The Story: The Coca-Cola Crate
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” — Depression-era saying
I wasn’t expecting how sentimental this old wooden Coca-Cola crate would become. “This was my father’s,” he said as he handed it to me. He died several years ago, and this crate was one of his dad’s personal belongings. His dad had used it to organize little pieces of hardware in jars: one square for screws, another for nails, another for who knows what else. He kept it in his garage. Funny how resourceful we can be when we have both will and necessity.
I think about that word—resourceful. It feels old-fashioned now, but it’s how entire generations survived. My grandma didn’t waste; she reimagined. A soda crate became a shelf. A jar became a storage bin. I can still see her walking out of the ditch that ran next to her house bringing out the day’s finds to use or give away.
Sometimes I wonder if we’ve forgotten that kind of wisdom. When I cook now, I find myself reusing old jars, stretching what’s left, learning to make things last. Not just with food, but with my time, my relationships, my energy. I’m learning that resourcefulness isn’t only about using less; it’s about loving what you already have more.
Maybe this old crate is teaching me about enoughness. The world shouts for more—more things, more success, more noise. But this crate, scratched and steady, reminds me that new isn’t always better. What’s old has already proven itself. What’s simple has already endured.
I hope this piece finds a home in your garden, maybe your front porch, holding life where once it held hardware. A quiet act of renewal. A reminder that redemption doesn’t always mean starting over; sometimes it means honoring what still works.
Care Guide
Light: Bright, indirect sunlight or partial sun.
Water: Keep soil evenly moist; do not overwater, as there is limited drainage.
Placement: Ideal outdoors under cover or indoors near a sunny window.
Freeze Warning: Move indoors during freezing temperatures. Unlike plants rooted in the earth, container gardens depend on us for warmth and care.
Encouragement: May this vessel remind you that enough is already within reach. You don’t always need something new. Sometimes the best things are the ones that have been faithful all along.
I prayed over this vessel and for you, the one holding it now — that you may see the beauty in what’s been carried forward, and find peace in calling it enough.
“Gather the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.” — John 6:12
With you in the soil and the story,
Ellie
A Living Story Disclaimer
Each Restoried Garden begins its journey in my hands but continues its story with you. Every vessel has been cleaned, prepared, and planted with care; however, once it leaves my garden, its life depends on your unique environment and tending. Please note that weather, watering, and placement all influence longevity, and I cannot be responsible for plant performance or wear over time. These pieces are meant to live, grow, and change, a reflection that no story truly ends; it simply takes root somewhere new.
