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Welcome

to the

Garden

OUR CURRENT PROJECT:

Create a Vertical Garden!  Please be sure to read the instructions several times before attempting.  If you have questions, just contact us!

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Materials:

  • Empty and clean 16 fl. oz. water bottles

  • 2-liter bottles

  • Gallon jugs

  • juice bottles

  • A box cutter

  • Cinder blocks

  • Wooden boards 

  • Wood screws or nuts and bolts

  • Watering Can

  • Push pin

  • Fruit and vegetable plants or starter pots

  • Glass beads/gems

  • Permanent marker (optional)

  • Epson salt (optional)

  • Square pavers (optional)

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Our goal in this project is to create a vertical garden using recycled materials and costing almost no money.  This would be great for those with little to no gardening space, those wanting to optimize space, those wanting to create a barrier between houses or section off areas of the yard.  If you use these plans with your neighbors, you could have a wonderful community garden where each household grows a variety of vegetables and fruits, allowing all to share a beautiful, bountiful harvest!

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Using these materials, we'll create a structure that will house your garden.  The design is such that it can be customized to the dimensions of your space.  There are soil versions and hydroponic versions (the plants will need no soil).  Let your imagination run wild.  Create separator walls, waist-high structures that are accessible to small children or those in wheelchairs, zig-zag designs, or a structure just the right size to put on your porch! The possibilities are endless!  Let's get started.

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1.  Measure and design.

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First, find a location where you'd like your vertical garden.  You may or may not need to till an area or remove debris.  Measure how wide, tall, and long you want your garden to be.  Putting objects on the ground will give you a better perspective of how the garden will function.  Be sure to pay special attention to the height, especially if others will be using it.  

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For our design, we will use:

  • water bottles

  • juice bottles

  • gallon bottles

  • 2-liter bottles

  • compost cow manure (available here at Lowe's)

  • wood boards or wood from pallets

  • cinder blocks (we found at our local landscape & supply store; they had larger blocks so we needed fewer)

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2.  Prepare the containers

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For each water bottle, remove any labels or stickers.  Cut a section approximately 3 inches wide and 4.5 inches long from the bottle.  Here's a tutorial to help.

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For the larger containers, cut an opening as indicated below.   These are images of juice bottles and gallon jugs.  For jugs without a flat side, you can cut off the top.  Don't discard the top, it has other uses.

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For the larger containers, cut an opening as indicated below.   These are images of juice bottles and gallon jugs.  For jugs without a flat side, you can cut off the top.  Don't discard the top, it has other uses.  Whatever size you use, create drainage holes in each container to allow excess water to drain out (unless you're planting hydroponic plants-see below).**

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3.  Building the structure.

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This part will require your imagination.  Refer back to your original design (where you put items as placeholders to determine the shape of your garden).  Use cinder blocks and boards to create, for lack of better description, a cinder block bookshelf.  If you are using 8 ft. boards, you may want to put a block on each end, and one support block in the middle.  You may want to put the boards within the block openings or nest the boards between blocks.  You can also choose to make it sturdier by using an extra strength adhesive to glue the blocks together, or you may want to leave them separate to disassemble later.  It's totally up to you.  Here's an image that may help with construction.  Don't worry, we'll upload our images as we begin building.  

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Line up the water bottles in a row on each board side by side.  Line up juice bottles on the next lower board side by side being sure to place the board high/low enough to accommodate the height of the plant for each container.  The largest (gallon) bottles should be placed on the ground and reserved for tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, or other large plants.  Refer to this Pinterest page for ideas and tips.

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Secure the containers to the boards using a nut and bolt or wood screw.  Be sure to use a short screw or bolt with a blunt tip so no one will get injured when digging into the soil with bare hands or when harvesting from the row below.  Do not use bolts or screws that will rust.

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4.  Time to plant!

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*Important:  Refer to the planting and growing instructions included with your plants.  We suggest using water bottles for small plants such as dill, basil, green onions, thyme, mint, and cilantro.  Use larger containers for lettuce, tomatoes, spinach, cucumbers, and other larger yield/sized fruits and vegetables.  For additional ideas and tips on what to plant, where to plant, and how to plant, visit this Pinterest page.

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For soil based plants, fill the container leaving about 1 inch from the top.  Create a space for the plant, being sure to follow the instructions from the seed packet or instruction stake.  Water well.

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**For hydroponic plants, DO NOT CREATE DRAINAGE HOLES.  Instead, place enough glass gems on the bottom to cover.  Fill the container with water, leaving about an inch of space at the top.

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5.  Caring for your plants

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Some plants don't make good neighbors.  Some draw different wildlife.  Some need special care.  Be sure to research how to care for each plant so they will thrive and give an abundant harvest.  One major thing that'll help is speaking life over your plants!  Does it work?  Yep!  One year we had tomatoes growing through several feet of snow!  Ok, maybe we overdid it that year, but the proof was in the pudding!

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All our best hopes for a happy, healthy garden!

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FVI Church

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