So here’s a little random fact about me: I desperately want to be a gardener. Like a full-blown, legit gardener that has a massive garden and spends hours every day tending to her plants. The plant lady, that’s what I’d be. Wouldn’t that be cool? I just think there’s something so awesome about growing your own food and actually knowing what to do to grow said food–that part is pretty important. It’s definitely not one of my life skills yet, but boy do I wish it was. And I have the perfect set up for it. We actually have a really nice garden area in our back yard with four elevated beds and everything. But it needs a lot of work to be “veggie ready”, plus we have a pervasive deer problem that prevents us from doing much with it. I planted a few things last year and they ate everything within a week. It was sad. We definitely need to build an entire fence around the garden to have any hope of keeping the deer away. And since that doesn’t seem likely to happen this summer, I’ve decided to do a mini herb garden instead. Not only is this going to be easier to manage for a newbie gardener like me, but it’s also very budget friendly. So that’s what I’m going to show you today–my DIY herb garden with vintage boxes!
So to get started I grabbed two wooden vintage boxes. I used an old drawer and an old cheese box. I actually had these on hand already, but both of these are pretty easy to find any at antique shop.
I simply drilled a few holes in the bottom of the boxes so they could drain excess water. I hear herbs don’t like too much water, so this step was important. Now the boxes were ready to go!
Then I filled them up with potting soil and planted the herbs in the boxes. Obviously, right? I did two basil in the smaller one and two thyme in the larger box. I also planted mint in a separate pot. Here’s how they look!
Pretty darn cute, right?! And so easy to put together. Not to mention budget friendly. I’m using my beloved vintage stool to display these for now, but I plan to move these boxes to the potting bench I’m building for our back patio. It will be done soooooon and these will be perfect for it!
I picked up these little mini chalkboard at Michael’s, but you can also find them on Amazon here.
I made the herb sign and it cost me zero dollars. Whoot! It was super simple, but let me know if you want to see how I did it. I’m always happy to share.
Well there’s my little DIY herb garden with vintage boxes! I really love how these old boxes worked as planters, they’re the perfect size. I hope you guys like it too! And maybe even feel inspired to create your own mini herb garden too. I think this is a great place to start if you’re brand new to gardening like me. Or if you have a pervasive deer problem that prevents you from having a full blown garden. Either/or. I just love the fact that I can keep these boxes safely tucked away on our patio so they won’t be eaten. Surely they’ll survive, right? Fingers crossed.
Thanks so much for dropping by today my friends. Be sure to let me know if you have any questions, I’d love to chat!
Here are a few other spring/summer posts you might want to check out:
Your going to love your herbs. The smell of basil is wonderful. I planted a selection of herbs to set on my porch this year to enjoy. I did mine in galvanized pails and did one in a large tub. They are looking great. A suggestion for your deer issue…….they hate the smell of Irish Spring Soap….take and cut into chunks and tie them so that you can hang them off either wood dowel rods or metal garden stakes…..cut your poles so that you have at least 18 inches above the ground to hand the soap from and place them a few feet apart in your garden. One of my favorite things to do is work in my gardens……it makes a bad day better in so many ways.
Holy smokes, thanks for that tip JB! I am totally doing that with the soap. The deer around here are completely out of control, they eat EVERYTHING. I had no idea they hate Irish Spring Soap. Putting it on my grocery list!
Very cute!
My only suggestion would be to spray the inside of your boxes with a waterproofing spray from HD or Lowe’s to help make your boxes last longer.
Oh that’s a GREAT tip Lynn. Thank you!
Hi Sarah,
I am loving this. I also want to be a plant lady. I have been reading up on it…..so extensive. This is definitely a great place to start. I really feel that you and me are soul sisters, me being the much older one, he he. But our hearts and souls seem so alike. I love your blog and I love you and yes I want to learn how to make your herb sign. Have a blessed day my little sister.
Aw Angela, you are so stinkin’ sweet. I think we could definitely be soul sisters! And maybe even plant ladies with big, gorgeous gardens. Ha! We can dream, right?! Thanks so much for being here. xoxo
I really like your herb sign. Where I live it is hard to find reclaimed wood like that. I learned of a shop about an hour from my home that sells reclaimed wood, I couldn’t wait to go. The store is packed with the coolest pieces but they are priced at 12.00 a foot!!!!!! Maybe I’ll just start with a new piece. It won’t be anywhere as cute as yours!!
Wow, that’s a pretty crazy prize for reclaimed wood! You might check on Craigslist for barn wood. I bet the price would be much better!
I’m new to the gardening thing too after raising ten kids three generations and doing it crawling on the ground, but I wanted to sneak in there if you have any dumps around you, check them out for free stuff or of course Salvation army or such places like that. I’ve done it but I’m disabled and on Social Security.
Yes interest in your sign materials used?
I want to make a herbs sign
Perfect Ellen, I’ll share it soon!
I would love to make a herb sign. Will u share?
Wow Sarah another thing we have in common….I love gardening! I started with herbs and also lettuce in pots/containers is super easy. Here in the uk we can buy ‘living lettuce’ from the supermarket? Basically lots of mini lettuce plug plants. Great if you’re too impatient to wait or you’ve left it a bit late for seeds (that could be me ????) Straight into your pot, keep watering and pick a few leaves each day for your salads! Nothing like that to put to put a smile on the family’s face at tea time!x
You need to have your herbs in direct sun. I have my herb garden in a old wheelbarrow. We have a lot of deer also, but having them close to the house they don’t bother them.
oh good idea, thanks Colleen!
Some herbs actually tolerate a lot of shade, i.e. parsley, mint, even thyme. Also, some like rosemary amd sage like a bit of plain sand mixed in their soil and like it to be drier. I also grow peas with a samll trellis in a large pot. Haven’t got space for a regular garden so grow everything in large pots or tubs…even potatoes! I don’t grow a lot, but it is fun anyway. It would be fun for your kiddos to get something with super large seeds and fast growing for them to see quick results. They actually have kid specific seed packets. Starting with little starter plants gwts you gping quicker. Good luck with deer, although thwy so have somethings they do not like, so ask at your garden center.
Please share how you created the herbs sign on the weathered wood.
This is one of the cutest assembly I have seen. We just built a porch on our house and I have been looking for ideas. I love love the boxes !! The whole thing is adorable. Great Job!!
What about sunshine for the herbs? I love that idea and want to copy it, but I have a covered porch.