We LOVE shoe pockets. We recommend them to our organizing clients constantly. Granted, most of the time that we recommend them, it's for purposes other than storing shoes. But we never imagined using shoe pockets for a vertical garden! Check out an "after" photo of the garden after the jump to see how well these herbs thrived in their shoe pocket container...

The creator of this garden, who lives in Devon, England, was inspired to create her vertical herb garden to keep the cats out. But even if curious kitties aren't a problem for you, this is a brilliant solution for urban dwellers who are short on patio space.
For step by step instructions and photos, check out this post from Instructables.


White Enamel Flatwa...
Love it!
Won't this get all brown and ugly from the wet soil seeping through the canvas?
Oooohh. Inspired.
Comic . . it might. But you know what might be cool? They make clear plastic ones . . . plant in that! Poke a few holes for drainage and the kids can watch the roots grow! How neat! :)
we must have both been browsing instructables!!! what are the chances?</a href>
I was just recently oohing and aahing over hanging herb gardens at Dwell on Design. It didn't even occur to me that they looked exactly like hanging shoe pockets. You just saved me a grip of money.
Fabulous idea for a classroom especially if the pockets are clear.
I was just thinking that I don't like it, but gem has me thinking. I'm a teacher and I have a nice tall sunny window in my classroom. When we study plant biology I might have to try this with a clear one.
clear would look nifty but even with some drainage holes the soil I worry that the soil wouldn't get anough air. however, in warmer climates it would stay moist longer and need less watering than in canvas.
I love the idea of clear, but the problem is that it'll grow algae.
I absolutely luv it! The before and after pics speak volumes.
Great for herbs and all on small patios and porches.
The bright flowers add a lovely touch.
Thank for the fun post!
I found a website hasty-solutions.com under gardening that has some very robustly put together pocket gardens available, made and available in the USA. I just ordered one of the compostable burlap and one of the long life recycled synthetic panels to experiment with. I tried the shoe pocket type last year and found the weight of a vegetable garden pulled them apart and had a problem with fabric rot.