Finding Materials

I found two wooden palettes near the dumpster that are the perfect size to use as the bases for two raised beds.

I also found two large pieces of MDF in the dumpster to use as the walls of the raised beds. The dumpsters next to this building are always filled with interesting things. The large brick building, which previously housed a toy factory, is now a meandering complex of live/work lofts. Authentic lofts with no concierge or fitness centre and sometimes no electricity. The building could use a major wiring/infrastructure overhaul. But since the owners will probably never make the necessary upgrades, the residents and business owners who rent here put up with sporadic power outrages, non working freight elevators, the occasional mouse, etc.

The flip side is that the ruggedness of the building allows for an interesting mix of neighbours. The dumpsters' contents are the evidence. Besides pieces of wood, furniture, and actual garbage you can find cast off greenery and set props placed there by those affiliated with the nearby film industry, as well as leftovers from art installations and projects. The building is filled with artists working in different mediums. I once found the dumpster full of hundreds of styrofoam 0's and 1's a la some kind of Matrix project.

One of the interesting people here is Richard, a carpenter and entrepreneur. He agreed to cut the found pieces MDF to size for me.