BUILD a Global Bucket (similar to Earthbox®)

April 9, 2011 by  
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www.GlobalBuckets.org Visit www.GlobalBuckets.org for much more information. It's easy to build the two 5-gallon bucket container growing system! Reduce global hunger with a low cost and simple way of growing food. This foolproof method of gardening is very similar to the excellent Earthbox® method. Like the Earthbox® system, Global Buckets 1) 80% reduction in water usage 2) 100% reduction in weeds 3) Takes very little time or effort. 4) No place to plant a garden? Great! This system works excellent on concrete...like on a rooftop in Calcutta. Unlike the Earthbox® method, Global Buckets uses locally sourced free or low cost materials, ideal for developing nations.

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Comments

25 Comments on "BUILD a Global Bucket (similar to Earthbox®)"

  1. VirtualTourShop on Sat, 9th Apr 2011 4:39 pm 

    @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..

  2. hardcore4d4 on Sat, 9th Apr 2011 4:42 pm 

    @VirtualTourShop use a Bamboo Pole instead of pvc pipe

  3. VirtualTourShop on Sat, 9th Apr 2011 5:06 pm 

    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!

  4. vitamixer2 on Sat, 9th Apr 2011 5:50 pm 

    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.

  5. xwagner76 on Sat, 9th Apr 2011 6:25 pm 

    Completely brilliant.

  6. lenty2000 on Sat, 9th Apr 2011 6:50 pm 

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

  7. TIZZIE313 on Sat, 9th Apr 2011 7:01 pm 

    Good Work Buster’s

  8. sublx8ed on Sat, 9th Apr 2011 7:33 pm 

    @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

  9. sublx8ed on Sat, 9th Apr 2011 8:30 pm 

    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.

  10. fmen2007 on Sat, 9th Apr 2011 8:40 pm 

    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.

  11. mortyr045 on Sat, 9th Apr 2011 9:17 pm 

    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

  12. dandar on Sat, 9th Apr 2011 9:22 pm 

    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.

  13. anddihier on Sat, 9th Apr 2011 10:10 pm 

    @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

  14. tysver123 on Sat, 9th Apr 2011 11:03 pm 

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

  15. lockwood1979 on Sat, 9th Apr 2011 11:05 pm 

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

  16. wildernessjunkie on Sat, 9th Apr 2011 11:15 pm 

    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.

  17. 12quillemall5321 on Sat, 9th Apr 2011 11:29 pm 

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

  18. aslhandz1 on Sun, 10th Apr 2011 12:24 am 

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

  19. rexenne on Sun, 10th Apr 2011 12:50 am 

    @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.

  20. rexenne on Sun, 10th Apr 2011 1:11 am 

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

  21. anon54 on Sun, 10th Apr 2011 1:30 am 

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

  22. sjennas14 on Sun, 10th Apr 2011 2:00 am 

    great work!

  23. monawachsler on Sun, 10th Apr 2011 2:11 am 

    pvc pipe is toxic

  24. johnnyMOEE on Sun, 10th Apr 2011 2:22 am 

    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

  25. mrzeman1 on Sun, 10th Apr 2011 2:48 am 

    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!

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