The byproduct of gardening, in addition to bushels of tomatoes, is lots of unsightly tools and supplies. It can be very overwhelming looking through piles of necessary terracotta pots to try and find a pair of pruning shears amongst the clutter. Time for a solution!
We found a way to create a functional and simple potting bench area in our garage! Just in time to bring the pumpkins in for an early hard freeze, too!
WHEN A HUSBAND WANTS A PROJECT, GIVE HIM A PROJECT!
Over the years, I have learned that encouraging my husband to hunt usually works out to my advantage. I have no desire to be a hunter... huntress? whatever. I'm a happy homebody, and I like holding down the fort and taking care of the boys while he gets his quiet time in the great outdoors.
Usually I even greet him at the door with a hot meal and a smile (or maybe it's the expression of 'THANK GOD YOU ARE HERE' after being at home with three kids all day... I'm really not sure).
The beauty of hunting after daylight savings time is that there is an awful lot of evening left after the sun goes down (and the hunting stops), which is before seven o'clock in our area.
We usually have a few extra friends come out for hunting, and they do a nice job of helping Aaron with little homestead projects. A few years ago, he and a friend built me a pretty cool potting bench in their free time.
Our garage has an area that is almost like an open room that we never really knew how to organize. There were always kid toys, bikes, pet stuff and junk crammed into the area. We are so classy like that. Actually, why don't I just show you what I'm talking about... no judgement... I'm kidding, I have thick skin... judge away!
QUALITIES IN A GOOD POTTING BENCH
- Plenty of countertop workspace.
- Storage for flowerpots, garden tools, seed starting supplies, etc.
- Multifunctional: I wanted to have the option of using it as general overflow storage as needed.
We ended up with this! No comparison to how much better they made this area! It literally took them less than six hours. I love having the open storage underneath for the inevitable bike or toy that need a spot to be stashed.
On the side we used the wooden dowels for rubber boot storage. I'd like to add a pegboard to hang my garden tools, but that's a project for another day!
I took this pictures a few weeks ago when we were expecting an early hard freeze. I wasn't ready for my herbs and pumpkins to be lost in the middle of October! (no, my potting bench is not staged like this in normal day to day life!)
I also saved seeds from our zinnias and marigolds so that I could plant them next spring. They will stay here in these brown paper bags until March or so. I also clean up my pots and store them for the winter. Terra cotta tends to crack if it is left out in the cold.
All that’s left to do is keep it tidy... which probably isn’t going to happen around here! At least I have documentation that DID happen... once!
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