Wine barrels can find new life in the garden

Recycling and re-using are two of the basic tools for a greener way of living. When an object reaches the end of one life, we don’t just throw it away. We give it another purpose. We find another use for it. This is by no means a new approach. From saving soap scraps and slivers to mold into a new bar to be used to clean muddy hands, to stitching patchwork quilts made of fabric and clothing scraps to keep a family warm on cold winter nights, to putting wildflowers in old canning jars to decorate the table, thrifty women have stretched dollars and creatively extended the practical uses of household items for generations. Sometimes, recycled objects bring more to the deal than just practicality. Since I have a tiny backyard with no room for even a modest vegetable garden, I rely on containers to hold the herbs and other produce I grow each summer. I have a collection of large clay pots, some with colorfully glazed exteriors, that each year are filled with fresh soil and seedlings. I love the look of the pots when their contents are lush and green and spill over the sides. But, a pot is always a pot. Another favorite container for my patio garden is half a wine barrel. The barrel halves are sturdy and heavy and can hold larger plants. They have a nice weathered appeal. And, there is a bonus. For weeks after you bring them home and fill with dark, rich soil, the barrels still exude the fragrance of the hearty red wines aged in them. At the end of the day, fired by the heat of the summer sun, the breeze carries a taste of vino. In many locations, the barrels that are available at home stores, outdoor and garden supply outlets and nurseries may have travelled many miles before they were unloaded and stacked. By the time the planting season arrives the scent may have faded considerably. Fortunately for those of us who live in wine-rich Washington State, the barrels are plentiful and fresh. Local wineries and wine makers often send out notices that they have barrels and barrel halves for sale. All you need is truck - or a friend with a truck - to bring them home. For around $30 you get a deep, sturdy, planter that will last several years. And, after the planting is done, if you take a deep breath, you get a just a bit more.