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this video, I’m breaking down the ONLY 10 tools you actually need to start market gardening — the same tools I used to turn my suburban backyard into a commercial-scale vegetable farm for under $2,000.
These are the exact tools I bought first, one paycheck at a time, that allowed me to build a profitable small farm from scratch – With No large upfront investments.
🌱 What You’ll Learn in This Video
👉🏼 The 10 essential tools every beginner market gardener actually needs
👉🏼 to start market gardening without a tractor or greenhouse
👉🏼 I built permanent no-till beds with simple hand tools
👉🏼 I manage weeds without chemicals
👉🏼 to seed, transplant, trellis, and harvest efficiently by hand
👉🏼 The biggest time-saving harvest tool on my entire farm
Plus – A bonus tool at the end that helps farmers save thousands on taxes
🛠️ Tools Mentioned in This Video
(I’ve linked the exact tools I use below 👇)
⚠️ RIGHT NOW ⚠️ Save 5% site-wide at Farmers Friend
Use code CHEFMIKEY
👉 https://www.farmersfriend.com/c/chefs-harvest-farm
⏳ Expires March 31st, 2026
**Get 20% Off Your FarmRaise Subscription with Code “CHEFM20” @ farmraise.com
▶ Silage Tarps – https://www.farmersfriend.com/p/silage-tarp?Size=24-ft%20%C3%97%20105-ft&rid=chefsharvestfarm
▶ Bed-building hand tools (shovel, rake, wheelbarrow, etc.)
▶Wood Stakes – https://shoplowes.me/4pJy6rG
▶Rubber Mallet – https://shoplowes.me/4pcGSxt
▶Wheel Barrow – https://shoplowes.me/4qmhQNg
– I only like wheel barrows with one wheel to fit down the pathways
▶Shovel – https://shoplowes.me/4qqj5uY
– I prefer a flat shovel
▶Hard Rake – https://shoplowes.me/3Y7NbHC
▶Soft Rake – https://shoplowes.me/3LfzHXh
▶Twine – https://amzn.to/45k6UaI
▶ Broadfork – https://www.johnnyseeds.com/tools-supplies/bed-preparation-tools/broadforks/johnnys-727-hardpan-broadfork-7309.html
▶ Drip irrigation kit – https://aff.dripdepot.com/aff/idevaffiliate.php?id=452&url=673
▶WIFI timer – https://aff.dripdepot.com/aff/idevaffiliate.php?id=452&url=674
▶ Grow lights & indoor seed-starting setup – USE CODE “CHEFMIKEY” for 10% off at acinfinity.com and 15% off at barrina-led.com
▶ T8 LED Bar Lights – https://www.barrina-led.com/products/barrina-t8-42w-led-grow-light-4ft-pinkish-white-reflectors-linkable?ref=CHEFMIKEY&variant=41914468630587
▶ Heat Mat – https://acinfinity.com/suncore-h7-seedling-heat-mat-with-heat-controller-ip-67-waterproof-48-x-20-75/?ref=MIKERUSSO&utm_campaign=affiliate_promotions&utm_medium=social&utm_source=affiliate
▶ Humidifier – https://acinfinity.com/cloudforge-t3-plant-humidifier-4-5l-with-vpd-humidity-controls/?searchid=3412072&search_query=Humidifier
▶ Grow Tents – https://acinfinity.com/hydroponics-growers/?ref=MIKERUSSO&utm_campaign=affiliate_promotions&utm_medium=social&utm_source=affiliate
▶ Earthway seeder – https://earthway.com/product/precision-garden-seeder/
▶ Tomato trellis system
▶ T-Post – https://shoplowes.me/4b47rRP
▶ Tee – https://shoplowes.me/4qktIzh
▶ Conduit – https://shoplowes.me/49ks4bf
▶ Landscape fabric – https://www.farmersfriend.com/p/ground-cover-no-holes?Roll%20Size=4-ft%20%C3%97%20300-ft&rid=chefsharvestfarm
▶ Harvest knives, pruners & tool pouch
▶Tool Pouch – https://shoplowes.me/48QAF5p
▶ Harvest Knife – https://www.farmersfriend.com/p/victorinox-knives? Style=Serrated&rid=chefsharvestfarm
▶ Pruners – https://acinfinity.com/ergonomic-pruning-shear-6-6-stainless-steel-curved-blades/?ref=MIKERUSSO&utm_campaign=affiliate_promotions&utm_medium=social&utm_source=affiliate
▶ Garden harvest cart – https://www.gardeners.com/products/large-gardeners-supply-cart
▶ Hoop Bender – https://collabs.shop/hf4wgl
👉🏼 Related Video’s 👇🏼
Irrigation Video’s
👉🏼 Sumi Soaker on Risers https://youtu.be/kbIJwl68iYg?si=t_lfdkEdIHUNdHfR
👉🏻 Why I changed from drip https://youtu.be/w6PIpoGNNeg?si=gXZreCWGC58G5qlJ
👉🏻 My Favorite Sprinklers https://youtu.be/Mpf68v7P2BM?si=-lwfEdxOfDe9G2iP
👉🏻 Automating irrigation https://youtu.be/-C7VElkZSnc?si=6W7luwNBciPucH57
👉🏼 How I Started My Farm From Scratch https://youtu.be/2btmXWWvoD8?si=v0xbKnXw6xr_ihys
👉🏼 My Top 5 Profitable Crops https://youtu.be/2btmXWWvoD8?si=J_mVtJQ5hdKtHu8J
🔗 Some of the above links may pay me a small commission and it’s a great way to support my work at no additional cost to you! Thank you for your support, I really do appreciate it!
24 Comments
Do you have a link for the broadfork?
Weed at 12:22! Lmao love it
Brilliant..😊😮😂❤
I want to know how u run your wash station for the lettuce
What up growmie 😂
We bought a 20 acre farm in NORCAL recently and are in the learning phase. Your tax related info seems helpful. Looks like you have a tractor which is crucial. If you don't already, make your own compost. I make mountains of it with my tractor. Very helpful, because I'm a landscaper, so I sell it to my clients in addition to using it. Compost is 'gardener's gold'.
Hahaha! Brother, you are great. You speak my language… and dress in my style. Not to mention the excellent info. Thank you!
Love this video!
I have my winter cover crop going right now. I used the company you recommended in a previous video 🙏
Mikey, off topic, but your wife seems so sweet! Great job finding a good one man!
Watching you from Brazil! Will have a local welder to make the fork. Awesome work and presentation, grateful for you ❤
I notice you have some small wire hoops for bug netting. Where did you find the pencil wire that you use?
i love you chef mikey! Keep up the good work
Good videos. I’ve gone through half of the no-tilling book you recommended, it’s very good. I just realized that I’m not 20 minutes from a city of more than 20,000 population. Should I get started farming anyway, or focus on moving? And could you recommend any places in Tennessee? And is Tennessee better to start than Missouri?
First time here. Inspirational video dude! Let me get this… You learned to be a pro chef, then learned to grow pro food. Now you grow best food, eat best meals, farm and get jacked all day. You, sir, win this game of life.
Another great video — and Happy New Year! 🎉
I’ve just started getting some of the beds ready for the coming season. I sow mustard every year and I’m hoping for another bumper year of tomatoes.
Last year was brilliant — loads of produce — and you’ve proved once again that you don’t need a shed full of fancy tools to get started. Keep it simple!
The tools I use most? A wheelbarrow, a Japanese hori-hori, and a trusty dipper for planting transplants. Low-tech, high harvest!
Question, are you still using the Mycorrhiza you mentioned in another video, and are you having worthy success with it?
If so please consider a video about using this.
May I ask? How big are your rows? How big are your walkways? The width?
Yo Chef, could you tell me the best cover crops you think have benefited your soil the most in spring, summer. Also Fall/winter cover crops. And what company you like buying from. Thank You. Best garden channel on YT!
Just found this master gardener and I am glad I decided to watch this video.
Already found MANY awesome ideas for my own garden.
Thank you Chef. I subscribed at the 3 minute mark.
thx for all the info!!!
😀
Did you grow up in TN?
Love your channel. You should also watch lazy dog farm.
looks like your making a little bit of money. I do this and in the summer, I have plenty of money. the more I work, the luckier that I get !!!
⚠ RIGHT NOW ⚠Save 5% site-wide at Farmers Friend
Use code CHEFMIKEY 👉 https://www.farmersfriend.com/c/chefs-harvest-farm
⏳ Expires March 31st, 2026