Forging Ahead With a Project I've Put Off & Announcing the Winner of  

Every time I see dirt like yours I am so overwhelmed with thankfulness that I live in Iowa with our dark clay/loam soil. I have it easy! People like you who have to ammend your soil to grow much of anything have my utmost respect! You truly toil for your food. I do still need to add to make my clay more loamy, but I know I have it much easier. Your homestead is looking awesome! I pray all your labors pay off. You have a great channel!❤

Use the 3-4-5 triangle to get a square (90 deg) wall. Look it up for more info.

Thank you for another great video. It sucks that the squirrel got your tomato. When squirrels eat your tomato, make squirrel soup

you guys are Blessed with cool weather, in TX, we are in 21 days, of 110, 108, we have two more weeks to go, ❤ Pray for us❤

Idk, if the RU-vid consultants suggested using negative video captions to get more veiws, but I don't like it. I've noticed a trend among lots of creators. Please, let's just not ADD more stress to our lives.

Pulling the tomatoes at first blush doesn’t hurt the flavor and increases your yield by keeping the birds and chipmunks from enjoying your fruit.

Brian, Never apologize for putting up shade cloth--it lowers your risk for both heat exhaustion & heat stroke! 😊

Thanks orchestrating this contest Brian!!! I had a blast and gained some friends in the process! Even if I didn’t win I would have won because of that!

I can’t believe I just thought of this but now it is so obvious. You are going to have the Disneyland of home gardens!! Congrats to the tomato challenge winner!!

Lordy lordy you are an ambitious soul! Your whole property is going to be absolutely awesome! .....those squirrels - they have been my garden nemesis for years. Too bad about your tomatoes this year but that's one of the joys of gardening - there always is next year. Take care all 🇨🇦

I am so sorry 😢 about your tomato challenge. I had a similar experience only a deer. Congratulations to Crock Gardener! 🎉🎉. One pound twelve ounces! Wow! Wish they had provided a picture. I’m glad someone is harvesting tomatoes. I’m waiting?? I admire your vision for all the gardens; it’s going to be fantastic. Thank you for sharing. Many blessings

Allow for drainage when building 😊

I would say it looks more natural without 90 degree angles

Your imagination just amazes me, how you dream up everything that you want to do on your property. I think your very smart, using a shade structure for where your working!

I had a 1lbs 12 ounces tomatoe, but couldn't find where to enter challenge! Maybe next year😂

Those movable canopies are very smart and worth the money. Triple digit heat w/ 100% humidity under direct sun. The canopy helps you get jobs done.

3'x4'x5' triangle - 90 degrees

Squirrels or Rats, and tomato worms have robbed me of several tomatoes this year too. Your new project’s sounds a little complicated, but seeing all you have been able to accomplish, I know you will succeed. God bless.❤✝️🙏🇺🇸

I planted basil next to my tomatoes this year and have not seen any hornworms. I did pick a big one off my eggplant today, which is not near the basil. I also think my visiting Hooded Orioles helped the tomatoes as well because they look for worms and such on my plants. That said, they also picked at a couple tomatoes. Win some, lose some!!

Oh my gosh Brian, I can’t believe how much Noah has grown! I started following your channel during Covid and I continue to enjoy it. Your channel is like talking to a neighbor. Thank you for sharing. I can relate with the tomato garden this year. New house, new beds, meh crop. Already looking forward to next year!

SOOOO excited to see your visions come to fruition!

That area would be metal detecting heaven!!!

You need a 90 degree angle. Easy Greek right angle geometry. Right angle ... a2 + b2 = c2. Get some measurement of an equal-sided length of (a) and (b) walls. Say (a) wall = 5 feet string; (b) wall = (same) 5 feet string. a = 5, b = 5. ... a2 = 25, b2 = 25 ... a2 + b2 = 25 + 25 = 50. c2 = 50. Square root of c = 7 feet, .. and a snippet of + ~1/16th inch. 7-ish feet of string. Measure out a string and mark 5 feet and 7-ish feet on its length. Measure from the outside corner of the outside side wall (a) for 5 feet. Mark that spot on the wall. Measure again from the outside corner to the desired length of the outside wall (b) for 5 feet. One can trace out a small curving line on the ground. Tentatively, put down a metal rod or wood dowel stake at that 5 feet. Using the 7-ish foot length of string, measure from (a) 5 feet, and (b) 5 feet. Adjust the metal rod or wood dowel stake to fit that 7-ish foot (c) side. Put down your concrete (or rock) brick on the inside of that 7-ish foot measurement. That will give you a right angle triangle and a perfect 90 degree corner wall. Eezy peezy peep !

As other people have mentioned, use the 3, 4, 5 triangle. The 2 sides that are 90 degree are the 3 and 4 foot sides. The hypotenuse is the 5 foot side. Where you are working on a larger length, just multiply the numbers by 2, 3, 4, ect. For that wall you could use multiply by 4 and use 12 feet, 16 feet, 20 feet. What I do is mark the length on the fixed wall. Then attach a string the length of the second wall and make an ark in the ground. Then I measure from the other corner and where the 5 foot length crosses the arc is where the wall goes.

Make yourself a plywood template 3'x4'x5'. Use it to pull your stringlines like a big square or just use the 3-4-5 formula when you pull your string lines. Better luck next time on the tomato competition, but I'm sure the squirrel is quite happy. 😎

"Noah" means "rest." Apt!

For square measure 4’ away from the corner along your one existing block wall; then measure out from the corner of the existing wall 3’ in the direction where the new wall is to go and set a short rebar or stake; if perfect 90 deg corner it will measure 5’ between the 2 corners; if not which almost 100 percent chance it won’t ; adjust the rebar or stake closer or further away ( keeping the 3’ distance ) until the diagonal measurement is 5’. You are essentially creating a 3’ x 4’ x 5’ triangle which also creates a perfect 90 deg corner at the end of the existing wall heading off in the direction of the new wall. You got this, probably already did I guessing.

One day Bella will jump the fence! Peting her like that....I don' t know!!! Oh man, the tomatoes I had are not any better! My roma tomatoes were the size of grape tomato....ridiculous! Yeah, maybe next year! Good thing you are taking it easy if you are tired! Blessings! P.s. Hi Noah!

Did the winner of the tomato challenge send a picture of the tomato? If so, could you put it in your next video. I would love to see a one pound tomato!

About the missing tomatoes. I live in the high desert with ground squirrels and cottontail bunnies. My tomato plants are in pots. I’ve watched the squirrels looking at the pots. I know they can get into them. They have never eaten a tomato. That is contrary to the squash and bean plants I have tried to grow. I would suggest it is deer or raccoon that eat your tomatoes.

Hi Brian. Can't blame you for being tired. The heat always takes the energy out of me also. Noah; great job helping out. My yellow tomatoes are the size of tennis balls and are first starting to get ripe in my garden. I don't think I have enough hours of sun. The baby romas are ripe and taste great. We've had a wet year in Wisconsin. Depending where you are this year, you'll get standing water in the field and some of the farmers couldn't get their first crop of hay in. With the heat and all the rain in my yard in early summer , most of my black raspberry's fruit got steamed and the fruit flies ate it on the canes. I only got two pickings before that happened. The cherries on the cherry tree also got steam cooked from the rain and heat. I'll have to wait till next year. I guess if you wanted a true 90 degree angle like you want is take a drone and go overhead and adjust your line as you go along, making a giant protractor out of 2x2's.? Just a suggestion. Love Ollie and Otis. Waiting to see more🙂

I grew too many tomatoes this year. But no big slicers. Congrats to the winner. I guess I'm going to learn how to can tomatoes. 😃 Not enough room in the freezer. Illinois gardener here. Brand new raised bed. First year planting tomatoes from seed. I hate squirrels too. 😬 and tomatoes hornworms. They got a few of mine.

Congrats Brian, you won regardless because you grew a Tomato, and I didn't. So, congrats... I'll get you next year🤣🤣 And a big congrats to the Croc Gardener for winning the Tomato challenge. 💯💯

To create a 90 degree angle we have used a tarp laid on the ground butted up to the existing structure and followed the edge of the tarp to get the 90 degree angle.

Easy 90 degree corner is measure 3 feet on one leg, 4 feet on the other leg, and the diagonal should be 5 feet. The 3-4-5 rule, or use any multiples thereof.

I'm still loving the look of you in the shirt w/ a collar.

I know it's too late for now, but in the future, maybe use a T square or one of those triangle thingies that give you the corner.

Will your English garden have a folly? If it does, I can't wait to see what you come up with. As others have shared (and I agree as a HS math teacher), the 3-4-5 method is the easiest way to get your walls at a right angle. Your vision for your property is amazing!

I've never heard of pleached trees before. I looked up some other images and they look pretty cool!! Congrats to the winner!

I had a 2 lb'er+ Brandywine but... the day before I was going to pick it either a squirrel or raccoon took several big bites from it. I did take pics. Plus I saved the seeds for next year.

Love the sunshade! Work smarter, not harder. However your dream photos do make me worry . So Grand! Love your creative energy. Thanks for sharing all of this. Kudos to the squirrel for timing. Perfect!😂

For a 90 deg corner (as @appl-pm7dj wrote) measure 3' on one side and 4' on the other. Then adjust those sides until the hypotenuse (longest side) is 5'. This also works with 6',8', and 10'.

Here's an easy formula for next time! It's the 3 4 5 rule: Starting at a corner measure out 3' from that corner on one side. Make a mark. Starting at that same corner, measure out 4' on the side that is perpendicular to the first side and make a mark. Stretch a measuring tape from the 3' mark to the 4' mark: If your right angle is true, the distance between the three and four foot markings will be 5'. Good luck!

wow I should have entered. I had a 2 pounder this season. I have been so busy I didn't even know there was a one going on.

I'm sure you will, but in case not. When you go to start seeding put some straw over before the rain starts so it protects the seed & dirt from being washed away.

I cant wait to see your double border. good job you two.

Hi Bryan…you’ve got a lot of hard work ahead of you! It’s so fun watching your progression.👍🏻I’m here in San Diego and grew a 1.84 pound tomato…Dr. Wychee’s yellow. I’ve had great success with that one this year as well as Cherokee Purple. Have a great day!

Hey back! What a nice intro greeting!

Tie an organza bag over tomatoes you don’t want the squirrels to get. They might bite them through the bag but can’t steal them. 🍅🐿️

I like the longer videos for more in depth info

Sorry about the tomatoes Brian! It's certainly a crummy year for them! I'd sure like to see a picture of the winning tomato - I've never seen one that big!

It continues to amaze me how you can visualize all of that. It would be impossible for me.

I feel ya about the maters. I grow them in Ohio and even though it's a great area to grow August has been horribly dry the last few years. Suggestion maybe do more research on tomatoes more adaptable to your zone?

We would not have won any competition, but our Compost tomatoes are doing quite well. I neglected the compost pile (turning it over) and can never get it hot enough (we live in Michigan) to kill the seeds. I noticed tomatoes growing in it and left it as is. We planted some basil next to it for the complementary planting and started watering it. I started a new compost pile in another location. We are not sure about the variety but they are healthy and nicely sized. They look somewhat like a Beefsteak. I'll take free tomatoes no matter the variety!

Good luck with your new project. Thank you Brian. 🌺💚🙃

Brian, "Hedge on stilts"--that's funny...descriptive, but funny. 😆

I watched some videos recently by Joel Ashton. He makes some beautiful natural looking wildlife ponds. The way he hides the liner so the pond appears natural is really good. I just wish I had s big enough garden to make one.

That look you had after finding the tomato was stolen pretty much sums up my entire growing season! "What do ya do"" indeed! Your plans sound great! I'm hoping to get a greenhouse this fall and need to figure out where it is going!

Brian, your landscaping/design talents are un-deniable. Your property will be the showcase of the area. All it takes is labor, money, and time. I have the time. My problem is I'm lazy and broke! lol. Honestly, I'm getting there. You provide a lot of much needed inspiration. You keep going and I'll keep trying to catch up.

We want to see the winning tomato

Using shade structure is smart, as someone who's had multiple skin cancers removed, I wish I'd been more sun smart. Loving the content. Ps I'm watching from Tasmania Australia.

Wowza, you have some big, big plans in the beautification of your land. I hope that your little lambs can help take care of the weeds. Good job to your son helping dig the trench. Fun

Right angle: use the 3 4 5 method. Measure along one wall 3 feet and mark the point. Measure along the other wall 4 feet and mark the point. Measure between the 2 points and adjust the angle until the distance is 5 feet. To scale for longer walks, multiply all 3 numbers by the same amount (such as by 2 to get 6 8 10).

I'm so sad I missed the submittal for the tomato challenge. I had a 1lb 15oz Bad Daddy tomato!

Good idea for using the shade structure.

Be still my heart when you described your backyard vision!

Free labor is wonderful, especially when it allows you to spend time with your son. I like the plan to move the vineyard by the orchard and the long path of flowers on either side sounds interesting.

You can line it (the pond) with animal poop, a lot of people use their cows and pigs to work the poop into the soil and compact it. It stinks in the beginning and you'll need to put some plants around the border but once it's established, you don’t have to worry about leaks, or replacing the liner etc.

Congratulations to the winner

I have a suggestion for you. In a previous video you mentioned looking for something to use as a screen between you and your neighbors house. Following along the tropical theme, I suggest a line of African Tulip trees. Does lose its leaves, but when leaved out, it is a stunning tree. Of course you can check them out at a nursery, but if you want to see one “in the wild”, I have one in my front yard. And, I am only a few miles from you. If you want to see it, lmk!

Wow! You somehow have a young man on the handle end of a shovel working. I only wish there were quick canopies like that back in my working days.

Rent or buy a tractor for that back breaking work. We bought a Kubota Tractor and we only have 1/2 acre but the time and body aches it has saved was worth every penny.

That’s gonna be really pretty

This is looking great! I know it’s off topic, but I planted a lime tree early this year in a pot and I have no idea how often I should feed it the citrus food.

Congrats to the winner! I am getting tons of tomatoes from my indeterminate bush and have yet to get one single tomato from my determinate bush, The blossoms keep drying up in this 102 degree Colorado heat, no matter what I try. But that's gardening for you. Your explanations are always easy for me to follow as you go along, I can imagine what it will look like. The sheep are getting big. I'm getting ready to harvest my corn, potatoes and possibly yellow onions. So exciting!

I wish I had your ability to visualize the finished scene. ❤

I'm starting to really dislike squirrels. They chewed up the stems to my potatoe plants this year. First time ever. Also, dug some up. Found a potatoe sitting on top of an 8 ft tall enclosure. grrrr cute rodents

Seems like videos are coming less and shorter. Wonder what’s going on and hope you’re doing ok. 😀

For anything that I want straight lines, I use a laser.

Make pond deeper n bigger will silt in fast with your soil

Where is the picture of the winning tomato?

What happened to Chad's tomatoe?? Can we see a pic of the winning tomatoe? That was a fun challenge but you gotta follow up better than that lol you can't leave us hanging!! Lolol

I've been pulling my tomatoes at about 25% and they ripen all the way in about two days, currently. I love not having to buy tomatoes during this tomato wealth time.

A math answer used by all carpenters: 3-4-5 measurements make a right anlge: measure out 3 on one leg and 4 on the other; if the diagonal connecting the legs is 5, then you are square. 90degrees at the corner.

use a square to get ur 90 degrees

Congratulations Croc Gardener. So I guess that means that 'Technically' Brian and Chad ended in a tie? Sounds like we continue this until next year! #TomatoChallenge2025 LOL.

Use a large square.

Hey Chad, did you send that squirrel to Brian's garden? 😁

An ANCIENT low-tech method (as in, they used it in Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt). The 3 - 4 - 5 method. Measure one leg of your corner (say, north-south) three feet and mark it. Measure the 90 degree leg of the corner (i.e., the east-west leg) 4 feet and mark that measurement. Measure between the three foot and the four foot marks, when the measurement is exactly 5', the corner is perfectly square. To make sure that a rectangle or square is actually square and not a parallelogram; Measure the diagonals. If you label the four corners A, B, C, D...you measure between points A and C and note that measurement. Then measure B to D. If the measurements of the diagonals are equal, your rectangle is square with perfect 90 degree corners. Even with laser levels and fancy tech equipment, carpenters STILL use the 3-4-5 squaring method and measure diagonals to set up their framing and check the laser tech accuracy. I'm retired now, but I've been in construction for more decades than I care to admit - this is the fastest, easiest, most accurate way to square a corner or square a rectangle. Hope this helps! Love your content - I'm rooting for you!

For 90 degrees, you can try 3-4-5 rule. pretty basic.

Ha! I would have won! But this app won't let me post my proof. But of course I didn't apply, but I did post my picture of my 1 lb 13.4 ounce Kelloggs Breakfast tomato in the FB group. 1:15

I just wached Chads video and he annoumced a differenr winner?? Lolol

😂 squirrel got to eat to.

Will you put down clay in the bottom of the pond so the water stays in the pond?

So can someone explain how to share for a contest? I had a beautiful 2lb tomato to enter and never figured out where or how.

what type of seed (grass, clover)? will you plant up the pasture with

Did you put a over flow for the pond if you didnt you really should

Why do you want a hedge on stilts out of reach? Hedges are a big enough pain to trim when they are waist height. Are you going to hire landscapers to take care of all of this?

do you have a picture off the Tomato (the Winner)?

I'm unable to find info about your canopy. Is it available from Amazon?