Re: SFG wicking boxes -Earthtainers

barmstr 4/7/2011, 9:57 pm

You can see the Earthtainers at Earthtainers. They are interesting and easy to build. I have two right now and follow Mel's spacing of vegetables.
Bruce

myhouseofBOYS 4/27/2011, 5:19 pm

I assume so but wanted to clarify you are using Mel's mix in the container right?

Due to the high probablity of moving w/i the next few months I have chosen to get some City Pickers SWC this year http://www.emscogroup.com/assets/catalogs/city-pickers-instructions_gde_v2%5B1%5D.pdf and the extra good thing is they are 2 ft by nearly 2 feet so pretty SFGish as far as just being able to use Mel's spacings, but wanted to clarify that MM will work in it. Do you think the mix needs to be tweeked at all for best wicking?

Beeble 4/28/2011, 2:51 am

I assume you're talking to Bruce, but anyway...I have not yet made any MM. But it's meant to be extremely free draining as in when Mel says it can't be over watered. That sounds like it would work the other way and be a good wicking material.

My mix was some compost mixed with extremely sandy soil and some watery clay. It wicks well but I'm looking forward to using the more fluffy type MM.

I found the earthtainers mentioned above to be quite complicated so I will stick to the simple wicking boxes I'm already using.

myhouseofBOYS 4/28/2011, 9:29 am

Beeble wrote:I assume you're talking to Bruce, but anyway...

I am asking whoever might have any input whatsoever before I go and put Mels' mix and plants in these boxes. Smile

Thanks for replying beeble!!

elliephant 4/28/2011, 12:20 pm

I have a couple of different self-watering set-ups and have found MM to be an excellent wicking material.

Unmutual 5/9/2011, 8:20 am

This thread is awesome! I've been looking for a way to build a single step rainwater harvesting system for the garden. What better way than to have each veggie bed built on top of it's own water barrel. This should solve a few problems for me, though engineering it might take a bit to make it truly automatic. Thank you very much everyone, great stuff!

**camprn** 1/11/2014, 3:34 pm

http://www.resilience.org/stories/2011-05-31/bottom-diy-guide-wicking-beds

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