Self Sufficiency is NOT Just Gardening its a Lifestyle 

MARK! You don't have to explain yourself to anyone!! This channel has been put together, worked hard on, and beautifully packaged to aid and gift many of your talent and time! You work hard as I'm sure many people understand.. It takes a lot of time and energy to put together and edit these videos and.... FREE... for ALL to enjoy... NO EXPLANATIONS as to what you want to so generously share with us is necessary! I for one totally enjoy your videos and I thank you for your generosity!! :-) :-)

I freaking love you. What a sincerely awesome person. Another part of self-sufficiency is sovereignty. Maturity. Responsibility (ability to respond). I love the info and the humor in your videos. But today I saw what's beneath, holding it all together. I have so much respect for you, Mark. Thank you so much for sharing your passion with us

If half the population realised this, the world would be a paradise.

You may never see this but I binge-watch all your videos some I have seen ten times and I always learn or see something new I like to learn and you help to keep my brain active.

I love your channel. Don't change Anything. Love the diversity of your articles.

From how to build a fire pit, pickling, watching you cut wood, transporting snakes, learning about a tick I never knew existed, to how to grow a lot of... I have really enjoyed your videos. I love your humor and some of the things you've done with your videos. I felt like a fool after watching one video (which was the first one I watched) then sharing that your hen was broody. Thanks for graciously letting that go by. I don't even have any chickens! Keep up the good work. You always seem to make me laugh. The videos you share benefit me. After the review of the Mortar & Pestle set I knew which one I wanted to buy. Oh yeah the DIY outdoor cat hotel - so cool. Ok... REALLY, I just dig the Australian accent not to mention the sound of your environment. The birds and wildlife are phenomenal.

I know exactly where you're coming from here Mark. 😃😁👍 Is something that happens to divers channels such as our. Thanks for the shout out too Mark. 👍👍 Cheers & happy gardening mate. 😉🌱🌱

All you can do is be yourself, and that is what is important! I look forward to seeing more of your videos in the future.

I think you should review anything and everything you want. I like your attitude. There are plenty of people filming themselves garden. Guess what I choose you over them all. That’s all that matters. Your attitude is gold brother.

You are doing great! Since watching you I have become self sufficient in beautiful organic salads and working on the next stage. So you're changing my life!

Thank you for being yourself, being genuine in your communications.

I subscribe to you because of the way you talk and your movement actions. Yes I do. But more than this I have learned after 68 years there is a lot more to learn and you give me the chance to learn more. Thank You.

Keep the videos coming Mark. I love your stuff. You’re a really genuine guy and you have a great energy. Your videos are wholesome and entertaining. Always makes me happy to see you post.

I think that we never will be able to please everyone :D You are inspiring so many people Mark, you can be very happy and proud about it! Love your videos! Cheers from Pacific Haven QLD! Ewa

I watch your videos religiously and love them lots of helpful information and entertainment and from one veteran to another keep up the good work brother

I found your channel about 2 or 3 months ago. LOVE what you do. You really are a inspiration for those that wish to become involved on a self sufficient lifestyle I.e. me.

I've loved every video! Especially where scooter gets stoned! Your videos make my day! I dont even garden. I hope to one day. But as of now I dont. You just really calm me down. Keep it up Mark

Hi Mark. Your channel, your rules. I watched about 10 seconds of your headphone review video. My time, my choice. Keep doing whatever you like, I'll keep watching whatever I like. ps. I like the effort you put into the 'fancy' videos. Love the channel. Thanks.

I, for one, love your videos. Lots of good advice in a friendly presentation method...don't let the bad apples grind you down.

We don't watch your videos just for the gardening, but it's because of you. You are an interesting dude to get to know and understand your thoughts on a Self Staining lifestyle. YOU ARE THE SUBJECT MATTER THAT MAKES THIS CHANNEL INTERESTING 1

At the end of the day, nobody has to watch a video of yours they don't want to. In my opinion, providing diverse content is better than just sticking to the same videos all the time. Keep doing you mark!

I actually really enjoy the reviews and seeing that you're getting recognition and some sponsors! Don't mind it at all

I just stumbled upon your channel and love it just this way it is. I think you are genuine, and passionate about gardening. I appreciate your knowledge and find your videos refreshing. Keep up the good work. USA

I don't have TV and I just love the sound of your Aussie voice, if its relevant to you I can listen to you talking about :-) I hope you keep making videos even if its about the weather and its impact on your garden and your neighbourhood...

Very Well Done You!! More power to you, thank you for your military service and enjoy your freedom to keep doing what interests YOU, I'll keep watching! LOVE your videos and website!! Inspiring and Awesome!!

Your channel is one of my all-time favorites on RU-vid. You are straight and honest with your viewers. You put in lots of hours of effort to make viewers' time worthwhile. I give good credence to your advice. Advice to this critic, "take what you like and leave the rest." Thank you.

This is a lovely way to interact with your audience! Well done!

Hey Mark, right at the beginning of your headphone review, you told us about what is important to you. You have graciously defended your lifestyle (and everything that it encompasses for you) when you didn't have to. That just goes to show what a bloody decent good Aussie bloke you are. You have inspired my husband and I in our self sufficient journey, even though it currently looks quite different to yours. And, whilst all that you do may not meet the needs of everyone, there are still plenty who will find your different range of topics of enormous benefit. Congratulations on living the good life, and thanks so much for inspiring so many more of us to do the same :-)

Great video, mark. Explained everything beautifully. I’m happy to say I’m one of the people that watch every video you put out weather it’s a topic of interest or not. There are things I thought I was not interested in until you gave us all an in-depth look at it. Keep doing your thing, mate because you are bloody good at it

don't defend yourself nor feed the trolls. you can't please everyone. it's your channel, you can have any kind of content you want. feeding the trolls will only get them to keep coming back.

We just found your channel a few months ago and have watched so many. We appreciate you taking us all on a self sufficient journey and sharing your knowledge, reviews and humor with us. Your to cool. Thanks you are appreciated.

Don't change a thing Mark! I look forward to your vids every week, sometimes they aren't to my interests but then I just look forward to the next one and you always deliver. It's wonderful to have someone in my SEQ region who's sharing their trials and tribulations in their garden, so I can be successful in mine. The vids that aren't about gardening give me an insight into you and your interests - what's not to love about that? Keep going :)

Oh boy. No need to explain anything, this is your channel, you can do whatever you want to do and the audience will change according to the content. It is that simple and it was always supposed to function in that way. Don't take critics to the heart because you are only creating problems for yourself. Take care and stay well.

Good day Mark. I love your self sufficient way of life. I told my 89 year old father about you, and you are the first person to really impress this hard working Korean war veteran . Great respect for everything you do, including the way you care for your family. I do love a good family man. Keep on being yourself.

Keep up the good work on your videos. I always come away with something. No channel can be everything to everyone. That is what the RU-vid search function is for. If there is a product out there that can make self sufficiency easier, then it is something I would like to know about. RU-vid has in many ways become my free university where people from all over the world exchange ideas. I thank you for what you do Mark. Oh, and I want to pinch your cheeks, hugs from the USA!

I have been watching your videos for years. You always make me laugh. I find your gardening advices useful and feel that you’re honest and sincere. Simply love you,Mark.

Not sure why you needed to respond to this statement. Not much for giving even notice to someone who doesn't take the time to think about what they're saying. To think far enough ahead to do a little bit of research on the person they're going to make a comment about. I I do believe some of your highest viewing videos are gardening tips or issues and ideas of how to deal with them. Which is great because you are so thorough in those things. So still not quite understanding why you felt the need to respond to this? I understand communication and wanting to make sure you convey your thoughts and the most thorough and well planned out way. One of the reasons I particularly like your Channel. I feel that you're honest which is something that is extremely rare in the United States today. And so I tend to gravitate towards people regardless of what they're doing as long as their foremost thought is honesty and being kind to others. Thank you for being one of the few. Course I don't know how the southern hemisphere fairs in decency of human beings? LOL hope you have a great day regardless of what you do. Sincerely Charles Dowling

Mark, my wife and I live on a 2.5 acre property on the Central Coast NSW near Terrigal. We watch your videos every night. You have inspired us to set up a greenhouse, setup raised beds and today we put in a dozen fruit trees to your recommendations. It has brought us closer as a couple. Thank you for all that you do.

Mark, we love you just the way you are! We are glad we watched this because we didn't know about the expanse of your videos! We will be searching and watching the videos that offer more than gardening - the way that we 'discovered' you! It's your personality that draws us to you - frankly, while we have learned about gardening edibles from watching you, we watch your videos because we just like to have you near! Keep doing what you're doing and know that there are more people like me than like Chris!

So I stumbled upon this channel about a week or so ago! Subscribed nearly straight away purely because of the volume of info you provide. It’s clearly a passion of yours which you’ve been rewarded for l - given you now have over 800k subs. The way you handled this comment is as admirable as I’ve come to expect from you. Top bloke!

When we first moved to south Carolina, I was lost in the field of agriculture. I am a city chick, n New York didn't avail me the time space or opportunity to do any kind of farming. In my determination to make this lifestyle choice work, I started looking up homesteading n self sufficiency videos so I could get at least SOME KIND of direction. Your videos gave me that and a lot more.Keep up the good work n don't let anyone slow your roll or put a damper on any of the enlightening you are offering for free. I appreciate you!😇

72K Subscribers. You must be doing something right! ;) Here to stay, brother.

I have been watching for a year..I Like the gardening... But I think it is your show.....And. I might learn something or be entertained by you cutting down a tree...I thank you for sharing your thoughts and knowledge!

Mark, I am ex Royal Air Force, so know exactly where you are coming from. Your videos on tools, your hens, what you grow and how you grow it. I'm learning every time I watch you. Your solution to the flooding after heavy rain etc. You are a great teacher.

Hello Mark. I am and have been one of your silent subscribers. I know I am coming at you at a late date but I wanted you to know how appreciative I am for what you are doing. I have learned quite a bit from your channel, and no I do not watch every video, which is why I am late in Responding! There is not enough time in the week to watch every video ever put out by everyone that I have an interest in! I work a full time job, volunteer at several local charities in town and help my husband with his business. We have several hundred acres in rural North Carolina, USA. I would like to learn to be self sufficient. I would also like for you and all the other RU-vid creative folks to know that I do not expect for you to cater just to me. There are probably thousands like myself out here who sit quietly and wonder what all the fuss is about. Much like politics. Please continue to be yourself and know you are appreciated. Thank you for what you do.

Mark I just recently found you thanks to epic gardening. I have watched many videos btw I'm a california girl now living in South Australia. I see the scars you have from your service and I appreciate your love of your family and your dedire to provide for them as well as encourage the rest of us.

Mark, many have already mentioned that you can't please everyone and it's true. Just remember why you started making videos, that you have loads of fans all across the world and that you're doing awesome things. Thanks so much for being you and sharing your life with us. Your fan in Missouri USA.

Hands down my favorite RU-vid content creator. Your channel is so informative and entertaining. I love your channel bc you are so diverse. Thank you for being amazing! Thank you for sharing everything you share with us! Most of us truly appreciate everything you bring to us!

Your channel, you do whatever you like. Those of us like me love watching and learning from you. Those who don’t can move the heck on. We live in Tasmania and I’m new to gardening. I thank you for all your time and effort you go to make your videos easy to watch. I’ve binge watched your videos. I leave you playing in the background all day long. It helps me to learn as I said but it also gets your watched hours up. You and your family stay safe in this crazy world we have at this moment in time😀💕

Mark, of all the RU-vidrs I know out there over the years, you remained true, humble, entertaining, and down to earth. You're popular because of your wonderful traits and hard work. I always smile when I hear someone overseas mention you and your channel. They just love what you share. I'm behind you all the way, my friend.

Mark, I love your videos. I feel like this is such a natural fit for you as a career. You are really good at it!

Hey Mark, thanks for taking the time to respond. I have NO intention to unsubscribe mate. I'd like to shout you a beer next time you're in Sydney. Chris M.

Grow like the clap! Oh my gosh! 😂 That's golden! I think you and your channel are just lovely. I have learned so much ... many tips and tricks. I adore the diversity of your channel and actually didn't realize just how diverse it was until this video. I have only been viewing for several weeks, so I have a lot yet to discover.

You bring so much joy to the world. Just keep on shinning bright & remember that the negative will always be.

You are awesome!!!! Keep up the good work!!!

You will mever please all the people all the time. Just keep on doing what you and most of us enjoy. Kudos to you. Wish i had the balls... Johno Gr8, m8. From a SoCal Aussie bloke.

I totally love this channel it's the only channel like it and doing incredible things in our climate. Chris needs to get over it, if you're not interested don't watch it and bitch about it. Love your work mark

I always feel that so long as the title of a video gives me the correct expectations of content, I'm happy for the channels I subscribe to have a diversity of topics. I'm here for the SEQ gardening tips, but I've enjoyed various other topics you've done too. Thanks for all your hard work.

Don't worry about what anyone thinks. Your videos are of great value to me and to others like me. Tell Chris to watch another gardening video if he has a problem with yours - Lord knows there are plenty of them out there - you , meanwhile, stay just the way you are. Your videos are brilliant.

I accidentally ran across your videos while recuperating from hip surgery, I have been thoroughly enjoying them! And you wouldn't believe all I've planted now in different types of raised containers since I cant dig or bend to do ground gardening .. better anyway since I'm over 50+ : ) Your videos are very helpful and informative and I greatly appreciate how thoroughly you go over everything. You do a fantastic job, don't change a thing! Thank you!

Totally agree with Sharon Godbout! Don’t let anyone make you question yourself or the AMAZING videos you have put out! You’re videos and channel are my absolute favorite of all the food gardening / self sufficient type! I’m THANKFUL for your content and your calling to help teach people! God bless you and your family and your followers!💙

Hi Mark! I just want to say that you are truly an inspiration for everyone. I just found your channel a couple months ago and after watching the 3rd video I subscribed instantly which is very, very uncommon for me. You are really genuine, informative and practical with a great sense of humor. Your content is always useful for me. I'm not self sufficient yet but I'm getting there in some way and my gold will be achieved when I eat what I can produce, not only through gardening but raising paltry, cows, lambs, pigs, etc. I'm creating a homestead in steps and today it's better than a few months back, tomorrow will be better than today. So it's a journey and I've been learning a lot with you and your life style. For that I just want to thank you and keep being yourself because you're such an inspiration not just for me but for others too. You are a great person with high standards and values, a great dad, a great husband and with a great life story to tell and teach. Not every man can do what you did for the family. You left your military career to be at home taking care of your children. This means a lot. So keep motivated and keep releasing those amazing videos that only you can do. "A big thumbs up from Portugal."

Look how far you've come since this video was published. I still love watching your channel & refer to older content when needed. Glad you stuck with it mate!

just discovered your channel hours ago. it, and you, are FABULOUS, i am learning, and being entertained, and am so very charmed by your genuine kindness, generosity and openness. this comment is years late, but i wanted to say i just subscribed and i think you are amazing. much love and respect from new york city. you are a true rock star. never forget that.

I watch RU-vid 3 hours a day and your channel is one of my favorites. I share your videos with all my friends and family. Thank you for making them.

Keep doing what you do. So he has his opinion but, it's not the opinion of all of us. Thanking you for what you do so well.

I know it’s 4 years later… but I think it being YOUR channel & whether it’s called ‘Self Sufficient Me’ or called up ya bussy, should not matter, it’s YOUR channel, so what YOU want! I appreciate all your content. Thank you!

Stumbled on your channel a few days ago as i have just started to sort out my garden. It's so much smaller than your have but the same "rules" apply. I do enjoy growing my own food and being self-sufficient but have never had much success. I have learnt so much in the last few days, thank you. As an ex forces girl, i get wanting to do things your own way and trying to make a new lifestyle work. Keep up the great work!

I've just started my backyard garden. Wish I had as much space as you, but making do with what we have. I have been loving eating fresh lettuce and herbs out of our own garden. Just harvested my 5th butternut and so excited to expand. Watching your vids has inspired me to try even more fruits and veg that I can plant in pots. I want to try potatoes soon too. Keep inspiring!! You are down to earth and everyone can see your passion. Don't let nay sayers get you down!

I live in a downtown apartment in a sub-arctic climate, and although a lot of the info you share isn't directly applicable to my current life, I have gained so much knowledge about growing food, self-sufficiency and organic farming that I am truly inspired to pursue this lifestyle once I'm done with my studies and can move away from the city. I try to live as ecologically as possible in my city context and I have even changed my field of study to soil microbiology, largely thanks to your videos and that of others like you. Also will be using many of your container/raised bed gardening tips in my balcony garden, once the season starts, around mid-May 😅

Keep doing what your doing. Great videos. If I not interested in a topic, I done need to watch it and don’t need to be critical. 😀

Hi Mark, i just saw this vid now in 2022. Loved your response. RU-vid is about YOU and with a topic such as gardening, you can't always depend on mother nature to abide by your schedule for content. Love your channel.. glad to be here with you!

Great response to an ignorant viewer.

I love your channel! It is difficult to find the content that you deliver. Self-sufficiency and I also enjoy the subtropical perspective. Most growers and self sufficiency channels are from colder climates.

Mark please remain diversified. I admit I enjoy the gardening tips most. But we cannot survive on veg alone. Appreciate ALL you do! Including the humor!

I've watched at least 20 of your videos now, I totally get the content, love the diversity - I mostly watch for the gardening but appreciate the different topics! Great content, keep it up and thank you👍

I really enjoy all of your ideas and videos. You have me wanting to expand our garden and add many new kinds of veggies and herbs. Thank you and keep it up.

5 years later and I still love your channel!

Absolutely love your channel Mark, thank you.

I like how you tried to explain military thinking and doing to civilians. Keep up the good work.

I watch several self sufficient channels and enjoy yours very much. You sharing your successes and the journey to get there is a big inspiration to me.

Your videos, which I only came across a few months ago... make me feel happy. When I'm a bit down or stressed I watch them, in fact I start with one and then watch at least five lol... I've started my own small garden in pots on my deck and feel so good watching them grow... thank you for being your authentic self and I really, really like you and your channel. Your sense of humour especially and just the way you are. Thank you also for your service to our country. I'm slowly getting through all of your videos... much love from Central Qld :)

I absolutely love the different videos you have done.

Mark, I love your "genuine-ness". You are very precious to me as a personality. I love how you express yourself here. Thanks for always being here. Cheers

The beauty of this kind of platform is self expression and connection with others with similar interests. Being one dimensional would be BORING! You are doing a Wonderful job and I love your videos.

Keep doing what your doing bloke, i watch everything you produce. Will always be those that whinge about a video. Be yourself, dont change for anyone. Keep up the good work👍

Mate I've started self sustainability in my back yard and you have really given alot of knowledge and tips. You're videos are awesome mate keep them going.

liked the video, although many years after its release. I have found that you come across as a Real person. Keep up the good content.

I've been watching you a lot lately, both because I want to learn more about gardening and self sufficiency, but also because I enjoy your personality, and your voice. Your voice is very soothing and nice to listen to while I'm doing other things, like gardening, playing games, going on walks and so on.

Dear Mark, thank you for being you! I am one of those people who came to your channel to learn about gardening. And now, that I started watching all there is in your channel and on your website, gardening-stuff combined with the non-gardening stuff, I got to know a self sufficient way of life. Heck, I even feel like slowly, with every video and blog, getting to know a friend overseas better and better. (shame you don't get to know me and my family that much this way, we are pretty cool too :P ) Keep up the good work, and thank you for sharing your life with us :D

Love how you kindly dealt with criticism..... love this channel. As someone who’s passionate about gardening I find this info very invigorating..

I've been watching your videos for the past few months, I think we have a lot in common. I have a zeal for life and self sufficiency but, I cannot be boxed into a few topics. I enjoy a wide variety of experiences in life and I just want to share with others and learn from others as well. Keep on keeping on.

I have been watching your videos and will keep watching them until you stop and will be sad at that time. Keep up the good work. I appreciate you and have used some of your ideas in my own gardening. From IDAHO USA.

You’re awesome thank you for videos much appreciated!

I live in northern England and many of your gardening videos are irrelevant in this climate.i watch your channel because I find you an honest interesting and engaging person ;good hearted and charming. Self sufficient life style is what we should aim for if we can so good on you . Love you to bits we’ll done

My wife and I love all your videos. We live in the southern USA and because of your advice we are experimenting with trying to grow out of season in our raised beds with row covers on them. Because u will never know what you can get away with if u don't try... thanks for everything Mark

1 guy does not make a ?. Idk, but I'm still here. I like variety. I don't like the bummer videos where a tree comes down in a storm. But that's with all the ones I watch. Some start out "something got my chicken last nite". I hate those. I'll skip them and see them at another time when I feel different. I can even make boring (not yours of course) videos go fast and super fast. Can't do that with tv. I think you're 👍 one of the great ones. When I learn something new I'm happy. Who knew a tick can parallize someone. Bet that guy didn't know that.

Bravo! Dear Mark, I started watching for your information about Quail (years ago now)...loved it! Now I'm back for your gardening, container gardening, tree planting etc. I LOVE the saying "Self Sufficiency isn't JUST Gardening ; it's a lifestyle. There're lots of gardening guys doing their thing on youtube. i've only subscribed to one

I watched a couple of your videos here and there and liked them so much I subscribed. Then I found I liked them so much I went all the way back to the beginning because I didn't want to miss any. I'm now up to four years ago as you can see. Are all of them pertinent to me? No. I'll never have quail, but it's fun to see them. I'll never break bee hives in two. I don't watch because I'm going to run out and get or do everything you're doing. I watch because you are a ray of sunshine in this drab dreary world we live in. It gives me a break from the gloom and doom of everyday life. You give me inspiration and hope for better possibilities. I live in the US and I did buy a raised bed from epic gardening and I just bought another. In contrast, I haven't really done much for the last three years. But you've given me motivation to get off my duff and do something to improve my life. In short, too late for that, I appreciate you and so do a lot of other people, so don't let a comment like that get you down. You need to stay your happy bubbly self to help the rest of us keep out of the muck if despair. Thank you

Hi Mark - just to say I love your style and channel. It’s fun, informative and I’ve learned plenty from you. The best thing about it is that you are yourself and you don’t preach. Keep doing what you are doing and I will keep coming back.