Trash Talk Thursday: Sew Simple Potting Bench!

My Trash Talk Tutorial Tuesdays will now be happening on Thursdays! We're in the middle of packing our entire house up for an exciting move, and Tuesdays have gotten mighty busy around here.
This week I'm sharing a trash to treasure portable potting bench ~ upcycled from a sewing table I pulled out of a neighbor's trash!

Sew Simple Potting Bench
I dragged this sewing machine table out of a neighbor’s trash, knowing it would come in handy for something. As luck would have it, I also found a small (plumber’s sample? R.V. sink?) plastic sink at a yard sale for $1.00 which fit perfectly in the hole where a sewing machine once sat!
Using red semi-glass oil based exterior house paint, I applied just one liberal coat on the entire surface of the table and let it dry, for color as well as protection in the outdoor elements. I added a mesh sink strainer to the lightweight plastic sink, plopped it into the open center, and now have a simple plant-potting work bench to tote around the yard as needed! The top still folds for storage, and the bench doubles as an outdoor beverage bar by adding ice & canned drinks in the sink. 'Sew' simple!
copyright 2013 www.redshedvintage.com

 

 

 

Spring Gardening ~ Breaking Out The Jadeite Thumb

My green thumb would probably be more of a pale shade of Jadeite, as I tend to kill more plants than I grow! I have had some luck with basic cooking herbs though ~ some in the kitchen window, and some in the (literal) bed of herbs I planted in the back yard a couple of years ago.

I plan on adding more lavender and a few other herbs to the bed of herbs this year ~ wherever the spearmint & peppermint haven't already taken over. Last year I was able to dry so many different types of herbs from my own garden, and even made my own goat's milk & lavender soap with some of the dried herbs. Seeing the fruits of my (not-so-laborious) labor is a great motivator to keep up with 'making the bed' outdoors.

I'm also trying my thumb @ growing my own tobacco (for decorative purposes, not for smokin') and already have some tobacco seedlings sprouting in a vintage glass trinket box turned mini-greenhouse...

We also gather dozens of Florida lemons & ruby red grapefruit from our 3 trees ~ some for squeezing & freezing the juice, and some for slicing & drying to make holiday potpourri and garlands in December.

Dried grapefruit slices + needle & dmc floss = rustic garland!

I'll also update the portable faerie garden plot in the next few weeks, as some plants have grown too big for fairies!

And last but by all means not least, I'll add some stakes for the 'I Love You Bean' beans which I got for Christmas ~ the plants have actually kept right on growing outside, in spite of my not-so-green thumb!


 

 

 

A Cozy Bed of Herbs

Right outside my back porch workshop and visible from the kitchen lies the bed of herbs. Literally. 
I planted an old brass bed in the back yard as a makeover project (Summer 2012 issue of A Primitive Place & Country Journal  ) and have grown to love the cozy comfort zone it has created ~ a little plot of country in the suburban jungle.

The Miniature Primitive Garden

I'm sure the neighbors must think I'm bonkers, out in the yard playing like a kid & surely taking more photos of my toys than get snapped of America's top models.
I really had SO much fun creating the portable miniature primitive garden makeover for the Summer 2012 issue of A Primitive Place & Country Journal Magazine!  

It was also featured on The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond's blog ! (Garden #25)