Garden or Mini-Farm: Recyling Tires is Good for the Environment

According to CharityGuide.org, approximately 290 million automobile and truck used tires are discarded by Americans every year. Since 1989, when only 10 percent of scrap tires were recycled or reused, the United States significantly increased its tire reclamation efforts to slightly more than 80 percent. However, the 55 million tires (19 percent) not reclaimed are being thrown into landfills or, even worse, disposed of illegally on roadsides and properties around the country.

So, what to do about scrap tires? How can we help the environment and beautify our areas at the same time? And maybe get a little something for ourselves in the process?

Gardening.

When I was a lad in the seventies, our school was concerned with the dilapidating neighborhood. So we started a beautification process. We took used tires, pried them inside out, painted them and added flowers. We then placed them around the school. There were so many calls about the tire gardens, that the sisters saw some profit for the school in it and we made a bunch and sold them. I forget what we used the money for, a school dance maybe, but it was a fun time.

Today, not only can you do this as a way to beautify an area, but you can save the tires from landfills and create a mini-farm. Some of the benefits of the farm is to produce enough for your own needs, give away (or sell) some to your friends and neighbors, and/or sell the extra to local grocers and restaurants.

To Begin

First you need to get the tires prepped for your garden or farm. Thoroughly clean the inside out with a hose. Don't run your hands inside the tire due to the possibility of wire threads from the steel belts sticking out. Just bounce the tire a few times, rolling it slightly, to make sure that most of the gunk and water comes out. Then place your tire where you want to build your garden or farm.

Using a utility knife, carefully cut away the top facing outer tire wall (you might want to use leather or mesh gloves to protect your hands). This will give you a nice even area as well as a little more planting room.

Add a mixture of organic materials into the base of your tire. (Manure, compost, leafy mold, etc.) Then add your soil. A synthetic soil from the store is ideal, as it will not have any harmful bacteria, soil-borne diseases or weed seeds. You may need to add a little limestone to your soil mix since store bought mixes can be a little acidic. About a teaspoon of limestone to a bushel of soil should do the trick.

Now you're ready to plant your flowers or veggie garden.

The Mini-Farm

Since the tire has the soil raised above the ground, and provides a nice insulation around it, the soil temperature up a few degrees from ground surface. This will allow you to grow longer than just planting in the ground.

You can grow lots of different things in your min-farm, from tomatoes and potatoes to spinach and green beans. All you have to do is add some crop specific items to the area around your tires.

If you're growing tomatoes, you should add a small trellis into the soil. If you decided to grow potatoes, you can increase your yield by stacking the tires and adding soil as the potato plant grows. If you are planting green beans, you need to decide if you're going to grow bush or pole green beans. The latter should be planted around a pole you place in the center of your tire.

The Inverted Tire Planter

To prep your tire for a nice planter, first you need to scallop the edges of one side. Using a six or eight inch circle form, draw half circles on the inside of one wall of your sued tire. Using a utility knife (wear heavy or metal mesh gloves for safety), cut out the half circles you just drew. Flip the tire over, then pull an edge and step down on the rubber. Continue all the way around until the tire is insde out.

Using acrylic latex paint (yellow is nice), evenly paint the inside and outside of the tire planter. About two coats should set nicely. And let it sit outside to dry at least 48 hours before adding soil.

Since you don't need a lot of soil for some plants, but more for, say, a tree, place something inside the tire. You can use a wood barrel, a used wooden cable reel, an old round side table or simply fill the bottom with some (rocks, old cider blocks or whatever is handy).

Now you have a pretty planter to beautify any area; your yard, an old neighbor lot that used to be an eyesore, the edges of a community playground.

Sources:

Used Tires: Reuse, Recycle, Retread

http://charityguide.org/volunteer/fewhours/used-tires.htm