They could just as easily have been discarded cookie sheets.
Instead, when I confessed to Husband that I am both greedy and cheap, and so wanted EIGHT trays for my soil cubes (that I use to plant seeds), and I didn’t want to pay for cookie sheets, he said, “Hmm, hmm, hmm.”
Translation: He’s about to make something for me.
He disappeared into the workshop, and later that day, presented me with a beautiful tray:
And then I learned the best news of all. There were 8 beautiful trays:
“Now you just have to polyurethane-the-heck out of them,” he said. (Except he didn’t say “heck.”) The polyurethane is to waterproof the trays; necessary, as I will be loading them up with moist blocks of potting mix: a blend of compost, sand, soil, and amendments. I was delighted. I would indeed treat them like heck.
Enter the tools:
In this photo: MinWax, polyurethane supreme; a screwdriver to open the lid, a brush for the poly, and a hammer to tap the lid back down.
And so I started:
The tack cloth removed the dust created from assembly. It's pink!
Then I applied the first of 4 coats of polyurethane:
I love how the polyurethane darkens the color of the wood and brings out the grain.
It took several days. Husband and I took turns applying the coats, flipping the trays over, until all were completely sealed against the damp.
Then came the day to bring them back into the house, and place them on the seed rack by my office window. Look how pretty:
And two more views:
And so, the garden of 2012 began weeks earlier than I expected. I thought my Starting Pistol would fire on March 20th, when I mixed the potting soil, set the formed cubes on rusty cookie sheets, and planted my peppers and thyme seeds. Instead, I had the great fun of helping to finish the beautiful trays for the soil cubes 4 weeks earlier. I was reminded of the quote that appears in “Words From Others,” appreciating once again Mr. Wright’s crystal clear reality. I was very willing to start my walking early, and look what I found at the end of the journey!
Almost a shame to fill these trays with dirt. (Except that this dirt is going to be GORgeous!)
WORDS FROM OTHERS
Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time.
— Steven Wright, American comedian, actor (1955- )
Amy in the Garden 
It’s so great that two such kind people found each other! You and Will!
Great job on the trays – they are gorgeous. And great blogging, Amy!
:)Beth
SWEET! On every level.
I am so jealous. Those trays are gorgeous!! Cannot wait to see them filled with growing plants. 🙂
I promise to post photos as soon as the first seedlings emerge! First up: three kinds of peppers (green, yellow, and red) and thyme. I very badly want lots and lots of thyme, both to carpet the ground and to have for cooking — but they are very difficult to germinate (at least, they are for me). Wish me luck!