Using materials for unintended purposes.

Working to a limited budget, I like to find cheap solutions for use in the garden. I walk around of a night with the dog and find things dumped outside neighbours houses and hoard my own old furniture in my garage for later use, plus a multitude of 'useful' assorted cast offs. Does anybody do the same, knowing that a use will be found in the future?



The slats from my old bed.



A stage on.


The rest of the bed made the raised borders.

More to follow.

 

Recycling Russ. I recycle what I can from my own home and garden but there's nothing to be had around our streets, we would probably be accused of littering which carries a large fine. However, we can re-claim anything we like from our amenity sites (tips) free of charge.

 

Tree stakes much cheaper than hand rail and works well when thumped 2 feet into the ground.

The fence was a futon left outside for rubbish collection. Sorted with a saw and some paint.

Again, somebody threw this fencing away so a few walks later with the dog, with it bits over my shoulder was soon carted home and renailed together.

A bit of paint and works well I feel.

 

Yes I am very keen on recycling! I regularly visit my recycling depot for stuff people throw out and don't even place in the appropriate sections there, also in skips.

Here is a link to how I have used some stuff in my garden (not the first photo, but in photos 2, 3, 4 and 5)

http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/gallery/albums/my-naturalistic-garden-click-here-for-photos.377/

 

Cool thread Rustler. I cant recycle much as the nearest tip from me is 10miles away and my dogs 15 so its too far to walk there and back

Its council controlled and nothing can be removed/recycled.Boo!

I do like to use old bits and bobs and dont chuck out anything

My plant shopping is down in the clearance section only when 75% off in autumn and any new wood which is v rare indeed is from the local agricultural place who is so cheap compared to the diy sheds.

I find gardening is more satisfying/fun when done cheap as chips. So 75% off and deal glitches for me if possible.

 

Where I am in SE London, they have bin collections on a Tuesday so bins and other items must be left outside on Monday. The refuse collectors are really good and will take most things away. In SW London, there is an agreed collection point and anything can be left including large furniture, even mattresses and beds. This is picked up on a daily basis unless I get to it first. Ha ha. I picked up what I would describe as a hanging Welsh dresser about 3 feet wide by 3 feet high containing 3 shelves and miniature draws that now hangs proudly in the garden with 4 inch pots and an assortment of hose fittings, cable ties etc. It only took a bit of sanding and positioning in the right place and has worked a treat. It's on a regular basis that the better half sees me appear with 'more junk' only to be amazed later with the transformation. She always comes round in the end though.

 

Seeing the potential in something discarded and transforming it is tremendously satisfying and creative. It is my favourite activity but haphazardly ongoing because it just depends on timing etc.

 

Ahhh some one after my own heart! Your garden looks fab!

I absolutely LOVE getting stuff I can recycle! I've got over 150 paving slabs, 2 greenhouses, waterbutts, composters, wooden folding boxes I turned into strawberry beds, a gazebo which I turned into a brassica tent using netting that was left in the shed from the previous owner, some wooden panels that had 'free' on them in the street are now 3 composting boxes. I'm sure there are lots more! I even made a little "chill out area" at the lottie with tree stumps (a table & 3 'chairs')

There is nothing more satisfying than it costing nothing & knowing youre saving a little bit from going to landfill