FIXES

Residential fence held together with a length of rope. In a neighbourhood bordering a new subdivision.

Materials: Rope
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

[Thanks to Joseph Tame, Tokyo-based freelance marketing manager, new media producer, entrepreneur, performer and marathoner for this garden fix originally posted on his microblog]

“With the onset of string winds, I replace *Twinkle’s* ex-jewellery stand with this ex-umbrella, carefully dismembered with my favourite pair of pliers.” (Joseph adds – “I did actually ask my wife before I took her jewellery stand to use as a stake to hold the sunflowers up.”)

Materials: Umbrella, Plastic Twine
Location: Meguro, Tokyo

Trees support a laundry pole construction in Tokyo’s Tachikawa suburbs.

Materials: Laundry Pole
Location: Tachikawa, Tokyo

Trees support a bamboo pole based washing line construction in Tokyo’s Tachikawa suburbs. I love the way the structure blends in with the surroundings – its temporary form touching lightly on the landscape.

A flexible, elegant and economical solution to a very domestic need.

Materials: Bamboo, Twine
Location: Tachikawa, Tokyo

The sharp ends of these bamboo support stakes are made safer by placing the cut off ends of mayonnaise bottles on top.

I like the strongly practical, domestic feel that this has. No fuss, no pretense of elegance. Just growing some plants and keeping kids’ eyes out of harm’s way.

Materials: Mayonnaise Bottles
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Thanks to my Tokyo-DIY-Gardening collaborator/co-instigator Jared Braiterman for this lovely short post on the super-glue that holds together much of Tokyo’s DIY green.
http://tokyogreenspace.com/2010/09/25/s-hooks-are-tokyos-super-glue/
“I love how someone has intervened in the landscape, and done so in a way that is completely removable and dependent on what already exists.”

Materials: S-hook

Potplants secured top their precarious wall-top position with bricks.

Materials: Bricks
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Outdoor lightbox-type signage is supported and secured by bricks placed under and on top of the structure. One sign to six bricks.

Materials: Bricks
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

A small tree outside a local sushi restaurant is trained away from the road with wire twisted around a pole and a larger tree.

Materials: Wire
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Another entry in the “security or stabilization?” series..[e.g. 1], [e.g. 2].. This one looks as if it is secured to keep the tree from obstructing the front entrance.

Materials: Plastic Twine
Location: Yanaka, Tokyo

(Originally posted on Tokyo-DIY-Gardening.org)

PET bottles (soft drink and shochu) filled with water secure a store banner and stabilise promotional flags.

Materials: Pet Bottle, Plastic Twine
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

A medium size potted bamboo plant is secured to a breeze block and signpost with a long length of plastic twine (one key item in the urban gardener’s arsenal).

What is the function of this construction? Is it a security device – being of just enough nuisance to discourage late-night strollers from lightheartedly taking it home (It is easy pickings for any determined thief)?. Is it a stabilizing defense against high-winds? Or, does it simply prevent the pot from falling/being bumped over in its precarious position?

(First published on Tokyo DIY Gardening)

Materials: Plastic Rope/Twine, Breeze Block, Signpost
Location: Sendagaya, Tokyo

String tied around a hook keeps this gate open. Wire binds it to the concrete block wall.




Materials: String, Wire, Hook
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

The wall/entrance to this shed is held up by string attached to the roof.


Materials: String
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Large plastic laundry hook serves as support for a large hanging planter.


Materials: Hook, Tree
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Tree branch supports small pot plant.



Materials: Tree Branch
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Crumbling entrance archway held together with duct tape.



Materials: Duct Tape
Location: Harajuku, Tokyo

A creeper is trained up, out to, and along a tree with bamboo rods and string.


Materials: Bamboo Rod, String
Location: Mitaka, Tokyo

Corrugated iron sheets form a fence when affixed to metal reinforcing spikes. Plastic stakes fixed to the back provide extra stabilization.


Materials: Wire, Metal Spike, Plastic Stake
Location: Akishima, Tokyo

Fence constructed from many fences. Held together with wire.


Materials: Wire
Location: Akishima, Tokyo