Dear MOTHER: October/November 2015

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Matt Kinsey and his children did a great job following MOTHER’s DIY potting bench plans to construct a special, homemade Mother’s Day gift.
Matt Kinsey and his children did a great job following MOTHER’s DIY potting bench plans to construct a special, homemade Mother’s Day gift.
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The Trumpey family saved money by building their straw bale home themselves.
The Trumpey family saved money by building their straw bale home themselves.
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Mille Fleur bantams, like all chickens, need protection from hungry predators.
Mille Fleur bantams, like all chickens, need protection from hungry predators.
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MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIR presenters Joel Salatin and Pat Foreman are beloved mentors to homesteaders across the country.
MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIR presenters Joel Salatin and Pat Foreman are beloved mentors to homesteaders across the country.

Potting Bench Success

I read MOTHER EARTH NEWS regularly, and the DIY project from the article DIY Potting Bench Plans in the April/May 2015 issue caught my attention. My wife, Tracy, is an avid gardener, but we didn’t have a place to store and organize our tools, pots, seeds and supplies. The bench seemed like a cool Mother’s Day gift idea and a creative way to engage our three kids in a hands-on project.

I spend a good portion of my days at the computer, but I’ve found that nothing feeds the soul like working with your hands! To build the bench, I worked one-on-one with each of my kids, teaching them a few woodworking basics — starting with rules for safety.

The project provided a few memorable days away from the iPads and TV screens that too often consume people in this day and age. Plus, Tracy absolutely loves the bench. For me, the best part is spotting all the minor imperfections from the kids’ work — the dents, scratches, split wood, and a bent nail or two. The imperfections likely aren’t noticeable to anyone besides me, but they’ll provide a lasting memory of those fun days we spent working together in the garage. Everyone who stops by our house comments on how awesome the bench is and they ask, “Was it a kit? If so, where can I get one?”

Matt Kinsey

  • Published on Sep 10, 2015
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