Mar 19, 2026 — Scott Wilson: From Air Force Pilot to YouTube Gardener

Bulletin for March 19, 2026

Featured Speaker: Scott Wilson

Retired USAF Pilot, Master Gardener & YouTube Creator — From Air Force Pilot to YouTube Gardener

OPENING

Benny led the group in prayer. Dana led the Pledge of Allegiance.

"Veterans have provided you with great opportunities. Set goals, believe in yourself, and let God be your point man."

— Kenneth Stumpf, United States Army Medal of Honor

CLUB HISTORY AND RECOGNITIONS

Frank, a member since 1963, shared stories about charter members including Dwight, an early regional director who was famously welcoming during the club's peak of 80 weekly members.

The club received a thank-you note from Elizabeth Quevedo of Harrison School District 2, expressing gratitude for the club's support and offering tours to interested members.

ABOUT SCOTT WILSON

Scott is a retired U.S. Air Force command pilot who flew the KC-135 air refueling tanker for over 20 years and served at the U.S. Air Force Academy. After retiring in 2003, he joined a Master Gardener program, became a Master Food Preserver, started a blog, and launched his "Gardener Scott" YouTube channel. The channel now has over 400,000 subscribers and 40 million views. He was part of the USDA team that developed the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map and is the author of Scott's Guide to Raised Bed Gardening. Kevin met Scott at a cigar benefit charity event at Stag Tobacco and was so impressed with his speaking ability that he invited him to the club.

RAISED BED GARDENING

What It Is

Raised bed gardening means growing in an elevated space above ground level — ideal for areas with poor soil like much of Colorado, since beds can be filled with nutrient-rich soil from the start. Scott managed a school garden with 105 raised beds on a former tennis court, producing over 2,000 pounds of produce. His YouTube video "How to Fill a Raised Bed" alone has 4.7 million views, which led to his book deal.

Bed Height

• 6 inches: sufficient for shallow-rooted plants like lettuce

• 15–18 inches: better for deep-rooted plants like tomatoes and squash

• Taller beds are also more ergonomic — you can sit on the edge while working

Materials

• Wood: Pressure-treated wood is safe (modern treatments are copper-based). Durable in dry climates.

• Metal kits: Available but often too thin to sit on.

• Concrete block: Great for building higher beds.

• Stacked stone: Decorative and functional.

Soil and Moisture

• Source initial soil from suppliers like C&C Sand or Pioneer Sand.

• Scott builds his own soil through composting over time, eliminating the need for fertilizers.

• Raised beds dry out faster — adding organic matter (compost) helps soil act like a sponge.

• Mulch (straw, dried leaves, grass clippings) reduces moisture loss, suppresses weeds, and adds nutrients.

• Hugelkultur: Burying logs in beds retains water, reduces filling costs, enriches the soil, and promotes beneficial fungal networks. A healthy soil is roughly 50% bacteria and 50% fungi.

• Wood shavings mixed with dirt make a good base layer. Leaves from cottonwood, cedar, or black walnut are safe for composting once dried.

Watering

Keep soil consistently moist but not saturated. The finger test works: if it's dry an inch down, water it. Newspaper and cardboard can be used as mulch but must be kept moist to stay in place.

Pest and Animal Control

• Bird netting deters deer and birds; trunk guards protect against rabbits and voles.

• Install hardware cloth at the bottom of raised beds to block gophers.

• Avoid pesticides to protect beneficial predatory insects (ladybugs, lacewings, tiny wasps) that naturally control aphids.

• A "trap crop" can lure pests to one spot for treatment or removal.

• Feeding squirrels away from the garden can reduce their interest in the beds.

Hail Protection

Scott uses a hoop system made from cattle panels over his beds, covered with different materials by season:

• Plastic: warms soil early in the season

• Row cover fabric: keeps insects out

• Shade cloth: protects from intense sun

• Hail cloth: woven synthetic fabric that causes hail to bounce or break apart

Hail cloth is available at local nurseries or at greenhousemegastore.com.

YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Scott has produced 600 videos and nearly 300 hour-and-a-half live streams over 15 years. Video ideas come from audience questions — he has 50 pages of them. Monetization requires at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time; it took his channel nearly three years to reach that threshold. His primary motivation has always been education, not income.

COMMUNITY GARDENING AND FOOD PRESERVATION

Members shared their own experiences: making jams, jellies, zucchini pickles, and pesto; composting in fall; planting cold-tolerant crops (beets, spinach) as early as March. Warm-season plants go in the first week of June in Colorado Springs.

Scott's connection to Flat Earth Organic Gardening — an organic garden on El Paso County property with 104 plots — was noted. Produce cannot be sold; it is donated to Silver Key, Care and Share, and the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. The garden has donated 3,000–6,000 pounds of produce to the zoo alone.

Scott's book is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble for ~$18.50, or as a signed copy for $20.

WHAT'S COMING UP

• Board Meeting: Tuesday, March 24 at 4:30 PM at The Bank of Bob.

• Kiwanis Car Show: Members can register vehicles for the May show.

• Robson Arena Tour at Colorado College: April 16 at 11:45 AM.

• Dana won the raffle; Barbara won the quarters.

CONCLUSION

Cicero said: "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need." After today's presentation, the club is convinced he was right on both counts.

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The Pikes Peak Club · pikespeakclub.com