Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Growing your own food sounds simple, but the reality is very different. In this video, I break down what home gardening is really like, the challenges most people don’t expect, and why the journey is still absolutely worth it. Self Sufficient Me Store: shop.selfsufficientme.com
Order my book here: https://www.briobooks.store/products/100-top-crops-you-can-grow
Birdies Raised Garden Beds USA: birdiesgardenproducts.com/SSMEbird Use code SSMEbird at checkout for 5% off.
Epic Gardening Birdies Raised Garden Beds USA: shop.epicgardening.com and use SSME2020 at checkout for a 5% discount.
In Australia, go to https://birdiesgardenproducts.com.au/ and use Code SSMEbird for a 5% discount. In New Zealand, go to birdiesgardenproducts.co.nz and use Code ssmebird22 for 5% off your first purchase.
In South Africa, get Birdies Beds here https://www.birdiesgardenproducts.co.za/ and use code: self-sufficient
Chicken stuff and preserving gear: Oz Farmer and get a 10% discount, go here ozfarmer.com/t4xruzils6 and use code T4XRUZILS6 at checkout.
My Garden Plan: selfsufficientme.gardenplanner.com/garden-plans/1890355
Elevated Garden Planters: Check out Vego Garden here glnk.io/jnwlw/selfsufficientme and use SELFSUFFICIENTME10OFF for a $10 discount.
FoodCube Wicking Beds can be purchased in the USA from glnk.io/jnwlw/selfsufficientme and use SELFSUFFICIENTME10OFF for a $10 discount. And, in Australia, from https://www.australianlandscapesupplies.com.au/collections/foodcube-raised-garden-wicking-beds (no affiliate or discount, sorry, on FoodCubes but you can get a discount on potting mixes, etc - see next paragraph below).
Check out Australian Landscaping Supplies for a 10% discount: https://www.australianlandscapesupplies.com.au/collections/self-sufficient-me?dt_id=1489901 If you find any problem with the link, use "self_sufficient_me" as the discount code on checkout.
Plant Doctor Fertiliser: Go to https://www.plantdoctor.com.au/ and use SSME10 = 10% off products (not shipping).
Ocean2Earth: https://ocean2earth.com.au/ Use "SSM" on checkout for a 5% discount.
For Hoselink Garden Products, such as hose reels, go here: tinyurl.com/4ryk83vk and use code SELFSUFFICIENTME10 to get a 10% discount on checkout!
Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/selfsufficientme (the top tier enables mentoring from yours truly via an exclusive VIP email where I will answer your questions, etc, ASAP).
Survival Seeds Aust and USA: https://linktr.ee/survivalseeds Use Code SSM at checkout for a 10% discount.
Harvest Right freeze dryer website: affiliates.harvestright.com/1099.html
For Australian freeze dryer purchase info, use the link above and contact Harvest Right directly.
Aussie-made Forged garden tools: Go to https://gardentoolsaustralia.com.au/ and use code SSM10 for a 10% discount at checkout.
Rolling Sifter: unclejimswormfarm.com/product/outdoor-compost-bin/rolling-garden-sifter rollingsifter.ecwid.com Compostyng (yes, it's spelt wrong deliberately) for 10% off.
My second channel, Self Sufficient Me 2: bit.ly/331edDu
New (third) Channel: Self Suffishing Me bit.ly/2LiIWqt
Blog: selfsufficientme.com (use the search bar on my website to find info on specific subjects or gardening ideas)
Forum: selfsufficientculture.com
Instagram: instagram.com/self_sufficient_me
Facebook: bit.ly/2Zi5kDv
Twitter: twitter.com/SufficientMe
Subscribe to my channel: goo.gl/cpbojR
Self Sufficient Me is based on our small 3-acre property/homestead in SE Queensland, Australia, about 45kms north of Brisbane - the climate is subtropical (similar to Florida). Cheers, Mark :)
*Disclaimer: Some links to products in this description and comments sections are affiliated, meaning I receive a small commission if you follow these links and then purchase an item.
0:00 Introduction
0:58 Expectation 1 Gardening is Easy
2:06 Expectation 2 Save Money
3:08 Expectation 3 It's all Success!
4:17 Expectation 4 Backyard Food is Healthier & Perfect
5:45 Expectation 5 You Control Nature
8:09 Feel Good Conclusion
Growing your own food sounds simple, but the reality is very different. In this video, I break down what home gardening is really like, the challenges most people don’t expect, and why the journey is still absolutely worth it. Self Sufficient Me Store: shop.selfsufficientme.com
Order my book here: https://www.briobooks.store/products/100-top-crops-you-can-grow
Birdies Raised Garden Beds USA: birdiesgardenproducts.com/SSMEbird Use code SSMEbird at checkout for 5% off.
Epic Gardening Birdies Raised Garden Beds USA: shop.epicgardening.com and use SSME2020 at checkout for a 5% discount.
In Australia, go to https://birdiesgardenproducts.com.au/ and use Code SSMEbird for a 5% discount. In New Zealand, go to birdiesgardenproducts.co.nz and use Code ssmebird22 for 5% off your first purchase.
In South Africa, get Birdies Beds here https://www.birdiesgardenproducts.co.za/ and use code: self-sufficient
Chicken stuff and preserving gear: Oz Farmer and get a 10% discount, go here ozfarmer.com/t4xruzils6 and use code T4XRUZILS6 at checkout.
My Garden Plan: selfsufficientme.gardenplanner.com/garden-plans/1890355
Elevated Garden Planters: Check out Vego Garden here glnk.io/jnwlw/selfsufficientme and use SELFSUFFICIENTME10OFF for a $10 discount.
FoodCube Wicking Beds can be purchased in the USA from glnk.io/jnwlw/selfsufficientme and use SELFSUFFICIENTME10OFF for a $10 discount. And, in Australia, from https://www.australianlandscapesupplies.com.au/collections/foodcube-raised-garden-wicking-beds (no affiliate or discount, sorry, on FoodCubes but you can get a discount on potting mixes, etc - see next paragraph below).
Check out Australian Landscaping Supplies for a 10% discount: https://www.australianlandscapesupplies.com.au/collections/self-sufficient-me?dt_id=1489901 If you find any problem with the link, use "self_sufficient_me" as the discount code on checkout.
Plant Doctor Fertiliser: Go to https://www.plantdoctor.com.au/ and use SSME10 = 10% off products (not shipping).
Ocean2Earth: https://ocean2earth.com.au/ Use "SSM" on checkout for a 5% discount.
For Hoselink Garden Products, such as hose reels, go here: tinyurl.com/4ryk83vk and use code SELFSUFFICIENTME10 to get a 10% discount on checkout!
Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/selfsufficientme (the top tier enables mentoring from yours truly via an exclusive VIP email where I will answer your questions, etc, ASAP).
Survival Seeds Aust and USA: https://linktr.ee/survivalseeds Use Code SSM at checkout for a 10% discount.
Harvest Right freeze dryer website: affiliates.harvestright.com/1099.html
For Australian freeze dryer purchase info, use the link above and contact Harvest Right directly.
Aussie-made Forged garden tools: Go to https://gardentoolsaustralia.com.au/ and use code SSM10 for a 10% discount at checkout.
Rolling Sifter: unclejimswormfarm.com/product/outdoor-compost-bin/rolling-garden-sifter rollingsifter.ecwid.com Compostyng (yes, it's spelt wrong deliberately) for 10% off.
My second channel, Self Sufficient Me 2: bit.ly/331edDu
New (third) Channel: Self Suffishing Me bit.ly/2LiIWqt
Blog: selfsufficientme.com (use the search bar on my website to find info on specific subjects or gardening ideas)
Forum: selfsufficientculture.com
Instagram: instagram.com/self_sufficient_me
Facebook: bit.ly/2Zi5kDv
Twitter: twitter.com/SufficientMe
Subscribe to my channel: goo.gl/cpbojR
Self Sufficient Me is based on our small 3-acre property/homestead in SE Queensland, Australia, about 45kms north of Brisbane - the climate is subtropical (similar to Florida). Cheers, Mark :)
*Disclaimer: Some links to products in this description and comments sections are affiliated, meaning I receive a small commission if you follow these links and then purchase an item.
0:00 Introduction
0:58 Expectation 1 Gardening is Easy
2:06 Expectation 2 Save Money
3:08 Expectation 3 It's all Success!
4:17 Expectation 4 Backyard Food is Healthier & Perfect
5:45 Expectation 5 You Control Nature
8:09 Feel Good Conclusion
