This is a condensed version of my OG thread about my Tree growing technology prototypes. Many here in the Outdoor forum seem curious about this, so here we go!
Basicly my idea was to create a method of growing that got your plants off the ground, and away from deer, and folks walking through the woods. Tree growing is really a pipe-dream in my opinion, but there may actualy be folks out there it might work well for. Especially if you have acess to suitable trees, with super bushy canopies wher you could hide the weed.
After hearing folks talk about climbing trees to plant, and then to water on a regular basis, I often pictured a stoner found stiff on the ground under a tree, with a broken pipe in his pocket. Climbing trees can be very dangerous, especially when you are growing alone, beware!
So I set out to figure out a good answer to the problems:
#1. Keep folks from climbing trees any more than they have to.
#2 Making it easier to water plants high in a tree, whether the plants were originally placed by climbing the tree or not.
I spent alot of time developing this, but did not actually get around to trying it last year. I may give it a go this year. So with no further blah blah, I present: Tree growing, Guerilla growing off the ground.
PLANTER BASKET-
The basket is made from a blue milk crate, steel cable is attached at each corner. Wrapping the cable is chicken wire, to protect the plants from rodents, and digging birds. The crate is lined with plastic to hold the potting soil.
The cables run through a metal ring at the top of the contraption, attached to that is a length of rope, at the end of the rope is a 2nd ring, this is important because of the next part of the problem, how do you get to the plant to care for it when you need to? Like feeding, training, evaluating a sickness.
My answer is to fashion a long pole(preferably telescoping) and use it to manuver a hook attached to a long rope. This could be accomplished by using a eye hook attached to a wooden pole, or by scavenging a hollow telescoping pole from a old pole pruner like I did.
The only climbing involved here will be climbing up the tree to drive in the anchor spike.
Once that is done, you use the pole to drop the hook attached to the long rope over the branch you want to hang the planter from.
Drop the hook all the way to the ground, and attach it to the the metal ring at the end of the crates rope. Pull the rope(still running through the pole), and pull the crate up to the branch.
Continue pulling the rope over the branch, until you can hook the ring on achor spike. Once you are sure the ring is secure on the spike, pull the hook away from the ring..... no rope hanging down where peole passing by can se it!
Time for part 2:Irrigation wand
Ok now we have a basket hanging the tree,you need to water it, you could use your pole and lower the pot, but man are they heavy! Especially when they have just been watered, or say you have managed to hang a pot permenently, how do you water it without climbing the tree each time?
Basicly my wand is lengths of 1/2" PVC pipe(they can be short or long), each length has a male and a female threaded fitting on each end, except the top piece, which is a hook made with elbows. This hook will be used to hang the wand on the edge of the planter.
At the other end of the wand is a cordless drill, attached to it is a Drill pump. These can be found in tool stores, sears, Auto parts stores, etc. The pump is hose threaded.
Here is the system in action!
A alternative pump is a pump sprayer addapted to hose fittings.
Anyways, thats it. The problem is finding a good situation to use it, you don't want it visable from the ground, or the air, and yet you need sunlight for the plants.
Be careful everyone!!
Basicly my idea was to create a method of growing that got your plants off the ground, and away from deer, and folks walking through the woods. Tree growing is really a pipe-dream in my opinion, but there may actualy be folks out there it might work well for. Especially if you have acess to suitable trees, with super bushy canopies wher you could hide the weed.
After hearing folks talk about climbing trees to plant, and then to water on a regular basis, I often pictured a stoner found stiff on the ground under a tree, with a broken pipe in his pocket. Climbing trees can be very dangerous, especially when you are growing alone, beware!
So I set out to figure out a good answer to the problems:
#1. Keep folks from climbing trees any more than they have to.
#2 Making it easier to water plants high in a tree, whether the plants were originally placed by climbing the tree or not.
I spent alot of time developing this, but did not actually get around to trying it last year. I may give it a go this year. So with no further blah blah, I present: Tree growing, Guerilla growing off the ground.
PLANTER BASKET-
The basket is made from a blue milk crate, steel cable is attached at each corner. Wrapping the cable is chicken wire, to protect the plants from rodents, and digging birds. The crate is lined with plastic to hold the potting soil.
The cables run through a metal ring at the top of the contraption, attached to that is a length of rope, at the end of the rope is a 2nd ring, this is important because of the next part of the problem, how do you get to the plant to care for it when you need to? Like feeding, training, evaluating a sickness.
My answer is to fashion a long pole(preferably telescoping) and use it to manuver a hook attached to a long rope. This could be accomplished by using a eye hook attached to a wooden pole, or by scavenging a hollow telescoping pole from a old pole pruner like I did.
The only climbing involved here will be climbing up the tree to drive in the anchor spike.
Once that is done, you use the pole to drop the hook attached to the long rope over the branch you want to hang the planter from.
Drop the hook all the way to the ground, and attach it to the the metal ring at the end of the crates rope. Pull the rope(still running through the pole), and pull the crate up to the branch.
Continue pulling the rope over the branch, until you can hook the ring on achor spike. Once you are sure the ring is secure on the spike, pull the hook away from the ring..... no rope hanging down where peole passing by can se it!
Time for part 2:Irrigation wand
Ok now we have a basket hanging the tree,you need to water it, you could use your pole and lower the pot, but man are they heavy! Especially when they have just been watered, or say you have managed to hang a pot permenently, how do you water it without climbing the tree each time?
Basicly my wand is lengths of 1/2" PVC pipe(they can be short or long), each length has a male and a female threaded fitting on each end, except the top piece, which is a hook made with elbows. This hook will be used to hang the wand on the edge of the planter.
At the other end of the wand is a cordless drill, attached to it is a Drill pump. These can be found in tool stores, sears, Auto parts stores, etc. The pump is hose threaded.
Here is the system in action!
A alternative pump is a pump sprayer addapted to hose fittings.
Anyways, thats it. The problem is finding a good situation to use it, you don't want it visable from the ground, or the air, and yet you need sunlight for the plants.
Be careful everyone!!
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