Getting Started With "Life Buckets" SIP Systems

Really the main reason I wanted to start this blog is to teach people how to make SIP planters (Self Irrigation Planters).  Many people have to buy all their organic produce and of course the expense can be quite high for some items.  Here, organic tomatoes are very expensive even though I live only 20 miles from the valley which has a wonderful tomato growing climate.  Cucumbers in the amounts that I plan to ferment aren’t cheap either and then there is the satisfaction of growing your own food.  My goal for the planters were to be completely movable, last forever, cheap to make, grow outlandish crops and be doable for someone with a few simple tools.  For three years I have studied different configurations on the internet and am thankful for people like the young men who came up with “Global Buckets” and Larry Hall for his pioneering work on the “Rain Gutter Grow System”.  I kept tabs on all these systems and the work of others and gleaned from them while I pondered, thought, and debated in my mind the pros and cons of each.  What I have come up with works for me but of course gardening is always a work in progress that improves so a little change is expected. 

I call my system “Life Buckets” because they are designed to last a lifetime due the skirts that I have added to keep the UV rays from breaking down the plastic.  This cuts costs and keeps them out of the landfill and of course saves on the work of putting the buckets together.  These skirts are simple to make and could even be made without sewing by the use of fabric glue.  My rough calculation is that each bucket costs around $5 to $6 to make.  The buckets were purchased new because I had no source of used ones, also, the material used for the inside screen and the skirts were sourced from thrift shops for very little money.  The inside colander was purchased at a dollar store for $1 and the PVC pipe was purchased at a hardware store.  Growing medium was mixed by myself with purchased bags of peralite, peat moss, compost, and steer manure.  I also added organic fertilizer, and rock phosphate in the tomato buckets.  Most likely I will spray and water with some compost tea later and dress with more organic fertilizer formulated for veggies later in the year depending on the individual needs of the plants.  So far my planting choices are tomato, peppers, cucumbers, and summer squash.  Others will be added soon though.  My thoughts on plant choice consists of what costs me more to buy and has the best chance of success.  This too will change some in the future but I am excited to see what the year will bring me.  Ok let’s get started.  This will be in multiple posts because of the nature of a blog format but I hope that everyone can glean from my instructions and experiences to make growing our own food the next revolution of getting healthy as a personal value and quest.