Show Me Your Pallet Projects!

[Smokerbill]

I remember that well and the success you had. Very nice.

Encouraged by your experiment, I transplanted some squash on a huge trash wood mound I have built up over the years. My results were a failure. First of all, my wood pile is under full shade most of the day, so that's not good. Next, I only used a small amount of soil on top of the wood pile and that, I believe was not enough medium to grow in. Third, I had no water going out to that wood pile, and it dried out too quickly last year with less rain than normal. So, my squash plant grew a bit early in the year but dried up and died later in the summer.

Another reason I think your compost did so well was that you planted into woodchips whereas I had a mound of branches tossed on top of each other - with lots of very large air gaps. I imagine the roots grew through the shallow soil medium and hit air pockets in the wood branches and just stopped growing. I think they call that air pruning, which is a good for seed starting in pots, but not so good for plant growing and producing fruit.

But I'm really glad you reposted that squash in compost bin idea because this year I have 2 or 3 pallet wood compost bins in partial shade that are filled with woodchips and other organics that I did not want to toss into the chicken run. I think I might try planting some squash on top of those pallet wood compost bins this year and see how they do. At least the squash roots will have something real to grow into and not just large air gaps.

I hope it works out for you! I did have to water the heck out of the pile, but I might have been able to water less. I'm thinking that after watering heavily for a month or so all the woodchips would have retained a lot of moisture, similar to a hugulkultur mound.

 

[Mamma of chicken math lol]

I am proposing this separate thread dedicated to showing off your DIY Pallet Projects and perhaps a little discussion on the topic of pallet projects. I know there are pics and posts about pallet projects here and there on the BYC forums, but some people suggested I start a dedicated thread to the subject so we can all share our pallet projects and maybe pass along some good idea for others.

I'll start off with a simple pallet project I built for the garden. It's a tool holder for hoes, rakes, shovels, etc.. I made one full length pallet to hold my longest handled tools, but I added another pallet cut down 3/4 size and 1/2 size for my shorter handled tools. I connected the pallets with some 2X4's long enough to fit my 5 gallon buckets between the pallets. What I like about this project is that it was super simple to make for a beginner. Secondly, I now have my tools all stored in one place instead of laying all over the garden. Third, the stand is light enough to move wherever I want, but heavy enough not to blow over in a good wind. Here's the pic...

View attachment 3208481

Here is what it looks like on the backside.

View attachment 3208485

I made a smaller version of this and attached it to the back of my golf cart. It held everything I used for salt water fishing and beach trips. Now it has been retired to the carport to hold tools like yours but no where near as big or nice as yours is!

 

[gtaus]

I made a smaller version of this and attached it to the back of my golf cart. It held everything I used for salt water fishing and beach trips.

I'd love to hear and see more about what you have done.

I made a pallet wood box that fits on the back of one of my riding mower's mount. I fill it up with chainsaws, batteries, oil, etc... and just about anything else I need for a small job. It's not big enough to hold everything I would need for every project, but it's big enough to hold just the tools for a specific job. And it sits above the hitch so I can still pull a wagon when needed.

It's just a small, simple, box made out of free pallet wood, but I use it everyday. Most of my pallet projects are built for function. But I enjoy reading about any pallet wood projects and sharing photos with those who can. Hope to hear more from you in the future.

 

[gtaus]

Winter Storm!...

Last week we had temperatures in the low 50F's. Really nice. I made a few pallet runs and filled up my trailer twice. I charged up my lawn mower batteries so they would be ready to be installed into the mowers. I bought a new replacement handle for my broken 5 tine hay fork - which I use to do spring cleaning in the chicken coop. I even took down my mountain bike from high storage and got it ready for riding. I was getting spring fever for sure.

Then, two days ago, we started getting hit with a 5-day end of winter storm. We are only halfway through the storm, and already I think we got as much snow in the last couple days as we probably got all winter. Plus, we still have another 6+ inches of snow in the forecast overnight into tomorrow, ending Sunday some time.

Instead of starting to work on Dear Wife's order for some new pallet wood planters this spring, I ended up going to Menards today and buying a new shovel for pack snow and ice. At least I got a good price on it as an end of winter clearance. Unfortunately, I'll be using it this weekend instead of keeping it ready for next winter.

Well, I'm back into winter mode for another week or two, depending on how fast the temperatures can get back up over freezing and how fast this snow can melt. I was hoping for an early spring but will have to wait a bit longer. No matter what, better weather is around the corner!

 

[gtaus]

Oh Snow! Storm Update...

I thought I would post a quick update on sunny, balmy, northern Minnesota to make all you BYC members and friends jealous of where I live.

Although the sun is still hiding behind snow clouds, we have warmed up to our high of 31F today! Very nice. We are enjoying a nice little break in the snowfall at the moment, but it's expected to start up again in about an hour. So, not so bad. I mean, it's not like it's snowing all the time.

Our deck off our dining room was completely snow free for at least 7 days before this storm. We even BBQ'd outside a few days when the temps spiked in the low 50F's. It's a little covered now and harder to get to the BBQ...

My younger self would be outside enjoying snowmobiling or cross-country skiing. My older self now has to put on my winter work clothes, head out to the garage, fire up the snow blower, and attempt to clear the driveway. We got more than 12 inches of snow, but our snowbanks and drifts are almost 2 feet deep. That's about the limit of my snowblower.

You might catch me bragging to others about how nice it is to live in a state with all four seasons: Winter, June, July and August.

Living the dream in northern Minnesota. Hope things are well where you live. Talk to you later...

 

[Three Stents]

wait til you see the birdhouse I'm making with a pallet

 

[gtaus]

wait til you see the birdhouse I'm making with a pallet

I would love to see a birdhouse build.

I have talked about using my leftover pallet wood to make small, simple birdhouses, but I keep on rejecting the designs before I even build them. I'm my own worst enemy in that regard.

In any case, a simple birdhouse build or a Taj Mahal birdhouse build would be the first pallet wood birdhouse for this thread. Looking forward to seeing what you make.

 

[gtaus]

Lost All My Bird Netting - New Pallet Wood Project

My run is ~13X39 feet. I have bird netting stretched across the top to keep out our aerial threats. I live on a lake and we have hawks and Bald Eagles overhead all the time. I'm sure they would love a free chicken dinner.

I don't have a picture of my black nylon bird netting per se, but here is a picture of the chicken run a few years ago and you can see the black bird netting stretched across the top of the fencing...

Last week, we had a 5-day snow storm....

Unfortunately, it was wet, heavy snow. The snow froze to the netting and dragged it all down under the weight, tearing some of it in the process. I can't even begin to pick it up because it just rips, being stuck and frozen in the snow.

I am considering replacement options. First and foremost, I am thinking about using 2-inch mesh chicken wire instead of the nylon bird netting. The chicken wire is on sale for $3.00 per roll after rebate at Menards...

The wire poultry net will cost about $30.00 to cover my run, and a replacement net would cost about $20.00. However, from what I read, the 2-inch mesh wire will let the snow through much better than the 3/4-inch mesh nylon netting and the wire should not freeze up, collapse, and rip.

In order to install the heavier chicken wire, I'm thinking about using those nice 2x4's I salvaged a few weeks ago...

I'll make some kind of wooden frame along the top of the fence wire and attach the chicken wire to the 2X4's - probably with zip ties. I also have a nice powered stapler that would work. I think the wire poultry netting will work better than my nylon bird netting which could not hold up to our last wet snowstorm.

It's not a project I had in mind. If anyone has thoughts on alternatives, please let me know. I'll have to do something in the next week or two so I can let the chickens out of the coop again. We still have a foot of snow on the ground, but it might melt fast if we get some warmer weather.

 

[chickengr]

Lost All My Bird Netting - New Pallet Wood Project

My run is ~13X39 feet. I have bird netting stretched across the top to keep out our aerial threats. I live on a lake and we have hawks and Bald Eagles overhead all the time. I'm sure they would love a free chicken dinner.

I don't have a picture of my black nylon bird netting per se, but here is a picture of the chicken run a few years ago and you can see the black bird netting stretched across the top of the fencing...

View attachment 4326004

Last week, we had a 5-day snow storm....

View attachment 4326005

Unfortunately, it was wet, heavy snow. The snow froze to the netting and dragged it all down under the weight, tearing some of it in the process. I can't even begin to pick it up because it just rips, being stuck and frozen in the snow.

I am considering replacement options. First and foremost, I am thinking about using 2-inch mesh chicken wire instead of the nylon bird netting. The chicken wire is on sale for $3.00 per roll after rebate at Menards...

View attachment 4326006

The wire poultry net will cost about $30.00 to cover my run, and a replacement net would cost about $20.00. However, from what I read, the 2-inch mesh wire will let the snow through much better than the 3/4-inch mesh nylon netting and the wire should not freeze up, collapse, and rip.

In order to install the heavier chicken wire, I'm thinking about using those nice 2x4's I salvaged a few weeks ago...

View attachment 4326007

I'll make some kind of wooden frame along the top of the fence wire and attach the chicken wire to the 2X4's - probably with zip ties. I also have a nice powered stapler that would work. I think the wire poultry netting will work better than my nylon bird netting which could not hold up to our last wet snowstorm.

It's not a project I had in mind. If anyone has thoughts on alternatives, please let me know. I'll have to do something in the next week or two so I can let the chickens out of the coop again. We still have a foot of snow on the ground, but it might melt fast if we get some warmer weather.

sounds good too me. just make sure to support well the wire.

 

[gtaus]

sounds good too me. just make sure to support well the wire.

Thanks. I know I will have a 2X4 frame on the outside of the fencing. I might have to add some pole supports inside the run about halfway to support the chicken wire.

I am already considering making a tent like top, so I have more headroom above me when I walk in the chicken run. My fencing is 6 foot high, but my compost litter inside the run is 18 inches deep in some places. I might run a spanner down the middle of the run a foot or two higher than the 6-foot fence. I'm getting older every year and bending over while working in the chicken run is no fun.

Here is a google picture of something like I have in mind, for a tent like top above my fence height...

Only my fencing is starting at 6 foot high, so I just need to add another ~2 feet above that. I would be using my salvaged wood instead of metal, but the idea of having a ridge line higher than the 6-foot-tall fencing is the point.

BTW, that's a nice picture of that chicken run. I bet that was day one of putting the chickens in it. Come back a week or two later and all that grass will probably be turned into mud. It did not take long for my chickens to dig up all the grass in my chicken run.