Our Greener Life

Growing your own vegetables is a very satisfying, eco-friendly, and money-saving venture. So why not try it? Perhaps you are limited in space, or don’t have the tools to break up the ground for a garden, or the sunny spots on your property do not correspond with the best soil. A vegetable box can help remedy these problems and give you fresh produce.

While you can make your planter any size, or even make a series of small ones, if you are going to grow vegetables it will need to be at least 8 inches deep. Here is how to build a basic vegetable planter that is 6′ x 2′.

What you’ll need:

1. Four pieces of lumber, 6 feet long, 4 inches wide, and 2 inches thick (6-foot long 2×4)
2. Four pieces of lumber, 2 feet long, 4 inches wide, and 2 inches thick (3-foot long 2×4)
3. Four pieces of lumber, 8 inches long, 4 inches wide, and 4 inches thick (8-inch long 4×4)
4. Galvanized nails or screws, at least 4 inches long
5. Power drill (if using screws)
6. Hammer (if using nails)
7. Shovel or tiller
8. 8 bricks

Directions:
1. Lay two of your long pieces of lumber on the ground (you don’t have to build the box where you will be using it- you can build it on your driveway, patio, garage, etc. and then transport it). Make sure the two pieces of lumber are flush all along their lengths and sides.

2. Using the screws or nails, attach two of the 8-inch 4×4 pieces of lumber to the short ends of the long pieces of lumber, one 8-inch piece per short end.

3. Repeat step 2 with the remaining two 6-foot pieces of lumber and two 8-inch 4×4 pieces.

4. Turn these long pieces on their sides, like two walls. Position them 2 feet apart.

5. Using the nails or screws, attach one of the 2-foot pieces of lumber across the bottom ends of the long boards, nailing/screwing it into the 4×4 pieces.

6. Repeat step 5 with another 2-foot piece of lumber on the other lower end of the long boards.

7. Attach the remaining two 2-foot pieces of lumber to each end of the box, this time on the upper ends of the long boards, flush with the other 2-foot pieces.

Now you should have a long box consisting of two pieces of lumber per side.

8. Using a shovel or tiller, clear the vegetation from a sunny, 6-foot by 3-foot area (unless you don’t mind picking out a lot of weeds that will make their way up through the soil!).

9. Position your planter box over the now-bare earth.

10. Position the bricks along the four corners of the box to stabilize it.

11. Fill box with garden soil and plant your vegetables. Check with local construction companies or builders who may be willing to give you “fill dirt” or topsoil at a good price (or even free if you haul it yourself).