Author Topic: DIY in the garden  (Read 6403 times)

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Offline Kew

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DIY in the garden
« on: January 26, 2007, 04:21:18 PM »
Many people are put off at having a go at making their own garden items, possibly due simply to never having tried it or due to the fact that you can now buy almost anything off the shelf for your garden. OK, that's fine, but for me, I'd much sooner have a go at making something which is going to be to my spec. That way I know how it's made, I know how strong it is and I know it's going to fit into the space I've got.
Here's a quick and cheap method for making a compost bin...the gardeners friend! All you need is a couple of wooden pallets and four corner posts which could come from the pallet anyway.
 Take 'em to bits and with the help of a hammer and a few nails you have a compost bin which will do a far better job than the plastic ones from the garden centre.
Note the second pic, it allows for the sliding in and out of front boards. Ideal for forking out without straining your back.
Make it to the size you need.
« Last Edit: January 26, 2007, 04:24:35 PM by Kew »

Online ideasguy

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Re: DIY in the garden
« Reply #1 on: January 26, 2007, 07:46:07 PM »
Ingenious!
How long would you expect a wooden compost bin to last Ken? Some of the pallets are pretty hard wood, so I suppose they'd last a few seasons??

How did you do those diagrams? They are real good.

Offline Kew

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Re: DIY in the garden
« Reply #2 on: January 26, 2007, 08:05:45 PM »
I'd expect such a bin to last 15 years at least. I made one 9 years ago just as per drawing and it's still going strong with little sign of wear. Wood rots if it's constantly wet; A compo bin, contrary to what some believe, isn't constantly wet. The small effort of making it far exceeds the replacement value after such a time....actual cost by the way is around 50p for nails.

How did I do the diagram...well, I gotta a tin full of coloured pencils and a digi camera...but don't tell any one! ;)

Offline Kew

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Re: DIY in the garden
« Reply #3 on: January 26, 2007, 08:19:23 PM »
After I finished putting the patio together I had a bit of sand, cement and such left over, so, me being what I am didn't want to waste it and I thought about 'what else can I do for the garden with it'...after almost a full minute thinking about it I came up with a little idea. I mixed it all together and popped it into a sand box and kept having a look now and then and fiddling with it and then after a week or so scraped the sand away and I got this.


Online ideasguy

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Re: DIY in the garden
« Reply #4 on: January 26, 2007, 08:33:22 PM »
How did I do the diagram...well, I gotta a tin full of coloured pencils and a digi camera...but don't tell any one! ;)

Nice user friendly software!

How do you find the time for all these projects? On 21/05 each year, I'm smothered in weeds, battling against nature
« Last Edit: January 26, 2007, 08:35:35 PM by ideasguy »

Offline Kew

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Re: DIY in the garden
« Reply #5 on: January 26, 2007, 08:45:24 PM »
My biz, before the powers that be, headed by the Minister of Health, got in the way..(!) allowed me time between clients/patients to play!
Part two of the above 'puzzle'....
It turned out to be one of these.

 
« Last Edit: January 26, 2007, 08:49:34 PM by Kew »

Offline Kew

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Re: DIY in the garden
« Reply #6 on: January 26, 2007, 08:46:03 PM »
So then I thought I'd paint it a nice white colour.

Offline Kew

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Re: DIY in the garden
« Reply #7 on: January 26, 2007, 08:46:59 PM »
Then I thought...Mmmm! White is a bit drastic for a garden, so I set about painting it black.

Offline Kew

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Re: DIY in the garden
« Reply #8 on: January 26, 2007, 08:47:41 PM »
Mmmmm, yes, very nice, but black's a bit boring...how about a bit of colour, lad....So I got my brushes out and set to...
This one maybe?


Offline Kew

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Re: DIY in the garden
« Reply #9 on: January 26, 2007, 08:48:11 PM »
Or how about this?

 

Offline Kew

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Re: DIY in the garden
« Reply #10 on: January 26, 2007, 08:49:00 PM »
I finally settled for this.


Online ideasguy

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Re: DIY in the garden
« Reply #11 on: January 26, 2007, 09:01:27 PM »
Sir, I award you an MA
Master of Arts.
Brilliant!

Do you happen to have a camera strapped permanently to your forehead?

Offline Kew

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Re: DIY in the garden
« Reply #12 on: January 26, 2007, 09:25:25 PM »
I do more than I photogragh, more's the pity.
Hang on...I think I have a 'DIY nest box made from an old pallet' someplace.
Yup...here's some of 'em...dead easy and costs nothing...and some bird someplace is happy with this....at least I hope so. I put one of these up in the wood but someone nicked it.....No problem with that, none at all, they obviously took it on account of them not having one and so took it to put in their garden....end result?....A bird somewhere has a home.....I'm happy with that.
Here's some;
(Trying to upload...hang-on.)

Offline Kew

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Re: DIY in the garden
« Reply #13 on: January 26, 2007, 09:25:49 PM »
Ah!

Offline greenfinger

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Re: DIY in the garden
« Reply #14 on: January 29, 2007, 09:46:29 AM »
Then I thought...Mmmm! White is a bit drastic for a garden, so I set about painting it black.

Do you know the painting with the working shoes of Gertrude Jekyll? This reminds me of them.

Offline Kew

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Re: DIY in the garden
« Reply #15 on: January 29, 2007, 10:48:10 AM »
Don't know that one, GF but I do know when I put these boots on I don't get quite so much work done!  :D

Offline greenfinger

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Re: DIY in the garden
« Reply #16 on: January 29, 2007, 04:19:02 PM »
Here they are. These boots were made for working...
To enlighten you about Ms. Jekyll: www.compulink.co.uk/~museumgh/jekyll.htm. Quelle matronne, parbleu!
« Last Edit: January 29, 2007, 04:30:28 PM by greenfinger »

Offline Kew

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Re: DIY in the garden
« Reply #17 on: January 29, 2007, 04:53:04 PM »
I found that very interesting, GF. I wonder how many of those really old trees we could find today. I once worked with a forester in Scotland and all he had was a large axe for his work but he could take off the simmest of shavings with it. Quite remarkable.

Offline 3fren

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Re: DIY in the garden
« Reply #18 on: March 03, 2007, 09:32:08 AM »
WOW ! Kew,  am so impressed ! you sure is very good  !