Love the idea of the earthbox but can't help feeling like sticking living things in giant blocks of plastic is somehow just wrong? Don't think much about plastic but highly allergic to ugly? Like finding something old and making it new? This instructable is for you.
If you want more details on why the basics are set up a certain way, there are plenty of great instructables both here and all over the web, so I won't reinvent the wheel in this one, but this should be everything you need to get up & running.
Not starting with a pre-built plastic container as the main housing means some extra steps, time, and care, but for me the final product is worth it.
If you want more details on why the basics are set up a certain way, there are plenty of great instructables both here and all over the web, so I won't reinvent the wheel in this one, but this should be everything you need to get up & running.
Not starting with a pre-built plastic container as the main housing means some extra steps, time, and care, but for me the final product is worth it.
Step 1: Gather materials
Materials:*
- (3) found dresser drawers
***Before you get the other materials, take careful measurements and know what you're working with. The length and width of any drawer determines the size of the screen/basket(s) you'll need; the height of the bottom drawer determines the height of the ABS pipes, etc.
- 1 piece of 2" diameter PVC pipe (length should be the total height of all drawers stacked, or slightly longer)
- 3 pieces of 3" diameter ABS pipe (about 1/3 of the total height)
- 2 plastic baskets (or something stiff and porous enough to serve as a nontoxic, waterproof, weight-bearing screen)
- outdoor stain & sealant combo wood finish, or paint for waterproofing
- brush
- wood glue
- drill
- utility knife
- wire, string, or cable ties
- landscape tarp, opaque plastic bag, or river rocks
- potting mix
- fertilizer
- plant(s) or seed(s)
Optional:
- painter's tape (to prevent bleeding)
- tarp or old newspapers (for easy cleanup)
- gloves
- river stones or rocks (as one more layer between the soil & water reservoir, and as a topsoil cover)
- Leatherman (it just feels good)
*from the hardware store, .99 store, nursery, your local curb, or the Craigslist free section
- (3) found dresser drawers
***Before you get the other materials, take careful measurements and know what you're working with. The length and width of any drawer determines the size of the screen/basket(s) you'll need; the height of the bottom drawer determines the height of the ABS pipes, etc.
- 1 piece of 2" diameter PVC pipe (length should be the total height of all drawers stacked, or slightly longer)
- 3 pieces of 3" diameter ABS pipe (about 1/3 of the total height)
- 2 plastic baskets (or something stiff and porous enough to serve as a nontoxic, waterproof, weight-bearing screen)
- outdoor stain & sealant combo wood finish, or paint for waterproofing
- brush
- wood glue
- drill
- utility knife
- wire, string, or cable ties
- landscape tarp, opaque plastic bag, or river rocks
- potting mix
- fertilizer
- plant(s) or seed(s)
Optional:
- painter's tape (to prevent bleeding)
- tarp or old newspapers (for easy cleanup)
- gloves
- river stones or rocks (as one more layer between the soil & water reservoir, and as a topsoil cover)
- Leatherman (it just feels good)
*from the hardware store, .99 store, nursery, your local curb, or the Craigslist free section
Step 2: Remove hardware & bottoms
Remove hardware by unscrewing from the inside, and take out any nails that prevent the bottoms from sliding out. Pull out the bottoms from all but one drawer and set them aside for later.
Step 3: Stack, glue & sand
Sand the outside to get the surface ready for staining and end up with a clean, even coat. If you don't mind marks, found drawers without them, or decided to use paint instead, feel free to skip this step.
I used a cinderblock for weight while the glue set, since I didn't have large enough clamps, but anything heavy with a flat base should work. Wipe off any excess wood glue before it dries.
The original plan was to stain each one separately to prevent dripping/bleeding, but the timing was such that I needed to take up less space, so I ended up assembled them first and just using painter's tape instead.
I used a cinderblock for weight while the glue set, since I didn't have large enough clamps, but anything heavy with a flat base should work. Wipe off any excess wood glue before it dries.
The original plan was to stain each one separately to prevent dripping/bleeding, but the timing was such that I needed to take up less space, so I ended up assembled them first and just using painter's tape instead.
Step 4: Stain & seal
Lay down a tarp or old newspaper. Use painter's tape if you want different colors with clean lines between them, and brush along the grain until all areas are covered. Let the first coat to dry completely before applying another. While that's drying, you can switch to the drilling and cutting.
Step 5: Drill holes & cut screen
Drill holes in all ABS pipes to allow the soil to pull water up from the reservoir without spilling into it.
I also used holes at the bottom of the fill tube instead of cutting it at an angle, only because the drill was out and it serves the same purpose of allowing water to flow into the reservoir.
I needed 2 baskets to fill in the extra length of the drawer, so I did the same (see photos) to both, cut down the edge, and laid one on top of the other. Yours may be a different length or from a different material, as long as it serves as a screen and ends up fitting snugly against all sides.
Use one of the ABS pipes to mark a spot for the overflow hole, then drill. This is to allow excess water to flow out, so your roots will never be water-logged.
I also used holes at the bottom of the fill tube instead of cutting it at an angle, only because the drill was out and it serves the same purpose of allowing water to flow into the reservoir.
I needed 2 baskets to fill in the extra length of the drawer, so I did the same (see photos) to both, cut down the edge, and laid one on top of the other. Yours may be a different length or from a different material, as long as it serves as a screen and ends up fitting snugly against all sides.
Use one of the ABS pipes to mark a spot for the overflow hole, then drill. This is to allow excess water to flow out, so your roots will never be water-logged.
Step 6: Cut, connect & attach the insides
Set all pipes on top of the screen/basket bottom and trace around them with a marker.
Cut inside the lines to allow some space to help support the weight of the soil. Some designs only use one pipe as the wicking chamber and the others as pure support (uncut at the top), but I decided to try using all 3.
Use wire, string or cable ties to attach the wicking chambers and fill tube to the screen.
Once all drawers are completely dry and assembled, place the screen, wicking chambers and fill tube unit inside and layer with river stones or small rocks.
Cut inside the lines to allow some space to help support the weight of the soil. Some designs only use one pipe as the wicking chamber and the others as pure support (uncut at the top), but I decided to try using all 3.
Use wire, string or cable ties to attach the wicking chambers and fill tube to the screen.
Once all drawers are completely dry and assembled, place the screen, wicking chambers and fill tube unit inside and layer with river stones or small rocks.
Step 7: Add soil, plants & topsoil covering
Fill at least halfway with potting mix.
Transplant something you already have, or follow the directions on the seed packet(s) to start something new. I chose these peppers since they were the most in need of room to grow.
Add more soil and enough fertilizer for the size of your container. Leave at least an inch from the brim for the topsoil cover, which could be a piece of landscape tarp, opaque plastic bag, or more river rocks.
Transplant something you already have, or follow the directions on the seed packet(s) to start something new. I chose these peppers since they were the most in need of room to grow.
Add more soil and enough fertilizer for the size of your container. Leave at least an inch from the brim for the topsoil cover, which could be a piece of landscape tarp, opaque plastic bag, or more river rocks.
Step 8: Soak it, sit back & watch it grow
Water the way you normally would (from the surface, not the fill tube) to give the transplant roots a chance to mix with the new soil and the fertilizer a chance to seep in. Give it a nice thorough soak for the first one.
After that, all you have to do is use the fill tube maybe once a week, watering until some spills out the overflow hole, sit back & watch it grow.
After that, all you have to do is use the fill tube maybe once a week, watering until some spills out the overflow hole, sit back & watch it grow.
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One thing I learned elsewhere that would work here: Instead of needing the plastic mesh and pipes down in the bottom, you can save time and work, and recycle some plastic drink bottles. Just drill small holes all over three sides of each bottle, cut a slit (about 1 by 3 inches) in the bottom, keep the original lid ON. Make as many of these as you need to lay into the bottom of your planter. These serve to "self-water" through your main pipe to the soil's top just as well as the mesh-and-cut-pipes do. I tried this with one large fig tree and it worked splendidly.
You can also use different width eaves-trough, it comes in 4 - 10" widths.
It's fairly cheap to do, and would let you keep most of that moisture off the wood. Would also let you customize to almost any size/shape of wood container.
I'm planning to try this using a long window box style planter on my front deck - it gets lots of sun and is quite dry so having the self watering container will be key for growing the planned tomatoes and cucumbers.
I'm going to add a link to this over on our forum. Our website is centered on homesteading type subjects. Gardening and alternative ideas is definitely a large part of that mindset.
Great job!
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