I’ve always dreamed of having a garden someday. I have a mini patio garden where I’ve had success growing herbs and cherry tomatoes. I also had a community garden plot for a few years which was very rewarding. But one thing I’ve noticed? A surprising amount of plastic is used in gardening. Despite gardening being a sustainable skill (I mean, doesn’t get more ‘local’ than your own backyard), there are so many plastic pots and bags. That’s why I was blown away by Amber’s content: She takes gardening upcycles to a whole new level, finding creative ways to repurpose so many things. Here are just a few zero waste garden upcycles, courtesy of Amber!
4 Impressive Zero Waste Garden Upcycles
Why share garden upcycles?
Garden upcycles are a great way to promote circular living, alongside a sustainable hobby. Not only will you be giving items a new life, but you’ll also be creating one-of-a-kind pieces that are real conversation starters.
There are already so many items in circulation nowadays. The world doesn’t need more stuff! And our items don’t just ‘go away’ when we toss them in the trash. So finding ways to reuse and repurpose them is one way to give back to our planet.
Sustainably Amber has shared so many wonderful upcycles on her blog and Instagram account. We connected via IG and even gifted me luffa seeds she harvested herself which my sister-in-law planted (they took over the whole garden!). Amber constantly inspires people (me included!) to remember anything can be reused and turned into something both beautiful and functional.
With Amber’s permission, I’ve included some of her projects in this blog post, alongside a blurb with details Amber was kind enough to share with me! I hope they remind you another man’s trash truly is someone else’s treasure.
Garden bench
How cute is this garden bench? I’m literally obsessed.
“I found [this] on the side of the road being thrown away,” said Amber, “I gave it a good sanding and stained it and now it’s a potting station for my garden! I even added a few reused details, like an old mailbox to store my garden tools from the elements.”
Lamp shade food net
Perfect for keeping the bugs away while hosting outdoors!
“I thrift unwanted, stained lamp shapes at the thrift store and give them another life,” said Amber, “This is always a topic of conversation at any outdoor party! Being able to repurpose an item that is functional and beautiful is the best of both worlds. You can find a detailed guide for how to make one of these on my blog.”
Screen door + chair upcycle
So whimsical, yet practical.
“The screen door came from my house,” said Amber, “It was broken and I knew I could reuse it somehow. Now it’s the perfect fit for vining plants. The chair I found was another trash find. The rocking portion of the legs were broken and so was the seat. Instead of fixing this item up, I decided to leave it as-is. I put a plant in the broken seat and placed it next to the screen door. I think both of these items look fun together in my upcycled garden!”
Sink upcycle
Such a fun way to wash the soil off your hands after a day in the sun!
“The bowl from this sink actually goes to a light fixture on a ceiling fan!” said Amber, “I found it at the thrift store for $1.49 and immediately knew how I was going to reuse. The realistic looking Earth scenery makes it look like a piece of art! I simply added a pop up drain to the light fixture and now I have an outdoor sink! Something I’ve always wanted for cleaning up in the garden. You can find a detailed how-to on the blog.”
So, what do you think of these garden upcycles? Let me know in the comments and be sure to give Amber a follow over on her IG for more inspo!
For more outdoor inspo, here are some lessons nature teaches us, and how to have a zero waste garden.
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