Howdy folks,
In regards to this message:
"L.A. Rizzo" wrote in message
.. .
Hi - I just moved to Austin and am hoping to do some sort of fall barrel /
raised container/ square foot - type of veggie gardening. I went to a
couple of nurseries, but all I can find is huge artistic pots for $300 and
up! I just want containers, or pottery I can paint myself - cheaper! I've
used whiskey barrels in the past, but find now the few places selling them
want $30 a pop (used to be $13!). Any suggestions?

When I was at UT married student housing on Lake Austin Blvd. I
used a child's swimming pool with holes punched in the lower sides for
drainage for an instant garden in that otherwise austere environment.
I've built raised beds using hay bales, where I peel off the
compressed hay into 'bricks' to hold the soil in place. Easier to weed
around then stone or wood and soft on the knees.
If you are looking for 'used' standard plastic containor pots, the
best place is to make some contact with landscapers who often have to
unload a bunch after a job. If you got to nurserys they usually save
their old plastic pots for potting up plants to bigger sizes ( or they
just want you to fork over for new ones ) but landscapers often have
to cart off plastic pots from a job they have just planted so if you
make some calls you might get a deal on pots piled up behind their
tool storage shed.

No matter how good a deal you get on pots the soil is going to be
what sets you back since you can get away with cheap pots but I
wouldn't want cheap soil for plants. Be aware if you are new to town
that prices vary widely by nursery and season. In addition there are
some places like GeoGrowers and The Natural Gardener ( formerly
...... known as GardenVille ) that sell good bulk soils.

Hope everyone is doing well, take care,
Steve Coyle
www.austingardencenter.com