D.I.Y. Wicking Beds ( Feed Your Family ) made EASY!!!

A Wicking Bed Garden saves water, is easy to maintain, and enables Self Sufficiency.Show more

The self watering aspect of a wicking bed enables your garden to be watered even when you go on holidays.

Building a wicking bed garden is certainly well worth it! You will enjoy delicious harvests for years to come.

In this video I teach you EVERY STEP in the process of building wicking beds using IBC's ( Intermediate Bulk Containers ) and recycled timber.

I am just a weekend warrior, so if I can do it anyone can!

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STEP 1
Purchase an IBC ( Intermediate Bulk Container ).
These can be found online and cost approximately $150. You will need to organize delivery unless you own a large van or trailer.

01:34 STEP 2
Remove the base and separate the metal frame from the polypropylene container.

01:40 STEP 3
Measure and mark the center of the metal frame. Cut the frame in half using an angle grinder.

01:50 STEP 4
Measure and draw a line around the center of the polypropylene container. Cut in half using an angle grinder.

02:28 STEP 5
Rinse your polypropylene bases with water to remove any residue.

02:48 STEP 6
You now have the bases for 2 garden beds.
Choose a level position for your new garden ( or level the ground as necessary ).
Place each metal frame with the cut edges facing to the ground, now place half of the polypropylene container in each frame.

04:00 STEP 7
Now it's time to drill a hole in each garden bed for the overflow valve.
I have used a cutting bit the same size as the plastic pipe that I am using so that it is a tight fit.
This really helps stop leaking. I silicone around the hole as an extra precaution.

04:45 STEP 8
Cut PVC piping to size for the inlet pipe ( approx 50cm/24 inches ).
Lay approx 3m of agg pipe in the base of the garden bed. Cover one end with some drain matting and secure with a cable tie. Hold the other end of the agg pipe in position with a brick or something heavy ready for the inlet pipe. Insert the inlet pipe into the agg pipe by approx 10cm/4 inches.

05:16 STEP 9
Fill each garden bed with blue metal or similar rock material. This would be about 22 to 25cm/12 inches in height from the bottom of the bed. The total height of the garden bed is approx 50cm/24 inches. The soil layer must be between 20 to 25cm/ 12 inches deep in order for the wicking process to work. ( The wicking process is the action of the plants drawing the moisture up from the water reservoir underneath ).

05:54 STEP 10
Cover the blue metal layer with geodesic cloth to prevent the soil clogging up the water reservoir.
I let the cloth come up the sides of the garden bed by about 10cm/4 inches and then hold it in place with soil as I am filling in the soil layer.

06:58 STEP 11
Fill the top layer of the garden bed with soil/manure/organic material.

07:12 STEP 12
Build the timber frame ready for screwing your hardwood planking in place.

08:02 Step 13
Cut hardwood planking to size and attach to timber frame.

08:42 STEP 14
Attach top edging to garden bed.

All the best with your gardening.
Roger Osborne