I want to say that New Yorkers are always throwing perfectly usable stuff away, but the reality is that most of us—no matter where we live in the U.S. (or the world for that matter)—waste a lot. In New York, however, the trash problem is a little more "in your face" because 1.) there is a higher density of people, and 2.) people put their waste in the common areas, which is to say—the sidewalk. Because of that, you invariably walk by bags of trash day after day.

I also live near a set design studio, which is quite honestly—where I get most of my wood for a lot of my DIY projects. Where they work—perfectly good wood comes in—and perfectly good wood goes out. I had been looking for the possibilities of having some large trellises for some of my vining and climbing plants, but had never really gotten around to building one. That's why I was stoked one day in November to find a perfectly fine trellis cast off on the sidewalk outside one of the newest homeware boutiques. All it needed was a little repairing and a paint job and it was good as new.

Don't be jealous, of my trellis. You'll soon see that it was free. Cast off on the street, right beneath our feet. I thought it fine to call it mine. Now it's against my wall, where my golden pothos can grow tall. 🌿🙃💚😚 I hate to see trash in the street in NY, particularly *good, usable* trash ... case in point, this wooden trellis was just a half block up my street outside one of the newest boutiques. It needed a little paint job, but it was such a perfect fit for the area right of my painting, left of the mason jar garden. My golden pothos was getting...unwieldy in the other room and was in desperate need to amble and climb. I look at it now every time and think, "What a score!" 💚💚 very happy with this #upcycled #zerowaste #diy find!!!

A photo posted by Summer Rayne Oakes (@homesteadbrooklyn) on Nov 18, 2016 at 9:34am PST

You'll notice how much my golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) has grown since planting it in this location (compare above Instagram post to this one). This photo was taken exactly two months after the trellis was installed. — You'll notice how much my golden pothos (*Epipremnum aureum*) has grown since planting it in this location (compare above Instagram post to this one). This photo was taken exactly two months after the trellis was installed.

After installing that trellis in the kitchen, it was clear that I needed another one for a second golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) that I had growing in a rather unkempt, untamed manner in the bedroom. My friend had spied my Shoji room divider that had been sitting in a corner of my home for aeons. It was pretty beat up after its twenty or so years on earth and I didn't have much use for it. "Why not turn it into a trellis?" he suggested. Pure genius. The screen already had the trellis-structure, and by happenstance it was the wood was the perfect shade for my warm, clay-colored walls. It even had hinges that allowed me to take it apart. Here's how it turned out.

Have any other great ideas for DIY, upcycled, recycled, or reused trellises? Share them with me here or #homesteadbrooklyn on Instagram. 🌿

This trellis, which now serves as a growing structure for my golden pothos, was born out of an old Shoji room divider. Reuse is the best! — This trellis, which now serves as a growing structure for my golden pothos, was born out of an old Shoji room divider. Reuse is the best!