Green DIY Projects - ideas please

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Green DIY Projects - ideas please
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OtleyLad

Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 15 5:06 pm Post subject: Green DIY Projects - ideas please

Time to pick your brains all you DSers.

I want some ideas for some min-projects that our local Green group can help people with that will be:

Relatively cheap
Have some 'green' payback (cash and/or utility)
Quick to do
Payback/profitable within a few months

For example, I'm doing a tutorial on replacing Halogen downlight bulbs (typically the MR16 2 pin types driven by a small transformer) with LED GU10s. Cost for bulb and adapter ï¿½4 - payback after 9 months (average 3 hours/day use).

Another: A (probably wooden) tiered planter (maybe 3 levels) to accommodate perennials like alpine straws, chives, maybe even a patio peach, etc.
A lot of houses in Otley centre have only small back yards - this would enable people to grow a little food for themselves.

Any of your ideas most welcome (promise I won't claim that I've thought of them).

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 15 5:24 pm Post subject:
Some ideas here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/john.jrp/?fref=ts

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 15 5:35 pm Post subject:
https://themicrogardener.com/20-creative-ways-to-upcycle-pallets-in-your-garden/

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 15 6:37 pm Post subject:
These are cheap & easy to make. Fill them with sweets or mixed nuts & hang on the xmas tree then fill with peanuts for the birds. Willow bird feeder.

Slim

Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 6612
Location: New England (In the US of A)

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 15 7:04 pm Post subject:
Something as simple as changing your showerhead? https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2011/11/30/an-800-gift-from-me-to-you/

Falstaff

Joined: 27 May 2009
Posts: 1014

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 15 7:45 pm Post subject:

Baskets, Bean sticks, Walking sticks, propagating seedlings for sale (Tomatoes and runner beans maybe ? ) Hardwood cuttings are good to be taken this time of year for sale next summer and if you can scrounge up some grape vine cuttings (2 year old wood just cut up and stuck in the compost to a decent depth) they have the advantage that they grow vertically and are very deep rooted so they don't need watering after the first couple of years.

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 15 8:20 pm Post subject:
Wormeries?

mousjoos

Joined: 05 Jun 2006
Posts: 1986
Location: VERY Sunny SW France

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 15 8:27 pm Post subject:
Bug Shacks or Buggeries

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 15 8:50 pm Post subject:

mousjoos wrote:

Bug Shacks or Buggeries

I think you're on the wrong forum for buggery...

OtleyLad

Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 15 10:05 pm Post subject:
Some great ideas there - thanks

Falstaff

Joined: 27 May 2009
Posts: 1014

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 15 12:00 am Post subject:
Nest boxes ! 1 1/8 " hole for tits - 1 1/4" for sparrows

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 15 1:17 am Post subject:
Bat boxes, bird tables, hedgehog houses...

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15982

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 15 7:24 am Post subject:
With bean and pea sticks, if you have access to woods, always make sure you have permission from the owner to cut. Sorry to be difficult, but people think it is 'only a bit of wood' but it can be income to a woodland owner or coppice worker. If you do have access to wood, you can make quite a lot from odd bits; kindling bundles, gipsy pegs, gipsy flowers etc.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46233
Location: yes

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 15 12:00 pm Post subject:

planter kits for walls,if folk only have small yards chances are the best sunlight is vertical and from about 5' up

2 brackets and a shelf of treated wood(old pallet is fine) with a "windowbox shape" planter screwed (again pallet wood could be used ) to it. if the shelf is omitted it is harder to get the box down to change the soil but it can be done attaching the brackets direct to a wood planter.

a strip of wire mesh(sheep netting etc ) a bit wider than the planter and a a couple of yards long attached to a stout batten (pallet wood) pre drilled and with plugs n screws to attach it to the wall

perfect for runner beans ,tall variety peas cucumbers etc etc (include a few seeds)

only really suitable for folk who can pick from a pair of steps or short ladder.

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 15 3:18 pm Post subject:

I made a 4 tiered planter that you described on the opening post, OtleyLad all from one pallet, but I had to demolish the pallet first. The original size was 4ft square with solid runners underneath the pallet. I took it apart carefully and made a base about 3ftx2ft. and raised it to about 3ft, spuds and mint on the base and so on with bits on the top. I made another and sold it forï¿½5 at a boot fair. The way to make such a structure sound is always to put a pair of cross braces at the rear between the top shelf and the "pallet" base. And have a large stone at the rear on the base. Ideal as a herb garden or for salads. I also put a tool holder on the side.
I read somewhere that vertical growing up the sides of buildings is to be the thing of the future, especially at our current human/food import rate, and I seem to remember there being a post on DS a year or so back.

Last edited by gregotyn on Tue Dec 08, 15 3:26 pm; edited 1 time in total

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