Habitat for Humanity La Crosse Area
  • HOME
  • About
    • 30th Anniversary >
      • 30th Anniversary BINGO
    • Who We Are >
      • Vision and Mission
      • History
      • Strategic Plan
      • FAQs
      • Financial Information
      • Press Kit
    • What We Do >
      • Newsletters and Media
    • Why We Do It
    • Current Builds
    • Completed Builds
    • Our Environmental Impact >
      • Soak Up the Sun Solar Project
    • Staff & Board >
      • Board of Directors Application
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Habitat for Humanity International >
      • Global Village Builds
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer >
      • Individual Opportunities
      • Group Opportunities
    • Internship Opportunities
    • Housing Advocacy
    • Special Events
    • UW - La Crosse Chapter
  • Our Programs
    • Homeownership >
      • FAQs
      • How to Apply
    • Sustainability
    • RePair
    • ReClaim
    • Neighborhood Revitalization >
      • ReNew the Block
    • Habitat for Heroes
    • Faith Build >
      • Faith Build Champions
      • Habitat & Thrivent Partnership
  • Donate
    • Sustained Giving
    • Gifts of Stock
    • Planned Giving
    • Gift In-Kind Donations
    • Give by Mail or Phone
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Workplace Giving
  • Events
    • Neighbors Day
    • Home Dedications & Tours
    • Women Build
    • World Habitat Day
  • ReStore
    • Shop
    • Donate >
      • List of Accepted Donations
    • Habitat How-To >
      • Blog: Habitat How-To
      • Habitat How to Gallery
    • Volunteer
    • Soak It Up! Project
    • Spring Cleaning
  • HOME
  • About
    • 30th Anniversary >
      • 30th Anniversary BINGO
    • Who We Are >
      • Vision and Mission
      • History
      • Strategic Plan
      • FAQs
      • Financial Information
      • Press Kit
    • What We Do >
      • Newsletters and Media
    • Why We Do It
    • Current Builds
    • Completed Builds
    • Our Environmental Impact >
      • Soak Up the Sun Solar Project
    • Staff & Board >
      • Board of Directors Application
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Habitat for Humanity International >
      • Global Village Builds
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer >
      • Individual Opportunities
      • Group Opportunities
    • Internship Opportunities
    • Housing Advocacy
    • Special Events
    • UW - La Crosse Chapter
  • Our Programs
    • Homeownership >
      • FAQs
      • How to Apply
    • Sustainability
    • RePair
    • ReClaim
    • Neighborhood Revitalization >
      • ReNew the Block
    • Habitat for Heroes
    • Faith Build >
      • Faith Build Champions
      • Habitat & Thrivent Partnership
  • Donate
    • Sustained Giving
    • Gifts of Stock
    • Planned Giving
    • Gift In-Kind Donations
    • Give by Mail or Phone
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Workplace Giving
  • Events
    • Neighbors Day
    • Home Dedications & Tours
    • Women Build
    • World Habitat Day
  • ReStore
    • Shop
    • Donate >
      • List of Accepted Donations
    • Habitat How-To >
      • Blog: Habitat How-To
      • Habitat How to Gallery
    • Volunteer
    • Soak It Up! Project
    • Spring Cleaning

I a-DOOR My Raised Garden Bed!

4/25/2021

3 Comments

 
Picture
Sometimes we get strangely mundane donations at the ReStore. A while ago, we received a bunch of solid-core doors from the Franciscan Sisters. When I say a bunch, I mean a BUNCH. We're talking 50+ doors, all of them weighing at least 40lbs. While we have sold a fair number of them, we have yet to clear them out. There's only so many people in this town with heavy-door needs.

Now, an obvious use for a thick door like this is a workbench top. I didn't really need a workbench, though. What I really needed was a garden bed.

I have a ton of plants, but I rarely get to enjoy the literal fruits of my labor; the rabbits are happy to do that for me. I've known for years I wanted a really tall garden bed to keep my produce safe, and these doors helped me do just that. It turned out so well, my parents asked me to make a pair for them as well!

Picture
All you need to do this yourself is:
2 solid-core doors
4 36" 4x4s
A box of 3" deck screws
Weatherproof paint
Drill/driver
Circular saw


For my garden bed, I knew I wanted it big and deep so I could throw all my yard waste from the winter inside before I topped it off with dirt. My parents' beds, though, I made half the height so we didn't have to use as much fill. To create the two beds, I used four doors in total, ripping all of them in half the long way, and then halving two of those pieces to make the ends of each bed. Really, you could make yours any dimensions your heart desires! Essentially the doors are just thick pieces of plywood.

Before putting everything together, I painted the pieces with exterior paint. I don't have a real idea of how long it will hold up, but so far so good. It's been in my yard for about a year at the time of writing this, and so far the only change is that it's dirtier than it used to be and there are a few spots where the veneer is peeling up. A fresh coat of paint should fix that.

To assemble things, I used 4x4s at each of the interior corners. I laid them out on the ground, then rested the long sides of the bed on top of them and screwed them together. When determining how far in to set the 4x4s from the edge, I measured the thickness of the door and used that as my guide. That way, when I screwed the short sides of the bed to the 4x4s, the edges all ended up flush.

Picture
Standing the bed up in my yard was tricky because I did it by myself, but with some careful maneuvering I propped up the long sides with the 4x4s attached and the unattached end caps between them. I eyeballed squaring things up, then screwed on the ends.

Once everything was together, I touched up the paint and waited for it to dry. Then the real work of filling it began. I took all my yard waste and shoved it inside, added dirt, waited for it to settle, added more dirt, waited for it to settle, added more dirt, waited for it to settle, and then topped it off with some mulch. A few sweet potato slips later, and I have a beautiful raised garden bed!

Picture
-by Kali Brokaw
Picture
3 Comments
best seo practise for free link
7/29/2021 03:34:19

I read this blog regularly .There are some intelligent writer, who writes eye catching articles. By the way I am personally benefited reading this blog thanks for share like this blog and See again letter.

Reply
Michelle link
9/24/2021 05:37:54

Great Article! Thank you for sharing this very informative post, and looking forward to the latest one.

Reply
Anna Conley link
3/11/2023 12:39:05

For my garden bed, I wanted it big and deep so I could throw all my yard waste from the winter inside before I topped it off with dirt.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Kali Brokaw and Kari Siverhus. We love to repurpose, upcycle, and breathe new life into things. Our focus is on the sustainable and artistic aspect of things at the Habitat for Humanity La Crosse Area ReStore. 

    Categories

    All
    Art/Creative
    Customer Customization
    Refurbish
    Repurpose
    Reuse
    Spotlight
    Staff Project
    Volunteer Project

    Archives

    April 2022
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY - LA CROSSE AREA
Providing Families with a Place to Call Home
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit founded on the conviction that every family should have a decent, safe, and affordable place to live. We partner with homeowners and the community to build decent, safe, and affordable housing.

CONTACT

HABITAT RESTORE

QUICK LINKS

Phone: 608-785-2373
Email: info@habitatlacrosse.org
​Mailing Address: 
3181 Berlin Drive
La Crosse, WI 54601
Address:
3181 Berlin Drive
La Crosse, WI 54601

Hours:
Wednesday-Saturday: 10 am to 6 pm

The ReStore is closed on the following days:
  • Thursday, November  24, 2022
  • Friday, November  25, 2022
  • Saturday, December 24, 2022
Donate
Volunteer
Becoming a Homeowner
Newsletters
Careers

Privacy Policy
Picture
Site powered by Giveffect
rtrvfazwxvssrwewtsureyrc