The Other Side Yard

On the far right is a blackberry bush in a cut up barrel.  Beyond that is a lasagna bed with 5 blackberry and five raspberry canes, some lillies, and a cabbage.  To the left is a rain barrel and a yet unplanted lasagna bed.

The side yard

Here you see the five blueberry bushes in 1/3 55 gallon barrels, the one at the far right also has 2 of the broccoli plants.  They have NOT grown at all.  (Blueberry soil to acidic perhaps)?

To the left of the shed are two bean poles, wired to the containers, a square foot garden (originally 4 X 4 – but that wood rotted so Tom boxed it in with newer wood making it now 5 X 5).  Just past that is his new 4 X 8 raised bed.

55 Gallon Drum Planter

If you look closely, you will see that this is one 55 gallon barrel on the bottom.  Part of it has been spray painted silver with a “plastic” spray paint.  If I am going to fill my yard with white barrels and pieces of white barrels, I don’t want it to look like my yard is full of white barrels! 

On top of that barrel is the bottom third of another barrel.  I haven’t decided if I want to make a SWC out of this or just drill drainage on the bottom and sides.  I was thinking this would be a neat eye level container for low maintenance things like carrots, onions, or herbs, that would add interest and height to the rain barrel area.

I plan on having 3 barrels right here, connected by hoses, raised on cinder blocks, with the overflow of the main barrel aimed at the raspberry bed.  What do you think?

I am also dreaming of a strawberry bed made of – what else – barrels, as well as a compost tumbler and, in deference to Tom’s new “special interest”, chicken nesting boxes.  That last one is also waiting for me to design a chicken tractor to go along with it which will be portable and maneuverable to put over the “conventional” raised beds that we have.

55 Gallon Plastic Barrel Project

Tom and I (well, mostly me) have been fascinated with the idea of cutting up 55 gallon barrels (we can get them from Pepsi for $5.00) to make useful items.  I am determined to make a self watering container for deck/patio use.  Until I am able to perfect that idea, I have been making do by cutting barrels into thirds to use as quasi raised bed borders for trees/blueberry bushes and grapes vines.

I started with a rain barrel that had sprung a leak anyway.  I cut it up and develped my drill and slice technique.  More on this later.

Dirty barrel