When looking at our backyard garden, it is crazy to see how many things have been reused. I am lucky because my husband, Tai, works in landscaping and irrigation. As a result, he drives around all day doing service calls and often picks up items discarded on the side of the road. When I was little, my dad used to do the same thing. I would get so irritated and embarrassed, but now I understand the social value of this type of behavior. For instance, look at our rabbit hutches:
Tai built them from left over crates, sheet metal and a barbecue pit found on the side of the road.
We also built our tomato supports from fence posts collected from when our neighbors rebuilt their fence:
We also built our tomato supports from fence posts collected from when our neighbors rebuilt their fence:
We just moved the fence posts next to our row of tomatoes. We drilled holes in the posts and draped cotton string every foot. I weave the tomato limbs between the strings so they are held up off the ground.
Tai also has a deal set up with fellow garbage collectors. He trades random metal pieces for iron fence posts. We use these, along with bamboo we harvest from a neighbor’s yard, to hang the netting for beans and crawling spinach:
Tai also has a deal set up with fellow garbage collectors. He trades random metal pieces for iron fence posts. We use these, along with bamboo we harvest from a neighbor’s yard, to hang the netting for beans and crawling spinach:
So many things in our garden come from other people’s trash. It just goes to show so many things people throw away can be used for productive purposes.
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