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South Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Bookcases for raised beds?

Just been looking through the veggie pics at the raised beds, and wondering about wood. I cast my eyes to the left and guess what. I can take the thin board backing off and they are ready made, with dividers every foot. (moveable shelves). They are about 2 ft wide and 6 ft high. Just perfect. Although they are white melomine??? May not last too long, but I have 5 of them. Any thoughts?




Answers

 

seems like a good idea i would protect the edges of the boards as the water will get into the wood and start the rotting from there. they make a lovely job of the surface but the edges are ether with a bit of glued on tape or bare and will let the water get into the wood

26 Jan, 2010

 

a young chap I know took an interest in gardening last year he used allsorts ,mainly a chest of draws with the back knocked out and the bottoms knocked out of the draws, I saw them at the end of the year and they looked as if they would go agine, it is surpriseing just what you can use.all his greens were sorted out for him by the dreded larg white and a lot of stuff bolted, because at that age no one can tell you anything, I did tell him to stop his marrow plant at three but he managed to get seven small and undeveloped , but learning for the young is a hard road, lol

26 Jan, 2010

 

What a fantastic idea and a good recycling project. Not sure how effective it would be but i'd try taping plastic bags along the open egdes that are going to be in the earth, even if they just last one season. I'm so jealous your raised beds are sorted already xx well done

I'll be keeping a close eye on our local Freecycle site :-)

26 Jan, 2010

 

I must say I did consider the cupboards after the bookcase brainwave, but they are too expensive and I need to put everything from the bookcases somewhere too. Will have to see what reorganising I can do tomorrow and maybe just use two. I bought 4 wheelie cupboards from Argos at Xmas with 4 drawers each and they are all only about half full, so will have a lounge day tomorrow seeing what I can rearrange. I am not worried about the rain as I realise they may only last one season. I dont like them anyway they are too big and the 5 take up a whole wall and I like minimal, plastic living. I have put viynal throughout the new flat and slowly changing everything to plastic. Star Trek style, dont like wood it is too dark. Looks like some of my indoor tables will end up outside too. Maybe this warrants a trip to the second hand shop to see what tables I could get there to put pots and raised beds on, would make things easier for me.

26 Jan, 2010

 

Sounds like a great experiment... I'm all for using recycled items for growing plants. Last year I used 6 old kiddie pools. Worked great!

26 Jan, 2010

 

If they are chipboard I think they may well soak up the water and not only swell and burst but take up the water your plants need? I cannot help thinking of the work you will make for yourself after they collapse full of water. Surly if you are going to make raised beds and fill them with heavy soil/compost it would be better to do the job properly to begin with? Have you tried 'Freecycle' you may well find good wood on there free!

26 Jan, 2010

 

maybe if u lined them with plastic it would help...dont want your carrots falling out....lol

6 kiddies pools.....great idea..but where did u get them? Wohlibuli

26 Jan, 2010

 

I like the idear of puting your raised beds on tables they realy will be raised beds, no more bending , but dont grow rasberries up canes or you will need a ladder to pick them. lol

26 Jan, 2010

 

Sandra, I bought them from a woman whose dog kennel business went under and she was selling off all the facilities. She was using them as "doggie" pools. They are 8 inches deep and 48 inches across and work very well. Cost me a dollar a piece.

26 Jan, 2010

 

well done u...i love it when something like that happens...we have a reputation for our recycling and get offered soo much stuff..

27 Jan, 2010

 

Well the deed is done. Two are emptied and stuffed on the other three and in other places around the flat. Much more space in the lounge now. I put them in the outhouse to mull it over for a few weeks to make sure I am prepared to give them up whilst my seeds grow anyhow, so I can still change my mind. Will try and get some tressel tables that I saw on here in the veggie section. I will have to make sure they are strong enough for the beds of course. I would make putting taupaulins on and off easier too. I hope they dont soak up all the water and fall apart, but I have had my use of them in the house for 10 yrs already.

I have been reading up on composting and it sounds that if they break down a lot they could go on there. I have the Self Sufficiency book by John Seymour. Anyone else heard of that? He does 1 acre, 5 acre smallholdings and used to give courses/holidays. Not sure if he is still around that was 1975.

27 Jan, 2010

 

I have signed up for freecycle but waiting for the group to accept me so I cant even see what is on offer on there yet.

27 Jan, 2010

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