There's nothing quite like putting down roots and tending a garden. But what happens if you don't have a backyard? Or you're suddenly uprooted? Or you decide to go on a road trip and can't get anyone to watch your plants?

Just whip up a portable container garden. Sure, it's not the same thing as a plot of land, but it's easy to build and you can move it on demand. In this design, created by researchers at the University of Maryland Extension, a water reservoir helps keep the plants healthy and hydrated—even if you forget to water them while you're traveling.

Stats

Time: 2 hours

Cost: $50

Difficulty: Easy

Tools & Materials

Two five-gallon food-grade buckets (A)

Drill with ½-inch hole saw and 1/16-inch bit

Sandpaper

Cloth or nylon strips (B)

PVC pipe, ¾-to 1-inch wide, 18 inches long (C)

Saw

16 quarts of soil (D)

Seedlings or plants (E)