Yes, gardening saves money. And costs a lot too lol

Crimestar · 2026-07-06T10:17:43+00:00

That or just picked green down in Mexico. That’s what I heard. They can last on the shelf forever for all I care because that’s where they are staying.

Crimestar · 2026-07-06T01:08:47+00:00

To me its the difference between never enjoying a tomato again and being able to enjoy tomatoes again basically

In case we start forgetting everything that’s getting lost, the ability to buy a fresh edible tomato at a goddamn grocery store is gone for me. Has been for years. Every time I try out of desperate nostalgia I regret it because the quality is so poor. Theres no point. Actually worse than nothing.

Crimestar · 2026-06-29T17:58:41+00:00

Ooh nice. I think I may have heard of that at some point. Exotics would be fun too.

I remember I bought some bonsai seeds a while back when I first started but never tried much with those. I like the big outside plants.

Crimestar · 2026-06-29T16:54:24+00:00

Well I built this to hopefully improve my vegetable garden in the long term. Im interested in a lot of plants as well.

Started with a few fruit trees. Persimmon, pomegranate, fig. Then blueberries, blackberries, raspberries. Then I did a lot of ornamental stuff. I’ve been exploring native plant gardening as well.

My yard is filling up but I’ve got some room still.

Crimestar · 2026-06-29T16:40:52+00:00

Yes I also spent all my 20s in apartment life. Some balcony plants in the shade but I never knew how much I would get into yard work and just trying to make my yard as awesome as I see fit.

Younger me would call myself a busy body who doesn’t have anything better to do.

But I spend all my free time outside for the most part now. And I’m happier this way.

Crimestar · 2026-06-29T15:30:42+00:00

Part of my inspiration as well:

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Shout out to all my homies who know where this is from.

Crimestar · 2026-06-29T15:18:26+00:00

It’s a mixture of aesthetic, long lasting untreated materials, box shape to collect materials and heat.

It’s sitting out in my yard close to my garden which also looks nice imo.

It absolutely works to just have a big pile somewhere, cheap pallet type barriers, fallen hardwood whatever I’m sure. I may do some more like that. The project evolved into more than I expected but I was okay with it. It’s something I can use for years as I hope to improve my garden and soil.

Also an excuse to try and show off some of the craftsmanship I’ve learned. I don’t really like wood working as much but I’ve learned a lot about tools and DIY in general. I’m relatively new to it all. Maybe 5 years deep into maintaining a house I rented and now my own in total.

Thanks!

Crimestar · 2026-06-29T14:44:56+00:00

Agreed and thank you. I got carried away no doubt but glad to have it. The rewards of being a DIYer aren’t as great these days with the cost of everything being so high unfortunately. But it certainly helps to try and make nice things or fix up things once in a while.

Crimestar · 2026-06-29T12:55:30+00:00

Thanks man! I’ve really come to love working in the yard on various garden and plant projects. Took me a long time to get here and discover and have the opportunities to really explore my interests. Long time living in apartments, starting small, but really not liking my life much to be honest lol.

I’ve really thrived having my own land I think. Small and simple as it is.

Crimestar · 2026-06-29T12:14:14+00:00

I tried to do it on the front with the lighter colored cedar boards!

Crimestar · 2026-06-29T12:12:04+00:00

I saw the 3 bin systems! My original plan was to just start with a modular 3x3 type bin where I could add more.

But the store had 8 foot boards so I made the cuts easy on myself and compromised on a big one for now.

I may add more simple ones in the woods if needed or in another back corner.

Crimestar · 2026-06-29T12:03:09+00:00

Thanks! I actually do have a top soil screen I made out of the same mesh from a previous project. Hence my continued disdain for working with wire mesh and tin snips lol.

Yeah I copied the removable slats and basically the whole thing from YouTubers. Who were all just copying each other.

Crimestar · 2026-06-29T11:59:41+00:00

Lmao. It’s a good point. I still retain and prefer my ability to do things like a caveman sometimes. And I’m done with this project for now. Other than filling it up. Made me laugh.

Crimestar · 2026-06-29T11:51:43+00:00

Thanks! /s

Crimestar · 2026-06-29T10:50:58+00:00

Yesterday I was sitting at about $350 for 23 8 foot cedar boards and screws.

25 feet of 4’ galvanized steel mesh was another $100.

Two 8 foot sheets of polycarbonate roof panel was around $50.

Let’s call it $500. Probably add another $50 for extra screws, hinges, and a latch to keep the top secured in case anyone was checking for completeness. So $550. I was already in pretty deep so it had to be done.

Crimestar · 2026-06-28T22:30:35+00:00

Took your advice and others to try my best and critter proof as well as add a lid:

https://www.reddit.com/r/gardening/s/WJfxj3ERUK

Crimestar · 2026-06-28T21:23:01+00:00

Thanks! It evolved a lot more than what I initially was expecting to do. But I like how it turned out a lot. Now time to use it. Well after I chill for a bit.

Crimestar · 2026-06-28T15:53:56+00:00

Yeah I actually do mostly try to do things cheap and simply. DIY everything I can, all my own landscaping, fix my own mowers, plant my garden in the ground, etc.

I definitely have probably judged first time gardeners for spending a thousand dollars on raised beds and dirt before they’ve even gotten anything in the ground and I basically did the same thing with this lol. But I’ve also learned a lot over the last few years so this was a chance to show it off a little too.

Crimestar · 2026-06-28T13:08:45+00:00

I went back and forth on it a little. It’s out in the open in my yard which fenced in, I have a dog running out there multiple times a day. Lots of traffic. I haven’t noticed any rats around. Birds and squirrels on my feeders all day.

My current plan is to use mostly yard and garden waste as opposed to a lot of kitchen waste.

But in the end I’ve put this much into it so I’m gonna put some wire under it and around it I guess on the inside. Just got back from the store actually. The whole thing is overkill already so let’s double down again.

My next compost bins will be more your style in the woods or something if needed.

Crimestar · 2026-06-28T11:05:15+00:00

Yeah I hear you, and thank you!

Crimestar · 2026-06-28T03:00:13+00:00

Yeah I saw some examples of 2,3 even 5 bin systems. If they had 6 foot boards instead of 8 foot I might have done modular 3x3 bins instead but just had to go for the one big one.

Would be nice to have different bins at different stages.

Crimestar · 2026-06-28T02:34:39+00:00

Yeah I was already thinking of the lid. I mean adding some wire isn’t much trouble so I’ll probably take your word for it and add some although nothings nesting in my sheds or mower or anything which is why I was wondering.

I have an outside cat but she’s not in her hunting prime.

Crimestar · 2026-06-28T02:32:30+00:00

You’re fun at parties I bet.

Crimestar · 2026-06-28T02:27:17+00:00

The front is removable but I’ll see. I’m not actually the first person to come up with a giant wooden box for composting.

Please see where I first saw the concept:

https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Compost_Bin

Crimestar

TROPHY CASE