Wooden crate

15 years ago

What a find! Last week I saw these sitting outside a warehouse that is near where my son works. He asked and was given one and was told to speak to the supervisor about getting more. They were just throwing them away! I am really excited about this! This first one will be a planter in an area that I'm leery of digging because of the gas meter and lines. I'm going to line it with burlap that I had leftover from my wedding (western theme, we used them as tablecloths!) It has starch in it, but I'm going to wash it several times to get that out. The lining is to keep the soil from falling out through the side slats. The bottom is snugly fitted slats. Once I get it filled, I'm going to poke holes through the burlap between the slats and plant trailing flowers, etc. to keep it from just looking like a square box.

DH and I have come up with several ideas for these, if I can get more. Among them are:

More planters for hard to plant areas

Storing hoses, garden tools

Storing bags of mulch, compost/manure, soil

Making benches and tables

Storage for the kids' outside toys

breaking apart and using as edging/fence panels around beds

I would use some as compost bins, but the landlord isn't real fond of the idea of compost bins... he's fine with lasagna gardening though.. go figure! So, making a compost bin is out until either the landlord changes his mind or we sign the papers to buy this house in a couple years once the landlord makes back the money he put into gutting renovations on this house.

Any other ideas? Resting inside is a new metal, twin sized headboard for one of my backyard garden beds. It's set in there just because it was where I wanted the crate, waiting for me to carry it into the backyard. But it does give a sense of the size.

Kathy

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:32076}}

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Comments (7)

daisydal
15 years ago
Kathy, those are a great find! And like you listed, the possibilities are endless. Cant wait to see whatcha do with all of them. Girl, you are gonna be busy! That's too bad about your landlord, some people just dont get it. You could be like some and just throw your stuff all over the ground or dont even clean up your yard at all. Instead, here you are actually wanting to do something great with all of your clippings and trimmings and he cant see that it is a good thing???? Wow, maybe you could show him some pics of compost bins and explain what it does, maybe he doesn't know or he, (maybe a she)just wants to be difficult. Sorry, maybe he will change his mind. Hope you can buy your place after doing all this work around it!! blessings-sherri
jaleeisa
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for the feedback! I think they're pretty great too!

As far as the landlord, he's just concerned about trying to re-rent or sell the house if we move and don't decide to buy the house. I can understand that, especially in the high end city we live in. See, Edmond is where all the attorneys, doctors, state legislature,etc live. Even a small three bedroom like ours is considered prime real estate elsewhere. We do have a really large front yard and a REALLY deep back yard. But I can see him trying to sell the house with a compost bin in the backyard. Most people around here use landscapers, which is great if you can afford it, I can't, not to mention I ADORE gardening! I can't imagine having someone else tend my gardens even if I could afford it!

But, like I said, he doesn't mind me doing lasagna gardening, so I'm going to make over all my beds that way so I can still have my own compost :) more or less! It's really amusing to me that he's fine with the lasagna beds, but not the compost bin!

Kathy
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Hi Freshair! Yes, I did consider a planting table and to be honest, that will probably get made before benches and tables :)With all the planting and potting I do, and I was thinking it could be made into a wonderful seedling tray holder as well. And I was thinking a couple of them could make a lovely cold frame greenhouse along with some plastic sheeting. Yeah, it's pretty wide and deep. That headboard sits inside it with an inch or two on each side of the legs! And when the headboard is standing, it comes pretty close to reaching the bed line (ya know, where the bed would butt against it!) It's really deep enough that I'm also considering, provided I can get more, making some raised veggie planters. Would make tending the plants much easier on my back. Especially low growing (lettuce/chard) or root veggies. I was also thinking it would give squash and cukes plenty of room with a couple plants in there. Or a potato bin, I could keep laying the vine down and burying it. I'm really excited about all the possibilities with this and am wishing really hard to be able to get a few more of them! So keep the suggestions coming! Kathy
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jaleeisa
Original Author
15 years ago
So far additional ideas from this and other forums have been:

*More planters for hard to plant areas

*Storing hoses, garden tools

*Storing bags of mulch, compost/manure, soil

*Making benches and tables

*Storage for the kids' outside toys

*Breaking apart and using as edging/fence panels around beds

*Compost Bin (which is out because landlord won't approve)

*Turning it on it's side to use as a double decker window box

*Making a Potting bench

*Making seedling shelves

*Making a cold frame

*Using to plant veggies (low growing like lettuce/chard or root veggies..to make them more accessible for my back)

*Using to plant squash, cukes, melons to keep them from taking over my garden bed

*Using as a potato bin (keep winding the vines about and burying them.

*Use as a mint bed to keep them from spreading all over the yard. (Mine are grown in pots, on a table in my gazebo)

*Use as a holding bed for newly arrived plants (to keep from having several buckets with plants soaking in water after shipping or until the weather is right in OK to plant them without them burning up), or those I don't know for sure where I want yet, or don't have their bed ready.

*Use as a berry bin to keep thorned berries or strawberries from running all over the yard.

*Making a "fort" or playhouse for my boys

Any more ideas? I'm having fun with all of these and really hoping to get several more as soon as my son can talk with the warehouse manager. Apparently they just throw most of them away (which is a shame!) So, if I get my wish, I will have many more of these to work with! And a DH who enjoys having projects to work on!

Kathy
goldenpond
15 years ago
Great find but if you want to compostcheck into vermicomposting.That can be done inside. I raise worms in several bins in my garage and co one is none the wiser.All your salad leftovers,peelings ,newspapers etc make great compost and worm tea(for plants) There is a vermicomposting forum here. Good luck!
akup_a
15 years ago
Great find! And the crates create a neat pattern. If you're going to break the box apart, use the seperate panels for fencing and gates. Paint them white to match your headboard. Use the fence around your potting bench.
Love the gardening by the box!
Vickie
luna_llena_feliz
15 years ago
What a great crate! I think the idea of using them for raised beds is a great one. And don't think just because your landlord doesn't allow composting (most people think they attract critters and stink) that you can't compost. Like goldenpond pointed out, you can vermicompost with worms just about anywhere. Great find!
jaleeisa
Original Author
15 years ago
Along with vermicomposting, I'm also using the lasagna method for several beds,so I'm gonna compost anyway! Just not with a bin or pile. I just find it really amusing that he's find with the lasagna beds, but not with composting!

Thanks for the compliments! If anyone else has suggestions on using these type of crates, please, let me know! Post em! I'm still looking for ideas!

Kathy

Wooden crate

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