Stock Tanks

I love galvanized stock tanks.  I have found two uses for them so far that have been truly beneficial and cost effective; one as a bath tub and the other for vegetable gardening.

About 7 years ago in the Yellow House, I gutted the ugliest bathroom I have ever lived with and then proceeded to recreate it.  Bead board went on the walls, school house lighting went in, a new toilet, an antique desk became a vanity and where a turquoise tub and shower once was, I had a soaking tub installed.  A $90 soaking tub - 4 feet long and 2 feet deep and tall.  The water warmed the metal quickly and it was a glorious place to soak.  I hope the renters are enjoying it as much as my family did.

This past summer I again thought of stock tanks when it was time to put in a vegetable garden at the Rye House.  We have an area of the pool yard that is wasted lawn; a tiny area well away from the pool but too small to play in and a hassle to mow inside the fence.  Next spring we will remove the grass from that area all together and lay some type of stone on which we haven't decided.

Newly planted tanks - they have had small holes punched in the bottoms, been leveled with stone, had small stone layered a couple inches in the bottom, composted and decayed leaves next, then top soil and finally filled the rest of the way with rich composted soil.  These tanks are 6x2x2.

We planted twelve tomato plants, 4 each in 3 tanks, brussels sprouts, orange bell peppers, swiss chard, kale and basil.  Everything grew huge and healthily - and no bugs or weeds and watering and tending was a cinch with no bending over.  I didn't take any photos when the tomatoes were growing so lustily that they went over the fence behind them for extra support and we harvested hundreds.  We ate kale and chard all summer until we pulled it out in October, still beautiful but we were tired of it.  The brussels sprouts are still growing and ready to harvest.  They say they taste even better when they've been nipped by a few frosts; we've only had one frost so far.  And this is the first year I have ever had sprouts make it to maturity - deer always ate them down to stubs before I ever got the harvest.  The tanks are empty now save for the sprouts. Next year there will be fewer tomato plants as they took over the area and as always I planted too many but this type of garden was definitely a great idea and I highly recommend.  Stock tanks can be ordered from feed supply stores like Blue Seal Feed in Rochester, NH or Dodge's Agway or about any one in your area and they are indestructible, rust proof and will last for a LONG, LONG time.