Chalkboard Paint Planter

 Has winter been sticking around too long, where you live?  Are you waiting and hoping for warmer temperatures so that you can get into your garden and put some dirt underneath your fingernails?  Today I am sharing a quick easy way to bring some gardening into your life right now.  It combines two of my favorite things into one project.  
One of my all time favorite things right now is anything painted with Chalkboard paint.  I recently discovered that Rustoleum makes a spray paint in chalkboard finish.  Sold!  I love it.  In just a few moments you can have a chalk board finish on almost anything.  I chose to paint a few wooden tote boxes I had purchased a few months ago.  So, outside I went with the paint, boxes and the seedlings of greens, another favorite item of mine.
I love salads made with fresh mixed greens.  Now I would have a jump start on fresh spring greens in my salad.

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Spray the paint onto the box wherever you want the chalkboard finish to be.  Wait for it to dry, then repeat with a second and maybe a third coat of paint.  Follow the directions on the can for drying times. 
Allow to dry completely before continuing with the planting. The paint manufacturer recommends waiting 24 hours.
Cure the surface by rubbing a piece of chalk over the surface.  Wipe off the chalk and now the surface is ready to be used. 

 I lined the box with a piece from a poly fabric feed bag.  Fill with potting soil or seed starter mix and pat down.  Plant your favorite seedlings or if you are patient, plant your seeds. 

 Add a saying or a quote to the chalkboard and enjoy your small mini garden planter.  You could also simply write what you planted in the garden or the date you planted the seeds.  Some other containers that would work in a similar manner could be an old drawer from a dresser, or an old wooden milk crate.  Almost anything that can be painted could be used. Painting small boxes enables you to bring the plants to a sheltered area if Mother Nature brings on more wintery weather. Use your imagination and enjoy getting an early start on this spring's gardening adventures.

I shared this post on the HomeAcre Hop and  Green Thumb Thursday
Farm Girl Friday and the Coop Hop.  Apparently I was in a sharing mood!

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