The Vegetable Gardener's Book of Building Projects: 39 Essentials to Increase the Bounty and Beauty of Your Garden

by Cindy A. Littlefield, Kevin Ayer, John Gruen (Photographer)

Build an efficient and productive garden! These 39 simple-to-make projects are designed to increase your harvest while simultaneously making your garden chores easier. Requiring no specialized equipment or previous woodworking experience, detailed step-by-step instructions guide you through the construction of cold frames, compost bins, raised beds, potting benches, trellises, and more. Most of the projects can be made in just a few hours, so you can spend more time enjoying your beautiful and thriving garden.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Reference, Crafts

152 pages, Paperback

First published April 17, 2010

About the author

Cindy A. Littlefield is an editor, writer, and writing coach.

Littlefield began her career as a newspaper reporter and proofreader. Then she was an editor for FamilyFun for fifteen years. Her work has also appeared in Yankee, New England Watershed, FamilyPC, and the Disney Internet Group.

In addition, Littlefield is a book editor, and has published eight children’s activity books.

Littlefield received her B.A. in Journalism from Michigan State University and her M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University.

Reviews

[OneDayI'll · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was expected more related to actual vegetable gardens. There are some types of raised beds and enclosures, some compost bin ideas, potting benches and other items for vegetable use. But a lot is not. Chairs, swings, other seating are included. I guess they're garden related but not vegetable garden specifically. The bird houses and feeders are only tangentially related, as in you'll see birds in your fruit and vegetable gardens, probably pecking at tomatoes and berries lol. I guess feeding them other items keeps them out of your tomatoes? I have 3 feeders and haven't had any luck distracting them. I always have at least a few tomatoes with holes from beaks lol. So, honestly, if it were just named the gardener's book of projects I wouldn't have complained. But naming it specifically for veggie gardens and only half the projects related to that topic is misleading.

[Kathryn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great DIY Garden Projects

Lots of very useful garden and backyard projects for DIY. Projects have complete instructions with cut measurements for each piece.

[Ligaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book on constructing things for the garden, especially for the beginning gardener (who hasn't yet hacked together compost bins and trellises). Cut lists, plentiful photographs, clear illustrations, and direct how-to instructions will get you to a successful project as fast as possible, something Storey Publishing often excels at. I didn't see anything I was interested in right now, but it looks like a good reference for the future.

[Asheley T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read thru this one quickly. It isn’t about gardening-instead it’s about things you can build yourself to make gardening easier or more fulfilling. This book contains plans for things like benches, raised beds, birdhouses, planters, compost bins, etc.

I’m not ready to build these things quite yet, but when I am, I’ll come back for the trellis and cold frame patterns first!!

[Desiree']

This book is extremely informational in regards to building your own raised beds, cold frames, compost bins, planters, plant supports, trellises, harvesting and storage bins.

[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good source of clear instructions for building fences, raised beds, Adirondack chairs and other garden projects.

[Kyja Wilburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic and straight forward projects with excellent diagrams

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some Good Ideas

A few good ideas with decent instructions. Looking forward to making a couple of things this year and a few more in the coming years.

[jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of 39 building projects that would benefit a vegetable gardener. It's a little funny because, on one hand, what vegetable gardener is like " oh em gee i have so much free time. you know, i wish i had a little inspiration for some Building Projects. " On the other hand, there is some truly practical stuff in here, including cold frames, raised beds, a couple kinds of compost bins, benches/picnic tables/chairs, various plant supports and trellises, and about a half dozen bird houses/feeders. Most of the projects are really basic. There's really nothing so complicated that I think I couldn't make it. If you know how to operate a table saw, a circular saw, a carpenter square and an electric drill, you can make this stuff. I have always liked the design of the New Zealand composter. I was interested to learn that style has a name, since I usually call it, "you know, the type of compost bin where the slats slide in and out of the front." I know cold frames are the most basic thing, but I've had a hard time getting over my mental block of building one, until I saw the clear simple diagram and instructions in this book. The solar dryer is similarly simple yet awesome, made mostly from 2x4's and an old window sash just like the cold frame. Overall, this is an interesting little book for a really basic builder and some helpful projects for the vegetable garden.... if you can find the time to make them.

[Mathew Carruthers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great addition to a DIY library. This book contains detailed plans for garden gear and outdoor furniture - each project has material and tool lists, cut and assembly diagrams, and detailed step by step instructions.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's good. Not a ton of things I'll actually make, but I could- not too many fancy tools required.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of neat projects. I made my first woodworking project this spring from this book (raised gardening bed) and it was pretty easy to use.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this one -- can't decide if I should buy it or just check it out every spring!

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some really neat projects for the garden and the yard.

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has some really good ideas for projects. Directions and supply lists are included.