Has anyone else attempted a LakeTainer?

[lowlylowlycook]

So after studying the plans for the excellent EarthTainer, it occurred to me that my best place for them would be on a section of my roof that gets a good bit of sun (lots of big trees around here). But the flaw with that plan would be that when I'm gone on vacation I can't well ask a neighbor to water them up there, can I?

While contemplating this conundrum, I somehow noticed that this large tub

fits exactly into this unused float:


Aha!

So looked around and found a useless gardening tool carrier and sawed off the handle. Lined some water permeable plastic I figured it would make a good wick while supporting the aeration bench nicely. The aeration bench is just a plastic tray with a couple medium holes cut into it and a good number of small ones.





This contraption was place on top of a spacer (to keep water from rising to the bench) and inside the tub. Seems to fit pretty well.



With a layer of the same plastic the tub is ready for some mix



And thus the LakeTainer!



Oh, and I guess that I never really explained that I put holes in the bottom of the tub. The idea is that it should never need water added in any way since the tube holds the tub at such a level that the wick is sitting in lake water while the growing mix itself is held above it. That's the theory anyway.

Now I just have to see what sections of the lake might get a good amount of sun and meanwhile wait for the moisture level of the mix to stabilize.

Obviously any small chance that this has to actually work are do to Ray's well explained instructions for the EarthTainer and hopefully any disaster will at least keep me entertained.

Luckily all I had to buy was some potting mix, some fertilizer and a (discounted) seedling. Wish me luck, I think I'm going to need it.

[rnewste]

Boy, I thought I had seen about everything!! What a nifty idea. All you need is a Lake (which I don't have). But if you have access to one, seems to be a winner!!! You could even catch your own fish fertilizer, come to think of it.........

Lowly, as the tomato plant grows, you are going to have to add a keel, like in a sailboat to keep it upright.

I keep re-reading this Thread and I literally have tears in my eyes.... what a Hoot!!!

Raybo

[ddsack]

LLCook, your idea is a riot! I've got the lake, but I'd worry about drive-by boaters harvesting my floating tomatoes.

Give us some periodic updates to let us know how how it works out!

(Last week we had some sustained 50-60 mph winds, I think the waves would have done some serious damage to the dirt in the container.) The closest I've gotten to lake growing is potted tomatoes near the water's edge that got watered with buckets from the lake.

[sprtsguy76]

I want to know one thing, when is she scheduled to set sail?!!! Keep us updated please!

Damon

[rnewste]

BTW, to go along with your "Nautical" theme .... I suggest you grow: Black Sea Man tomatoes.

http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Black_Sea_Man

Raybo

[heirloomdaddy]

that is INCREDIBLE.

[lowlylowlycook]

Originally Posted by rnewste

You could even catch your own fish fertilizer, come to think of it.........

Or maybe I'll tow it near the golf course and leech off their fertilizer runoff. I guess I better ask them what kind of stuff they put on their grass first though.


I'll certainly add more pictures as events warrant. Hopefully none of them will be of me trying to explain what exactly I think I'm doing to the lake patrol.

[rnewste]

llc,

Have you thought of attaching a Remote Control and motor, to drive it around the lake? Would certainly be a conversation piece. Didn't some dope (er guy) mount a lawnmower engine under a bar stool a while ago, and got a D.U.I. ticket?

Raybo

[lowlylowlycook]

Well I couldn't resist just planting that tomato in there so here is the pic

[rnewste]

Be Careful! Al Gore might give you an Award for creating a new use of renewable resources.

(I still like the idea of putting a small electric motor and RC in it and driving it around the Lake) Would really freak-out your neighbors!!

Raybo

[OkieJason]

Lowly, that idea is amazing! You gotta love Raybo's RC motor idea as that would provide endless laughter when made your plant drive up to unsuspecting boaters

Jason

[lowlylowlycook]

I do have an old trolling motor of my brothers laying around, but I don't know if it works and it certainly isn't remote control. Hmmmm.

I could think of how to use the cage as a mast and make it a sail tomato. Then I'd really need a keel. Still, I don't think I'd get good winward performance out of a inner tube.

In any case, most boats that come by here are fishing the nearby downed trees. Hopefully I'll be around to hear them try to work out exactly what they are looking at.

[Lee]

You could even catch your own fish fertilizer, come to think of it...

Actually, wouldn't that lake water already contain, ahem, fish supplied fertilizer..?



Lee

[freelancer79d]

Very cool idea!!! Are you on a public lake? or is that a private pond/lake?

[lowlylowlycook]

Originally Posted by freelancer79d

Very cool idea!!! Are you on a public lake? or is that a private pond/lake?

It's a public lake but very quiet because it's not huge, pretty shallow and there is a "no wake" policy. The last doesn't get enforced strictly but it does exclude any power boaters or water skiers leaving the field to fishermen/duck hunters and pontoon boats owned by others on the lake.