How to Make a Trug

The gardener's trug, a shallow basket with a handle intended to carry tools and produce to and from the garden, is traditionally made from steam-bent slats of wood. The original trugs were made in Sussex, England from willow and chestnut and date back to the sixteenth century. Modern trugs made from recycled materials are becoming popular. Making a trug out of discarded materials to create a tool you can use for years is very satisfying.

Scrap wood
Nails
Hammer
Saw
Hardware cloth
Wire or rope
Staple gun
Staples
Drill and bits

Instructions

- 1
  
  A trug made partly of wire can get wet without damage.
  
  Cut the scrap lumber into two matching end pieces. You can make them any shape and size, but keep in mind that trugs are usually wide and shallow for convenience of use. Cut two pieces for the rim in the length desired, about 1 inch-by-1 inch in cross-section. Cut one last piece for the handle, slightly longer than the width of your hand.
- 2
  Cut the hardware cloth to fit the end pieces. It will be wrapped around from one edge to the other and secured with staples. Recycled wire fencing can be used, but avoid rusty wire.
- 3
  Fasten the rim pieces to the end pieces with nails. The edge of the wire should be just below the edge of the rim to keep your fingers away from sharp edges. Staple the wire to the rim pieces.
- 4
  Drill through the long part of the handle. Thread the rope or wire through it. Drill holes in the end pieces and secure the handle ends to them. Rope can be threaded through the hole and knotted on the other side; wire can wrap all the way through and be wound back onto itself.

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