Last weekend I did a little project to help my aging (ack! 30!) knees while out in the garden. Any time you venture into a gardening store (I've even the $1 shelves at Target, sometimes) you're sure to see those EVA foam kneeling cushions for working out in the garden. They're cheap enough, sure, but carrying single function items around while working outside can get. . . bulky. Consider making one yourself! I made one out of fabric and batting scraps that I had on hand. Basically it's just an over-sized potholder, mine is 11 x 23", which is ample room for a little scooting around, as well as a good margin to keep the itchy grass off my knees. And yes, I realize what a wuss I sound like for admitting that.
For easy directions on making a pot holder Derek and Lauren posted a great tutorial on design*sponge a while back, as did Artsy-Crafty Babe. If you're a more experienced sewer, add a pocket to one side and you have a good sized tote for tools. Just don't forget to take them out before kneeling over your plants. OUCH!
That got me thinking about what else I could make, while saving resources that might otherwise end up in the dump.
One of my favorite ideas from Natural Home Magazine is the recycled tire inner tube trug tub. So simple, rugged, cheap, and looks great! Or you can buy the one Martha Stewart once featured, from Kinsman Company.
This Fiskar's 5 gallon Bucket caddy is a great way to reuse plastic buckets that would otherwise end up in the landfill. But to totally DIY, you've got options! The collapsible bucket on Instructables has a nice handle, but I love the idea of reusing jeans for their pockets in this crafty bucket on whip up. If you're truly smitten by the Fiskar's version, Garden Guides has a great tutorial on a nearly identical version, including the brilliant reuse of a 5 gallon bucket.
So how about you? What have you repurposed for gardening to keep still good items from early retirement at the county dump?
Anyone that comments on this post (hopefully with a good idea!) between now and next Friday will be in the running for a prize: a me-made kneeling pad (pocket and all) to keep you comfy throughout the rest of the gardening season! Get to brainstorming and typity typing, and I'll do a random drawing for the winner, announced next week.
Renee Garner has a passion to make things grow, although her brownish
thumb wants her to believe otherwise. When mud pies aren't on the
menu, you can find her doodling the days away at Wolfie and the Sneak.
