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Garden Gate:  Old Refridgerator  |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
 Posted - May 05 2010 : 06:04:39 AM
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I have a fridge that I used for milk in my milkroom. It's now not working so I unplugged it the other day. But I am thinking it might make a nice raised bed. Has anyone ever done this? Is it safe? I was thinking to poke holes in the bottom and fill the bottom half with rocks then the rest with good soil and either plant salad greens or something. And paint it of course. I already have some cute ideas for that too. Just a thought. I hate to waste anything when it would make a good planter. Plus costs so much to take to the dump.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Tn.Earthmama
True Blue Farmgirl
451 Posts
Phyllis
Englewood
Tennessee
451 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2010 : 06:18:02 AM
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| Kris, I have heard of someone doing that, can't remember where unfortunately. I have also heard of using it for a root cellar. sounds like a good plan to me. have fun making your bed. Phyllis |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2010 : 08:02:58 AM
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kris it would make a great worm box. you could lay it flat and use it with the door as the lid. old spa tubs that are free around here make great raised beds too. when they are wrapped in wood they look good sitting out.i think the planter would be so cute with all the other stuff you did. sure wish you could post pics. the bicycle and basket spot sounds so cute.since you have been warm it will be fun to see what sprouts in the bottom of your garden. after the big rains. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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nubidane
True Blue Farmgirl
3019 Posts
Lisa
Georgetown
OH
3019 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2010 : 08:12:44 AM
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Kris
Find out about the freon before you poke any holes. |
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Butterscotch Grove
True Blue Farmgirl
196 Posts
Melissa
Fairbanks
AK
196 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2010 : 09:17:59 AM
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Lisa has a really good point, Kris! It sounds cute, but you don't want to make a hazardous waste site instead of a garden! Do you have little kids? If so, don't forget to remove the door so they can't get trapped inside.
That said, an old 'fridge would make a nice sized raised bed....
Melissa
My blog:
http://ButterscotchGrove.wordpress.com |
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natesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1735 Posts
angela
martinsville
indiana
USA
1735 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2010 : 09:39:28 AM
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You can also make a drop pit cellar with it! I am making three with the three old chest freezers on our property. As for the freon, you simply remove the motor unit. I don't have a root cellar yet and my garden already looks 200x's better than last year. I'm gonna need some storage space! We found plans in an old homesteading book for burying an old fridge on it's back and throwing a tart and hay bales on top to prevent water getting in or the food from freezing. It's a neat idea and works better than nothing at all.
Farmgirl Sister #1438
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
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homsteddinmom
True Blue Farmgirl
441 Posts
Brandee
bullard
tx
USA
441 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2010 : 11:28:43 AM
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there was a big article about this in the farm show magazine. The man used old fridges and freezers for raised bed gardens cuz he couldnt bend over. I have a few that im going to do that do but havent gotten around to it yet.
Homesteading Mom in East Texas. Raising chickens, Rabbits and goats here on my farm! |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2010 : 12:11:52 PM
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I was thinking about the freon too. But that's why it doesn't work. But there may still be some in it. So we just take the motor out and the doors off? I like the root celar idea also. We have 2 old chest type freezers that came with this house. One of them is NOT coming out of the cat room. That room had to have been built around this big thing. So it's staying put unless we tear the walls down. I use it to store my bread grains in. And the cat bowls are on top of it where the cays can eat. Then there is another out behind the luandry room.
I am glad to see it can be used for raised beds though. I am really getting on a spray paint kick. All I need now are some big ole strong guys to help move it.
Thanks for all the good ideas and advice. I can't wait to do this now.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2010 : 6:54:23 PM
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If you use it as a root cellar you will want to leave thedoors on but I would HIGHLY recommend that you put locks on it and keep I locked when you aren't using it.
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - May 06 2010 : 10:27:51 AM
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good morning girls, kris is having trouble getting on farmgirl. plus her garden. i miss her replies already. so since this thread was posted i have been brainstorming. to save the garden i will have to move plants 2 times here to there..there to where ever we land. trying to find ways to contain large shrubs without disturbing roots. i am going to make a frame out of pallets screwed together. i will line with barrier cloth. then fill like a really BIG pot.papa is making forks for the tractor on days hes here.i could unload and then move where i need to with my kubota. she is the machine backbone of our existence.so now the quest begins. finding free pallets. i have a 14 foot long roll fabric cloth.another idea sprung from some one else posting a thought.ok not fun. freezing for real butt cold here. you guys in the south i hear are HOT. big flower pots.i will under plant the pots with ground covers and vines. so that way i can haul more. will have to see what papa thinks will be my max weight on our old girl. do not want to make her mad. need her backhoe everyday now for 5 months. maybe time off for good behavior and a gentle oil job.lol thanks kris ... happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 06 2010 : 3:37:13 PM
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Sherrye, wow, you have so much to do. Goodness. I would just buy new plants just to not have to do all you are doing. But I know how attached I get to some of mine. I wish I could have dug up all my plants from my gardens in our old house. Lots of years of work and time went into them. Now I am starting over here. I have finally felt like my old self again and want to actually play in the dirt again. I am going crazy with all these ideas I want to do. I am just taking a break right now til it cools off some. It IS hot here. Almost 90 today and tomorrow 91. Way too hot. But the weekend in the 70's. Strange weather.
I hope you get it all done, Sherrye. And don't work too hard.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Celticheart
True Blue Farmgirl
811 Posts
Marcia
WA
USA
811 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2010 : 11:50:58 AM
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Old refrigerators and freezers-uprights that is-make great smokers too, if you like to smoke meats. We have an extra right now and I think I'll work on DH to bury it. I like the root cellar idea.
"Let us never forget that the cultivation of the earth is the most important labor of man. When tillage begins, other art follows. The farmers, therefore, are the founders of civilization."
Daniel Webster
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2010 : 12:42:59 PM
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i bet you all have seen the tractor article in mjf. so that is how i am able to move so many plants.we have about $30,000.-- on the low end in landscape. i will not leave it to die. it matters more than the stuff inside this home.Jehovah God has put the strong will to live in plants. i am going to rip them up and drag them along even bare root. some will live some not. my tractor is orange and she is a work horse. i also have a dump 12,000 pound dump trailer to haul it. so i feel very blessed. i am looking for a large container to rent to store my home stuff in on the property. hoping i can make that work. you know like a box car. my dad used to use fridges for smokers. works great. you might need to use different racks though. the fridge ones sometimes have aluminum on them. they are not safe.happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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Celticheart
True Blue Farmgirl
811 Posts
Marcia
WA
USA
811 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2010 : 3:29:48 PM
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He did change out the racks to use it as a smoker but I don't know what he used.
"Let us never forget that the cultivation of the earth is the most important labor of man. When tillage begins, other art follows. The farmers, therefore, are the founders of civilization."
Daniel Webster
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2010 : 7:28:33 PM
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Marcia, please let me know how that works for a smoker. I can't imagine what to do but it sounds like a great idea.
Sherrye, I did see the article but have not read it yet. I would love to have a tractor. One day when we get rich, I suppose.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2010 : 8:37:16 PM
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Kris: I had a neighbor in my growing-up years that used an old refridgerator as a worm bed. He took the door off, laid in on its side. Any time we wanted worms to go fishing, we'd go see Mr. Roy. It was like a compost site too. So the worms grew to be huge.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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LadyInRed
True Blue Farmgirl
6740 Posts
PeggyAnn
Vancouver
WA
USA
6740 Posts |
Posted - May 10 2010 : 01:25:59 AM
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Those are all great ideas for Old Refrigerators and Freezers. The Pit Cellar is my favorite!
I live in Washington State and we have a few old homes with Root Cellars but not many left any
more, so the Freezer is a dandy idea!
Blessings,
~peggy
Lady In Red |
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Garden Gate: Old Refridgerator |
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Old Refridgerator
