Buy planter boxes built from scraps of new library

Those looking to spice up their garden are in luck.

On Saturday, Aug. 20, the La Conner United Street Fair will have hand-crafted cedar planter boxes for sale. The new La Conner Swinomish Library will get 100% of the proceeds.

In early July, La Conner resident Brad Bradford decided he wanted to build planter boxes using the library’s scrap wood.

“Everybody needs a couple planter boxes,” he told the Weekly News.

Tiger Construction, the library’s contractor, generously donated scraps of the cross-laminated timber (CLT) used in building the library to Bradford.

Bradford recruited members of his bike group, Rich Cushing and Rick Linton, to assist in the design and assembly of the boxes. Linton has an outdoor shop on his property which they utilized to sand, paint and nail together over 12 boxes. The remaining 12 were assembled and painted at Bradford’s house.

“Without these guys,” Bradford said, “this project wouldn’t have happened.”

The planter boxes come in five colors including teal, plum, light gray, dark gray and brown. Linton’s door company, Doorman Commercial, donated six gallons of leftover paint for the project. The CLT used for the library was grown in the Pacific Northwest, manufactured by Vaagen Timbers in Colville and stored by Sierra Pacific in Burlington.

Additionally, Bradford’s wife, Barb, did her fair share contributing to the project while attending Jean Collin’s birthday celebration on July 21.

“I was promoting these pretty heavily,” she said. “I had my phone out showing everyone pictures.”

People wanting to see an example of the planter boxes before the street fair can go inside the La Conner Swinomish Library if the doors are open.

Plan on showing up to the street fair early Aug. 20 as the quantity is limited.

“Once they’re all sold, I’m out of business,” Bradford said.

The Bradfords are long time members of Friends of the Library, and for many years, have assisted at the Library Thrift Store to support the library with time and donations. The new library is on the thrift store property on purpose: The Friends bought the property and opened the store, knowing it would secure a site for the library and generate funds for its construction. It has. When it was time for building the library, the Friends closed the store and donated the site.

Susan Macek, La Conner Library Foundation director, explained that CLT is a renewable alternative to traditional construction materials that can have large environmental footprints.

“Brad creatively envisioned a way to use the leftover pieces of wood,” Macek said. “The planter boxes are attractive, useful, sustainable and represent one more way that our community has come together to support the new La Conner Swinomish Library.”

Bradford is thankful for the support and participation from everyone involved.

“It’s been a warm and fuzzy experience working with Susan, Tiger and Rick and Rich,” he reflected.