Sometimes the projects that change your life start with a simple question.
Several years ago, I was mainly building outdoor furniture from my own woodworking plans. One day a lady contacted me and asked if I could build her a garbage box.
I told her I normally didn't take custom orders. I preferred building from my own designs and plans rather than copying someone else's project.
Still, the idea stayed with me.
At the time, roadside garbage was a common problem in many rural areas. Garbage bags left beside the road were often exposed to wind, weather, birds, and animals. It seemed like a problem worth solving.
I told her I would think about it.
Over the next week, I started sketching ideas and eventually designed what became my first Hexagon Garbage Box. Once I finished the build, I sent her a picture.
She loved it.
As a designer, I spend a lot of time planning projects.
What happened next is something I could never have planned on paper.
After I delivered the garbage box, we started spending time together. One thing led to another, and before long we were a couple.
Today, seven years later, we're still together. I moved in with her, and the funny part is that I still use that very same garbage box every week.
Not many woodworking projects can say they helped start a relationship.
The Problem the Garbage Box Was Designed to Solve
The original goal was simple.
Keep garbage contained until collection day.
In many rural areas, garbage bags left at the roadside can become a target for birds, animals, and strong winds. Once a bag gets torn open, the cleanup can be frustrating and time-consuming.
I wanted a design that would:
- Keep garbage bags contained
- Help reduce access by animals and birds
- Protect bags from blowing around in the wind
- Create a cleaner appearance along the roadside
- Be simple enough for the average woodworker to build
The solution was an enclosed wooden garbage box with a hinged lid and plenty of storage capacity for everyday household use.
Built for Real Life
One thing I've learned over the years is that there is a big difference between a project that looks good in a photograph and a project that performs well year after year.
This garbage box wasn't built as a display piece.
It was built to solve a problem.
For seven years it has been exposed to Newfoundland weather, changing seasons, weekly use, and everything that comes with outdoor life.
That kind of real-world use teaches you a lot about design.
The projects that survive are usually the simple ones.
Why I Like Problem-Solving Projects
Some of my favorite woodworking projects aren't furniture at all.
They're practical solutions.
A courier drop box helps protect deliveries.
An elevated IBC tote stand helps support off-grid water systems.
A roadside garbage box helps keep garbage organized and contained.
These are the kinds of projects people build because they solve a problem they actually have.
As a designer, those are often the most satisfying projects to create.
Build Your Own Roadside Garbage Box
If you're tired of cleaning up scattered garbage, dealing with birds and animals, or simply want a cleaner-looking roadside setup, building a garbage box may be worth considering.
The woodworking plans include the dimensions, material list, and step-by-step instructions needed to build your own using standard lumber and common woodworking tools.
After seven years of real-world use, I can't promise you'll get the girl, but I can honestly say the original design has done exactly what it was built to do.
It keeps garbage contained, stands up to the weather, and still gets used every week.
Not every woodworking project changes your life, but this one certainly changed mine.
Get the plan here Hexagon Garbage Box Plans
You can also view this and other woodworking plans, along with customer reviews, on our Etsy shop: