Well, the guy just delivered 16 barrels to me. They are 200 liter (52.85 gallon) and had been used to store powdered dextrose (sugar) and are very clean and look almost new. I measured them and they are 36 inches high and 22.5 inches in diameter. Question, would it be better to cut them in half giving me 18 inch high sections or cut them into thirds giving me 12 inch high sections? I haven't tried it yet but I assume I could cut them with a regular hand wood saw, or if that didn't work I could use my power jig saw or my sawsall. BTW, I checked on the internet to see what these barrels sell for and new or used they go for around $50 to $60 each plus shipping so I think I got a pretty good deal on them. Another advantage of this plan I have that I didn't mention is I live on a hill and have almost no level spots to garden on. But I figure I could level little 23 inch diameter spots all over the hillside and set my planter rings on them, This would solve my watering problem. Right now I can't deep water because the water all runs downhill unless I build little earthen dikes to stop it. But those dikes make it hard to mow the yard.

Hi Harvey Horses, I had the same question at first, but here is how two 4 x 4s equal a 4 x 12.....You can lay it out with matchsticks to see the visual if you want. A 4 x 4 uses four sides, a 4 x 8 uses 6 sides. A 4 x 12 uses 8 sides. Two 4x4 kits contain 8 sides. in other words: both of the 4 x 4s have four sides, but you don't use the fourth side when you stick them together. You are just using three sides of each (U shape to U shape). That leaves you two extra sides and you stick those in the middle and the 4 x 4s now equal 4 x 12. I am not that handy, so trying to build these myself is not impossible, but I will spend a lot of time trying to save a little. I might even have 10% off coupons to save even more if I buy the premade stuff. Melikeeatplants...good idea. I will check craigslist. I want to use things that don't have bugs or diseases in them, so I would have to figure out a way to clean used boxes. But, still, I'll look. Maybe someone has a new one for sale? I am definitely leaning toward the wood. If they don't last forever, that's ok. I can replace them later. I'm not that thrilled with the plastic versions. I too am afraid of stuff leaching into my soil. Thanks everyone who mentioned that. fyi....if anyone is looking into the "frame it all" kits I discovered that if you wanted a large garden, DO NOT buy the large kits they sell. You will save a lot if you buy enough smaller kits to make them as large as you want. For example, 4 of the 4x4x6" kits will make an 8x8x12" garden, but the 8x8 garden can cost up to $450...and 4 of the smaller kits can be purchased for as little as $160.

No coldboxes here, but we do have 2 raised beds about 3' x 6'x 18" high which we winter sowed "directly" late last winter (started mid-March, after most of the snow melted. One box contained both Sugar Snap (snow peas) & shelling peas. The 2nd box had greens which we just planted as the need arose. Over time we had spinach, Buttercrunch lettuce, a nice Chard, + 3 crops of a nice mesclun mix. These planting boxes did not get added to the WS container count because the multiple varieties were all sown directly, and at different times rather than in mini-greenhouses & being transplanted as is usual; but the process sure worked well for us. I believe y'all have too little cold for winter and we have way too much! I send all of you best wishes for your winter-sowing efforts.

any decent home and garden center or patio supply place should be able to point you in the right direction. the restaurant ones im sure are custom made and most likely very expensive. You may also try asking in the greenhouse forum, i linked it below. Here is a link that might be useful: greenhouse,etc