Just A Simple Veggie Patch

Here's an update on our planter boxes.

I've mentioned them in earlier posts. You can see those posts at (http://winjama.blogspot.com/search/label/Planter%20Tables). I called them 'planter tables' then.

So, here they are pretty much done. All that remains is to finish filling them with a nice mix of red or black dirt - always depending on what's available. Right now, it's red dirt. We mix that, more or less 2:1, two buckets dirt to one bucket wood chips.

All Four - Ready to Fill

Here's the first one, filled to the rim. I still have some stuff to do. Like re-routing a water faucet so that there's a handy spigot right there.

First Box Filled

This view just shows the planter box legs.

Showing the Structure

I thought someone was watching us. Sure enough Secret has a new cool spot to hang out in. This was originally discovered by Cindy, but Secret appears to have usurped the shady space.

A New Hidey-Hole

Three of the boxes are about one-foot deep - plenty for most veggie needs. This one, on the other hand, is about twice that depth and is more suited to crops requiring more depth for their roots.

One Deep One - For Root Crops

This photo shows the interior detail. I painted the inside of each box with UGL DRYLOK Basement/Masonry Waterproofer. I've used it before, here and in the States. It does a great job, as long as you don't expect miracles. The reason we put in on is since we were going to paint the outsides, we felt that we needed to waterproof the insides so that the paint would stick to the outsides.

I had part of a gallon of latex Drylok, so used that as far as it went. Then, went to Villa's and got a gallon of Oil-based Drylok. The application was about the same for both products.

You'll notice the little grey squares inside the box. That's nylon screen fabric that I've put over the drain holes in each box. To help (I hope) keep the dirt from escaping from the boxes.

Showing Water-Proofing Paint and Screens

I'm sneaking in a small but related project here. It's a compost bin and a pad for a future cistern. We're going to pour the pad as a single unit for ease. Then, we'll add walls to make the separate bins for the compost area.

Compost Bin & Cistern Pad - Soon Come

And finally, here's Dianna, looking pretty proud of her new garden area. She's taking a break working with Cody to fill the boxes and making sure the mix of dirt and wood chips is right.

I know what she's thinking too. It's time for a shower, some lunch, and then it's... Pool Time!

Dianna Taking A Break During Filling