May 24, 2014 – Plastic light fixtures recycled as planters

This winter The Flock House Project selected seeds from the Common Soil Seed Library at the Benson Branch of the Omaha Public Library to start for the Omaha Flock houses.

Common Soil strives to provide a space where local gardeners, farmers and library patrons can share open-pollinated seeds, as well as develop awareness and gain information about gardening and seed saving.

The Flock House exhibit at Bemis has a glass wall along one side.  This natural light is augmented with Grow Lights to start and grow seedlings.  Tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, arugula, beets and okra are some of the plants that we transplanted into recycled containers as part of a food and water system.

We worked on the edge of an urban meadow where the Bemis Flock House will rest. First we removed the electric wires and tubes from the lighting fixtures.  Then we filled them with dirt, transplanted the smaller plants, and added water.  One larger container made from a plastic drum holds more soil for larger plants.

We set the planters out on a wood pile to harden off outdoors.