Here are a few simple ways to integrate natural materials to build traditional garden structures. This can be anything from tomato cages, trellises or planter boxes. If you wish, the natural world can provide you with everything you need to create these.
Why?
What is the appeal of a traditional garden look? Why go to the trouble in fabricating things like your own planter boxes or tomato cages rather than simply buying them for cheap? Well, that is for you to discern what your time is worth. I definitely wouldn’t fault you for it. I’ll admit it: I can be accused of being a silly romantic (just ask any of my siblings). Here are some of my reasons for these sorts of projects:
Utilizing Renewable Resources
First of all, these resources, such as thin saplings, are essentially free and easy to obtain.
Working with natural materials are becoming more and more popular, especially as people like me feel the consumer-based fatigue. What I mean is the fatigue of having to go to the store to meet all your practical needs. Inevitably, when these pre-fabricated products reach the end of their life, they will end up as junk cluttering a shed or in a landfill. There is satisfaction in meeting your needs with completely natural materials. When these home-made products reach the end of their life, they can simply rot back down into the soil (or warm you as kindling in your fire).
Find a Purpose to use Ancient Hand-crafts
It is good thing to learn to traditional crafts like weaving wattle. It is even better to find a use for these crafts that fulfills a practical purpose in your life. Seek to incorporate crafts that are not just for show!
Wicker planter
Use willow or hazel withes in the early Spring to weave a circular wicker planter. This is a very simple and quick project. NOTE: You need to have an odd number of upright posts. This is so the alternating weave pattern stays consistent as you build it from ground up.
Woven Pea and Bean Trellises
This is an alternative to the metal fence panel for your climbing plants like peas and beans. Weave withes between the rods to make a lattice for the vines to climb. Use jute string to bind rods together. Or else, you can use this as an opportunity to practice a bushcraft skill of making quick natural cordage out of nettles (which will be growing in abundance by the time the peas and beans are needing trellises).
Natural Tomato Cages
This quick project allows you to practice twisting withes into rings. Weave two or three rings and stick three rods through.
Retaining Wall Garden bed
I have an entire article dedicated to constructing this project! You can read it here.
Cultivating my own willow has opened up the possibility of many projects such as these. If you have even just a little bit of space to create your own wood coppice, I definitely recommend it! The traditional garden aesthetic is a refreshing sight in a 21st century setting. These sorts of structures won’t last forever, and nor are they meant to. There can be satisfaction in letting something rot back into the ground and building it afresh again. But that is the romantic tendencies in me talking again ~ Nathanael
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