1. Brian Landever
Upright Pallet Garden Project
Materials needed:
• Pallet
• Landscaping fabric
• Plywood backing fit to size of pallet
• staple gun and staples
• drill with small bit and phillips bit
• hammer and nails
• water resistant screws
• block wood 2 feet long for feet
• 45 pounds of soil per pallet
• plants and seeds
• graph paper
• orthographic paper
• pencils, colored pencils, crayons
• pictures of pallet gardens
• Camera
Class:
1) Introduce pallets’ use
2) Discuss how many are discarded and show pictures
3) Draw cycle of life of pallet and mention trees. Use pencils for now; color later.
1) tree-mill-pallet-boat-truck-store-trash heaps
2) schools use less trees if we re-use pallets rather than buy newly cut wood
4) Draw juxtaposing cycle of people choosing pallets-letting trees live- making earth
healthier- making people healthier
5) Introduce 2D measuring: length and width
1) Have them draw a 3inch by 4inch square using a ruler
6) Introduce 3D measuring on ortho paper: height
1) Have them draw a 3in by 4in by 5in rectangular box
7) Split class into three groups. Everyone in subgroups should get a turn with each
activity.
1) They should then measure their pallet in inches and write down the three
2) The scaled version is 6 in by 5 in by 1 in
3) They should then draw this twice on ortho paper
4) The second version should then be drawn as an envisioned final product. They
can imagine what plants they want in their garden.
8) Run them through the overall steps: fabric, plywood, soil, plants, picture flip book
9) Have them take picture of pallet as it is and after every change thereafter
10) Have them measure 44 inches of fabric using the long tape measurer
1) They may only cut after Brian or Javier check their measurement
2) They may use a paint pen to mark 44 inches in a straight line.
3) They may cut only under supervision.
11) Have them line up the fabric on the pallet, leaving four inches overlapping each end.
12) Once down, have them place a dot every 2 inches on the fabric, over the wood frame.

2. Brian Landever
13) Brian and Javier checks the measurements and staples down the fabric. FABRIC
MUST BE PULLED TAUGHT.
14) Javier and Brian lay plywood over frame. Kids do not touch plywood (splinters).
15) Kids mark plywood directly over the frame every six inches, starting one inch from
top.
16) J and B check measurements and then screw in plywood.
17) Kids stuff soil into pallet. Pack in as much as possible, pressing soil down. J & B
check that soil is stuffed in tight.
18) Divy up plants by either 4 inch spacing or even spacing of plants.
19) Kids stuff plants into soil. Seeds should be placed in upper row.
20) Kids then stand up the pallet, and place the 2 foot long 2x4’s at base. They draw lines
on the 2x4’s to line up on the pallet.
21) B & J then screw in screws through feet to pallet, being sure they are flush with the
ground as to maximize stability.
22) Instruct to water frequently in ways that do not disturb roots/seeds
23) Set pallets along railing and return to life of pallet cycles. Black line and color.
24) Create a how-to board of converting the pallet into a garden. Include step-by-step
instructions.
1) Add colored images of cycle of pallets
2) Add 3 versions of graph drawing (2d, 3d basic, 3d imagined)
3) Add time lapse photo flip book
25) With remaining time, add a section on growth rate per plant and maximum size
26) With more time, lead a lesson on the cycle of pollination
27) With still more time, lead a lesson on types of seeds and methods of seed dispersal
Building:
1) Choose clean pallets that are in decent shape. They should have minimal breaks and
splinters and poking nails.
2) Cut 2 foot long segments of 2”x4” lumber for feet
3) Place it against the wall to visualize it with plants.
4) Lay it down with wide spaces facing up.
5) Measure dimensions length and width and height
6) Measure out sufficient fabric to cover back and overlap top and bottom by 4 in
7) Staple gun it down.
8) Screw on plywood backing
9) Stuff soil into pallet
10) Stuff in plants according to amount available/spacing needed
11) Add feet
12) Water frequently, yet gently, to avoid drying