It is time to start planning your edible garden. I have just moved and do not have an established vegetable garden. So, I have decide to jump on the pallet bandwagon and use recycled wood to create raised beds for tomatoes and basil. I am also going to try the lazy way and use pallets to create easy planters for intensive growing of lettuce and herbs that bolt, such as parsley and cilantro.
I grabbed the picture above from a pallet manufacturer. You and I will never see a pallet this clean unless we buy them. Hurrumph.
My pallets come from behind stores and, as is the case with the above pictured pallet, from friends who have equipment/parts delivered on them. Always check with the store that they are freebies. Some stores have arrangements with vendors to return pallets, while others are pitching them out.
Raised beds are easy to manufacture and do not require much in the way of skill or tools. A quick tour of the internet and you will see kits for raised beds with all of the lumber and hardware going for astronomic prices. Why would I do that when I can reclaim the lumber from pallets for free?
You will find that pallets are a little tricky to break down. Even with my purpose-built tools, the lumber frequently splits. However, the above variation on the “Pallet Pal” makes the disassemble process much easier. Together with this home fabricated double pry-bar and you should have all of the help that you need.
The double pry-bar also functions as a long lever when you need (and you will) to pull out the spiral nails that are used to fabricate the pallets.
Once you have broken down the pallet, you are left with boards and, often, 2x4s from which to make your raised beds.
I am new to all of this, but there are plenty of resources out there. I will keep you posted on the results.
Meanwhile The Micro Gardner clearly knows what she is doing.
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