My wife and I recently purchased a new home, after living in an apartment for 8 years. We decided to "make it our own" by adding various touches. My wife loves flowers and we both love to cook with fresh herbs. This project appeals to both of us.

Warning: Woodworking is inherently dangerous. You are using sharp tools some of them spinning at large RPM's. You need to be wearing eye protection at all times, hearing protection as needed and because you are going to be working on some very small pieces you must use a push stick. Niether I or Instructables bear any responsibility if you do something stupid, lose focus, act carelessly, or recklessly.

This design was modified from Steve Ramsey's "Herb Garden Planter"

http://woodworking.formeremortals.net/2013/04/make-an-herb-garden-planter/

Steve's design is freestanding, but I wanted to mount mine on the back wall of our carport so I shortened the outside legs.

Steve has an amazing site called "Wood Working for Mere Mortals" He has a new video every week showing how to build something generally using a limited number of tools. He has a pretty good sense of humor and his projects are very straight forward.

Step 1: Tools/ Supplies

I used

Tools:

1) a Miter saw,

2)hand drill

3) Spade bits/ speed bores

4) Drill and countersink will drill driver

5) tape measure

6) Marking device (Pencil, Pen, Sharpie)

7) Framing or combination square

8) Mallet

Supplies

2 2x4's 8ft long

2 1x4's 8ft long

4 1x6's 8ft long

1 box of outdoor screws (I used #8 x 1 5/8ths)

Finishing nails

Step 2: Cut Uprights, Lower Face Pieces, and Bottom.

I cut my uprights/ legs first.

You will need:

2 pieces 35 1/4" for the middle

2 pieces 29 3/4" second pieces

2 pieces 24 3/4 for the outside pieces (If you want your to be free standing you will need to cut the outside pieces 37" tall

These are all cut from the 2x4's Cut the longest pieces first. You should be able to get "half" from one 2x4.

Next I cut the lower face pieces and the bottom.

These are 2 of the 1x6's and one of the 1x4's

The face pieces are cut 69 inches. The bottom is also cut 69 inches if you are going to follow my design or 66 inches if you are going to use Steve's.

Do not cut any of the pieces for the upper assembly yet.

Step 3: Lower Assembly

I did not have a large enough work surface so I laid mine out on the floor.

I set up the upright in their approximate location (picture 1) and then used a 12inch spacer (picture 4) to make sue everything was equal.

I set the bottom up against the first upright and set the face pieces over the up right and bottom to make sure I had the correct over hang.

I drilled and counter sunk the end piece after using the framing square to make sure I had a right angle. Then I attached it with two screws.

Next I made sure the bottom was lined up with the upright drilled those holes and attached them with screws as well.

I then went to the second leg and used the spacer to get the proper placement.

I drilled both holes but only attached it with one screw at first. (picture 2)

Use the spacer between the out leg and the second leg to keep it square and attach the second screw (picture 4)

I then went to the other end and repeated the process. This way if your measurements are off they will be absorbed in the middle section. (picture 5)

Finally attach the middle legs and then go back and install the rest of the screws for the bottom.

Step 4: Upper Construction

In step three I told you not to cut the upper assembly pieces you are going to cut them now custom fitting them as you go.

Beginning at the middle cut your one upper side piece and attach it using one screw in each corner.

Then move to the next set of legs and repeat the process for them and finally for the outer legs.

in picture 2 you can see the completed side.

After you have attached those five pieces you can begin to cut the bottoms for the upper assembly. Once again I began at the middle custom fitting each piece as I went along. (picture 3) You may have to use the mallet to get them into place if you have a "snug" fit.

After the bottoms are in place you can begin to fit the opposite face pieces. Once again I began at the middle and worked my way to both ends.

Once that is done you will need to permanently attach the bottom pieces. I did this with a pneumatic nail gun but you can use what ever you like (picture 6)

Step 5: Saddle and Drain Hole

I planned on mounting this on a carport wall and we sometimes have some pretty strong winds.

The bricks on my wall are 8 inches thick so I took some of the left over 1x6 material and cut it to just a bit over 8 inches and cut some of the left over 1x 4 to 8 inches as well.

I drilled and screwed 1x4 tot he 1x6 and then screwed those to the 2x4's using 3 inch outdoor screws. (picture 1)

I then used a 1/4 inch speed bore to drill a drain hole in each of the compartments. (picture 2)