I LIKE IT. As long as HOA allows this... ours would not, so we have in the backyard, which keeps strangers fro picking it all too. We can keep eye on it better. Your advice is very helpful and a great down to earth teacher. THANK YOU
I just love this video. I watched it first years ago and I still look at it from time to time when I want to be inspired or when I start questioning why I garden. Thanks.
This is awesome. I have less than a 1/10 acre but my family eats all year out of my garden. This year I am doing hanging plants as well as my raised beds. Nice video!! I really like how you maximize space I am going to be doing more of this this year. I am building 10 beds in total and I am adding shelves and hanging plants over the shelves. Pretty much every area I can get a plant in I will. LOL I love growing in SoCal because I grow all year.
Thank you for taking the time to do this video. I got good tips. They should show this video to anyone who comes to a charity asking for help. People need to learn to help themselves, and they don't need to wait until they are behind in their bills.
Nice tour! I like the fact that you give your honest opinion on all the things you talk about. You also are given me some great ideas to use in my own garden.
Great Job John, I am a farmer just like you, I take advantage of my 10'x10' ( yes feet not yards) and when I need tomatoes, peppers, beets, radishes, green beens, onions, lettuces, melons, strawberries.... I just walk to my front driveway, my neighbors are in wonder on how I do it, I try to teach them but they are not ready to take the responsibility of growing your own food.... "the system" got them .... it is hard work but the taste of your vegetables is second to none, that and the savings is my reward.... keep up the good work ..
I used to have a very nice little garden plot for a few years, but then had to move. I didn't know about growing food in the house. It wasn't till I moved here till I started watching your and Ray's videos. I started small, one tomato and one pepper, out in the balcony in the sun in a kitchen garbage can! The next year, I started plants inside with great success! Now, I'm hooked. Thank you, John!
Wow! What a great use of minimal space!! I never knew I could grow gourds and melons on a trellis. I am so excited to get planting this year! Thank you!
LOVE the idea of growing your own food and having a homestead WHEREVER you are! But there’s no way you’re growing enough calories for 4 people: especially with all those greens! Great and inspiring video!
I love this video. Just this year I decided to start to eliminate my lawn. I have a 1/2 acre in the middle of town. It is a little mountain town and we have severe winters. But, I was sitting contemplating my garden this year. My front lawn is large and when it's hot it needs to be watered every day for a few hours. Starting tomorrow I am building raised beds and planting food. I can't wait till morning...
John looking at this video makes me feel so good. I envy the weather you have in California. Here in Oklahoma we are limited to the growing season although I have managed to grow something all year even in the snow. In my neighborhood there are also lawns going to waist but I will continue to grow my plants. Thanks again for the video bringing attention to my garden. I will continue to do my part in teaching gardening as much as I can. Denise Morrison
You are absolutely right about lawns, they are a terrible waste of space and very high on maintenance. Raised beds are the way to go for growing your own fruit and veg. Thanks for sharing your lovely garden. :D
I'm getting a friend who is a Master Gardener to help me set up a square foot garden. This video is VERY inspiring! I hope to start building mine in February. Like you I live in CA so I expect to be able to grow year round. Nice job and thanks for the great ideas... I'll try the tree kale for sure!
I completely agree with you. What a beautiful VICTORY garden. Things grow so nicely in in So Cal. I left So Cal 10 years ago. If you have too much zuchinni and such, you may want to look into dehydrating and storing it in jars.
One of the better guerilla home gardening videos. You seem to have pre-organized your basic concepts and perhaps practiced a bit and done it well. Planning is the key to success and your video is as well planned as your garden. Well done.
John you have inspired me to make raised beds in my yard, similar size to yours(and grow vegetables). I will also be making RUclips videos as it comes along however it will not be for a little while. I'm going to plan it right so it will be magnificent like yours. Thank you from Ireland.
I live in L.A., and I explained to friends and family that lawns are unnecessary and wasteful (at least in this area). Right now I'm growing a garden in my bedroom! Because that's all I have to work with. I really want to get a house/land where I can grow all the food I need to eat, like you! I juice regularly, and your videos helped me choose my first good juicer. I got an Omega 9003 when I was at my Mom's back east (it stays there), and I picked up a Samson GB-9001 for my place out here.
That´s Amazing! We tried a tiny front garden in Texas, and the neighbors tried to sue us--even though it was so gorgeous, and most neighbors liked it. Lucky you´ve got such great neighbors. Your garden looks great, like a modern English cottage garden
I love your garden. It inspires me. I have been doing my best at growing edibles. I live in the smaking middle of town. I am a beginner but am now growing herbs, cherry tomtatoes, peppers, lettuce and malibar spinach (grows vertical). I'm so proud of what I've accomplish. However, a friend of mine came over and said she wouldn't be able to stand any of all of this. She would rather have rocks in her front yard. I thought to myself how she is missing out on fresh food. OH, well. Grow Food!
Very nice. I subscribed. A few years ago I read several books on voluntary simplicity and of those one stuck out about an single mom in Australia who managed to feed her family of 4 on 1/4 acre. Most resources will say that you need several acres to feed a family, but I always felt that if one was careful and smart about how, where, and what they planted, much better yields in much smaller spaces could be attained. Your video is proof of that. Great job!
Love this. Still relevant in 2023! I have less than a quarter of an acre suburban lot. Added 11 raised beds, 5 fruit trees and various berry bushes las year. I'm doing Square foot gardening too. Hoping to become self-sustainable as possible.
I think that is the coolest thing I have ever seen and I what a view ! better to hide the parking lot that seems to be outside your door and grow amazing fruit and veggies ! looks like alot of work paying off in a big way ! wonderful use of land and may i say I so wish you were my neighbor !
i find your yard to be beautiful. i can't wait to get my own house so that I can start doing this, it sounds awesome, and if done correctly, looks beautiful.
I can't thank you enough John, for all that you do. My heart is full of thanks and appreciation for your generosity and desire to help others achieve what you are doing. ps. I still want to buy the samson oil press. I need to email you bc I can't order from your website. Still having trouble with it taking my debit card. But thank you thank you, thank you a thousand times over for inspiring us and helping us get good at growing our own food.
I don't have much land and in my small back yard I have 26 trees so sun is at a premium I was still able to take the space I had and plant 7 3x3 raised beds and use my deck for some containers and my fence for grapes.I love your melon patch!
John, I have been watching your videos for quite awhile, but had never seen THIS one where you show your front yard from the sidewalk back. Because of you, I've started small raised bed plots in the back yard, but I can NOT picture how you started all this... when it says to "remove your lawn", do you mean having the sod removed or just building over the existing grass lawn? Your place is the most amazing garden and on a 1/10th of an acre? It looks like acres and acres of wandering garden. You're a garden artist, so you may not realize how many of us scratch our heads as to where to start. Thanks for all your videos and all the priceless information on growing. I wonder if the heat of Texas would allow such an expanse of healthy green.
Thanks for your response and all your ideas. Yeah, trees were part of the yard until our drought for a couple of years. We still have a couple, but not many, and the ones left are past saving, I'm afraid. I DID use umbrellas last year to shield some of the late afternoon sun. Can't do what I might otherwise as we live on a corner and across the side street from me are very tailored condos. One of the owners has had theirs up for sale for about 6 months and the realtor asked me if I'd consider working with the owner to fence off my backyard with privacy fencing since ONE person didn't like the view of my backyard when you walk out their front door! So, NOW, I'm trying to decide what to plant on the existing fence to "hide" my yard. It's a back yard!!!! What can I say? i569.photobucket.com/albums/ss132/marcymrp/my%20carrot/100_5479.jpg
Thanks for the link and for the compliment on the yard. It looked a lot better during the growing season. Tomato plants were over 10 feet tall. Most of the yard IS a conglomeration of gardening "stuff" like compost tumbler, stacks of soil.... you know? LOL i569.photobucket.com/albums/ss132/marcymrp/2014%20new%20plantings/Summer%20heat-umbrellas/5eb0ba07-ca24-4fe1-99dc-0d6e21b3d0c3.jpg
Luckily, there are no laws or homeowners association in my area. I always reccomend homeowners check their laws and homeowners bylaws before embarking on a project such as mine. I encourage homeowners associations to change the by-laws to allow for front yard food production.
I think I love you. This is the greatest idea! I've dreamed of doing this but just never have had the nerve. My husband would give birth if I expanded my garden, much less put one in the front lawn - LOL. There is so much wisdom in this method. Keep up the good work. I'm a new sub.
Isn't that sad that 1) people would complain about this yard 2) You may have problems w/ the "local ordinances" and 3) People actually gave a thumbs down to this video But it's great, provides food and nutrition and doesn't create a wasted space. good job!!
Hopefully your neighbors didn't hear you calling them dumb for having a lawn! Although, I agree with you. Most people are to lazy to grow their own food. I use to be one of those people, but now I take every moment I can to expand my garden. Everything grows easy here in South Florida.
Awesome! Thanks for showing the world. Here in Canada, I have done exactly the same as you, but I have probably 1/10th of your 1/10th of an acre :). I am now building an aquaponics system in the backyard, that will grow telipia and vegetables year round. It will be heated by vegetable waste oil from restaurants. Cheers!
i love gardening, but where i live, an apartment, i could not plant anything :( . i love your ideas, I love your garden. Thank you for sharing your gardens.
Fabulous! Dream garden. Only sunny spot available to me is my front yard. So last year I put in a no dig organic cottage garden. Awful last year but much better this year. Just heaping on my home made compost, topsoil and composted organic manure. So far so good this year.
Not to sound corny but this could change the world. Eating healthy, ends obesity, growing our own food stops fossil fuel transportation of food, growing smarter means greater return. Excellent job.
I love what you are doing. I live in Florida...I do this in the back yard....but man things are getting bad....you may find that your neighbors are going to be taking your veggies from you front yard.
I love your front yard! I wish everyone did that instead of a lawn. Its beautiful! I am fortunate enough to live on several acres but if I had a 10th of an acre it would look like your yard! Keep spreading that important message! GET RID OF WASTEFUL LAWNS!!!
You are an inspiration! I do not yet have my own home, or land, but have some questions for you. How does your neighbors feel about your garden? do your neighbors use pesticides on their lawns and how do you keep the chemicals from getting into your garden?
Nice raised beds! Spacing fruit trees down that side raised bed is great. If you ever rebuild one of those beds, post the video, I haven't seen raised beds that tall before.
Nice vid, good looking vegetable garden, well done! Folks, don't use treated lumber to create raised beds. Concrete blocks are also treated w/mercury & other things to prevent mold, etc from growing on them. Consider edible ornamental plants, too: fruit & nut trees, fruit bushes, herbs like the popular ornamental 'purple coneflower' and daylilies are a delicious vegatable. Lawns were origionally pastures. Keeping brush & grass short around homes reduces varmints & bugs.
"laws are a waste of resources." hear hear! John packs a lot into his wee garden-I'm very impressed. A joy to watch. Those squash plants are awesome. Does anyone know the name of the first one he shows us?
I've just started my small garden with raised beds. Great work and great video. Very helpful and I got a few ideas just from this 8 min video. Thanks brother!
At 8:58, where it says "(unclear)" he says "nasturtiums" which is a plant with edible flowers, leaves and seed pods. The seed pods are sometimes called "poor man's capers".
I live in Ireland and we have some of the best land in the world, and what do we grow? Grass, to feed cows to produce milk. There's so little money in farming here that the younger generation are just getting out and emigrating. The only profits farmers here have are the subsidies they're getting from the EU. Yet here's what you did on 1/10th of an acre. If you were Minister for Agriculture here we would be feeding the world. Thanks and ignore the critics.
This is awesome! I realize this was posted a few years ago but if anyone is monitoring questions, How do you keep neighbors from stealing your food? Our front yard would be perfect for some gardens like this but I would worry people would steal from them.
I like it. A lot. Still, it looks like a lot of work, a lot of thinking, planning, and knowledge. Now, if we had a working mother and father, then doing things your way would mean another full-time job once they got home. Takes a certain kind of thinking, and a lot of committment to get to a place like that. I doubt my wife would go for it.
Yes, I did plant trees in the raised bed. feijoa, fig, sweet goumi, camela sinsisis, tree collards are the ones in the bed.. I do have a specific video showing and explaining them.. I dont know which video it is:)
Agreed -- keeping a manicured (or not-so-manicured) lawn is just plain dumb and wasteful. The fact that some communities have laws against vegetable gardens in peoples' front lawns is also ridiculous. From what I'm reading, the arguments against veg gardens mainly have to do with aesthetics... But there's nothing more beautiful, in my mind, than being self-sufficient and environmentally friendly. But anyway -- thanks for uploading! This is a really inspiring video.
It would be nice to see more info on irnamental landscape plants that can be used to create 'normal' looking landscapes, but are edible. Fruit bearing shrubs and trees are obvious choices, as are nut trees, though they can take a long time to begin bearing. Purple coneflower is an example of awidely grown ornamental that is also a well respected herb. Daylilies are edible as a vegetable. Your yard looks great, too!
I have a small garden in my apartment. I have ten pepper plants, some lettuce, and a small herb and tea gardens. I'm also trying to start some strawberries from seed and see it i can keep those inside. If you do start an indoor garden NEVER EVER bring in plants from the outside. Aphids and spider mites will eat your plants like crazy. I've learned the hard way.
Victory gardens, how to eat healthy, responsible, you know exactly where it comes from and when a network of folk do it then share too. Its also how we stop doing 'business' with the corporations and just move away and make what we need ourselves.
No mowing, not as much driving to the store, being outside & a sense of self satisfaction. I can't wait to move to a place where I can grow my own food and raise rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens.
Great work! I tip my hat to you, I am just starting out, and would love to get as self sufficient as you one day! Definately subscribing, keep up the great work!
1) The best way to learn is experiment. Grow some of the plants and see how large they get, or do some research online to find out.. look for "mature" pictures of the plants you wish to plant. 2) My beds range in depth between 12" and 33" approx. I have a specific video on how deep to make your raised beds, where I go over this in detail. 3) My growing season is year round. My summer growing season is may-nov (depending on the weather)
Good for you John! I have my garden beds and hens in the backyard, but have just built a raised bed in the (GASP!) frontyard beside the driveway. I plan to grow 'prettier food' there (like sunflowers and amaranth for the hens) so as not to upset the neighbors. Its a shame I even have to worry about that, as my front yard has the most sun and is (mostly) unused space. Sandra Whinnem
John, You are a regular show off aren't you! LOL. I am SO VERY envious of your hobby. I wish I had a place to grow stuff. I live in a high rise and am so worried the balcony will collapse due to my plants, space is so limited. Can you send me some Zucchinni Black beauty seeds? Sigh
That is wonderful! I wonder if planting trees or climbing vines in the very front would help to hid the yard and allow people with HOA and law restrictions to do this. It makes me wonder what wonderful things you did with your back yard.
I LIKE IT. As long as HOA allows this... ours would not, so we have in the backyard, which keeps strangers fro picking it all too. We can keep eye on it better. Your advice is very helpful and a great down to earth teacher. THANK YOU
Right on man! Way to go. Turn our lawns into gardens! I started Yards to Gardens just to help that purpose.
I just love this video. I watched it first years ago and I still look at it from time to time when I want to be inspired or when I start questioning why I garden. Thanks.
John you are an inspiration to many! I hope one day you can be paid for all that you do! You have an awesome attitude, great ideas and videos!
This is awesome. I have less than a 1/10 acre but my family eats all year out of my garden. This year I am doing hanging plants as well as my raised beds. Nice video!! I really like how you maximize space I am going to be doing more of this this year. I am building 10 beds in total and I am adding shelves and hanging plants over the shelves. Pretty much every area I can get a plant in I will. LOL I love growing in SoCal because I grow all year.
Thank you for taking the time to do this video. I got good tips. They should show this video to anyone who comes to a charity asking for help. People need to learn to help themselves, and they don't need to wait until they are behind in their bills.
Nice tour! I like the fact that you give your honest opinion on all the things you talk about. You also are given me some great ideas to use in my own garden.
My favourite garden teacher. Love your videos
Great Job John, I am a farmer just like you, I take advantage of my 10'x10' ( yes feet not yards) and when I need tomatoes, peppers, beets, radishes, green beens, onions, lettuces, melons, strawberries.... I just walk to my front driveway, my neighbors are in wonder on how I do it, I try to teach them but they are not ready to take the responsibility of growing your own food.... "the system" got them .... it is hard work but the taste of your vegetables is second to none, that and the savings is my reward.... keep up the good work ..
Well done John hope a lot of people. take your advice and start doing the same as you.Cheers and all the best.Harry....From Australia.
I used to have a very nice little garden plot for a few years, but then had to move. I didn't know about growing food in the house. It wasn't till I moved here till I started watching your and Ray's videos. I started small, one tomato and one pepper, out in the balcony in the sun in a kitchen garbage can! The next year, I started plants inside with great success! Now, I'm hooked. Thank you, John!
Excellent idea. I never thought about doing something like this......and I love vegetable gardening and hate mowing my lawn. Very inspirational.
Love your videos John! Thank you for all you do and sharing such valuable knowledge with us!
Wow! What a great use of minimal space!! I never knew I could grow gourds and melons on a trellis. I am so excited to get planting this year! Thank you!
Man that banana squash is AMAZINGLY HUGE. Great work, really inspiring to put raised beds everywhere
LOVE the idea of growing your own food and having a homestead WHEREVER you are! But there’s no way you’re growing enough calories for 4 people: especially with all those greens! Great and inspiring video!
I love this video. Just this year I decided to start to eliminate my lawn. I have a 1/2 acre in the middle of town. It is a little mountain town and we have severe winters. But, I was sitting contemplating my garden this year. My front lawn is large and when it's hot it needs to be watered every day for a few hours. Starting tomorrow I am building raised beds and planting food. I can't wait till morning...
outstanding garden, you did a great job
John looking at this video makes me feel so good. I envy the weather you have in California. Here in Oklahoma we are limited to the growing season although I have managed to grow something all year even in the snow. In my neighborhood there are also lawns going to waist but I will continue to grow my plants. Thanks again for the video bringing attention to my garden. I will continue to do my part in teaching gardening as much as I can. Denise Morrison
Thanks a bunch for the encouragement. We are getting there slowly but surely.
Your yard looks attractive from the street, which I think is a good thing so you won't have neighbors complaining.
You are absolutely right about lawns, they are a terrible waste of space and very high on maintenance. Raised beds are the way to go for growing your own fruit and veg. Thanks for sharing your lovely garden. :D
I'm getting a friend who is a Master Gardener to help me set up a square foot garden. This video is VERY inspiring! I hope to start building mine in February. Like you I live in CA so I expect to be able to grow year round. Nice job and thanks for the great ideas... I'll try the tree kale for sure!
I completely agree with you. What a beautiful VICTORY garden. Things grow so nicely in in So Cal. I left So Cal 10 years ago. If you have too much zuchinni and such, you may want to look into dehydrating and storing it in jars.
One of the better guerilla home gardening videos. You seem to have pre-organized your basic concepts and perhaps practiced a bit and done it well. Planning is the key to success and your video is as well planned as your garden. Well done.
John you have inspired me to make raised beds in my yard, similar size to yours(and grow vegetables). I will also be making RUclips videos as it comes along however it will not be for a little while. I'm going to plan it right so it will be magnificent like yours. Thank you from Ireland.
I live in L.A., and I explained to friends and family that lawns are unnecessary and wasteful (at least in this area). Right now I'm growing a garden in my bedroom! Because that's all I have to work with. I really want to get a house/land where I can grow all the food I need to eat, like you!
I juice regularly, and your videos helped me choose my first good juicer. I got an Omega 9003 when I was at my Mom's back east (it stays there), and I picked up a Samson GB-9001 for my place out here.
That´s Amazing! We tried a tiny front garden in Texas, and the neighbors tried to sue us--even though it was so gorgeous, and most neighbors liked it. Lucky you´ve got such great neighbors. Your garden looks great, like a modern English cottage garden
I love your garden. It inspires me. I have been doing my best at growing edibles. I live in the smaking middle of town. I am a beginner but am now growing herbs, cherry tomtatoes, peppers, lettuce and malibar spinach (grows vertical). I'm so proud of what I've accomplish.
However, a friend of mine came over and said she wouldn't be able to stand any of all of this. She would rather have rocks in her front yard. I thought to myself how she is missing out on fresh food. OH, well. Grow Food!
Very nice. I subscribed. A few years ago I read several books on voluntary simplicity and of those one stuck out about an single mom in Australia who managed to feed her family of 4 on 1/4 acre. Most resources will say that you need several acres to feed a family, but I always felt that if one was careful and smart about how, where, and what they planted, much better yields in much smaller spaces could be attained. Your video is proof of that. Great job!
Love this. Still relevant in 2023! I have less than a quarter of an acre suburban lot. Added 11 raised beds, 5 fruit trees and various berry bushes las year. I'm doing Square foot gardening too. Hoping to become self-sustainable as possible.
I think that is the coolest thing I have ever seen and I what a view ! better to hide the parking lot that seems to be outside your door and grow amazing fruit and veggies ! looks like alot of work paying off in a big way ! wonderful use of land and may i say I so wish you were my neighbor !
Excellent video! Thanks for posting. Congratulations, your efforts have and will continue to pay off. Keep it up. Brum
Very nice job! I really enjoy all the information on your channel. I am new to gardening and look forward to the fresh organic food from my own yard.
Excellent video John!
Thank you so much for posting!
You, sir, are an inspiration!
i find your yard to be beautiful.
i can't wait to get my own house so that I can start doing this, it sounds awesome, and if done correctly, looks beautiful.
I can't thank you enough John, for all that you do. My heart is full of thanks and appreciation for your generosity and desire to help others achieve what you are doing.
ps. I still want to buy the samson oil press. I need to email you bc I can't order from your website. Still having trouble with it taking my debit card.
But thank you thank you, thank you a thousand times over for inspiring us and helping us get good at growing our own food.
me and my brother are trying to get a small plot of land with a trailer out in the hills of california and try to do this. super good job dude.
Awesome & inspiring! We call these Prosperity Gardens in my part of the US. Good job & keep up the good work!
I don't have much land and in my small back yard I have 26 trees so sun is at a premium I was still able to take the space I had and plant 7 3x3 raised beds and use my deck for some containers and my fence for grapes.I love your melon patch!
John, I have been watching your videos for quite awhile, but had never seen THIS one where you show your front yard from the sidewalk back. Because of you, I've started small raised bed plots in the back yard, but I can NOT picture how you started all this... when it says to "remove your lawn", do you mean having the sod removed or just building over the existing grass lawn? Your place is the most amazing garden and on a 1/10th of an acre? It looks like acres and acres of wandering garden. You're a garden artist, so you may not realize how many of us scratch our heads as to where to start. Thanks for all your videos and all the priceless information on growing. I wonder if the heat of Texas would allow such an expanse of healthy green.
Thanks for your response and all your ideas. Yeah, trees were part of the yard until our drought for a couple of years. We still have a couple, but not many, and the ones left are past saving, I'm afraid. I DID use umbrellas last year to shield some of the late afternoon sun. Can't do what I might otherwise as we live on a corner and across the side street from me are very tailored condos. One of the owners has had theirs up for sale for about 6 months and the realtor asked me if I'd consider working with the owner to fence off my backyard with privacy fencing since ONE person didn't like the view of my backyard when you walk out their front door! So, NOW, I'm trying to decide what to plant on the existing fence to "hide" my yard. It's a back yard!!!! What can I say? i569.photobucket.com/albums/ss132/marcymrp/my%20carrot/100_5479.jpg
Thanks for the link and for the compliment on the yard. It looked a lot better during the growing season. Tomato plants were over 10 feet tall. Most of the yard IS a conglomeration of gardening "stuff" like compost tumbler, stacks of soil.... you know? LOL i569.photobucket.com/albums/ss132/marcymrp/2014%20new%20plantings/Summer%20heat-umbrellas/5eb0ba07-ca24-4fe1-99dc-0d6e21b3d0c3.jpg
Ive been watchin mostly all your videos! So inspiring! Hopefully I can do what your doin soon. Im settin up my first 2 boxes today! YAY!
Luckily, there are no laws or homeowners association in my area. I always reccomend homeowners check their laws and homeowners bylaws before embarking on a project such as mine. I encourage homeowners associations to change the by-laws to allow for front yard food production.
I think I love you. This is the greatest idea! I've dreamed of doing this but just never have had the nerve. My husband would give birth if I expanded my garden, much less put one in the front lawn - LOL. There is so much wisdom in this method. Keep up the good work. I'm a new sub.
Isn't that sad that 1) people would complain about this yard 2) You may have problems w/ the "local ordinances" and 3) People actually gave a thumbs down to this video But it's great, provides food and nutrition and doesn't create a wasted space. good job!!
The beds were built over several months. Everything was done one step at a time. You can do it too! Start with one bed and then add on later!
well done John. thank for the video. very inspiring.
Hopefully your neighbors didn't hear you calling them dumb for having a lawn! Although, I agree with you. Most people are to lazy to grow their own food. I use to be one of those people, but now I take every moment I can to expand my garden. Everything grows easy here in South Florida.
Well done, John. What a great garden!
Awesome! Thanks for showing the world. Here in Canada, I have done exactly the same as you, but I have probably 1/10th of your 1/10th of an acre :). I am now building an aquaponics system in the backyard, that will grow telipia and vegetables year round. It will be heated by vegetable waste oil from restaurants. Cheers!
i love gardening, but where i live, an apartment, i could not plant anything :( . i love your ideas, I love your garden. Thank you for sharing your gardens.
Fabulous! Dream garden. Only sunny spot available to me is my front yard. So last year I put in a no dig organic cottage garden. Awful last year but much better this year. Just heaping on my home made compost, topsoil and composted organic manure. So far so good this year.
This is what I aspire to with my gardening! Great work.
Not to sound corny but this could change the world. Eating healthy, ends obesity, growing our own food stops fossil fuel transportation of food, growing smarter means greater return. Excellent job.
your garden is awesome! great ideas
I love what you are doing. I live in Florida...I do this in the back yard....but man things are getting bad....you may find that your neighbors are going to be taking your veggies from you front yard.
I am jealous of your garden man! Good work. Something for me to aspire to.
As always John.......GREAT JOB!!
a lot of places won't allow front yard gardens, it's too bad because it looks nice to me. I hope to have a garden soon. ty for the video.
Hello, you have strong determination with your garden,Good luck with your work.Edoardo
I love your front yard! I wish everyone did that instead of a lawn. Its beautiful! I am fortunate enough to live on several acres but if I had a 10th of an acre it would look like your yard! Keep spreading that important message! GET RID OF WASTEFUL LAWNS!!!
I would love to visit your garden!
I love the way you are growing the mellons and squash on a trellis...that realy makes use of the space well.
Damn fine garden.
You are an inspiration! I do not yet have my own home, or land, but have some questions for you. How does your neighbors feel about your garden? do your neighbors use pesticides on their lawns and how do you keep the chemicals from getting into your garden?
Nice raised beds! Spacing fruit trees down that side raised bed is great. If you ever rebuild one of those beds, post the video, I haven't seen raised beds that tall before.
Nice vid, good looking vegetable garden, well done! Folks, don't use treated lumber to create raised beds. Concrete blocks are also treated w/mercury & other things to prevent mold, etc from growing on them. Consider edible ornamental plants, too: fruit & nut trees, fruit bushes, herbs like the popular ornamental 'purple coneflower' and daylilies are a delicious vegatable. Lawns were origionally pastures. Keeping brush & grass short around homes reduces varmints & bugs.
"laws are a waste of resources." hear hear! John packs a lot into his wee garden-I'm very impressed. A joy to watch. Those squash plants are awesome. Does anyone know the name of the first one he shows us?
John was way less intense about gardening back in the day.
I like mellow John.
nice setup on the raised beds! sweet!
God damn that's awesome. I wish you were my neighbor man would I love to talk shop with you. Bravo.
I'm with you - great stuff!! Way to go!
Yes, you can grow watermelon and pumpkins vertically. Please check my other videos on trellising pumpkins and melons can be done the same way.
very impressive garden. Your a cool dude...
I've just started my small garden with raised beds. Great work and great video. Very helpful and I got a few ideas just from this 8 min video. Thanks brother!
This is precious.
Many, many thanks!
At 8:58, where it says "(unclear)" he says "nasturtiums" which is a plant with edible flowers, leaves and seed pods. The seed pods are sometimes called "poor man's capers".
I live in Ireland and we have some of the best land in the world, and what do we grow? Grass, to feed cows to produce milk. There's so little money in farming here that the younger generation are just getting out and emigrating. The only profits farmers here have are the subsidies they're getting from the EU. Yet here's what you did on 1/10th of an acre. If you were Minister for Agriculture here we would be feeding the world. Thanks and ignore the critics.
This is awesome! I realize this was posted a few years ago but if anyone is monitoring questions, How do you keep neighbors from stealing your food? Our front yard would be perfect for some gardens like this but I would worry people would steal from them.
I like it. A lot. Still, it looks like a lot of work, a lot of thinking, planning, and knowledge. Now, if we had a working mother and father, then doing things your way would mean another full-time job once they got home. Takes a certain kind of thinking, and a lot of committment to get to a place like that. I doubt my wife would go for it.
Very relevant today.
Yes, I did plant trees in the raised bed. feijoa, fig, sweet goumi, camela sinsisis, tree collards are the ones in the bed.. I do have a specific video showing and explaining them.. I dont know which video it is:)
Love your videos dude. Who's down to taking a shot every time he says "you know?" lol...
Agreed -- keeping a manicured (or not-so-manicured) lawn is just plain dumb and wasteful. The fact that some communities have laws against vegetable gardens in peoples' front lawns is also ridiculous. From what I'm reading, the arguments against veg gardens mainly have to do with aesthetics... But there's nothing more beautiful, in my mind, than being self-sufficient and environmentally friendly. But anyway -- thanks for uploading! This is a really inspiring video.
It would be nice to see more info on irnamental landscape plants that can be used to create 'normal' looking landscapes, but are edible. Fruit bearing shrubs and trees are obvious choices, as are nut trees, though they can take a long time to begin bearing. Purple coneflower is an example of awidely grown ornamental that is also a well respected herb. Daylilies are edible as a vegetable. Your yard looks great, too!
Amazing garden! Im so inspired!
I have a small garden in my apartment. I have ten pepper plants, some lettuce, and a small herb and tea gardens. I'm also trying to start some strawberries from seed and see it i can keep those inside. If you do start an indoor garden NEVER EVER bring in plants from the outside. Aphids and spider mites will eat your plants like crazy. I've learned the hard way.
Victory gardens, how to eat healthy, responsible, you know exactly where it comes from and when a network of folk do it then share too.
Its also how we stop doing 'business' with the corporations and just move away and make what we need ourselves.
No mowing, not as much driving to the store, being outside & a sense of self satisfaction. I can't wait to move to a place where I can grow my own food and raise rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens.
love your garden.
love your videos, thank you for sharing!
This is a great video. I am going to do the same in New Brunswick, Canada.
Great work! I tip my hat to you, I am just starting out, and would love to get as self sufficient as you one day! Definately subscribing, keep up the great work!
1) The best way to learn is experiment. Grow some of the plants and see how large they get, or do some research online to find out.. look for "mature" pictures of the plants you wish to plant.
2) My beds range in depth between 12" and 33" approx. I have a specific video on how deep to make your raised beds, where I go over this in detail.
3) My growing season is year round. My summer growing season is may-nov (depending on the weather)
Good for you John! I have my garden beds and hens in the backyard, but have just built a raised bed in the (GASP!) frontyard beside the driveway. I plan to grow 'prettier food' there (like sunflowers and amaranth for the hens) so as not to upset the neighbors. Its a shame I even have to worry about that, as my front yard has the most sun and is (mostly) unused space.
Sandra Whinnem
There is no homeowners here. Better check with them first if you have one. Neighbors like it. I made it look "professionally" done.
John, You are a regular show off aren't you! LOL. I am SO VERY envious of your hobby. I wish I had a place to grow stuff. I live in a high rise and am so worried the balcony will collapse due to my plants, space is so limited. Can you send me some Zucchinni Black beauty seeds? Sigh
love the commitment and the idea... but if my neighbour did this to the front yard, i swear i'd sue him lol
That is wonderful! I wonder if planting trees or climbing vines in the very front would help to hid the yard and allow people with HOA and law restrictions to do this. It makes me wonder what wonderful things you did with your back yard.
you are a great man that thinks great