Over Christmas I found myself at my mother’s and was exploring her garden. I noticed she was using a recycling box to grow some leaks. Amusingly, I also have such a box in my garden. It used to house a cherry tree, this year was used for some courgettes. Mother like son!
Tag Archives: allotment
Roundup of upcycling in 2021
This has not been a productive year for projects and upcycling. Mainly due to the birth of our first child. The previous year, 2020, with the novelty of a first lockdown meant it was the most productive. What was achieved? In the garden a potting table made out of pallets has proven particularly handy. MakesContinue reading “Roundup of upcycling in 2021”
Water tank raised vegetable bed
This amazing old water tank was found in the corner of our new garden. I dragged it from the wall, lined with plastic and filled with compost. It looks great, a shame it isn’t in a more prominent place, but I found after constructing the structure for the garden. For the last couple of yearsContinue reading “Water tank raised vegetable bed”
Raspberry raised beds and supports
You can’t beat raspberries, I find them tastier than strawberries. To provide the perfect growing conditions I used some reclaimed scaffolding boards to create a raised bed and some added heat. Rasps can grow high and scraggy, so some old fenceposts were screwed for height and some pallot boards and wire to brace. It’s doneContinue reading “Raspberry raised beds and supports”
Pallet potting table
Apparently I’m a messy gardener. In defence, I think it is down to not having the correct configuration. With this in mind, every year plastic pots, compost and chaos ensued around potting time. This year it would be different. A couple of old pallets were bolted together. Some left over kitchen work-surface out to useContinue reading “Pallet potting table”
Reclaimed wood kiwi vine support
A very simple job of using some old logs from the garden to create a frame I was using to train up a kiwi vine. Six years to fruit, fingers crossed it was worth planting!
Reclaimed timber planters and wheelie bin store
Not unlike my toy box, this epic project started as a cleaning exercise. It was a nice day and I was looking out on the carcass of some pallets the long planks removed for planters. I really hate wheely bins, and our sizeable front drive was a horrible car park. I really wanted some sleepersContinue reading “Reclaimed timber planters and wheelie bin store”
Drainpipe planters
Not everything needs much work. A great upcycle is using old drainpipe as planters. I have used both recycled offcuts and bought drain specially for growing strawberries, micro salad and garlic. Both in my greenhouse and outside. Most are watered by a solar pump connected to an old olive barrel. Some have proper ends toContinue reading “Drainpipe planters”
Tea pot bird house
I can claim no part in this upcycling— it came with the house. A tea pot mounted on an old pear tree in the garden had made the perfect bird house. There were signs it had been recently used. Much quicker and easier than the wooden one I made!
Fruit tree log arch
Every now and then I have a rash idea. This log fruit tree arch was one. The wood was left over from when I cleared the area, I didn’t follow any great plan. As a good boy scout, I knew how to lash and proceeded to lash to sides together. It had a middle andContinue reading “Fruit tree log arch”
Cool Upcycled 