Weird container advice

15 years ago

Weird container is a couple of large legal size filing cabinets I found really cheap in a junk yard. Hadn't even thought about making them SWC until I found this forum and now I'm slightly obsessed with trying to do it and am trying to modify the instructions for the Earth Tainer to suit this larger format.

I'm thinking of using a pondliner cut to fit the lower 8-12" portion of the file case - (which has its drawers removed and is lying on its back, drawer openings skyward), cutting some plastic buckets down to make a support for the grid/separator, that I'm considering creating from that plastic trellis material covered with a landscape fabric to keep the soil above and then pond plant containers to hold the soil wicks.

Am I crazy? Are there better ideas? I love the idea of reusing these file cabinets. Here is where the idea came from:

http://baldmanmodpad.blogspot.com/2009/07/filing-planter-returns.html

Wondering if the cabinet will be too deep to allow sufficient wicking action?

BTW, thanks to this forum for the info on preventing blossom end rot on container grown tomatoes!!

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Comments (7)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
15 years ago
Shucks! I thought for sure it was going to be weird ADVICE and not weird CONTAINER! lol

Good luck with the project, looks pretty nifty.
kd-did
Original Author
15 years ago
LOL! I likely have some weird advice running around inside my head (that would account for the voices?) but nope, not this time!

When I get them done, I'll try and come back and post pics. Seems like no one wants to touch this with a 10 foot pole - just my kind of project.
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et14
15 years ago
go for it!

What color is the filing cabinet? You want to keep an eye on how hot it gets. Maybe some plywood or thick foam board insulation.

Other than that, have fun!
kd-did
Original Author
15 years ago
Good idea! I haven't picked out the paint color (this small project is mushrooming up into building an area of brick patio to place them on) but that's a good idea - I sanded and primed the exterior but haven't picked a color yet - maybe go lighter in color than I was thinking...
Thanks!
nugardnrinnc
15 years ago
Hello. I found that to be quite the weird container, but would look quite normal in these parts lol. The previous owner at my house actually built a raised bed for a bathtub. I don't know much about converting things into containers, but heat could be a big problem. Remember a brick patio is only gonna hold more heat. Good luck to you.
mksmth zone 7a Tulsa Oklahoma
15 years ago
what a great idea. the yellow paint should do well at keeping the soil temps from rising to high.
jwahlton
15 years ago
That's pretty awesome! Years ago my neighbor gave me a plastic outdoor sink that we never used. I have potatoes growing in there now! Make use of what you got!