The Pallet Book: DIY Garden Projects

If you do your part when it comes to recycling, you might be inspired by this statistic. According to the U.S. Forest Service, there are two billion pallets in use at any given time in the U.S., and more than 100 million are thrown out each year.

The next time you come across a pallet, think about using it for a cool garden project. But first get yourself a copy of The Pallet Book: DIY Projects for the Home, Garden, and Homestead.  Written by home improvement and design author, Chris Peterson, this comprehensive 144-page book gives you step-by-step instructions for a wide variety of ingenious home and garden projects using pallets. The Pallet Book begins by introducing you to the world of pallets, including the types and sizes. Peterson also touches on where to find pallets. From there you’ll learn how to modify and finish them for specific purposes. Pallet planters In addition to providing a ready growing ground, planters enhance your garden. Indoors, planters are a great place to grow indoor trees. The book gives instructions for making your own planter that takes a minimal amount of cutting and fabrication. Raised beds Raised bed gardening is a great way to grow veggies and flowers. Doing so cuts down on weeding. If you make the bed tall enough, it also saves your back from having to lean over. Using pallets, it’s possible to make an attractive and functional raised bed. Peterson even shows you how to construct a square foot raised bed, which creates a well-organized garden. He also provides instructions for making an elevated raised bed that can be accessed via wheelchair. So that you have nutrient-rich compost to add to your raised bed, you can also make a compost bin out of pallets. It’s even possible to build yourself a cold frame. Accessories and furniture Pallets make fun signs and decorations. They’re also a great material for making furniture. Peterson shares instructions for creating a wide variety of garden furniture pieces. These include a chaise lounge, patio loveseat, hammock and porch swing. Once you’ve finished decorating your outdoors with pallets, you can move indoors. Peterson’s book offers instructions for using pallets to make items like a bookshelf, toy bin, spice rack, table, kitchen island and much more. Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of 10 books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com. Her backyard is a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation