Hey cute planter. So are you hooked and making more this year? Billie

Of course I want to make more! Spent the winter collecting containers to experiment with this summer and have a list of friends who want to come over and get their hands dirty when I mix things up. I've made troughs off and on for 5-6 years. There's always something else to try with hypertufa.

I assumed from your initial statement that you had just started. Can you post a pic of your troughs?
Things to use for molds are everywhere. I was in Allentown at the Ag Hall for auto flea market and found a cool bowl across the way at the farmers market.

We're not too far from each other then. I'm in northern Chester County. I see in an earlier post that you are familiar with Herb Johns? He gave the demo I was refering to. Another trough? A regular one or a head? LOL. Here is a "regular" with another behind it that sort of blends in.
{{gwi:65626}}

Isn't Herb Johns the nicest person? I haven't seen him in a couple of years though.
Troughs are usually rectangles to mimic the old stone feed/water troughs.
I'm in Bucks.

Claysoil, I love the natural look of your troughs. Do you form the design in sand and then pour into it? I have trouble getting that natural, irregular look. Maybe it is that other side of my brain that wants everything to be symetrical and perfect that makes it hard for me. I have tried making some troughs with patties to look more like rocks melted together but a friend told me it looked like piles of dog poop!! LOL I will keep experimenting.
Regina

Trashy, all you do is line your container with a plastic bag. The thicker the bag the more irregular the pot. After forming the pot, close the bag and let the mixture cure for 24 hours. Next day, take out the trough and scrape it with a wire brush. Of course, recover and let cure.

The rectangular trough in the last picture may have been one I made on the outside of a container. I flipped a basket over and just covered it with the wet mix. The side of this particular container broke at one point, but I thought it would make a good trough anyway.

I was using the typical portland-peat moss-vermiculite mix.

I'm actually trying for the opposite of what you are...I want smooth sides so am experimenting with that.