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| Total cost of compost bins $2.00! |
I was just wanting to show some of the progress that I have made since I posted about "Dirt Cheap Compost Bins".
As you can tell I have added another bin, both were free, other then 2 of the decking boards which were only .51 cents each off the culled lumber rack. And as you can see under the blue tarp, I have loaded up on horse manure. It was free as well! I have a friend that has a horse/goat farm, she says "anytime come get what you need". I also have one of the best neighbors around, he has a trailer and we hauled the manure home and he even helped unload it, great guy. In trade he uses what he needs for his garden.
I also took a couple pieces of pipe and drove in the ground beside the bins to store the wood for our fire pit, just to try to keep it up and out of the way.
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| 4 beds, total $45.00! |
I have added 2 more raised beds (both 32"x17"x6') since my article on "Pros and Cons of raised Beds" and "Urban Garden in a Little space for less then $100.00". If you remember the others are 4'x4'x17" and 4'x8'x17', so a lot of garden space, for know! I did total up the beds, without the weed barrier, and it came to a grand total of $45.00. Compared to a kit I found on line. (4'x8'x17" kit $375.00 plus shipping) Click here for kit price, a pretty great savings, I think anyway!
This was part of my intent when starting this blog was to try to show people how cheaply you can do these thing, if not do them for free. For example, my neighbor down the tracks has been doing some projects on his house because they are selling. He has been piling scrap pieces of lumber up behind his building. So I asked him what he was gonna do with it and he said you can have it. You never know unless you ask!
Well there's an update, I hope you are enjoying watching this little Urban are grow (and keep growing). It is fun to do and keep track of. It is amazing what I have learned as well, just getting back to what I grew up doing! God Bless you all and happy gardening!
"1 Corinthians 4: 1Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful."
Well Clint you may be a Jethro Bodine gardener but you sure look like a handy man to have around : )
ReplyDeleteLOL! If I could just get the list that my wife has for me done, it would be a lot better! It is just so hard to stay out of the garden!
DeleteClint, with a little bit of tinkering, you can put glass on top of some of those raised beds to make cold frames. Single pane glass will gain you 1 and 1/2 temperature zones. A tunnel over that picks up another 1 and 1/2. Just think what you could overwinter!!
ReplyDeleteBoy you are so right, George! I will have that on by this fall! Thank you for the suggestion, everything on your blog is looking great!
DeleteVery creative - can't wait to see the bounty you will be growing. And your picture jogged my mind - we need to get the tarps back on our compost piles - had them off to soak in moisture from the snow. Our compost piles are shaped with six bales of straw forming the three sides - we have two of them going right now and we use our Mantis tiller to turn them. After a couple of years we just till in the bales, too, and start over again.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great idea for your compost piles. I have seen them used for cold frames but not compost piles. May have to barrow next time!
DeleteI have a compost bin made from free pallets that hubby brought home from work. It is nearly full so I am anxious to see the results when putting it on the garden this spring!
ReplyDeleteI really like the suggestion from George, above! Those raised beds would make great cold frames! I may have to give this a try myself!
I wanted to thank you, again, Mr. Baker for the gift of those garden seeds from your giveaway!!! I received them in the mail yesterday, and was so amazed at the quantity! Some gals from our church and I are having a seed planting party in a couple of weeks where we will be planting and sharing varieties. These will add to the mix and so many of us will benefit from your generosity!
Be Blessed today!
You are welcome! I hope all of you reap a big bounty!
DeleteI for one am impressed!
ReplyDelete:-)
DeleteEverything looks great, Clint! It's amazing how much you have done for little to no cost at all.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful evening and a Blessed Sunday!
Thanx, you have a Blessed day as well!
DeleteI love figuring out ways to accomplish these things without spending a lot of money. It's great to see your ideas!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteWe went to raised beds last year and were glad we did... but you do have to watch out for weeds in between, so your solution is a good one. We are using indoor-outdoor carpeting.
ReplyDeleteHello Mary Ann, I am glad you stopped by! You all may want to check out the post I have on here, "Back To Eden", it may help you with your weeds!
DeleteThose raised beds are really nice!!! When I get ready to do that, I'm going to have mine on wheeled legs or something...mainly because even a raised bed (like the ones in your photo) will be hard on my back. I'm young, buy my back is out of alignment. In any case, I want a really tall raised bed, or are they called standing raised beds? Don't know...but I think that's really cool that you have nice neighbors that you can trade things with. That certainly helps keep costs down, and you're doing something nice for someone else. Greetings from the ocean shores of California, Heather :)
ReplyDeleteThats whats great about them, you can make them to fit your needs! Good luck with them, post pictures when you get them done!
DeleteHi Clint!
ReplyDeleteWhat are your feelings on the weed barrier that you have under your beds? It looks kind of like the industrial weed barrier that we have in our garden area. I would much rather use the composting idea, as far as visually, but we have the barrier covering about 90% of our garden area. We just cut holes for planting. It sure cuts down on the maintenance of the area, as far as tilling and watering. Works wonderfully...
HOWEVER, I have noticed a HUGE population of mice (voles maybe, too!). Do you think that it could just be a coincidence or are we providing the perfect place for the little buggers!?!? This was the first year that we had to place many traps amidst the tomatoes, since they seemed to be the fruit of choice.
Here in eastern Washington, our first planting is around Good Friday for our potatoes. The old timers always say 'Don't plant anything until the snow is off of Mica Peak', which is a mountain right out our kitchen window..
Have fun!
Jan
It is the commercial weed barrier, I got it in a trade with my greenhouse friends down the tracks, (about 200yards away). My buddy who owns it has never said he has had any problems with mice but you never know. I will say, that if you are in a field of any type it probably would make a great home for them. I would get a couple of black snakes and put them it the garden. They will take care of your problem.
DeleteOh, Clint, you crack me up with the snake suggestion! I think I'll just deal with the meeces, as we do not have any snakes in this area. Bull snakes up in the nearby hills, yes. Maybe even a rattler or two in the rocks. You could hear me screaming all the way to your neck of the woods if I had snakes out there!!LOL
DeleteThe barrier works wonderful and it will last forever.
Thanks for your suggestion.
I thought it was a fun idea! LOL
DeleteI'm always learning something from you - and your commenters! Thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that what its all about, learning from one another? I learn so much from everyone who drops by!
DeleteHowdy Clint! I've been catching up on your blog today. I got the biggest kick out of our Jethro post. I'm still laughing out loud.. Your newest raised beds are looking just great! It's so fun to watch your progress and I know your heart is smiling cuz you love it so much.. just like the rest of us! Thanks for posting the link to MaryJanesFarm Beach Farmgirl blog too! I just love writing for her and connecting with more likeminded folks!!! Great of you to come see us over there too!
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday!
Deb
I stop in over there as often as I can. Thank you for coming by, its scary that there is like minded folks like us out there. It maybe a bad thing to other people! lol
DeleteHi Clint, thank you for stopping by my blog. I love using raised beds and your new ones look great!
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by as well!
DeleteClint, your raised bed look great!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing at Your Sunday Best, Clint. :)
ReplyDeleteYour compost bins and raised beds are really nice--thank you for posting!
ReplyDeleteThank you and stop by anytime!
DeleteThanks for visiting me at A SEason for All Things. I'm your newest follower and am thrilled to find this post on making a compost bin. It even looks like something I can do! I'm looking forward to peeking around your blog! ~ Ellen
ReplyDeleteHello Ellen nice to meet you! Yes you can do it, its very easy! Just take your time and have fun with it. Look around all you want, it is a young blog but I am adding to it everyday.
DeleteClint, thank you for joining the party. Your information is very interesting and helpful. I am a stickler when it comes to rules so if you would add a link back to my blog, I won't have to remove your post. You are the second male who submits posts to the party and I am glad to have both of you. Thanks again for joining in and thanks in advance for the link back.-------
ReplyDeleteShannon
I am so sorry I thought I had. It must not have saved, sorry. God Bless!
DeleteClint you are an inspiration. My hubby and you would be quick pals. He never misses the clearance lumber at the lumber store here. Lol. You are right. It's pretty fantastic, the savings. I have seen him get a $25 piece of 2x12x8 with a little knick for a dollar. It does pay to investigate.
ReplyDeleteI love the rr tracks behind your raised bed boxes. Your little garden is coming along so nicely. I am excited to see what you'll grow in it. Have a GREAT week.
Heidi
Hi Clint. Great post. You're right. My hubby never misses a trip thru the lumber company clearnace rack. He gets amazing deals on damaged wood. Your boxes look fantastic. I especially like the rr tracks in the background. I bet the whole neighborhood likes this little beautification project you've been working on. Thanks for sharing so much valuable information.
ReplyDelete