Welcome to episode 5 of the Yard to Table Appalachian Homestead journey! Join John, Mary, and Dustin as we tackle a massive weekend of projects, from setting up heavy-duty raised beds to figuring out the best ways to trellis our future crops. We are sharing the honest truth about the costs, the failures, and the small victories that come with starting a hobby farm from scratch. 🌿
In this episode, we dive into the science of using rotten logs for moisture retention and why our initial choice of white ash wood did not quite make the cut. We also break down the prices of landscaping fabrics from Walmart, Lowe’s, and Tractor Supply to help you save money on your own garden setup. You will see us struggle with leveling beds on hilly terrain, replacing tractor batteries, and debating the pros and cons of weed barriers versus cardboard. 🚜
We also get our hands in the dirt to plant potatoes, onions, and broccoli, while sharing tips on how to protect your young plants from the cold. To wrap things up, we head into the kitchen for a classic Appalachian meal of fried bologna sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, and a simple two-ingredient ranch dip. Whether you are an experienced gardener or just starting out with a single container plant, there is something here for everyone. 🥪
Chapters
0:00 Intro and Episode Overview
3:15 The Problem with White Ash Wood
6:40 Growing the Homestead Community
10:15 Seedling Lessons and Failures
14:30 Calculating the Cost of Farming
18:50 Leveling Raised Beds on a Slope
23:15 Fixing the Lawn Tractor Battery
27:40 Designing the Garden Arch Trellis
32:20 Comparing Landscaping Fabric Deals
37:05 Best Way to Install Weed Barriers
41:45 Hardware Store Run for Supplies
46:10 Filling the Beds with Rotten Logs
51:30 Hardening Off Seedlings and Kale
56:55 Watering and Mulching with Straw
1:02:10 How to Plant Potatoes and Onions
1:07:30 Finishing the T-Post Installation
1:10:45 Cooking Fried Bologna Sandwiches
1:13:00 Final Tips for Container Gardening
If you enjoy following our homesteading journey, please hit the subscribe button and click the notification bell so you never miss an update. Leave a comment below letting us know what you are growing this year! 🏠
#homesteading #raisedbedgardening #appalachia #gardeningtips #backyardfarming
46 Comments
That tomato will get root bound leaving it in the pot.
Mr John – 16ft L x 50” W cattle panels from Tractor supply is all you need, around 30 bucks each and you will be set Sir and not have to replace. Will work great with the T post you have in. Garden looks great Sir, and Hello Ms Mary and Mr Dustin.
Hey are you sure you're not related to the Howard's, you know Moe, Larry and Curly Joe, love yall and praying, Talk to you later John Howard 😮 oh I mean Ward lol just kidding
And your supposed to cut those potatoes in quarters, because every where they're is an eye on those planting potatoes a single plant will grow ❤😅
My husband said to use cattle panels. Also the potatoes cut in pieces with the eye up when planted. Onions were planted to deep. You have the makings of a beautiful garden. Love your channel.
Angel usually seems so interested…or she wants to steal the scene..ha! All is looking great so far!
Betcha that wood would be good for making Biochar to add to your raised garden.
Looking good John.
Growing some jalapeños and Roma tomatoes , some cherry tomatoes, I also have some very “special” tomato plants that I started from the seeds !!!
10 gauge 4×8 wire mesh is what I use for my tomatoes and it works great. It has 6in. holes.
lol ok it’s dirt if it’s your yard !
Soil is what you buy in the bags ! Heck I don’t know !?!? lol
Why would someone argue that ??? How funny
Cattle wire from Tractor Supply is the key.. that product is excellent for your plans for an arbor, etc. your project is coming along great. You are driven and meet any challenge head on.
Your dog might be a veggie lover. My dogs have been raised eating vegetables and fruits that they are allowed to have and love them all. Watermelon and blueberries and strawberries are their favorite fruits And they love tomatoes, beans, broccoli , lettuce and so forth.
Cow panels Are your answer for the wire For any trellis.
Looks like a straight 8 cucumber.
I'm the same way about baloney and hot dogs I love them practically burnt up. John I was laughing at you about the plastic container. I have been gardening for over 50 years and I tell you what I am at the point in my life and have been for many, many years . I save any container that will hold dirt To plant seeds in they really do come in handy more than you'll ever dream.
It’s called an English cucumber
For your trellis, I would get a 16’x50” cattle panel $26 each from tractor supply. You will need 2. They will flex perfectly to make your trellis arch. We did this same design for our blackberry trellis. If interested in seeing that, here’s the short for the visual How do you Trellis Blackberries? #SurvivalSeeds2025 #blackberry #thornlessblackberries #trellis
https://youtu.be/6xmPpvBh3Vs
Also, on the potatoes, the eyes need to be pointing up. The onions barely need to be under the soil.
Don't over water your new plants. 😊
Cattle panels for a arch for vines to grow on is best. The potato eyes go up not down in hole. The eyes is what makes the potato vines (green plant) . The cucumbers are burpless cucumbers. Gardening is a test, always learning what grows best in your area. The county Agriculture Extention center has free information for gardening in your area also. 😊
Cattle panel is the way to go 4’ wide 16’ long very sturdy will out last you I’ve had mine out for about 6-7? Years still perfectly fine
Best of luck on your garden. Love the dog, she has to make sure you are doing things right…so sweet and kind.
Put a battery tender on mower. I use them on everything I own with a battery. Life extends for many more years
Love following your adventure~ I use old carpet in my garden. and pea gravel on top. No weeds and clean walking paths. After 15 years a few weeds starting to grow but vinegar, soap and salt mixture kills the weeds perfectly!
I like the fried bologna sandwiches, but I'll need a little regular mustard on mine as well. Keep everything watered.
Happy Easter John. He is risen ✝️
Angel is a fabulous Supervisor of this gardening project ‼️ Love it! Have a wonderful and blessed Resurrection Day to everyone! 🙏✝️🌷
Cut them disc size small dish size and put them in there. I’m really sure it’ll work. I’ve seen it and they said it breaks down a lot better.
John, I like to cook with red oak. It has a really good flavor and I like that you accidentally went camping. That’s funny.🩷💕🩷💕
John, this video really helped me. I got a new battery in O’Reillys put it in for me, but I think I need to take it loose and put some dialectic grease on it. I really enjoyed your video. Watching from Arkansas.🩷💕🩷💕
John, that is an English cucumber they are longer
I have the Ollie brand metal oval bed from Amazon. I have had them for 5 years so far and they are still great. Great value
GOD bless you all
Tractor supply has cattle panels.
52"x16' makes excellent trellis's. I also cut them to 8' lengths in the middle of raised bed supported by T post on each end. I also use one bag Peat Moss and two year old leaf mulch to fill my beds. Save you leaves and make a compost pile and keep it wet and turned and make your own mulch. It will take two years. If you go to Rural KIng, look at their cattle panels. That's where I get mine. I think they were $26.99 two or three years ago.
We don't have that many plastic bags each spring, but we do cut open the end and dump the contents leaving us a good trash bag for future use. We also have cut them to use as a liner in flower beds to cut down on weeds. Maybe George could use them as trash bags/? Just a thought. plqnt your onion bulbs around the outside of your bunkers for best use of your space. Looks like you all are off to a good start, watering is the key!
My opinion is always Miracle Whip first and then Helmans. I think Dukes has too much of a twang to it.
Cheap tent spikes work well or gutter spikes. Harbor freight
Use 3 20 foot stick of Rebar and not the fits. I use rebar and it works great
Just like onion if the baloney is garlic baloney is very bad for a dog. Look it up garlic and onions can kill a dog.
Just curious. Why not just plow the ground for garden space instead of raised beds ?
Or you could triple up the panels and wire them together.
Its called a burpless cucumber
I got my beds from tractor supply. Around 75 each bed. They are 9 in one so you arrange how you want. Mine are approx 4 X 6 and 17 in deep. Great. Quality sturdy. Galvanized material. I’m still trying to get them filled too lol
It’s called an English cucumber!🥒 you do not have to peel them. That baloney is not good
for your dog, it has nitrates in it.
Last but not least, a garden tip .
You’ll need to go to Home Depot,
Or if you have a Menards, building stores. I’m pretty sure
Home Depot will have it, it’s heavy duty chicken wire, and I
do mean heavy weight. We got
Squirrels in our attic and had
to replace the open area where the fan was the squirrels chewed through it. So we got the heaviest wire we could this chicken wire is really heavy. Nothing’s gonna chew through it and I think it’ll work for holding some plants. Go check it out. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, go check it out.
Gotta get back out to the general stores and go check on the people from the storm that you helped