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5:13 AM
Print this articleIf you start a lot of plants in your garden from seed, a sprouting rack can help you store the seed trays as they germinate and grow into seedlings. The rack looks like a bookshelf with a fluorescent lamp built into the underside of each shelf. The light helps the seedlings grow and stay warm when a window is too small or too chilly for them. Make as many racks as you need to get your garden off to a health start.

Related Searches:Difficulty:ModerateInstructions Things You'll Need3/4-inch-thick plywood sheet, 72 inches by 48 inchesMeasuring tapeSawSafety glasses8 boards, 2-inches by 2-inches, 6 feet long2 boards, 4-inches by 4-inches, 6 feet long2-inch-long deck screwsDrillPencilScrew-in cup hooks2 utility lights, 48-inches long4 fluorescent light bulbs that fit into the utility lightsPower strip or extension cordSuggest Edits1

Measure and cut the plywood into three pieces, each 24 inches by 48 inches, using the saw. Wear safety glasses while cutting.

2

Cut four 2-by-2 boards to 5-foot lengths. Cut four 2-by-2 boards to 4-foot lengths. After you cut the 4-foot boards, you should have four 2-foot long boards. Trim two of the 2-foot boards to 16 inches.

3

Cut the 4-by-4 boards into two 4-foot-long boards and two 16-inch-long boards

4

Use the drill and 2-inch-long deck screws to attach the bottom of one 5-foot long, 2-by-2 board to each side of the 4-foot long 4-by-4 boards. The 5-foot long boards will be vertical, forming the sides of the rack, and the 4-by-4 boards will be horizontal, forming the supportive bottom of the rack.

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Place the 16-inch-long, 4-by-4 boards between two of the vertical 5-foot-long boards to form a box shape of 4-by-4 boards on the bottom. Attach the 16-inch-long boards to the 5-foot boards using two deck screws on each side.

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Place one of the plywood boards on top of the 4-foot long 4-by-4 boards to make the first shelf on the rack. Attach the plywood to the boards with six screws on each side, spaced evenly apart.

7

Measure two feet from the top of the plywood on the 4-by-4 boards and make a mark on each 5-foot board. Place one 4-foot-long 2-by-2 board between the 5-foot boards on the front and back side of the rack, lining up the bottom edge of the 2-by-2 board with the mark. Attach the 2-by-2 boards to the 5-foot boards using two deck screws on each side.

8

Lay the second piece of plywood on the 2-by-2 boards attached to the rack. Attach the plywood to the 2-by-2 boards with six screws on each side, spaced evenly apart. Repeat the process to attach the third and final shelf, positioned two feet above the second shelf.

9

Push one 16-inch-long 2-by-2 board between the 5-foot-long boards at the top for added support. Attach the 16-inch-long boards to the 5-foot posts with screws.

10

Screw the cup hooks into the underside of each shelf to hang the utility lights. Attach the lights to the hooks using the chains that should have come with the lights. Install the fluorescent tubes into each light fixture.

11

Position the rack in the spot where you want it. To make full use of the rack, place it under a fluorescent lamp so that the top rack gets light exposure as well. Plug the lamps into the power strip or extension cord, plug into a electrical socket on the wall and turn on the lamps.

ReferencesFine Gardening: Nurture Seedlings on a Tiered Growing StandRichmond Food Secure: Build Your Own Seedling RackRead Next:

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11:33 AM
Backyard grilling is one of American's favorite summer pastimes.

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A grill surround is a brick or stone structure in front of which is placed an outdoor grill. It establishes a permanent location for the grill, and protects it, too. If you're a grilling enthusiast about to make your own background grill surround, consider making it with counter space on each side of the grill. Extra counter space provides a safe, secure place to set down cooking utensils, a bowl of basting sauce, a platter of grilled food or your drink.

Related Searches:Difficulty:ModerateInstructions Things You'll Need2 stone countertops, 24-by-24 inchesBricksWork glovesMortar5 gallon bucketMortar mixer drill attachmentDrillLevelSuggest Edits1

Choose where you plan to install the surround. This location should be a paved area away from your house and any overhanging structures, such as trees.

2

Lay down the first course, or row, of bricks, to test the layout of the surround. Leave 1/2-inch space between the bricks where the mortar will be. For a grill that is 24 inches wide, the center part of the grill surround should be about 9 standard bricks (8-by-4 inches) wide and 3 bricks deep. Temporarily wheel the grill to the center of the surround, so that the back of the grill touches the surround, so be sure it fits well.

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Continue laying bricks to build a square brick support post -- 3 bricks wide and 3 bricks deep -- on each side. The back of these posts will be formed by the wall that will run behind the grill, and the sides of these posts will form the sides of the surround. Plan for each course of bricks to contain approximately 33 bricks. The number of bricks you will need will depend on the height of your surround. Shorter people will want a shorter surround, taller people want a taller surround. Assuming your grill surround will have at least 6 courses of bricks, you will need at least 200 bricks. When the first course is in place, wheel the grill back into place and check that you have enough clearance to get it in and out of the surround. Make adjustments to your first course, if necessary. If your grill is larger than 24 inches, you may need to add more bricks to the back wall of the surround and widen the space between the posts so that the grill will fit. Remove the grill when the adjustments are made and you know the exact layout of your bricks.

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Put on your work gloves and mix the mortar in a 5 gallon bucket, following the manufacturer's instructions. Use a mortar mixer drill attachment.

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Remove the first 5 bricks from the grill surround and lay mortar in their place, using a trowel. Spread mortar over the sides of the bricks with a trowel, then place them on the wet mortar. Remove the next 5 bricks in the surround, lay mortar in their place, spread the sides of the bricks with mortar then replace them on the wet mortar. Continue this until the entire first course has been laid, then scrape off any extra mortar with the trowel.

6

Spread mortar over the top of the first course of bricks, then lay down the second course of bricks. Stagger the bricks so that each brick in the second course is centered over the ends of two bricks in the first course, rather than simply stacking the second course of bricks over the first course of bricks. Spread the sides of each brick with mortar before placing it on the surround. When the second course has been laid, check the top of the bricks with a level. Scrape off extra mortar from the bricks using a trowel.

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Continue to lay bricks, repeating this same method. When you've laid approximately five courses, wheel the grill back into place and open the lid. The lid should open all the way without hitting the wall behind it. Determine how many more courses you can lay behind your grill without obstructing the open lid by stacking one or two bricks on the wall behind the grill.

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Continue to lay as many courses as you determined will be possible without obstructing the lid. Periodically check the level of the surround.

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Continue to add bricks to the posts until you've built them as high as you want the countertops to be.

10

Lay a bead of masonry adhesive around the top of each post and put the stone countertops in place.

Tips & Warnings

If you need to cut any bricks to fit, score the bricks with a chisel and hammer, then hit the brick along the scored line to break it.

Do not touch wet mortar with your hands -- always wear gloves.

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ReferencesGardeners' World: How To Make A Brick BarbequeYo Stuff: How to Build a Barbeque (BBQ) Grill SurroundPavestone: Stone Grill for Outdoor Living -– How to Build OneThis Old House: How to Hand-Cut a BrickPhoto Credit Creatas/Creatas/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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