Have you ever wanted to build or buy a garden box? The cost of pre-built boxes and lumber itself is extremely expensive. Fortunately you can build one for just a few dollars in nails and tools if you use wood pallets.
Let's get started.
Let's get started.
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1: Gather your materials.
First, you will need to find a pallet or two, depending on how large you want your box. A good source is to check craigslist.org in your area under the free section and search for pallets or wood. A lot of times people give away the pallets that the pallet recyclers won't pay for.
Visit Our Store »
Go Pro Today »
And here's why:
Wood pallets are like sponges - they’re porous and readily absorb water and other fluids. This creates a breeding ground for bacteria like salmonella, E. coli and Listeria that can cross-contaminate food. Wood pallets are so unhygienic that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said they must not be used in connection with food preparation because of the risk of Listeria contamination. Instead, the FDA advocates the use of stainless steel and plastic.
The FDA doesn't even use them for food preparation, much less direct contact and propegation of what would be "organic" produce. Kinda defeats the purpose of knowing where your food comes from.
Aside from government regulation, there are all kinds of chemicals in heavily processed wood like pallets. Same reason you're not supposed to burn plywood due for risk of inhaling the glue and chemicals like formaldehyde.
Just something to think about.
http://www.themhedajournal.org/blogs/Steve-Guglielmo/index.php/2010/11/what-the-fda-vote-means-for-wooden-pallets/
Also, the study that showed the high bacterial count was done by a competitor to the wood pallet industry, showing that it was heavily biased.
The FDA also approves such substances as Aspartame for human consumption, which essentially breaks down in the human digestions system into formaldehyde and methanol. To me this just seems like a big push from the plastic pallet industry.
Wood pallets could perhaps be cleaned up as an industry when it comes to chemical treatments. They are however easier to recycle in projects such as these.
To clarify, I'm not arguing against re-using pallets in general or in favor of plastic for that matter, just against chemicals and bacteria in a planter bed.
You can't ignore the fact that pallets like these see very active service and are incredibly porous - soaking in anything that they come in contact with including sitting next to dumpsters or stagnant water in an alley. And that's just what we assume happens in the life of a pallet. Shipping ports are havens of disease.
Try something else for the pallets, because people with less knowledge will do this instructable and consequently be consuming the chemicals they are trying to get away from by growing their own food.
I'm not knocking you for the project, it's really great - and very accessible to those with less know how. All I'm saying is I think these could be re-purposed for something that you won't eat.
one more comment--- if you can find the pallets with the 4x4 0r 3x4 on them if you use those on the inside corners to nail to they really strengthen the boxes.