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DIY: Mason Jar Garden Lights

CasaSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:00:52 -0700

Considering the prices of garden lights these days, I've been looking for a low-cost alternative. Lucky me, I found a DIY for temporary garden lights you can make from only LEDs, lithium coin cells, mason jars, and a little bit of tape. The lights will be temporary, until the battery runs out, but you can always refresh your battery supply just for about 30 cents each.
Supplies:

One ultrabright LED with a diffused lens per light
One CR2032 lithium coin cell per light
One mason jar per light
Tape, masking is fine

To learn the steps, read more.

Connect an LED directly across the terminals of the lithium coin cell, so the long lead goes to the positive (+) side of the battery.
Wrap it once with tape so the LED stays touching the battery cell.
Half-twist the LED 90 degrees from the battery cell so that it can bend that way and the two leads of the LED don't touch each other.
Tape the light to the inside of your mason jar lid.
Screw the lid on. Fini!

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DIY: Planting Your Garden Box

CasaSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:00:12 -0700

Did you read my post on building a redwood planter box? If so, you're already halfway done. You still need to anchor the box, level it, fill it with soil, and plant it. Read on for my list of suggestions on how to do it.

Move your box to the area you want to permanently place it. Since the area in my yard was on a slight incline, I had to dig the box in further on one side than on the other. In any case, you're going to want to dig a perimeter trench for the box, and then place it in the trench.
Use a level to make sure that your box is sitting evenly.
You can stand on the four corners and jump up and down a bit to make sure it's anchored well, too.
Now, break the soil that you dug out of the trenches and use it to stuff into the sides of the box to fill in any holes.
Then, use a pitchfork or shovel to dig up and turn over the grass and soil inside the box.

For the rest of the directions, just read more.

Spread a layer of black and white (not colored) newspaper over the clods of dirt. This will suppress weed growth, and the newspaper will naturally decompose and enrich the soil.
If you have any compost that's pretty thoroughly decomposed, use it to cover the newspaper.

Next, cover the newspaper and compost with gardening soil. We hauled in four bags of Local Hero blend soil from American Soil in Richmond, which specializes in different soil mixtures for gardening and landscaping. If you're not sure how much soil you'll need, here's an easy way to estimate.

Smooth and level the soil.

Now you're ready to plant! I used a mixture of seeds and seedlings, and planted everything from a row of carrots to a a row of zinnias. I planted trellising plants, such as squashes and cucumbers, against the edge of the box. This way I can anchor a trellis outside of the box, which will give me more room for growing plants.

Enjoy!

DIY: Build Your Own Garden Box

CasaSugar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:45:47 -0700

This weekend, I decided to expand my vegetable garden space by building another garden box. If you know how to operate a power drill, you can build this box, too. Here are some tips to make it easier: If you're a first-time builder, go to a small hardware or lumber store with a friendly clerk who can help you work out the details. Also, have the hardware store folks cut all of your lumber to the correct lengths; this will save you loads of time and headaches. Finally, remember: This is going to get filled with soil, so it doesn't have to look perfect! Tune in tomorrow, when I tell you how to securely place, fill, and plant your box.

Here's What You Need

4 longer pieces of redwood, cut to specified length (I used 8 ft lengths)
4 shorter pieces of wood for the ends, cut to specified length (I used 3 ft lengths)
4 4-x-4-inch square pieces of redwood cut to match the height of 2 boards (in my case it was 12 inches). You can also opt to cut your 4-x-4s to a slightly longer length (such as 2 inches longer). This way, you can use the longer length of the 4-x-4s to anchor your box when you have to dig it into the ground.
Galvanized 4 inch-long screws (galvanized screws will resist rust)
Power drill (preferably with other battery pack charged)
Flat, large surface for working, such as a patio, deck, or garage
A willing helper, who can hold ends of lumber and fetch tools as needed

To find out how to build this garden box, just read more.

Take two of your 4-x-4s and place them beneath each end of your long pieces of lumber. Line them up so the ends are flush.

Drill 2 screws into each end of the board, keeping the screw straight and screwing smoothly through both the longer piece of lumber and the 4-x-4 piece of lumber. As you can see from this photo, I had my 4-x-4s cut to a slightly longer length, which will help to anchor your garden box in the ground. However, if you do this, make sure to keep the longer ends of the 4-x-4s on the same side!

Repeat the prior step with the other 2 long boards.

Now, take your 2 long sides with the 4-x-4s screwed into them. Have your helper take one end, and you take the other. Now, turn each side on end, as if it was the wall of the garden box. If you have had your 4-x-4s cut so they are an inch or two longer than your other boards, have the longer end of the 4-x-4s sticking up in the air

With your helper, space the long ends so that they're about the same width as your short boards.

Have your helper lightly hold up the bottom corner of the boards, with the end of the short board and the long board flush in her or his palm. Screw the short board into the 4-x-4. Make sure to alternate your placement of the screw, so the screws won't overlap with the ones in your long board.

Repeat this process on the other corner. Then, stack your second short board on top of the first one use your power drill to screw it in. This is what it should look like.

Secure the other short boards on the opposite end.
You're done! Check in tomorrow when I tell you how to anchor, level, and plant your new container box.

DIY: Grow an Herb Garden Indoors

CasaSugar — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:00:08 -0700

Want an easy way to get into gardening? Then try an indoor herb garden!

Supplies:

1 large container with 20-inch diameter (plastic or clay, with a drainage hole)
1 saucer to fit container
Certified organic potting soil mix
Herb plants
Gravel or screen mesh
Certified organic fertilizer

To learn the steps, read more.

Here's how, compiled from Beautyjust4you and GardenGuides:

Choose a location for your garden that gets at least 5 hours of sun a day, preferably near a Southern or Western window.
To keep the soil from coming out of your container's drainage hole, cover it loosely with some gravel or screen mesh.
Sit your pot in a saucer to catch the drainage.
Fill your pot with 2/3 organic potting soil mix.
For better selection and advice, go to a nursery that specializes in herbs to buy your plants.
Choose herbs that need similar amounts of sunlight (i.e., rosemary, thyme, parsley, basil, and oregano all need 5-6 hrs.)
Place the taller herbs (i.e. rosemary) in the center of your pot, and the others around the sides. Place them at about the same depth they were growing in their nursery pots.
While planting, gently loosen the soil around each root ball.
Fill the pot with more soil, to about 2 inches from the top.
Give them a good first watering, but don't overwater them or let them stand in a saucer full of water.
Soak once or twice a week, and allow the soil to dry out before watering again.
Feed your garden once a month with a bit of organic fertilizer.
Your herbs should be ready for use in a few weeks. Always clip the outer leaves only as you need them, leaving plenty of growth on the plant.
To maintain your indoor garden long-term, repot it once a year, and renew your annual herbs (i.e. basil, dill, fennel, mint, parsley, rosemary, coriander).
Check out my post to read about five easy herbs to start your garden.

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DIY: Concrete Garden Steps With Glass

CasaSugar — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:00:00 -0700

Bay Area landscape architecture firm Studio Green creates gorgeous garden elements for its clients, like these patio squares that have been seeded with colored glass. I love the unexpected sparkle to these simple patio steps. Making patio stepping stones isn't too difficult, and by adding colored glass tiles, you can get the same special sparkle without all of the work of sanding down the broken glass pieces.Summer is an ideal time of the year to make these pavers, since hot, sunny weather will help them dry more quickly. This project takes a few different steps and requires a period of one to two weeks between making the steps and using them to let the concrete steps cure.

Supplies:

Concrete mix
Concrete paver mold, like these, or you can simply use shallow plastic containers that are the right size for your project
Concrete trowel
Glass tiles, in whatever size you like
Mold release product, such as canola and safflower oil
Wheelbarrow or large pail
Water
Dust mask if you are working indoors

Find out the steps when you read more.
Here are the steps:

Brush the inside of the mold surface with the mold release.
Measure out dry concrete or mortar mix in your wheelbarrow or large pail. Add water according to the instructions on your concrete bag. Mix thoroughly.
Pour the concrete into the molds. Mix the concrete to make sure all the air bubbles are out.
Now, carefully place your glass tiles the top surface of the concrete mixture. Use your trowel to lightly push the glass tiles into the concrete, which should still be wet.
Before the concrete sets, use your trowel to smooth the surface. Let the molds rest for at least 24 hours before you remove the molds.
Remember to wash the tools you use to mix the concrete immediately after use. If you don't, the concrete will harden and you won't be able to remove it.
Let the concrete steps cure for one to two weeks, then set your stepping stones out in your garden.

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Garden Therapy: A DIY Compost Bin

CasaSugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:00:32 -0700

Craftster member Gwydion has inspired me to use the extra lumber left over from some home projects to build a new compost pile. I'm tired of wrestling with my flimsy plastic composter, which seems to never stay in place and whose top always folds into the compost itself. Yuck! Gwydion DIYed her compost pile for a fraction of the cost of one she'd buy in a store.

To find out how she did it, read more.

Gwydion writes, "It's a pretty simple design. The front of each box has slots where you can drop in additional 1-x-8 boards, depending on the height of your compost. Makes it easier to turn the compost from one bin to the other and to rescue the finished product. My husband saw something similar online for about $200, plus shipping, plus assembly, so naturally I had to try to make it. Constructed from 1-x-4s, 1-x-8s, and hardware cloth, with 2-x-4 footers (which you can't see in the picture). It's about 3-x-3-x-6 feet. I built it in panels in the living room and then assembled it on the patio (because that's where the outlet was for the drill . . .). This was a rotten idea, as I then had a miserable time moving it to the corner of the yard. It's waterproofed with about six coats of linseed oil and is holding up well to the elements."

I love the fact that even though Gywdion's husband was the one that spotted the composter online, Gwydion was the one who built it. (This is how it works at my house, too.) Nice work!

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Best of 2008: DIY

CasaSugar — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 06:15:35 -0800

This year, I shared dozens of DIY projects with you, ranging from easy and quick to more time-consuming and intensive enterprises. You were taken by the garden box I built in my backyard to grow my own crop of vegetables and inspired to build your own. Although, one of you pointed out that actually growing a garden might be the hard part! Check out the DIY here.

Desire/Acquire: Burlap Chandelier

CasaSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:15:25 -0700

Fresh off of my burlap bonanza roundup, which featured this Jayson Home & Garden Caravan Chandelier ($1,295), made of an iron frame covered with a burlap potato sack, I spotted a much more affordable version of the light fixture. It's certainly handsome and lends a rustic industrial aesthetic, but I wouldn't pay a penny over a grand for it - if that. Want to see where you can buy the exact same chandelier for less? Then read more.

The Caravan Trapezoid Chandelier ($987.50) from The Paris Market will save you just over 300 smackers. But you know me, I'd say go for a DIY before you buy.

Roundup: Weekend DIYs

CasaSugar — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:00:45 -0700

Get inspired this weekend to craft some garden projects or make something special for dear old Dad! Source

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DIY: A Terra-Cotta Fountain

CasaSugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 08:30:51 -0700

It's safe to say that I'm a little obsessed with water features in gardens. Whether it's a koi pond or a granite fountain, I'm all for it. So, when I found this Martha Stewart post on making a backyard fountain out of economical materials, I knew that it would be a hit with Casa readers. You can even make it more eco chic by using gray water for the water in your fountain.

What You'll Need

Three terra-cotta pots that can stack top to bottom, as seen in the photo and diagram, for the inside body of your fountain
Two supporting pots
Foam sealant (even better, use a green foam sealant)
One-inch diameter plastic tubing, a little shorter than the height of your pots (you can trim it after you've built the fountain)
Water pump
A power cord that will connect to the pump
Flow-control valve
Terra-cotta feet for the bottom pot

To find out how to make it, read more.

Collect three display pots and two support pots. They can be as big or small as you like, as long as the tops and bottoms correspond.
Plug the drainage hole of the largest pot with foam sealant. Place the pot on a level surface. Cut a length of 1-inch-diameter flexible plastic tubing that, when inserted into the pump, extends through both support pots and 6 inches above the base of the smallest display pot. Insert the tubing into the pump.
Now, fit the pump into the base pot, running the power cord over the rim, toward a grounded exterior outlet. Turn the larger support pot upside down over the pump, propping it on the terra-cotta feet to allow water to flow underneath. Loop the tubing through the drainage hole, and spray foam sealant around tubing to seal.
Position the second display pot, then loop the tubing through hole. Seal with foam.
Repeat these steps with the remaining support and display pots. Add a flow-control valve a few inches from the end of the tube. Add water until the pots are overflowing; plug the pump into the outlet, and adjust the pressure as needed.
Host a garden party so your friends and neighbors can ooh and ahh over your new fountain!

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