BUILD a Global Bucket (similar to Earthbox®)

[DirtRoadPrepper101]

another use for the OLD RED SOLO CUP

[camdaman1003]

how often do you have to refill it?

[136dogs2]

I drill my holes on the driveway, then recycle the shavings. I also noticed the dimension for the outer bucket holes was wrong. Buckets vary. Its not tough to figure where to drill your holes.

[136dogs2]

I drill my holes on the driveway, then recycle the shavings.

[QUAIL72]

Guys this is probably one of the most common sense group of videos I've had the pleasure to view. I cant wait to see whats next. Thanks for giving us info that can really make a differance. Please keep it coming.

[roadrunnervideo1]

We purchased buckets from Lowe's and noticed there is only a 2 1/2 inch clearance once the two buckets are together. Where did you get your buckets? Your buckets allow for more water since the red cup fits perfectly in your bucket without having to cut the cup.

[gguerard]

Did you make two slits in the cup? Thanks!

[GlobalBuckets]

We cut a total of 4 slits in the red cup.

[Brodir100]

The Buster Brothers rocked this video !

Getting some hole cutters tomarrow, and putting my heirloom

tomatoes in these "global buckets'. A great idea.

[VirtualTourShop]

@lenty2000 Cat litter buckets are SPI 5 (polypropylene) which is used for food storage containers such as yogurt and margarine as well as many other items..

[VirtualTourShop]

I opted to skip the fill tube altogether due to the concerns of PVC chemicals leaching into the soil and water reservoir. I am now using just ONE bucket, thus cutting the overall cost down to just the potting soil since my empty litter buckets are free. Video of 2010 harvest results and latest self-watering bucket design with NO fill tube for the upcoming year is on my channel. Stop by!

[hardcore4d4]

@VirtualTourShop use a Bamboo Pole instead of pvc pipe 

[vitamixer2]

Two questions: Is a 5-gallon bucket necessary for one tomato plant or will smaller buckets be O.K.? Also, if 1/4" siphon whips are used to water the buckets through the air holes at the bottom of the bucket, what's the purpose of the pvc pipe? Thanks for your help.

[xwagner76]

Completely brilliant.

[lenty2000]

does the plastic from the buckets leach into the soil? is there a "safe" type of bucket to use?

[TIZZIE313]

Good Work Buster's

[sublx8ed]

I built four of these today and I started several tomato plants (from seed) to transplant into them. One concern I have is that once a tomato plant reaches maturity or even before that, it will become too heavy for the bucket and will cause the whole thing to fall over. I think I'm gonna use 3 stakes and some string and stake the bucket to the ground to overcome this. Also going to use a tomato cage but instead of putting into soil I'm going to run the "stake" ends through side of bucket.

[fmen2007]

Great video!

I've been building similar units for a years and they are remarkably similar. One of the main improvements in my version is that the water reservoir is almost tripled in size (and the top growing area is doubled). Why waste space by overlapping the buckets to such a degree? A larger reservoir plus an automatic watering system overcomes this problem. Plants love it and they produce longer.

[mortyr045]

pvc wiht the numbers 1, 2, 4, 5 are safe

pvc with the number 3, 6, 7, is toxoic

toxins are (3) polyvinle choloride , vinyl (6) polysterene , styrofoam (7) polycarbonate (main) and other misc

[dandar]

Great work guys. Very cool concept.

Saw people asking about PVC. Apparently it is toxic and is being phased out by governments around the world. A great alternative is PE piping. This is made with the same safe plastic that you see with the recycling logo with the number "2" in it. Same plastic as milk jugs, laundry detergent bottles, domestic water pipes etc. Wikipedia "polyethylene" for more information.

[tysver123]

Best video I have seen on how to make an earth bucket garden system!

[lockwood1979]

Great product, but how did you get Keanu Reeves to narate this for you?

[wildernessjunkie]

Made one of these awhile back. Works great! A few things Ill do different next time: Leave the plastic off the top as I got some funk growing in it. Leave the PVC pipe long, so it doubles as a support to tie up my indeterminate tomatoes. Last plant took off and is growing like a weed. Keep up the good work guys.

[12quillemall5321]

how long should the watering pipe be? I want the home supply store to cut that.

[anddihier]

@12quillemall5321 ..The vid says 2'...notice one poster stats he left his longer to tie his plant to it--thats sounded like a good idea

[aslhandz1]

I notice youonly have 1 plant per bucket. In soem cases {Ie lettuce} can 2 or 3 plants be planted?

[rexenne]

I'm just curious, won't the toxins from the plastic & PVC leech into the soil?

[anon54]

Great idea guys!! What could I use in lieu of toxic pvc pip?

[rexenne]

@anon54 I found some black piping used in irrigation at Menards. It's a little more pricey, but if you have the money, might as well get something that isn't AS toxic. Although there is no concrete proof that PVC is toxic or leaches. PVC piping is marked for "Cold water applications"...which does make me wonder about the effects of summer heat on the PVC.

[sjennas14]

great work!

[monawachsler]

pvc pipe is toxic

[johnnyMOEE]

wow.......great job, thank you for showing this to us. its a great concept on another way to grow your plants. ima try this next week and do the syphoning as well for the water reservor

[mrzeman1]

You guys are looking for more places to help and you have a connection in nearby Jamaica; why not look to Haiti? Pepsi is running a contest for ideas to help people, and they could probably hook you up with Yum brand restaurants to get the free buckets to send there. The coir idea should fit in nicely with that region. God Bless you, and good luck!

[Rizomantico]

Hey, your stuff are great!

Recently I found some people that gave me some buckets, and now i found this video thats fits me like a glove. Im getting the buckets from knauf gypsum, if thats helps you to find more free materials.

[Stormclouds777]

Please excuse my ignorance, but I have never heard of this. I am very interested though! After you have the completed product, Do you fill it completely with soil?

[easymoney4ever]

yea, instead of other bucket(needed to supply air), just drill a hole 2" up on the side of the bucket and fill bucket all the way to the hole with perlite. The perlite will provide the oxygen needed. The 2" of water provide the watering that is only needed every 2-3 days and full nutes every 3rd watering. Don't use tap water. it will make your res an acid bath if not watched. I would not recommend soil medium with this method as you will have stagnant water. ok for hydro medium though.

[amyamy7777777]

you guys are gr8 do you have any good ideas about hydroponics?

[JohnnyBoyTO928]

All your videos are pretty cool... thanks guys

[itstessie]

Thank you for this great video! I'm going to make mine out of empty cat litter buckets. I do have a greenhouse but was wondering if you have any experience with using the Global Buckets under a cinder block coldframe during a Zone 5 winter? We usually just have one or two cold nights, then warm evenings for a few weeks, repeated into January. So I do lettuce and spinach, radishes, short cools season crops. I could cover the plants, how do you keep the water reservoirs from freezing?

[acanov]

The water refill pipe should be covered or capped. In tropical climates, the opening will invite female mosquitoes to breed and consequently diseases such as malaria or dengue could spread rapidly.

[sublx8ed]

@acanov Good catch, didn't think of that! Off to Lowe's again for a cap. Shoulda known no project is ever complete without at least two trips to Lowe's. lol

[mikebius]

I have a supply of 2 and 3 gallon buckets. Can I use these, or is that not enough dirt for all crops???

[SLITTHROAT13]

did I hear this right the aeration holes are for the root of the plants so they can get oxygen?

[GlobalBuckets]

re: "...aeration holes are for the root of the plants so they can get oxygen?"

Yes, exactly correct.

[FightUni09]

Check my vids for how well these actually work for tomatos! Great Job Fellas.

I made 3 like yours with the holes. On 2 of them, I filled the Cup with a Sponge.

I also made a single bucket designs, with the bottom with rocks, still with side hole just beneath the surface of the rocks. I put the lid on mine, but I don't think that it is necessary. I do think that the plants like to be tucked in, so a piece of plastic Bungie Corded on seems to be working for some of my Squashes and Mellons.

[GlobalBuckets]

I appreciate what you're saying, but this really doesn't seem to be a problem.

I'm afraid if you put a screen at the bottom of the inner bucket, the aeration holes will be blocked, thus blocking the flow of air from the reservoir up to the roots.

This is something we've thought about and will monitor.

[billhiggins07]

How do you guarantee that the roots won't grow down into the cup and the reservoir. Where they would rot from standing in water. My suggestion is put a layer or 2 of screen in the bottom of the soil container.