When we moved to Aguanga

we did not know that rabbits

like to eat succulents.

i guess we should have known

since “succulent” means

moist and tasty.

Paula grows succulents,

but the plants in pots we put

on the ground were eaten in one night.

i decided to do something

which required no computer at all.

i built raised planter beds on stilts.

Of course computers are all around

the periphery of this project.

The truck i used to transport the materials has a computer for a brain.

The inventory, acquisition and checkout at Home Depot are all

controlled by computers.

The music i listen to while constructing the planters comes from Pandora.

The planters and making of the planters are computer free.

Here is how you make a stilted raised planter:

TOOLS REQUIRED:

Tape measure.

Pencil.

Radial arm saw.

Dead man.

Table saw and push stick.

Clamps.

Drill motor with countersink bit.

Drill motor with screw bit.

Hammer.

Small square.

1.5” thick wooden block

     to support leg assembly.

Long level or straight edge.

22 shims.

Matte knife or box cutter.

Stapler.

Paint brush.

Bottle of water.

Stereo with music.

CUTTING LIST:

All lumber to be pressure treated Southern Pine.

— wear a mask and handle pressure treated lumber carefully

     since it contains copper and arsenic.

(4) 4x4 x31”                      —legs

(4) 2x8 x48”                      —long sides

(4) 2x8 x31”                      —short sides

(2) 2x4 x23 5/8 “               —bottom slats

(10) 2x4 x30 7/8”              —bottom slats

(2) 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x37 5/8”  —cleats

(2) 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x3 1/2”    —cleats

36” x 51” Weed Block fabric and 3/8” staples

(78) #8 x 2 1/2” Exterior grade deck screws

Redwood transparent water proofing wood finish

ASSEMBLY:

Clamp together a side frame, overlapping  short sides with long sides.

Flush corners by tapping with hammer.

Use a countersink bit to pilot two holes at each corner.

Fasten the frame with deck screws.

Assemble a second frame as above.

Mark a line 19.5” from bottom of leg.

Align mark to bottom edge of one of the frames and clamp into frame corner.

Use a block of wood to balance the end of the leg.

Pilot and fasten leg to corner of frame with two deck screws.

Repeat for all four corners.

Stand frame with legs on floor.

Slip second frame over protruding legs.

Clamp top frame to bottom frame for tight fit.

Clamp each leg to top frame for tight fit.

Pilot and fasten each leg to frames with four more screws.

Pilot long cleats with five holes each.

Pilot short cleats with one hole each.

Clamp long cleats between legs, flush with the bottom of the lower side frame.

Fasten cleats with deck screws.

Clamp each short cleat to each leg, square and fasten.

Place two short bottom slats on short cleats

between legs.

Span ten long slats on long cleats.

Space slats evenly using shims to create gaps.

Pilot and fasten slats with one screw at each end into cleats.

Cut Weed Block fabric from roll.

Place fabric in bottom of planter allowing fabric to ride up about 3”

onto all four sides.

Staple fabric to slats and sides.

Paint exposed ends of long sides and exposed tops of legs with

Redwood water proofing wood finish.

Future maintenance may include rolling water proofing wood finish

on all exposed surfaces.

PLANTING:

Position the planter where you want it.

Once the dirt is in, it is not going anywhere.

Place a layer of river rock in bottom of planter.

Mix potting soil, amendments, sand and fertilizer appropriate for the plants.

Make 10 more planters.

Paula has a lot of plants.

Take that rabbits.

Garden.