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Cool Idea: Gardening With Rice Wattles

casasugar — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:30:54 -0700

Last week, when I volunteered at the SF Victory Garden, I was intrigued by the rice straw wattles that were used to form the garden beds. Rice straw wattles are essentially rice straw, an agricultural bi-product that is enclosed in a netted tube. Both lightweight and malleable, rice straw wattles are often used for erosion control in landscaping, but also work well for garden beds.

I definitely think rice straw wattles are a good option for first-time gardeners who aren't that handy with woodworking tools. By simply connecting a few wattles together, you can create a garden space in a fraction of the time it would take to build a garden box. They also would work well in a space, such as a rooftop garden, where weight is a consideration. I also love the organic, circular shapes that are easily created with wattles.

If you're interested in trying these for your garden, check out Earth Savers' wattles.

Before and After: Don't Fence Me In

casasugar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:15:42 -0700

These tired-looking redwood boards were left over after my friends replaced a section of their backyard fencing. While they were full of rusty screws and were only half an inch thick, I saw potential.

Curious about what I did with this old redwood fence? Find out what happened to it when you

DIY: Build Your Own Garden Box

casasugar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:45:47 -0700

This weekend, I decided to expand my vegetable garden space by building another garden box. If you know how to operate a power drill, you can build this box, too. Here are some tips to make it easier: If you're a first-time builder, go to a small hardware or lumber store with a friendly clerk who can help you work out the details. Also, have the hardware store folks cut all of your lumber to the correct lengths; this will save you loads of time and headaches. Finally, remember: This is going to get filled with soil, so it doesn't have to look perfect! Tune in tomorrow, when I tell you how to securely place, fill, and plant your box.

Here's What You Need

4 longer pieces of redwood, cut to specified length (I used 8 ft lengths)
4 shorter pieces of wood for the ends, cut to specified length (I used 3 ft lengths)
4 4-x-4-inch square pieces of redwood cut to match the height of 2 boards (in my case it was 12 inches). You can also opt to cut your 4-x-4s to a slightly longer length (such as 2 inches longer). This way, you can use the longer length of the 4-x-4s to anchor your box when you have to dig it into the ground.
Galvanized 4 inch-long screws (galvanized screws will resist rust)
Power drill (preferably with other battery pack charged)
Flat, large surface for working, such as a patio, deck, or garage
A willing helper, who can hold ends of lumber and fetch tools as needed

To find out how to build this garden box, just