I discussed my wishes for raised beds with my daughter Beth. I have had the ones with wooden frames before, but at 83 something higher is needed.
A few days later she called me and said she had seen the perfect solution in a Tractor Supply flyer. We looked together and began to think how to modify and use the livestock feeders offered. I would never have imagined re purposing these as she did! Cattle feeders 10 feet long were the most attractive at first to me. Horse feeders 5 feet long and taller were also offered for a higher price. After a time I came to like the taller ones best.
A trip to the store showed they look almost indestructible. We came home with two of the tall 5 foot ones and one of the lower 10 foot type. My son in law Gary drilled a lot of holes in the bottom. I had the idea to put a layer of Styrofoam peanuts in the bottom covered with a piece of fiberglass screening. Then many bags of a good quality potting soil filled them all. Gary fitted the long one with a metal stock panel down the center to serve as a support for vine crops like snow peas. This panel was held in place by stay wires on each side in several places.
These big planters are now a central part of my vegetable garden for salad crops. Beth calls them my Salad Bowls. Two are shown in the first picture. This was last fall before I had all of the grass removed.
Another view shows the 10 foot with winter broccoli and young peas.
These are one solution, there must be many other things being repurposed for tall feeders also. Best, Edyth O'Neill
