Making a recycled planters box Bananaverse style
I got a wild idea last night which is not unusual but this time it had nothing to do with get rich quick schemes. Instead it was about how to save some money and do some recycling. Weird huh?!?
As part of the now delayed backyard landscape plan, I was going to have two veggie planter boxes built and placed on the north-west side of the house. This side gets the most sun but is not the main access into the backyard and the Dude Shack. The area gets no usage other than Mr. Muggins burying his bones and his bowel needs (TMI?), so it is perfect for planting veggies.
When I got the bid for the backyard landscape, I choked when I saw it would cost over $1K to construct two redwood boxes. I realize that wood is expensive but come on, that much for two boxes?
I shopped around and found out that premade ones that were only half the size I wanted were easily over $300, so I needed to find an alternative. Then it struck me last night, I could take an old small deck from the back yard that was just sitting there and recycle the wood for the planter.
Since I had not really done any construction since college, there is plenty of ways I could have done it better. I found out quickly that my plan had to be tweaked a couple of ways due to the wood and nails being tough to get out. The final result is that I have a new planter box. Wood cost was $0. Nails and screws I already had so that cost is $0. The only thing new I had to buy was the gopher wire to line the bottom . And overall I am giving myself a B minus for construction and an A for recycling.
Now when we take apart the back deck for the new deck, I will be using all of the wood for more boxes.
Old deck
Tools!
First cuts - realizing that my plan needs to change
ah that is not going to work
Thinking about plan #3 now
making sure it is going to fit - realized I want wood away from house
used the old step part to keep away from house
ground prepared for installation
gave it a little wash down
now with plants
