Zach, The Kiddie Pool idea is very cheap. Around here, you can pick them up free on the curbs after the summer season (we are a Consumer Nation).
Follow the directions in creating these plastic planters. Drill the holes slightly up from the bottom to create a reservior below. This will help alleviate the amount of watering required. We are testing a mini version of this type of planter at our garden. Its a Gardeners Supply self-contained planter. It has a slit on the side where you fill its reservior. The Tomato Success Kit comes with everything except tomato. They even sent a bag of organic fertilizer with it. I made a mistake of planting two (2) Bush Goliath tomatoes in it so its requiring me to refill the reservior almost daily. It only gets noon to dusk sun. Right now, we have a crazy Mockingbird who built her nest in it within a 24 hours period and it now it has 2 eggs. She and her little ones are going to freak out when their tomato "tree" cycles out. Our planter can be seen at... http://www.casagarden.com/gs_03.htm To watch it grow, review at... http://www.casagarden.com/videos/gs_garden.html These tomatoes are extremely healthy. We haven't done anything except water them. I've harvested 4 lbs so far from it. Next year, we hope to begin offering these type planters to our senior citizens who live in retirement towers. Be aware, those out there considering Kiddie pools as raised bed planters on rooftops. Because of the amount of sunlight that you will probably receive, this environment is definitely a "heat island". Plus, you may receive more wind movement which will create drier conditions (depends how sheltered you are). The more you are able to plant, the less the heat island effect. That's a good thing. Hope this helps, Jim ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "Zach Youngerman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2003 13:25:03 -0400 >Another option instead of raised beds: >Kiddie Pools >"Container Gardens. The City Dweller's Guide to Fresh and Healthy >Home-grown Food" http://www.arts4all.com/elca/ >"The plastic wading pool is the most cost-efficient container available. >At 6 feet in diameter and 12 inches deep, each one provides >approximately 28 square feet of growing area for under $10 >Job Ebenezer, Director for Environmental Stewardship and Hunger, >Education for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America has pioneered >this work, from what I've read. >Enjoy. > >Zach Youngerman >Intern, Earth Pledge Foundation > > >______________________________________________________ >The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's >services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out >how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org > > >To post an e-mail to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: >https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden > ______________________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden
