VIRGINIA BEACH — The best toys I had growing up were Lego blocks and an electronic science kit Mom bought me for Christmas.
With the science kit, I tuned in a radio station broadcasting from the distant land of Portsmouth. And the Legos taught me some basics about construction – and how the human adult’s leg shuts down once a Lego block is stepped upon with a bare foot.
We learn other things as we move through life, but I’m an impatient, hands-on learner. I just don’t absorb much without doing it.
As an adult, I’ve found online how-to videos help me learn the basics of many of the interests I have written about here before – gardening, lawn care and cooking.
And they’re a means toward an end – putting my hands on a new project, even if that means learning the ins and outs on the go.
I’ve learned about lawnmowers and other yard equipment. I’ve learned how to build a DIY water fountain, prune rose bushes, watch birds and barbecue pork ribs. First attempts are not always perfect. I carbonized a few racks of ribs before figuring out how to dial in the correct time and temperature.
I’ve developed an interest in “pallet planters,” perfect for gardens like mine when you want some color but need to carefully manage your space. I tend to use “quarter pallets,” which are smaller than standard shipping pallets.
It’s all pretty easy once you remember the boards or “slats” from pallets are usually cheap cuts of wood. They can be brittle. The frame boards or “stringers” aren’t much better quality. But getting your hands on a few pallets beats the cost of lumber these days.
Once you figure that out, you can learn to reconfigure a pallet and repurpose its parts. A little cutting, hammering, sanding and a coat of linseed oil gets you a neat little planter that takes up little space. You can put new flowers and colors where you never thought possible.
There are a number of videos online about converting pallets into planters, including videos by Silverline Tools and DIY Garden Ideas at YouTube. Some show you how to break down pallets completely. Others show how to repurpose the pallet itself.
A word of caution: some pallets are treated with chemicals for preservation, resisting pests or to make them less flammable. That means growing vegetables or herbs might not be the thing you would like to plant in them. I just stick with flowers.
Again, with the cost of lumber going through the stratosphere, this is a way to work with wood without taking out a loan. Many places are happy to get rid of old pallets, and you can mix and match pallets or their parts and make some special creations.
Besides having an excuse to buy new woodworking tools, it’s nice to work with my hands and fashion something unique from something few people think about.
The author is a web designer, campaign consultant, photographer and writer who is a lifelong resident of Virginia Beach.
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