Make a self-watering herb pot

You’ll need

• Bourdeaux-style wine bottle (with straight, rather than sloping edges below the neck). The Pete’s Shed range from Yealands Estate are the right style, available at Countdown supermarkets – $12-$16.
• Tile cutter bench saw. I suggest buying one second-hand because once you get good, you will want to keep doing this! I found a used saw for $60 and a new one for $126.58 on Trademe – otherwise go to Hirepool ($77 for a day).
• De-Solv-It citrus-based cleaning solution to remove labels from the glass ($11 from a hardware store).
• Small length of P80 sandpaper ($1.70 from a hardware store).
• Safety equipment – dust mask and goggles while cutting the glass. This is A MUST – you do not want chips of glass in your eyes or mouth! (You can get these as a set along with earmuffs for only $10-$15 from a hardware store.)
• Scrap of cloth (use an old cotton t-shirt that you have been meaning to repurpose into rags) and a piece of jute string long enough to tie around the bottleneck.
• Ruler or tape measure and a vivid pen (buy or borrow if you don’t have one).

Short on tools?

You can cut the top off a wine bottle without a special saw by using methylated spirits, wool and cold water. Simply tie a piece of wool around the bottle where you want it to break, soak it in a little meths and light it. As soon as the flame burns out plunge the bottle into a bucket of icy water and with a bit of luck the bottle will break neatly along the heated line. If not, give it a gentle tap with a hammer, being careful not to smash the glass. Wear safety glasses throughout.

Step-by-step guide

Step 1: Drink the wine

This is the fun part. I suggest pouring the wine into a decanter to have after the job, using a bottle from last night, or pillaging one from a recycling bin on rubbish day. Use De-Solv-It with a pot scrubber to clean off the label if necessary.

Step 2: Measure your cut

Mark the bottle 15.5cm from the bottom.

Step 3: Cut the bottle in half

Set the tile cutter so that the bottle rests against the rail with the mark on the blade and fill the water trough underneath. Use two hands so you can keep the base of the bottle against the rail and gently twist the bottle on to the spinning blade. For best results, try to keep the pressure even throughout the cut. You will get wet while doing this!

Step 4: Smooth the edge

Fold a piece of sandpaper and carefully rub the glass edges until they’re smooth enough that they can’t cut skin. If you want a perfect finish, use wet and dry sandpaper P400 grit as well. (This step is quicker if you start it off using an angle grinder with a sanding disc but you need to be very confident as this can be dangerous.)

Step 5: Tie on the cloth

Wrap your scrap of cloth over the bottleneck and secure with string.

Step 6: Fill the top half with soil

Use potting mix or healthy topsoil – poke down into the bottleneck.

Step 7: Plant your favourite herb

Pour water into the bottom half, put the top half in upside down and plant your favourite herb there. Now just leave it on the windowsill near where you cook and you have yourself a beautiful, upcycled, self-watering planter!