When people first think of wheelchairs and planter boxes, they visualize something like a raised box that a person in a wheelchair can 'drive' under, so they are facing the box. While not impossible, it does complicate the design and increase the expense. The boxes themselves would need to be at least 8" deep (10" would be better), about 3 ft wide, and as long as practical, depending on where they would be placed. The boxes would have to sit on a frame, and I think that's where the problems would come in with this design. Most wheelchair seats are about 19" from the ground. Allowing 6" clearance, that would put the bottom of the box about 25" from the ground. If the box is 8" deep, the top edge of the box would be 33" from the ground. This is about chest-high to the person in a wheelchair. If you used 2" lumber for the box (for strength and rigidity), the top of the box would be 34.5" from the ground. This is getting pretty high for a smaller person in the chair. Even using a lightweight soilless potting soil, with water added, you would have a pretty heavy box. And it would need drainage. You would need some kind of specific drainage, not just perforations, so the water wouldn't drip into the laps of the person in the wheelchair. It would have to gather in the center or something, and drain down via a tube or something, probably into a bucket. Then you would need the supports under the box. Two-by-fours would be the smallest you would want to use. To allow for rolling the wheelchair under the table, you couldn't have any crosspieces that would brace and stabilize the legs, and I suspect the weight of the moist soil would tend to make the legs want to spread outwards. After some period of time, this could be a danger if the legs spread out enough to allow the box to collapse on top of someone sitting under the box. Personally, I would make the boxes so they almost sat right on the ground. 'Almost' because I think they should be elevated on 2x4s for good drainage. These boxes could be 24" high, which would be a good height for most people in wheelchairs. (Actually, it would be about 25.5" high with the 2x4s underneath. The person in the wheelchair would have to park alongside the box, but I think the lower cost and higher degree of safety would offset any small inconvenience. Even this wouldn't be cheap. If you used something like that Trex deck material (composite boards of wood & plastic), one box would cost about $280 for the side boards alone (for a box 12'x3'x2'), never mind the braces, screws, etc. More if a bottom was built in (maybe about another $250). You could use cedar or some other water-resistant wood if it was available in your area, or you could use pine or fir, and line it with heavy sheet plastic. Then you would get to fill it. The box with the above dimensions would hold 72 cubic feet of potting soil (or a little less, since you wouldn't want it right up to the very top). Sixty-six cubic feet (2.5 cubic yards) would be 33 bags of potting soil of the large size (2 cubic feet). That's about $400 worth of MiracleGro potting soil. If you could find some good soil mix in bulk (by the cubic yard) at a landscape materials source, it would probably cost closer to $65 to fill the box. Unless you're getting some really good donations of materials, you're looking at a lot of money. Still with me? Why not consider livestock water tanks? They come in plastic or galvanized steel, and while they're not as big, they're decently good-looking, long-lasting, and are designed to take a lot of abuse. One useful size is 6ft long x 2ft wide x 2ft tall (about 20 cu ft or .75cu yard) (see link below) for $135. The plastic ones go up to about 300 gallons (40 cu ft or 1.5 cubic yards) for $210. These already have drainage built in. I would raise them off the ground by setting them on 2x4s. The problem with the stock tanks is that there is nothing for the Eagle Scouts to build, unless you got the ones that are only one foot tall, and set them on sturdy stands. The advantage is that you could provide several tanks in different locations. Whichever way you go, try to solicit donations of materials or tanks. Tractor Supply Co. has bought out many smaller feed stores all over the country. You could offer to install a sign on the tank or box a company donates to your project: "Materials generously supplied by Lowe's" or "Containers generously supplied by Tractor Supply Co." Some free advertising can't hurt. Sue Here is a link that might be useful: Six foot galvanized stock tank

"Blow, Bugle, Blow" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. The splendour falls on castle walls And snowy summits old in story: The long light shakes across the lakes, And the wild cataract leaps in glory. Blow, bugle, blow, set the wild echoes flying, Blow, bugle; answer, echoes, dying, dying, dying. O hark, O hear! how thin and clear, And thinner, clearer, farther going! O sweet and far from cliff and scar The horns of Elfland faintly blowing! Blow, let us hear the purple glens replying: Blow, bugle; answer, echoes, dying, dying, dying. O love, they die in yon rich sky, They faint on hill or field or river: Our echoes roll from soul to soul, And grow for ever and for ever. Blow, bugle, blow, set the wild echoes flying, And answer, echoes, answer, dying, dying, dying.

jessy, reading your original request and the information you provided has me at a total loss. I though English schools were bad enough at teaching irrelevant courses and subject matter (although they are belatedly trying to tidy up their acts) but the above is just so strange. I asked my DH (a long-time teacher) what age Grade 9'ers were and told him what was expected of your son. He said it sounded typical of a 'modern' university course, where 'studying' is left to the student, everything is wishy-washy and very little basic information is either taught or learnt. As some other RP'ers have said I would be interested if this course has been decided by the history/English teacher, the Head of the Dept or a School board. (here in England by the time pupils reach 14+ years it is the Examination boards that set the curriculum) As it stands, although your son might get something from the reading matter as works of literature I honestly don't think he will learn any history except maybe a little from The Scarlet Pimpernel. How, for eg can he learn any historical facts from the stories of King Arthur? It's as daft as asking a child of the future what he learnt about our generation from reading The Lord of the Rings. I'd love to hear the teacher's explanation of Patterns of Interaction and what it actually means or be a fly on the wall during his lessons. This woolly concept seems way too long (the history alone would occupy a UK kid the whole of his senior school days) and bound to lead to terminal boredom. As far as the book-cover thing goes. What I seriously would suggest, if they have to produce some sort of 'Art Work' is that between them, the class produces an illustrated 'time-line' as a frieze round the room, starting with the first Unit 1300 > > > adding the main historical events and fitting the book titles into the appropriate places. This way not only will they notice how far away Homer is from the 'modern world' but they might learn the sequence of history, a concept of which many children (and adults) have little understanding. Jessy this is most interesting . . . because it seems so CAZY. :-) . . . btw, keep off Richard Burton imo. He had serious problems of a sexual nature (his wife burnt all his letters and papers) so not really suitable for school!

The mention of mules on Annie's mocktail thread reminded me of this treat.. Figenza Fig Vodka. Many of my holiday alcohol gifts are discovered while having cocktails in the midst of Christmas shopping. This was a perfect example.. we had delicious Mediterranean Mules and then purchased a number of bottles for ourselves and gifts. It's such a beautiful bottle-- perfect for gift giving .. and while looking for an image to share.. I discovered these little gems. This is the first I have seen them outside Top Chef lol.. so I have not tried them but I surely will! Balsamic Fig Pearls .. and they also come in other flavors like raspberry vinegar, lemon and plain balsamic.