Patio Planter

Our backyard patio is really dull so I decided to add a corner planter.  I could not find any plans for such a large planter so I just made up my own on the fly. 

I made the corner pieces from a 10 foot 4x4 by cutting grooves in two sides with a circular saw to a depth of about 1 inch and a width of about 3/4 inch.  This is not fine furniture so I was not concerned with precise cuts.  I removed the extra stock in the gooves with a chisel then sanded and painted.

Construction of the top trim is very crucial to the final product as it will define the shape and size of the planter.  The corner pieces  attach to the corners of the top trim and then cedar fence boards slide into place to form the sides.

I added cedar footing around the bottom, cedar braces inside and cedar boards that connect the boards of each side... Read More

Sacramento -- A free Backyard Composting seminar Saturday morning, April 13, explains how to stash organic trash into backyard compost bins and keep it out of landfills.

Camellia Park Commnity Garden at 6650 Cougar Drive in South Sacramento is the place to be for the two early morning seminars at 8 and 9 a.m. to learn about composting organic trash into nutrient-rich soil perfect for enriching gardens.

Save a landfill -- create compost for fun and excitement.

Think you have what it takes to grow a prize-winning pumpkin?  The Cosumnes Community Services District (CSD) is here to help you out by offering free GIANT pumpkin seeds to all who are up to the challenge.  Some generous GIANT pumpkin growers donated GIANT pumpkin seeds for the community to test their green thumbs.  Seeds will be available, while supplies last, at two CSD community facilities:

• Wackford Complex at 9014 Bruceville Road
• Administration Building at 8820 Elk Grove Boulevard  

Last year’s winner at the Elk Grove GIANT Pumpkin Festival was Rob Globus with his hefty pumpkin weighing in at 1,630.5 lbs.  Anyone can be a winner; it just takes some time and patience.