DIY Cradle-to-Cradle: Futon Flowerbeds for Most Glorious Revolution!

With Victory Gardens back in vogue lately, even the new US secretary of agriculture is putting on his sunhat in the name of local food security. It seemed perfectly fitting, then, that I consummate my recent move to a more temperate clime (Vancouver) with an urban agriculture adventure of my very own: I too could be tending a waving ocean of asparagus from the comfort of my balcony – right? I simply had to overcome the obstacles of having no time, no space, and no pertinent knowledge whatsoever.

Fortunately for me, community gardens and helpful hippies abound in my new city and free advice seemed easy to come by. Space was another matter entirely. Several rounds of negotiations later, my girlfriend had yielded a 6′ x 4′ space on our South-facing patio. Note its current occupant: unloved futon frame (brought in error when I moved):

It was exactly at this juncture when inspiration struck: my junk would become my garden – earning me double EcoCred™ and giving me something to brag about next time I’m in Huangbaiyu. In all seriousness, the prospect of actually building the planter from an old piece of furniture suddenly seemed not only overwhelmingly satisfying from an intellectual perspective but also the cheapest and most convenient way to have the planter I wanted.  Not to mention the added bonus of avoiding a trip to the salvation army or landfill.

By the time the Vancouver sky had made good on its all-day threat of rain, I stood before a fairly respectable looking wooden rectangle. I’d spent less than $50 on a piece of plywood, 280 2′ galvanized steel nails, and a 4-hour circular saw rental from Home Depot, but I’m prouder of it than any other piece of furniture in my home.

Tales of guerilla re-manufacturing you’d like to share? Post below: