rain gutter planters

We are trying something new in our garden this year.  We'll have to see how well our spinach and lettuce do in these rain gutters.

 

 

I'm pretty sure this idea was a result of Dave's browsing on Pinterest.

And I'm also pretty sure these gutters were bought over a year ago to make bookshelves in Gavin's room.  I guess Dave decided they had been sitting long enough and needed another purpose.  Sorry Gavin, no bookshelves. That's what Mommy gets for not getting to a project for over a year.

 

 

All three kids were big helpers.

 

Gavin did his share of putting dirt in the gutter, and also grabbing handfuls of dirt from the gutter and throwing it out.  So his efforts probably ended up being more of a wash.

 I have no idea how the spinach and lettuce are going to do up in these gutters.  Dave screwed the whole thing in pretty good to hold the weight, and drilled holes in the bottom for the water to drain.  I realized that that means the top row will drain onto the bottom row, so the lettuce on the bottom may be pretty dirty.  But it all gets washed anyway.  We'll just have to see how it all turns out. 

 

Other than the little bit of help he gave us, Gavin spent most of his time cruising the yard. 

 



 

He got stuck lots of times and had to be rescued.  He really needs to learn how to steer that thing.'

 

I guess 4-wheeling is serious business, because I couldn't get any other look from him than this one.

 

 

The kids also planted their own lettuce in some pots and left some room for one or two other things too.  I love that they love gardening so much.  It's probably one of our most favorite things to do as a family during the spring and summer.  Today we all dreamed out loud of the huge garden we may have one day.

 

 

We got some corn in tonight too, first time for that.  But otherwise, everything else we'll add will start from plants, and we'll add them after it gets and stays warmer.

We are already struggling to keep this little guy out of the garden.  Even with little fences around it, we find him in there all the time.  He's definitely my boy who is drawn to dirt.  And likes to eat it.

 

I'm guessing our plants have more to fear this year other than hail, wind and extreme heat.

They will have to survive this little guy too.