I'm not good in gardening or basic plant care, but I like working on green projects. Our yaya likes to do gardening stuff and has been telling me that it would be a good idea to have a vegetable garden since we have the space to accommodate one. I welcomed the idea and tried to give it a thought on how to go about it.
We don't have a big space, so I started looking at vertical gardens.
We don't have a big space, so I started looking at vertical gardens.
(image from Crazy Horses Ghost)
I've started looking at different designs and tried to assess which one I can work with economically:
 (image from 99 Pallets) using used pallets |  (image from Inspiration Green) using used bottles |
While trying to sort out a more permanent setup for the project, we did start planting some seeds in commercial pots that have grown well.
Initially, I just thought I'd hire a carpenter to do a pallet type. I still have plans of doing that since we have a number of rectangular pots already, but the universe decided to join in on my project.
I was in line at Starbucks to order a drink when I saw the barista holding an empty milk gallon. When I reached the cashier, I asked her what they do with the empty gallons. She said that they just throw them at the end of the day. Giving her a follow through question as to how many they have at the end of the day, she said around 20. "That's quite a lot," I was telling myself. I asked if I can have them and she said I can come back for it at the end of the day. So, I went back for the gallons, brought them home, and cleaned them up.
Going back to the net to look at designs, the easiest one that I could find it this:
I was in line at Starbucks to order a drink when I saw the barista holding an empty milk gallon. When I reached the cashier, I asked her what they do with the empty gallons. She said that they just throw them at the end of the day. Giving her a follow through question as to how many they have at the end of the day, she said around 20. "That's quite a lot," I was telling myself. I asked if I can have them and she said I can come back for it at the end of the day. So, I went back for the gallons, brought them home, and cleaned them up.
Going back to the net to look at designs, the easiest one that I could find it this:
(image from Inspiration Green)
It may not be pretty, but it seems easy to build since you just need to cut the bottom part of the milk gallon, drilling holes through the bottle caps, and use place a plank through the handle to hold them in place.
As I was looking at our porch trying to visualize how the setup would look like, I saw that we have a couple of wire displays that we no longer use. So I thought of recycling it by using those as the "wall" similar to the one used in the used bottle setup. So, I went to Ace Hardware to get another pair of wire displays and cable ties. Then started to assemble our first vertical garden.
As I was looking at our porch trying to visualize how the setup would look like, I saw that we have a couple of wire displays that we no longer use. So I thought of recycling it by using those as the "wall" similar to the one used in the used bottle setup. So, I went to Ace Hardware to get another pair of wire displays and cable ties. Then started to assemble our first vertical garden.
Now, I'm going to start drilling holes through the bottle caps and ask yaya to start transferring the plants in the milk gallon pots.
Since we have 3 posts and a fence to work with, plus seed donations from my neighbor (Thanks Patrick!), looks like I'm going to be making some more trips to Starbucks.
Do try this project out guys! Your very own green wall using recycled plastic gallons. You get to do your share in saving the environment while being able to have your own garden close to free. Don't forget to ask Starbucks for their used coffee grounds as well to use on your plants. They give it out for free as well.
Since we have 3 posts and a fence to work with, plus seed donations from my neighbor (Thanks Patrick!), looks like I'm going to be making some more trips to Starbucks.
Do try this project out guys! Your very own green wall using recycled plastic gallons. You get to do your share in saving the environment while being able to have your own garden close to free. Don't forget to ask Starbucks for their used coffee grounds as well to use on your plants. They give it out for free as well.
