Necessity is the Mother of Invention

  I injured my knee while setting up equipment for the Riverside Office of Voters center La Quinta in the Coachella Valley.  This made me re...

 

I injured my knee while setting up equipment for the Riverside Office of Voters center La Quinta in the Coachella Valley. 

This made me re-examine the accessibility of some of my plants. 

I have been interested in raising the garden to a higher level, but I have been put off by the price of pre-made tables and carts, and by the cost of plant friendly lumber. Then it came to me, "just make a platform for the fabric bags!"

I made a plan on Apple Preview (my license for Adobe products has lapsed!). The Plant Platform:

I don't own a power saw, so I was looking for the least number of the cuts possible. So rather than using a 4x4, I used two 2x4s, one 2 feet in length and the other 6 ft. This made the corners of the platform, and created a surface for the joist.

Home Depot made the project easier. I found where they had pre-cut lengths of 2x4 in two foot and four foot pieces. For the platform base and upper frame, I used 1x2.

I managed to put this together with help from the family, patience, and breaks for ice.

I rolled the platform over to the corner of the garden with several bags and the grapevine. 

Now I don't need to lean over bags to get to my bags.

The platform holds six 5 gallon fabric bags and multiple hanging pots. 

One of the bags is a salad pot: 

Arugula  and Merlot Lettuce

On the hanging frame, I have flowers such as this Kalanchoe:

I noticed that the platform blocked access to some grapes that needed to be protected from the critters.

No problem, it is easy to move the platform even with all the bags on it.

The new platform is not only easier on my knee, but it is a perfect fit for the garden.

I will add a transparent cover for the winter to make a rolling hot house.