Wooden Yard Carrots

I have a small garden.  Not much will actually grow in it due to it's relative position to the Sun's daily travels, which worked out ok because my house rabbits at the time didn't eat tomatoes anyway.  Lettuce and parsley grew just fine and that was good enough for them.  This year there seems to be an abundance of wild rabbits in the area and they are helping themselves to the buffet.  I'm not going to trap them and I'm certainly not going to harm them ... if you can't beat them, join them they say.  I don't know who "they" are, but I've heard it somewhere.

The Neighbor was replacing his fence so I scored a reclaimed post.  I had some scrap pressure treated 2"x4" and pallet wood.   It was time to make some yard art.

Step 1: Process the Wooden Parts

The carrot tops were turned on a lathe, but you could easily use just an oscillationg belt sander or an ordinary belt sander.



The greens were made from a 2x4" ripped into 1/2" widths.  Overall length was arbitrary and varied on purpose.  I cut the diagonal side on a bandsaw and cleaned up the cut on an oscillating belt sander.

Step 2: Spray Paint the Parts

A few coats of spray paint on the parts.

Step 3: Drill for Stem Attachment

I made a quick hole layout jig from cardboard and drilled the holes with a sharpened nail because I couldn't find an adequate sized drill bit.

Step 4: Attach the Stems

Stems are attached with a cut off nail and epoxy.

Step 5: Polyurethane

Once they were all assembled, I hit them with a few coats of polyurethane.

Step 6: Make a Sign and Place in the Yard

Lastly, I made a quick rustic sign from scrap pallet wood and painted a message for the local rabbits. Topcoat of polyurethane.

Peanut approves!

Comments

[maglensh]

So awesome! I'm a writer at a large digital publication and just sent you a message, as we would love to share your post. Please email me at shanon.maglente AT Hearst DOT com. Thank you so much!

[Kiteman]

I saw these, and I was going to ask "why?", but then I thought...

Who needs a reason?

[-BALES-]

I had a House Rabbit and several wild rabbits were eating from His garden. The idea just popped into my head and I couldn't get it out ... so I made them. It was just a fun and quick project while I waited for glue to dry on other projects.

[ransun685]

I do not have rabbits, I only have grown chicks

[mrsmerwin]

love this.

[BackyardWW]

Awesome project - I'm going to make one in the near future so thank you for providing details on how this project came together!. I do have a lathe so this is very do-able for me. You did a great job!

[nmoore cheezan]

These are so cute! Have you considered selling them? I am completely challenged when it comes to woodworking but I would love to have some of these!!!

[-BALES-]

I have thought about it, but my schedule is so packed that my own personal project list is in a backlog.

I was thinking .. the carrot tops could easily be cast out of plaster or quickcrete using a bowl as the mold. Then you'd just have to do some shaping for the stems, which could be done with a handsaw and sandpaper. Michael's also sells big wooden beads or spheres, but I don't find them very cost effective.

[pumpkinfarmer]

Very cute and simple idea with a fun impact!

[Mielameri]

Ah, this would be great for an Easter yard decoration. Really cute!