How to Cure: How to Make an Herb Garden

Man, do I really wanna do this next project?

It's 3pm, laying in bed, and the thought's just hit me: make an herb garden out of an old coffee table!

Hey i didn't invent this stuff. I just tapped into the energy of today that says, "It's Cool to grow your own food!" So if you want a Cure to your common coffee table, just increase its vibration.

I found this ole coffee table by the dumpster after it was sitting there a few days. I had wanted to make an herb garden for sometime, about the dimensions of this table. Then it hit me. Make the table into my garden! And keep it by the front door, so the alluring smells capture the senses and even deepen meditations done on the porch.

This table had drawers and a center area that was open. Step One was to pop off the top table board. It was my dad's idea to cut it classy, so we could insert pieces into the holes that made the drawers and center opening. So we essentially enclosed the whole table, so now it could hold soil.

I found a bunch of soil at a nearby park that was doing some earth work. Nothing like high-clay-content Houston boggy soil. If you wet it, the stickiness is off the charts.... Not great for planting, but after mixing it with some potting soil I had laying around, the price was right ;)

I bought some herbs and seeds from Whole Foods Market and the Houston Garden Center. Then I was ready to continue modifying the coffee table. I drilled 1" drainage holes in each of the 3 compartments.

Then I lined the compartments with plastic. I stuck my fingers into the drain holes to push the plastic thru, so the platic would cover and protect All the wood. Here's why!

This table is particle board (ie: it melts if it gets wet). If you're lucky, you'll have a 1970's or even a 1960's coffee table laying around. Their wood is so heavy and solid you can throw them off a roof and not damage them. If you have one of those, forget the plastic liner. Just allow the plants to enjoy a much more natural connection with their container, even if it does cause the table to rot out in a few years. (I don't imagine the particle board handling more than 2 years tops).

I layered the soil: Houston boggy soil with nice potting soil. And I placed potting soil near the drainage holes, so water could drain out and not get hung up in the heavy clays and loams. And viola!

"Each yer heart out Martha Stewart!"

And that's all in a day's work. I planted 2 types of basil, Monarda, Dianthus, and a few types of lettuce. In a few weeks it'll be season to find some lavender, sage, etc for extra scenting. It's amazing to watch this grow and meditate next to it. It truly speaks to you.