If you garden, you need a potting bench. If you’re a Flea Market Gardener, you make it yourself from recycled items! Why? We’re naturally thrifty and love putting our stamp on things we use as much as a potting bench.
Stephanie Freeman lives and gardens in Humboldt County in California. She says, “My garden consists of the area that borders our backyard. The grass in the middle belongs to the kids and the dogs, the planting beds and patios around the edge are mine.”
“Last year I laid a little patio area with free broken concrete, but didn’t have a set plan for that corner. The potting bench was inspired by Pinterest…of course, what isn’t, these days?”
“I had an old picnic table that was really getting a little too rough for the kiddos to use at our barbeques anymore, and I had even considered putting it out on the curb with a “free” sign on it. But ever since finding Flea Market Gardening, and seeing all the posts and stories, I realized what a treasure I really had! And that empty corner would be the best place for it, against the old shed.”
”I sanded the tops of the tables and benches, and painted them white, to help protect them, and also because I have a gallon of white from another project. I left the legs red, because I thought it would look good up against the rusty shed. My son cleared the area of weeds, and helped me move the table, and my handy hubby placed a few strategically placed nails to stabilize it. I didn’t use much extra lumber, because I didn’t want to block the lines of the bench, I love the crisscross shape the legs make.”
”So now I am all set for gardening! I never had a place for just my gardening bits, so this is really exciting.
My next plan, is to get hubby to run power over there, so I can have some fairy lights. I’m having so much fun “Flea Market Gardening”, I never knew there was a name for the style I liked.” ~~ Stephanie
Q ) Sherry Ledet: “I really like the stacked wood picnic table and benches. If I can raise the level of the table to almost counter top high this would work. This is one of the most workable ideas I have seen with hardly any building involved.”
A ) Stephanie Freeman “Sherry, I put 4×4 posts under the legs of my picnic table potting bench to raise it up a bit. aka Steff’s Stuff @FMG, thanks for including me in the article! It looks great, and I have lots more ideas now from the other featured potting benches! I get inspiration from you gals on a daily basis!”
Have you seen the prices charged for potting tables in stores and catalogs?! These gardeners made their own, and added they’re own personalities. Once you have a dedicated spot to ‘work’ in the garden, you’ll never go back to potting on your patio table,..or ..shudders,…the ground.
Ann Elias says, “My new work area is almost done. Still need a top piece for the potting bench..and then a rain barrel so I have water available. Had my plant sale today…and enjoyed giving tours of my garden and the Lady Lounge The paint was a gallon of oops paint from Home Depot. Cheap and I like the color.”
Nancy Carter says, “My favorite project for this year was my potting bench. We bought a porcelain topped table at half price at the end of an estate sale and added the shelves and hardware cloth.”
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