I stole it from the kitchen to use in the garden 😀

[Anniekay]

My yellow plastic colander. Gone !!

Works great for rinsing off veg outside so’s not to have dirt going down my drains.

And this little beauty: Grapefrit knife!! Believe it or not, it is quite handy for weeding under the leaves of short plants like brassicas and lettuces; you know, those little tiny weeds that come up right next to the plant stalk. I find it extremely handy, especially since my brassicas are planted in foot wide square and there no room for anything bigger.

Have you, or have you not appropriated your kitchen or other non-traditional tools to use in gardening?? I’m always looking for good ideas !!

 

[Sheal]

That knife looks lethal Anniekay. I don't think we could buy something like that in Britain it would be considered a health and safety risk.

I can't think of anything that has gone from kitchen to garden but there are a number of things that are now used for diy. Particularly a smooth edged butter knife I use for filling small areas with plaster and an old plastic measuring jug for small amounts of paint and storage of paint brushes.

 

[Anniekay]

@Sheal I wouldn’t think health and safety wouldn’t want you to cut a grapefruit into individual sections?
It’s not like you can separate the sections efficiently with a spoon !!

I have an old worn out measuring cup, plastic one that the markings have become very hard to read. I’m going to use that idea!! Thanks, Sheal.

 

[Sheal]

You're welcome Anniekay. Perhaps we should have a hints and tips thread for recycling/downgrading old household and gardening items.

 

[Anniekay]

You're welcome Anniekay. Perhaps we should have a hints and tips thread for recycling/downgrading old household and gardening items.

That's a great idea !! Since you thought of it, it's only right that you post it !!

 

[Sean Regan]

This is going back nearly forty years.
When I built our koi pool, (now our rose patio since I closed it down five years ago), I wanted a "bridge" in the corner of the pool for the return of the water from the filters in the garage, .



I had to make a former out of plywood to cast it in concrete, then hump it into position. As it was only 3" thick it needed some metal reinforcement.




A few weeks later, my wife said to me, "Have you seen that collapsible stainless steel pan stand I stored away in the cupboard under the stairs?"

 

[Tetters]

This is going back nearly forty years.
When I built our koi pool, (now our rose patio since I closed it down five years ago), I wanted a "bridge" in the corner of the pool for the return of the water from the filters in the garage, .

View attachment 1742

I had to make a former out of plywood to cast it in concrete, then hump it into position. As it was only 3" thick it needed some metal reinforcement.

View attachment 1743


A few weeks later, my wife said to me, "Have you seen that collapsible stainless steel pan stand I stored away in the cupboard under the stairs?"

Seems to me, if you do decide to come clean - you may just be in the ''doghouse'' Mr R

 

[Anniekay]

Seems to me, if you do decide to come clean - you may just be in the ''doghouse'' Mr R

Agree with Tetters !! You probably would've been better off buying a cement bridge at the garden store !!

 

[Sean Regan]

36 years ago, there were naff-all gardening stores that would have sold anything like what I wanted.

I also wanted a couple of authentic looking Japanese lanterns that were of the "proper size," looked old and were at least 4ft tall. The only things available were small concrete ones that looked like they had just come out of a mold, or plastic all at stupid prices,


So I built my own for a few pounds.










I also wanted to be able to illuminate them at night.





I also wanted a six-foot tall pagoda. No chance of ever finding something like that.

So I made that too.




Half the detail I put into this is never seen.

 

[Anniekay]

36 years ago, there were naff-all gardening stores that would have sold anything like what I wanted.

I also wanted a couple of authentic looking Japanese lanterns that were of the "proper size," looked old and were at least 4ft tall. The only things available were small concrete ones that looked like they had just come out of a mold, or plastic all at stupid prices,


So I built my own for a few pounds.

View attachment 1759



View attachment 1753

View attachment 1754


I also wanted to be able to illuminate them at night.


View attachment 1756View attachment 1757


I also wanted a six-foot tall pagoda. No chance of ever finding something like that.

So I made that too.


View attachment 1755

Half the detail I put into this is never seen.

View attachment 1758

Those are fantastic !! Excellent job Sean !! I love the 4' tall one and it does look like it could be ancient !! It looks like you are quite talented at DIY.

 

[Sean Regan]

The construction is of fine-mix concrete with a skim of coloured mortar. This is subject to "weathering,"as intended, so the action of the elements over the years, has accelerated the ageing process.

 

[Zigs]

Very immpressive Mr Regan

All we made were some ridge tiles

 

[Anniekay]

Very immpressive Mr Regan

All we made were some ridge tiles

Pretty impressive Zigs !!

Did you steal that little black scraper from the kitchen? I ask because I have one like it for scraping stuck food from my pans

 

[Tetters]

@Sean Regan may I ask... do you have your garden wired for the main electricity supply, or is your lighting solar powered? Those lights you made are really impressive, especially lit up. When you have time, maybe you can make some for me ??

 

[Zigs]

Pretty impressive Zigs !!

Did you steal that little black scraper from the kitchen? I ask because I have one like it for scraping stuck food from my pans

I was using my old tools from work, the small one is a plasterer's small tool.

I might be a cactus grower now but I used to build churches and castles

 

[Sheal]

I've visited Dunster a few times in the past - didn't see you there @Zigs? There was a humorous plaque at the entrance but I can't remember what it said now.

I might be a cactus grower now but I used to build churches and castles

Cor! You must be really ancient now!

 

[Zigs]

I've visited Dunster a few times in the past - didn't see you there @Zigs? There was a humorous plaque at the entrance but I can't remember what it said now.



Cor! You must be really ancient now!

I'm very old indeed now, just ask Tetters

I saw that plaque, it said £17 to get in

 

[Sheal]

@Tetters - TETTERS! Is Zigs very old now?

I've got a good old fashioned photograph of it somewhere, I'll see if I can find it.

 

[Tetters]

I HEAR you Sheal YES, he is aging rapidly since he got to Kent - it must be the hard labour he has to put in. Never mind, these things happen - he has passed his sixty tooth birthday already, but fortunately I think there's a bit of life in the old sod yet

 

[Sheal]

He's still in his 'yoof' then, good for a few years yet.