difalkner Posted March 1, 2023 Report Posted March 1, 2023 This and my recent bucket garden build are so far from what I normally build that it's almost funny, but since I built it I might as well share the simple build. I used Western Red Cedar fence pickets from Lowe's and some treated 2x4's that were left over from the bucket garden stand build. The WRC fence pickets were 5 1/2" x 72" x 5/8" and were incredibly wet but it simply doesn't matter for something like this. Because I wanted to get the most out of each board I cut the WRC side board pieces to 23" so I could get three out of each picket. We'll get some dirt and plant the first level of potatoes, then add dirt and another board and plant more potatoes, then keep repeating that until all the side boards are on. To harvest the potatoes I'll just remove the boards on two sides, maybe all of them - we'll see. Anyway, a quick Friday morning project that took about 90 minutes and will hopefully yield some homegrown potatoes! Quote
RichardA Posted March 1, 2023 Report Posted March 1, 2023 That's why I have a garden. To avoid having to build extra stuff for the same thing in the ground. 1 Quote
difalkner Posted March 1, 2023 Author Report Posted March 1, 2023 On 3/1/2023 at 1:54 PM, RichardA said: That's why I have a garden. To avoid having to build extra stuff for the same thing in the ground. One daughter and our son-in-law offered to bring their tiller over to break up the ground for us but we decided to do it this way so we don't have to bend over so much. Besides, it was fun to build something different rather than always bending wood, veneering, CNC, etc. 1 Quote
Popular Post RichardA Posted March 1, 2023 Popular Post Report Posted March 1, 2023 Understood, at 80 I find bending over an easy way to stick my head in the sand. I avoid a lot of stuff that way. 4 Quote
B1rdhunter Posted March 1, 2023 Report Posted March 1, 2023 Not worried about the treated lumber contaminating the taters? 1 Quote
difalkner Posted March 2, 2023 Author Report Posted March 2, 2023 On 3/1/2023 at 5:59 PM, B1rdhunter said: Not worried about the treated lumber contaminating the taters? No sir. The EPA restricted or outlawed the use of arsenic for treating lumber way back in 2003. What they use now is safe although I don't plan to begin using treated lumber for food service items. Here's a good article - https://www.treatedwood.com/assets/uploads/documents/Can-treated-wood-be-used-in-raised-garden-beds.pdf and another https://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infxtra/infptforraisedgardens.html. I may opt to seal the 2x4's before we begin - we'll see. Quote
Coop Posted March 2, 2023 Report Posted March 2, 2023 David, I made something similar a few years back and it’s kinda neat to open it up and let the taters fall out. Beats the crap out of digging them! 1 Quote
Chestnut Posted March 2, 2023 Report Posted March 2, 2023 I'm gonna be obtuse and feel free to put me in my place. Isn't that a lot of work for something you can buy at the store for extremely cheap? I don't really eat potatoes so i don't know how much they cost. 1 Quote
difalkner Posted March 2, 2023 Author Report Posted March 2, 2023 On 3/1/2023 at 8:54 PM, Coop said: David, I made something similar a few years back and it’s kinda neat to open it up and let the taters fall out. Beats the crap out of digging them! That's what we're hoping for, Coop. Ought to be fun to go out back and grab some 'taters for supper! On 3/2/2023 at 6:48 AM, Chestnut said: I'm gonna be obtuse and feel free to put me in my place. Isn't that a lot of work for something you can buy at the store for extremely cheap? I don't really eat potatoes so i don't know how much they cost. Haha! I never even checked to see if I could buy one... hmmm... Building something like this is kind of fun relative to my normal work of bending wood, veneering, inlay, great detail, etc. Plus, I got all kinds of husband points because she wasn't expecting this! LOL! As for the amount of work I have to say that was pretty light duty. If I wasn't doing photos and video the project would have taken about an hour. The cost of the potatoes isn't the issue, rather it's more that sometimes Walmart, Kroger, Brookshires, etc. don't have good organic potatoes on the day we shop. Sometimes they're just plain rotten and molding in the bag, sometimes they just don't have any at all, so we'll just grow our own. 2 Quote
Chestnut Posted March 2, 2023 Report Posted March 2, 2023 4 minutes ago, difalkner said: Haha! I never even checked to see if I could buy one... hmmm... I meant the potatoes not the box... 10 minutes ago, difalkner said: The cost of the potatoes isn't the issue, rather it's more that sometimes Walmart, Kroger, Brookshires, etc. don't have good organic potatoes on the day we shop. Sometimes they're just plain rotten and molding in the bag, sometimes they just don't have any at all, so we'll just grow our own. Ahh yeah again i never buy but I've also never had that problem. Though there are a lot of potatoes that are grown in this region so they don't go very far and we probably don't have to deal with quality issues from shipping long distance. 1 Quote
difalkner Posted March 2, 2023 Author Report Posted March 2, 2023 On 3/2/2023 at 8:14 AM, Chestnut said: I meant the potatoes not the box... Ahh yeah again i never buy but I've also never had that problem. Though there are a lot of potatoes that are grown in this region so they don't go very far and we probably don't have to deal with quality issues from shipping long distance. LOL! Yes, I realized that after I posted, that you meant the potatoes. Oh, well... We eat potatoes every week; organic, seasoned well, cut into bite-sized pieces, baked in a convection oven - excellent dish! Quote
Coop Posted March 2, 2023 Report Posted March 2, 2023 They’re kinda like kids. It makes you fell good, knowing you raised them right. And there’s nothing better than a home grown tomato! 1 Quote
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