It started as this…

And ended like this!

Supply List:

• 1 large storage tote container. (We used the Roughneck Storage Box found at Walmart).
• 1 bag of potting mix (note: needs peat moss in it. We used Organic Choice Potting Mix by Miracle-Gro)
• Seeds
• Sharpie (for marking outlines and such)
• 1 3-foot tall pipe.
• 4 5-inch tall 1″x1″ wood pieces.
• 1 colander
• 2 cups of fertilizer
• 4 screws
• Electric drill
• Box cutter
• Bungee Chords (note: not needed until later)

We used this guide specifically as our point of reference. Also this magical PDF will be useful later in the process.

Step One: Cutting the Top to Fit Inside the Tote

The top of the container will be what the dirt goes on top of. How this works is that underneath the tote’s top (which will be cut down to size) is a water reservoir so that the water feeds up into the soil. This insures that the soil and plants have a constant water supply and also means you can’t really overwater the plant!. Also, watering doesn’t erode the soil or flush nutrients, which would happen if you watered it from up top.

Further, it makes watering convenient since you only need to refill the water supply every 2-3 days instead of remembering to water the plants daily.

You want the cut lid to end up being sitting about 2/3 of the way down the tote container, on the 1×1 wood “legs”. I recommend checking your progress often so you don’t cut too much off!

Step Two: Cutting a Hole for the Colander

The colander will sit down in the water, and is full of soil and peat moss. Since it is in the water, it what will draw the water up into the soil and keep the plants thriving.

Mack marked an “X” at the center of the top of the tote as his starting point. After doing this he took a sharpie to draw the outline (minus an inch) of the colander so he had an idea as to where to cut.

We found this colander at Walmart for less than $2. When searching for yours I recommend finding ones with smaller holes, to help prevent soil from escaping. Another options is using any size of colander, but placing a wire or PVC mesh in— we didn’t do that, this time.

Step Three: Cutting out area for the pipe

Mack and I kind of messed up steps three and four. We HIGHLY recommended that you cut out the area that the pipe will go through before attaching the legs. Otherwise it’s kind of a pain to try and work around the legs.

Step Four: Attaching the Legs

I think the title alone is a good descriptor as to what you do during this step.

No, he’s not flipping me off. It’s one of those awesome timing instances

Ta-da!

Step Five: Drilling Holes in the Pipe

For easier water flow when you pour water down into the pipe!

Mack marked up where he wanted the holes to go. Unfortunately our drill bit was still in storage (and we were NOT going out again) so he ended up using a screw to drill the holes into the pipe.

I’d seriously recommend having the right drill bit for this process. I mean, it’s totally do-able with a screw if you’re like Mack and resourceful. If you’re like me? Make it as simple as possible for yourself.

Step Six: Scraping off the Excess

I don’t know how earth-shattering this step is and how much it’d help with the water flow but Mack wanted to do it. I think it’s because he had his knife in his pocket.

Mack loves knifes.

It’s actually kind of adorable in a mildly creepy sort of way.

Step Seven: Putting in Holes on the Tote for Drainage

Now, you should put all the pieces together and be amazed at your handy work.

Or in my case: my boyfriends handy work.

Next you’re going to need to put holes on the side so that you don’t over-water the soil. If you didn’t do so when I suggested it (just above), I recommended putting it together now so that you have an idea as to where the top of the tote (bottom of the soil) is in comparison to the bottom of the tote. You want to have about an inch below where the cut top, standing on its legs, is so you don’t over-water.

Mark the level of where the top sits, then mark the points for the drainage holes. Again we used screws for this process. Having the right drill bit would have helped. Improvising also works (as you can see). Mack marked and drilled three holes, as close to level as possible.

Step Eight: Adding the Dirt to the Colander

Look at the progress you’ve made! Now it’s time to get dirty and add the dirt to the colander!

Step one: open the bag! Okay, nothing special there, but it is a vital step. Anyway, add the soil to the colander and pack it in. You want it to be pretty firmly in there so it doesn’t all fall through.

Add some water as well as you’re filling it up so it’s nice and moist.

Step Nine: Fill ‘Er Up!

Now fill the rest of the container up with dirt.

Remember to stop and add water so the soil is, again, nice and moist. You’ll only need to water the soil three or four times.

Also, crush any big clumps of dirt as you go.

Look at this sexy earth box:

Step Ten: Add Water

Now to fill up the bottom of the container with water so it can get it’s irrigation going.

We found that it was kind of a pain to be so precise and patient to pour it straight into a pipe. What can I say? We’re really impatient with this sort of stuff. That said, Mack took an old 2-liter bottle we had in recycling and cut off the top so we had a funnel for pouring. A normal funnel works just fine. We didn’t have one handy.

Fill it up until is starts overflowing through those handy holes you drilled in the side.

Step Eleven: Adding Plant Food to the Soil

Now, I was told on flickr that we used WAAAAY too much of this stuff but the PDF we were looking at had specific recommendations for how much to use based on what kind of seeds we were planting.

It recommends 2-cups of plant food for each container. As to where the placement goes depends on what you are planting, look at the PDF linked above for placement instructions.

With this you make a stripe hill (we were planting leeks thus it went in the center of the container).

Hollow it out:

Fill with the plant food:

And cover with dirt:

Step Twelve: Poke!

Next step you poke holes into the dirt to put the seeds in.

Again depending on what kind of seeds will depend on placement and how many holes you will be poking. Again: check out this helpful PDF for instructions.

Step Thirteen: Add the Seeds

This is where I stepped in and pretended like I was useful.

It’s like I’m a hand model or something.

Drop the seeds into the holes that you had poked into the dirt:

And cover with soil.

Step Fourteen: Lightly Water Top

Since the top layer will probably still be dry, do a light watering over the seeds so it’s consistently moist throughout.

Mack drilled holes in the top of my water jugs for this. You can also use a watering bucket if you have one.

Final Product

Now it’s all together and beautiful!

It was hard work (for Mack) but well worth it! Now we have a garden we’ll be able to move when we move in the next few weeks and (hopefully) our own tasty vegetables to enjoy!

Hope this guide was helpful and you enjoy making your own earth boxes!

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