Durable garden trellises and tomato cages from concrete reinforcing mesh

Cucumbers climb a trellis in a community garden. The trellis is easy to remove at season's end.

Concrete reinforcing mesh outranks typical metal tomato cages in size, strength and ease of both harvest and storage between seasons. The metal grids are widely available at hardware stores and home and garden centers. The mesh comes in rolls of 100 feet or in panels typically 4x8 feet. The panels cost around $8. Yes, that may be pricier than a single tomato cage, but these cages are big enough to place two or three tomato plants inside -- and they'll last for years. The openings are 6 inches across, allowing for easy harvest.

A main advantage of the panels vs. rolls is not having to cut the mesh. To make a tomato cage bring the short ends together and use cable ties to join into a tube. This forms free-standing cages, or you may stake into the ground with rebar poles for extra security. (But they're not going anywhere!) At season's end cut the cable ties and stack panels flat against a wall or fence. 

To make a trellis use three long rebar poles per panel: two at either short end and one in the middle. Hammer the poles into the ground 12 inches or so deep. Attach the panel with cables ties. If you want the trellis to be elevated off the ground, use a wide wooden stake next to the rebar poles to form a shelf for the panel bottom before attaching with cable ties. 

Trellises from concrete reinforcing mesh are easy to set up and easy to take down, but have the strength of more permanent installations -- making them ideal for shared gardens or crop rotations in your home plot.

Poles beans climb trellis made of concrete reinforcing mesh.

Off-season uses for tomato cages

With a nod to Dr. Seuss ... 

"Where will we hang the stockings?" the kids asked me this year.

Christmas is coming, it's practically here.

For a fireplace we've got,

but a mantle -- with crannies and nooks for placing hangers and hooks --

a mantle, we have not.

Then the gardener got an idea. A silly idea.

The gardener got a wonderful, crazy idea.

"I know just what to do!" the gardener cried

and she threw on her boots and went outside.

She tromped through the snow past summer's veggie bed

and claimed metal tomato cages resting in the shed.

Why, upside down these garden structures are just the trick

to hang up our stockings for good Ol' St. Nick.

They stand on their own in the shape of the tree:

An efficient use of space, as you can see.

With clothespins in hand the gardener thought of other reasons

Tomato cages could be useful beyond standard growing seasons.

Greeting card displays! Hat stands! Mitten racks!

Boot shapers and homes for scarves drying in stacks!

Just think -- if you place a cage above a heat vent

You can make your own compact snow-gear-drying tent. 

As she brought a little of her garden inside for the day

the gardener began to look at things in an entirely new way.

To some it's absurd, but the possibilities are endless

When the wish is to create something practically spend-less.

Happy Holidays from Backyard Farming!

Decorate gingerbread house as a bird feeder

Here's a favorite seasonal project from the Backyard Farming archives: ditching the candy of a traditional gingerbread house and decorating with treats for the birds instead. (Read here to see how my candy frustration fueled this idea!)

Use popcorn, crackers, sunflower seeds, shelled peanuts, pretzels and -- what else? -- birdseed to adorn a gingerbread house. The house shown here is a grandpa special, made out of wood and designed for perennial use. You may use regular gingerbread, graham crackers or even simple cardboard boxes as the base. Of course you'll want to put a bird feeder house outdoors, but make sure it is in a sheltered area where it won't get damaged from rain or snow, such as on a covered porch. Put it somewhere you can watch from a window.

Instead of icing, I used a mixture of peanut butter and cornmeal to attach the bird treats. The cornmeal makes the peanut butter easier to spread, and is also easier for the birds to eat. Another option is shortening in place of peanut butter (still mixed with cornmeal).

Not only is this a fun project to make, you get the added benefit of watching birds join in the winter celebration.

Computer Desk Makeover

I love thrift stores L-O-V-E them. Okay, maybe I don't love them that much, but I really do like them and here is why:

1. I'm frugal.

2. It is good for the environment to reuse instead of buying new.

3. I love the challenge of restoring the beauty in someone's cast off.

4. It is like a treasure hunt.

5. I don't have to dress up to go shopping at the thrift store.

My most recent thrift store makeover came from my need for a computer desk in our family room.  A small desk with some drawers for storage would do the trick and I found this one for $20: 

It's nothing to write home (or blog) about, but I liked the simple design of it and it is sturdy. 

I found a paint color named "basil" and i just had to use it, I'm a sucker for that name. One of my chicks that I get this spring will be named Basil. I also think it would be a really cute baby name, just throwing it out there. I'm getting a little distracted, back on track...here is the finished product.

Now I just need to find a really great dramatic piece for the wall space above. Any suggestions? Oh, and I really need to put the outlet cover back on. Maybe I will head to the thrift store to see if I can find something spectacular.

~marisa

It Used To Blow Up Submarines

We are fans of repurposed items here at Backyard Farming. I know that this doesn't have a lot to do with farming or cooking but this furniture was too awesome to not show you. It is made by an artist in Estonia. He takes old World War II sea mines and makes them into furniture. I love the fireplaces and the desks but they are all really cool. Check them out here.