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Post by borderbabe on Feb 1, 2007 14:45:00 GMT
The patio was laid last Saturday and I recycled the turf round the fruit bushes and the rasberry canes - grass side down and I hope it will rot down reasonably quickly. It doesn't look too bad even now.
The patio needs a clean with the jet hose as its spent the 3 years under some decking - it was only about a year old then the neighbours moved and the new couple covered it in decking! Now the've decided to built a large extension and demolish the conservatory so the patio had to go - glad it came my way!
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Post by Chuckles on Feb 1, 2007 20:26:50 GMT
a good way to compost is to get one of those big bags that have sand or cement in them, you know the mesh ones, as you fill it up you just pull the handles and it turns the compost, and after a couple of years it rots down to compost as well, it lets in rain water but because it's got holes in for drainage it never gets too wet barbara Like the idea of those mesh bags for leaves barbara. Will have to get on to OH to see if he can locat me some. Better than poly bags that I have to make holes in  |
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Post by Chuckles on Feb 8, 2007 18:42:52 GMT
I was telling 4P on her Veggie thread the other day, I got some decking boards that OH had taken up on a job which were being replaced with slabs. Plan to make another raised bed with it and use some of the short bits to lay on the veg gdn for walking on. Heres a pic of all the decking I got the other week, laid down and leaning against the shed, theres loads.....good ay  ;D  |
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Post by sweetleaf on Feb 8, 2007 18:45:03 GMT
Very impressive! I got given 2 pallets of paviours (new paths!) ;D ;D
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Post by Chuckles on Feb 14, 2007 8:45:55 GMT
I've been at it again, scrounging ;D. Next door are moving and were throwing some blinds away  They are the thin bamboo sort from Ikea. I'm going to get rid of the gubbins at the top and all the cord, cut them to the required length and staple or wire them to canes and put them up in the GH for shading. I'll use the same principle as I do for the roll up bubblewrap ones I use over winter ;D. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2007 12:54:42 GMT
What a great thread. I'm going to save everything now!!!!
-Constant
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Post by owainglyndwr on Feb 17, 2007 22:05:13 GMT
 I've never seen this thread before. There are some excellent ideas (skip scavenging ) I always collect the plastic containers that cherry tomatoes/other fruit from the supermarket are bought in. A mini seed tray without the clear plastic lid ... a mini propagator with the lid on. Ideal for window sills.
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Post by Barbara on Feb 18, 2007 11:16:12 GMT
What a great thread. I'm going to save everything now!!!! -Constant you will end up with steptoes yard without the horse!!!!!!!!!!!!  |
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Post by borderbabe on Feb 20, 2007 10:41:19 GMT
Over the weekend I recycled some twiggy branches of an Oak Tree. A branch had come down in the winds and been sawn up and taken away leaving a load of twiggy sticks and I saw them as peasticks! Tghey are now waiting for my peas which I sowed in guttering on Sunday!
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Post by Chuckles on Feb 25, 2007 7:49:38 GMT
Did bit of recyling with my neighbour yesterday ;D. I took a load of good sized plastic pots of her hands, a big bread tray, an old galvanised coal shuttle (sp) to keep some canes in, a large plastic storage box to keep bits in in the shed, and the best was an 3 tier metal trolley on wheels that fits just fab under the staging in the GH and now has all my bits and bobs in it. Bit rusty but it will do the job ;D
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Post by Dutchy on Feb 25, 2007 11:23:25 GMT
Ooh lucky you.
They will come to good use.
Who was it again using loo rolls for seeding. I just wanted to say thanks for a good idea that had slipped my mind. I was looking at ways of getting little seedpots for free. Now I just have to go to the toilet a lot ;D
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2007 11:44:48 GMT
Morning
Cheerypeabrain mentioned growing potatos in water tanks. I will have two of these in the next few days as we are installing a combi boiler and new kitchen etc...
What would you need to do to convert them into growing tubs? Or is it just a simple case of drilling a few drainage holes? Moving the spuds into one of these gives me more room on my small patch for other veg.
Cheers
Paul
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Post by Dutchy on Feb 28, 2007 19:27:23 GMT
Paul, would you still be able to get to your spuds in the end?
You might have to upend the whole thing and if it is a large one....
well you know what I mean. The hole drilling sounds ok but you might consider making them big and putting a lot of crock in Potatoes don't like sitting in water.
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Feb 28, 2007 19:43:41 GMT
Hlo Paul, I've just seen your post about taters in water tanks! We drilled a few holes in the bottom, and a few more about 2" up from the base for good measure...then poured in a deep layer of gravel to just cover the holes. Then shoved in some compost and the taters. We also encircled the whole bin with chicken wire so that the cat couldn't get in to dump on our crops...and to support the plants as they emerged. When earthing up I used to dump all the dregs from my seed trays after pricking out etc...the taters were delish....and we had no pest damage (despite slug portals drainage holes)
CPBX
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Feb 28, 2007 19:50:00 GMT
AND...talking of recycling...
we started on the front garden over a year ago, but decided against the final planting until we had a fence up to shield our green-treasures from the local under 13 football team (seems like)....
HHWELL....OH is hoping to 'rescue' some rather nice iron railings that his company are currently replacing with glass.......happyCPBX
I hasten to add the railings are to be skipped...no cloak and dagger nipping in there with a big coat on with MINORMOUS pockets or owt.
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Post by Chuckles on Feb 28, 2007 20:23:40 GMT
AND...talking of recycling... OH is hoping to 'rescue' some rather nice iron railings that his company are currently replacing with glass.......happyCPBX I hasten to add the railings are to be skipped...no cloak and dagger nipping in there with a big coat on with MINORMOUS pockets or owt. Well done CPB, now where did you say your OH worked, what street again ;D feel a bit of cloak and dagger coming on and nipping in there.....OK I'm envious  Now for my latest recycling news, OH starts a job on Friday where he is taking down a conservatory which has double glazed glass panels in the roof, he has just said they might be suitable to make some cloches for the veg gdn, he will measure them up and see  |
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Mar 1, 2007 19:13:02 GMT
Chuckles...sounds like your OH is like mine. If you can't beat 'em join 'em brigade! Absolute treasures. ;D
The first load of railings are here...he just needs another panel and a couple more of the posts....and because he's one of those people that has to be 'doing' all the time I'm hoping that he'll be cementing them in this weekend....YAY!
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 1, 2007 19:43:52 GMT
It's only recently he's started thinking about things I can re use, I think he thinks it's better than me doing raids on skips Glad you got your 1st load railings, where are you going to use them. Will we get to see pics |
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Post by Babyswan on Mar 2, 2007 17:34:48 GMT
Yeah, some good stories there.
A few years ago, I got a WC recycled from a house up the street. Two long sulk filled years later, I had to admit defeat, and got rid of my 'cute' flower container to OH's relief.
Recently, saw a railway sleeper in a skip beside a house that was being refurbished. I asked the builders if it was theirs to not much of a reply. A day later, walking the dog, the boys gave me a shout saying the'd taken it out for me and I could have it. So I got my neighbour to carry it up to my house, and returned with a six pack of lager for the builders.
Every few years or so there is a collection by the city council of household rubbish. Usuallly there is some good stuff. I have to refrain from filling my back garden into a Steptoe and Son yard minus the horse. I got two aluminium beer kegs last time. One is already opened, the other still has a drop of beer in it. I'm afraid to puncture it, but won't throw it out! They do great as large flower boxes.
There's a new light rail line near my house, just finished two years ago. At the very end, I spied some cut offs of rail. Magpie gene took over, and I took four pieces back as border edging. Longest is about 2', but bloody hell they were heavy!!!
While I had the toilet bowl as a flower pot, I spied a bed end abandoned. So I hauled it home and made it look like a disabled toilet (y'know with a handle for support?)....didn't impress the OH one bit!
I also 'rescued' an abandoned green recycleable wheelie bin, which is now employed as a water butt down the garden. I rescued a length of hose too one collection time, and got a connector to double the area I can reach with me hose! Was followed home by a police helicopter that evening....
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Post by owainglyndwr on Mar 3, 2007 22:12:55 GMT
How fast were you pushing the wheelie bin ?! I rescued some Roofing Laths today from my local recycling centre. Perfect cut in half lengthways and used to make trellis. It's true. One man's rubbish is another man's gold
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Post by Babyswan on Mar 4, 2007 21:06:58 GMT
Welsh Blue,
I carried the wheelie bin most of the way cos it was late at night and wanted to keep the noise down!!!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2007 14:30:05 GMT
I don't know if it's the same in the UK, but here Bring Centres are absolute treasure troves, and the lads who work in them will generally let you poke around the skips; got some perfectly good trellis that way. And got two lovely Victorian oak chairs from the Council's household rubbish collection ... it's incredible what people throw out (our home is testament to their generosity) ... cheers ...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2007 14:18:16 GMT
Thanks for the reply on water tanks.
The first one is quite small so easy to tip over. Didn't have too many crocks so lifted it off the ground with pieces of wood to help get the water drain away faster. I just need to find a way of getting the larger tank out from the loft without breaking the roof. When I fill that one with compost its probably going to have to stay in one position, its huge.
I've also re-used the plastic water pipes from the old kitchen, I've sawn them up and will be using the with the pumpkins to enable water to get to the roots. I was going to use the copper pipes as well but wasn't sure about any "metal poisoning" so left them for the plumber. All the cardboard from the delivery of the kitchen units has either been burnt to make ash for later in the year or as ground cover to stop weed growth in my raised beds. Any offcuts of wood also got burnt. Less for the skip/recycling bin ;D.
I'll also be digging up some pavoirs from the front "carpark" to lay a lawn and still leave a bit for a driveway. Anyone in or around Leeds interested in them, going for nowt! (when I eventually get round to digging them up - that is)
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 8, 2007 18:51:45 GMT
;D ;D Chuckles has been at it again, seizing opportunities ;D ;D My neighbour has an enormous poly tunel up the field it's at least 20'x40' and it got battered and ripped a bit when we had those strong winds a couple of months ago. Chatting over the hedge tonight he tells me he is having it all redone I was in there ;D what are you doing with the old poly....I could do with a piece to re cover my old alliminium tomato house.....burning it he says . Well just as it was getting dark my other neighbour and myself went up the field, salvaged it all, folded it and carried/dragged it all down the field and into our garden, it was damded heavy . Neighbour wants to cover her 8x8 greenhouse with it and I my tomato house. Think we will have some spare ;D |
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Post by borderbabe on Mar 12, 2007 14:01:29 GMT
Nice one Chuckles - has he missed it yet??!!
I've been recycling again - though not strictly garden use - does conservatory count?? The same neighbours who gave us the patio circle (now laid and looking good complete with table and chairs!) asked us if we wanted the conservatory furniture and they dismantled the conservatory to build their extenion - in like a shot! Two seater sofa, two armchairs, table and footstool for nothing! The covers are fading a little but I can recover those as I did soft furnishing at evening classes a few years ago!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2007 14:05:20 GMT
Have just discovered that the light greenish plastic boxes that bare-rooted plants come in are the perfect size to fit over the black plastic trays that plug plants come in - two plastic boxes = 1 seed tray ;D ... cheers ...
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 12, 2007 15:03:47 GMT
We're all at it, fab fab fab you can't beat a bit of recycling ;D BB-Conservatories count seeing as you use it to see into the garden . Wish you lived near me I could find you loads of soft furnishing jobs in my house CC-two plastic boxes = 1 seed tray. Nice one Well I've used the old gate I saved from the skip today, I'll post photos of the finished area sooooooooooon. I've finished my cuppa so better get out there again, no rest for the wicked ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2007 15:14:49 GMT
I'm stuck in an office and have itchy feet to get on with things, like getting the water tank ready for the spuds and sowing parsnips etc... Oh to be able to retire at 30!  |
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 12, 2007 20:15:07 GMT
Oh to be able to retire at 30! How did you know I was only 30 Paul ;D ;D |
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 29, 2007 7:06:47 GMT
Think I'm loosing my eye for spotting stuff to recycle, not seen anything lately has anyone else |
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;D
I've never seen this thread before. There are some excellent ideas (skip scavenging 
