How to Build a Bean Teepee

Create a magical world of make-believe in a corner of the vegetable garden when you build a teepee covered in bean vines. Just the right size for one or two small children to climb in and out during play, the foliage-covered structure has a practical purpose, too. It provides support for runner bean plants as they climb, bloom and yield a crop of nutritious, dark green vegetables. For an engaging summertime activity, include the children in planting and growing their very own bean teepee.

Shovel
Measuring tape
8 bamboo poles, 8-foot each
Garden twine
Pole bean seeds
Straw

Instructions

- 1
  Measure a 4-foot long square in a sunny part of your garden. Loose the dirt about 6 inches deep with your shovel. Remove weeds, rocks and debris from the area.
- 2
  Lay the bamboo poles side by side. Tie the poles together, 8 to 10 inches from one end, by wrapping garden twine around four or five times, then tying a knot.
- 3
  Stand the bundle of poles upright in the center of the dug-up square of garden space. Gently spread the untied ends of the poles outward, toward the edges of the cultivated area, to form a circle.
- 4
  Widen the distance between two of the poles to 2 feet to create a doorway for the teepee. Adjust the remaining poles so that they are spaced an equal distance from each other. Press the bamboo pole ends 6 inches into the ground.
- 5
  Plant runner bean seedling plants at the base of each pole. Water the beans routinely and pull any weeds that emerge. When the bean plants have climbed a foot up the poles, spread a 4-inch layer of straw around the area to retain moisture in the soil, suppress weeds, and provide a comfortable floor inside the teepee for playing.

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