So, it's getting to be time for me to start planting things I think. I live in an apartment with a cement patio that is something like 35x5 feet, I have several 66 gallon tubs filled with compost. I want to make a long trough like thing to put soil in with a clear plastic covering. Do you have any ideas?

I have seen plans involving wood and nails etc., that seem a bit unnecessarily involved, to me. I don't need the thing to look pretty.

Actually, what about just drilling holes in the plastic tubs I have? They are about 2 feet tall. I could fill them half way with soil and put clear plastic over the top.

you can just plop bags of soil on the cement patio. Lay them in a row and cut little Xs wherever you need to place a plant. Or if you want to use your own compost/soil mix - just use construction garbage bags (heavier thickness) and poke a bunch of nail sized holes in the sides and bottom - fill with 6-10 inches of your soil - roll down the excess plastic and voila. It's very cost effective, and holds the moisture in. For the clear plastic - just make a wire frame out of old hangers or even drape the plastic over over-turned buckets with a brick on top. Makes for a quick and cheap little greenhouse!

by all means use your tubs - just be sure to drill/slice/cut in a few drainage holes in the sides very near the bottom. We've used all sorts of containers for gardening in. Old milk crates with landscape fabric lining them, water jugs, old buckets and garbage cans, old wash bins/tubs, coffee cans, whatever - just drill a few drainage holes and go wild!!