Have a great invention to help with gardening? Are you the self-reliant type that prefers Building It Yourself vs. buying it? Share and discuss your ideas and projects with other members.
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July 2, 2009 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Union, Maine / Coastal Zone 5
Posts: 44
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Bed Marker for Garlic
A few years back I decided to plant a couple acres of garlic to see how it would grow here in Maine. I knew the process of planting each clove by hand would be a bit tedious and I wanted to come up with some kind of a device that would enable me to mark the tops of raised beds in a 6" x 8" grid, so the garlic could be planted in perfect rows with little fuss.
I decided to modify a lawn roller--the kind you see at golf courses--with a series of metal cones welded to the surface that could be rolled down a raised bed. I also had the sides cut off of it so the roller was a hollow cylinder. I lucked out making this thing, because the circumference of the roller I modified was a multiple of 8", allowing for a continuous 6" x 8" grid. The bed marker works beautifully. Here are a couple pics: Raised beds made first: Roller then gets rolled across the length of the raised bed: Perfect 6" x 8" grid marking the location of the cloves is the result: Cloves are then planted into each hole easily, require no measuring and little effort: If you're considering planting a large block of garlic, I highly recommend having someone make one of these for you. John |
July 5, 2009 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Posts: 1,821
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John,
It's always interesting seeing creative ideas put into action. Looks like it worked out well for you. Just curious what you did with all of the garlic? Farmer's Market's, or did you sell to stores and restaurants? |
July 5, 2009 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Union, Maine / Coastal Zone 5
Posts: 44
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All three. We sold the garlic via a local farmer's market, through a number of local stores and to a handful of restaurants in the area. I also used a ton of it, made some of my own garlic powder too, and gave a lot away to friends.
John |
July 5, 2009 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Posts: 1,821
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And I thought I was doing good growing close to 40! Last year I didn't use much of what I grew but hope to find ways to use this year's harvest. Probably for chili more than anything.
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July 5, 2009 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: PNW
Posts: 4,743
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Did you invent/build that raised bed maker, too?
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August 30, 2009 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Eastern Iowa
Posts: 27
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Geez, and I thought my 4' x 8' bed of garlic was excessive!
No, really, it is a great thing to have the right tool for any job. This one looks ideal! |
October 27, 2009 | #7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Houston(ish), Texas
Posts: 95
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I would like to know where you got that implement in the first photo. I really need one of those. I just got a tiller for my tractor
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Knows nothing about tomatoes, wants to learn everything about tomatoes.Wine Maker |
October 27, 2009 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: 23463 copemish Mi 49625
Posts: 180
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raised bed
Can you tell us where you got the raised bed maker? I really need one bad
I am putting in 10,000 onions in the spring. Thank you, Dean |
October 27, 2009 | #9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Houston(ish), Texas
Posts: 95
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Are you talking about the first picture? I would like to get one of those too. I am making a normal bed maker but I really like the one in the first photo
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Knows nothing about tomatoes, wants to learn everything about tomatoes.Wine Maker |
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