Fuel Oil Barrel Helps Keep Gardening

Fuel Oil Barrel Helps Keep Gardening FARM HOME Food Thanks to an old 265-gal fuel oil barrel cut in two Rose Mogensen can still grow a garden At 75 the Brainerd Minn woman gardens from a motorized cart due to arthritis the loss of a leg and an ankle brace I planted my garden about two weeks ahead of everyone Mogensen says noting the barrel s steel helps warm the soil In 2010 she harvested her first carrots peas and potatoes on June 29 A friend had an old unused barrel and Mogensen s grandson cut it in two with a welding torch after first purging the tank Family members bolted on 1 1/2-in pipe legs so the beds are about table height They put holes in the bottom of the barrel halves and thoroughly washed them out before filling them with soil from a nursery Mogensen added composted cow manure for fertilizer It s so easy to take care of she says She can easily reach to the center of the 4-ft bed to plant weed water and harvest One barrel half has rows of carrots onions and radishes Another has peas and tomatoes Mogensen also has 50-gal plastic barrels filled with beans and cucumbers It s something that most anybody who can t get on the ground can do she says A lot more people are gardening now because groceries are so high You can grow what you like Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Rose Mogensen Brainerd Minn 56401 antieuj@brainerd net

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