Repurposing for Sustainable Living ... Crates, fence panels and more!

Humans create all kinds of waste.  
We use things for awhile, then throw them in the landfill.

For those of you who know me, you already know that I am totally inspired by creating works of art with resources most people find have no value.  And, at the @gardenofeden where I am blessed to thrive, we find great purpose for things most people consider trash.  

Today, one of our used materials was an old shipping crate.  These crates are generally used only once, then discarded.

We laid the crate on its side (with the door opening up in the front), on a used pallet we also saved from the dump.  To make the door lighter and to create a cubby space on the floor on the inside, we cut the door from side to side, about 1/3 of the way up from the bottom, and added a trim piece to the raw edges.  We also added a post in the center to help support the weight of the door.

Because this crate is not weatherproof, we needed to add a roof.  For the stable base of the roof we used a recycled fence panel.

On top of the fence panel we attached several vinyl panels, that were once walls to a free-standing shed.

We attached the new waterproof roof to the crate, tilting it to the rear for rain run-off.

Whallah!!!  

This will be dry storage for a few of our treasures, though  I was imagining that with a couple of windows, the kids would be curling up in there with their pillows and blankets, utilizing it as a clubhouse. They could climb in and out over the wall that would contain their treasures.

We can paint it (with recycled, unused paint, of course), or give it some other sort of finishing touch.

Fence panels are incredibly easy to come by.  Old fences are being replaced by new fences on a daily basis, and the old ones are generally taken to the landfill.  Fence panels are great for many other projects too such as raised beds, wooden boxes, headboards, animal shelter and pathways (shown in my first photograph).  I've created our living room and boutique floors out of fence pickets too.

Even fence panels that have deteriorated to the point of being unusable for structural or decorative uses, still have great purpose.  At the @gardenofeden we use them to fuel our handmade cob oven and rocket stoves when cooking our daily meals, food preservation, homeless feeds and catering events.

We utilize these crates for multiple storage uses, and even for Teeny Tiny Homes.  We add recycled windows and screens, paint them, and sometimes even put recycled wood flooring inside on the floors and walls!  These teeny tiny houses have mattresses and a small dresser, and make for the perfect getaway nestled under the trees.

If you ever come to the @gardenofeden,
you may be blessed to occupy one of our teeny tiny homes in our crate village.

We challenge ourselves to utilize discarded materials as much as possible, giving thanks for the abundance.  We have achieved a negative zero carbon footprint by producing more than we consume, and saving more from the landfill than we contribute to it.

I'm really grateful for creative minds.  I love sharing my days with people who can think out of the box, consider new ways of engaging life and resources, and who are dedicated to building the life of their dreams.

Together we can make a difference.  
Every step we take toward a more sustainable lifestyle
is one step closer to freedom!!!  

Do you challenge yourself to live more sustainably?

@gardenofeden founder @quinneaker's post on What Is Sustainability, and Why It's So Important.

I'd like to share some other sustainable habits of our community.