves the smell of it, too. After what he's been through with that accident which caused the arm to look the way it does, it's understandable.
I LOVE Mark's enthusiasm for his work. It is contagious. Love it.
I know,it really is!
Thanks RUclips for recommending the Steve Irwin of Gardening at 2 in the morning.
I'm so excited for this! You were the first one I ever saw talk about Hugleculture and ever since I've wondered what it would be like long term in the bottom.
Hey this is an absolutely great idea for saving costs on gardening soil, and getting rid of wood waste from the garden. You are a genius.
thank you for doing such a GREAT job filming, showing/presenting, teaching us all how to do this. You truly are a motivation for SO many, and you do a fantastic job doing so. You deserve all the success you have here on utube. I believe growing our own food will be absolutely critical soon, and it's never too late to start steppin in that direction. So thank you for all you do and the motivation to go out and do it too.
Like a "mom and pop" business! All business on the top, and living quarters in the basement! 😆
Thanks for sharing, inside the box!!
Hope you have a great weekend and God Bless.
LOL... Thanks Sue! :)
Wow Sue that's great.....
I love your child-like curiosity about digging down into the dirt. I got my BS and MS in geology and its that curiosity that made it so fun.
I’m so pleased that this video has millions of views. I completely stumbled on it, but watched the whole thing. I think it’s great that there is so much interest in valuable subjects like this.
I don’t want to perpetuate stereotypes but I feel this guy could totally wrestle a croc
Thanks Austin powers dad
They teach Croc wrestling in school in aus.. No big deal..
Well.. You just did
sterotypes are sterotypes for a reason. doesnt mean it is 100%, just a generalization. people werent offended by everything until recent times. normal well adjusted people find them funny in most cases(save the few stereotypes meant to be harmful). discernment has been lost to pure emotional responses by a certain group of people...
You haven't seen the video of him wrestling an alligator? One of his most watched videos
I always hate bothering the bugs & worms! LOL bugging the bugs! BUT ~ I just learned about wood roaches! Now I need to research if this is also what folks call water bugs. I have an old bathroom that needs some TLC and I see this there...TY for this! It may be 2022 but the knowledge is timeless!
This channel is my therapy. It helps me calm down before bed.
My father is an entomologist, he'd be having a blast digging through your garden beds.
I learned a new word today: Hugelkultur. Love the way you take the long view, Mark.
The guy inspires me a lot into getting down to get dirty in the earth! He does his thing with passion! Very phsicially, emotionally, and spiritually uplifting!
At moms house, she has an old large tree stump that's been rotting away for years. We always plant cukes around it, and they produce like crazy!
Amen brother
The wood helps create new plants ,that's why it's in potting mix,it's a transformative process.
@kirwi kirwinson cucumbers
@@garryhudson6945 How? What's the process called? Interested to know more.
I just ordered some raised beds, watching your video gives me the confidence and knowledge to start my journey. With our economy tanking here in the US, time to go back to self sufficiency. The best part of all this is the wiggly worms 🪱 and fun eco-life living in the beds!! Going to share your videos with my garden loving friends!!
2:33 "plenty of activity in this bed" 😂 I love it. And seriously, I love your videos. I put some organic matter from extra cuttings in a bed earlier this year and I'm hoping it's starting to break down nicely and improve my soil. I love your enthusiasm!
I did this it will definitely improve your soil!! I grew a 14ft tomato plant in my bed. I started it at the beginning of quarantine. It's now September. I dug dip to see how it looks and the logs are still there but very soft with worms. I covered it back up with soil and planted my collard green seeds. I have 5 beds 3 of them are 4 ft deep those are the ones with huge tree logs.
Thank you for taking the time to share this with us. I chose to go down the hugelkultur and no dig high raised beds route because of your previous videos. I'm about 6 months in so it's great to see what kind of ecosystem I'm creating for the minibeasts deep inside my beds right now. 👍💚
Thanks for giving us the opportunity to see what the logs look like 4 years later. Very cool - thank you!
Another great video, i didn't know about hugelkultar until i started watching your channel. I had been annoyed at people dumping pruning and garden waste in the bush behind our house yard. Now its being made into a hugelkultar bed. 😀
Thanks Noelene! How could people dump perfectly good garden waste - that's just silly! Cheers :)
*Removes Wooden material*
Wood Roaches: It's the APOCALYPSE. Crawl for your lives. *Panicked screaming*
He's got heebie jeebies and they're like OH MY GAHD I TOUCHED THE MONSTER'S LEG BY ACCIDENT RUN AWAY
😅😅😅😅😅😅😅
I hate wood roaches. I know the environment needs them but, yuck !
A .L.L. Wood roaches are the stuff of NIGHTMARES. We call them Palmetto Bugs in FL and they are huge. Monsters....
Why do all this work? Just for the video?
Just mooching through the back catalog, absolutely love this guy!
Thank you for sharing! I didn't know "hugelkultur" was a thing, just thought I was being thrifty chuckin' mulch and yard junk in the bottom of big containers. I use "decent" sized logs and bamboo as natural garden bordering too, because I like watching the fungi that grow and decompose them. Now I'm inspired to make bigger, deeper garden beds!
Same here! So nice to find a process where cheaper is better. The guy on Ripe Tomato Farms just did a video on replanting garden beds this week that was also quite helpful. Love this guy here! Both are simple, friendly, straightforward teachers. Between the two, I'm so much better at it now!
should've had those chickens at the ready for those wood roaches! great vid, thanks for sharing!
I am doing this in my garden bed with large redwood logs! Thanks for the idea!
I can’t wait until I have a garden so that I can learn to to grow my own produce and reconnect with the natural world after years squeezed in a tiny flat in a big city. This is very inspiring.
You just remind me my grandpa...and your smile just brings a smile on my face and when ever you post any video , it brings happiness . Keep doing the great work , stay safe and stay healthy. Lots of love :)
This is Awesome, Thank you for taking us with you on the rebuild- your interest & excitement is contagious❣️
Mark, you are one down to Earth man. From the looks of the scars on your arm, it looks as though you’ve spent time wrestling crocs, or tigers, or juggling chainsaws, but still the bugs give you the heebs. I love it! Thanks for sharing your garden and the knowledge you have with all of us. Cheers!
Actually it was wrestling chainsaws and juggling tigers.
The crocs he leaves to the Irwins.
Wife and I enjoyed this it's good to be able to survive and feed yourself.
I'm new to the channel (and even newer to gardening) and I'm so glad I found it. Has the feeling of getting advice from your favorite uncle that wants you to thrive and has so much fun while teaching you
Third is making me miss home, especially hearing all my beautiful Aussie birds in the background😚🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
Me too🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
This man is the reason I grow copious amounts of mint , lemons and parsley now. My kebab shop dreams are alive
Cute !!! This is so natural and comforting to watch :) thank you !!!
Absolutely amazing! Love this! Watched it with my kiddos and my 5 year old was fascinated by the red/brown bugs. We just started this hugalkulter method this year in our new keyhole Garden!
Thanks Melissa! I hope you guys grow a ton in your keyhole beds! :)
I love this method! So glad you did the follow up video showing the decayed matter! I’ve been doing heugle cultures all over the land and working with your same concept in all our beds! Thank you!
Thank you from NY! Your helping my family become self sustaining! My two kids love our garden and chickens that we have! Thank you boss!
Dear friend:
Forgive the intrusion. Your breathing while digging reminded me of me before my 4 way bypass. Seems like people love you and you have a lot of passion for this. Please for the sake of you and your family, please have your heart checked out. I’m a physician, and you have some risk factors for coronary arterial disease. Don’t want to see you as another statistic. Too many middle aged men from Northern European ancestry just keel over and take a dirt bath. If I am wrong, at least I err on the side of caution. Cheers, mate. Thanks for the video.
Dear David,
I truly appreciate your watchful eye, and hearing. Most would ignore so hats off to you. I truly hope he is okay, that shoveling got him winded. GOD BLESS GOD SPEED
Bump this.
Holy crap
I too noticed that he looks fit and healthy from all of the manual labour but was breathing heavily. Granted we only saw some of the footage of the digging, but I was surprised by the breathlessness.
Heavy exercise, like digging, actually makes a person breathe harder. Really. He’s healthier by far, with his lifestyle, than most desk jockeys could ever hope to be.