So we have spent the last couple of months talking about what we want to do here, looking at the land in the most brutal time of the year, looking at what structures we have, what we can salvage and repair and what has to go.
There is a couple of sheds that will need to go, but about half can be repaired, re-using the old materials we have here. The easy thing to do would be to rip it all out and start fresh, but that's not our way.
This old block doesn't make a lot of sense really, its quite higgeldy piggeldy. So the challenge is to make it make sense to us in a way that provides us lots of produce, provides a safe and interesting play space for the boys, a place for our family to spend time together and a place for our dogs to be dogs and a space for our chooks to roam free, separate from the dogs.
With the dogs we need to keep the veggie patch fenced off. So it will stretch the entire way down one side of the block. There is a variety of growing conditions in that space. Ranging from full shade, protected, medium shade, well protected to full sun. We wont be using beds as such, but improving the soil the whole way along that stretch and co-planting things that work together. there will be a section for composting hidden right down the back and also there is pre-existing green house which we will convert to a glass house at a later stage. It already has water, it is close to the house for easy view and maintenance and I will pass it all the time which is important. Our sitting area will look over it which is essential to keep it well maintained.
Most of the edging around beds and the various zones will be old recycled red bricks. There are piles of them on the property. For now we are just beginning to put them in place and get a feel. When we are sure we will cement them in so they don't shift about.
We have huge pepper trees along the back fence which provide a wind break. This area is impossible to grow anything under and we will simply bring in bark chips, and make it a natural play space for the boys. There is a big tree to climb and we have allowed space the whole way along the back fence for the dogs to pace and patrol the boarder. Its their natural behavior and including space for a dog track around the exterior of the yard will help us all live peacefully together and save my garden. 1m will be plenty of wide enough for them to run and do their thing, and from experience they will then mostly leave my garden beds alone.
In the rear right corner of the block there will be a native garden. It will be planted out with Grevillias and native plants to bring in bees, birds, insects and so forth. It will also have logs in it and be designed as a natural play space for the boys. A bit of a "Bush Garden" if you will. Coming off of that area will be a fire pit and a timber framed pergola which we will grow a vine over. Currently there is an small asbestos roof shed which will need to be professionally removed.
There will be at least one patch of lawn which you can see colored green. A place to run, to picnic, kick a footy and so forth. Close to the front of the house will be a couple of small 1/4round beds for just a few of my favorite flowers, also the bird bath and Grants hilariously kitsch fountain will go there, in pride of place.
The big patch to the left will be the chook run and orchid. I would like to plant an avocado, perhaps a mulberry still or a couple of apple trees, at least one of the almonds will need to go. We will need to be able to pull a trailer in there and park the van. The chooks will have a huge space to scratch, explore, eat any dropped fruit and it will work well for us I think. They are also safe from the dogs there and we will be able to lock them in their shed at night to keep them safe from foxes.
In front of that area there is another shed and there will be more bark and so forth there to provide Grant a little work shop in the old shed. He will keep his wood roach set up in the two sheds along the side. It will work well being near the chooks as they scratch through the waste and pick out any worms that co-habit with them, and also the shade of the pepper tree will provide relief from extreme heat. They are sensitive things. As we are digging up squares of cement Grant is saving them to lay on the little sheds floors. I may well put a second compost area in the orchid area to work on composting the chook and bug manure. It is strong stuff.
Good friends of our gave us their old cubby, its in great condition and just needs a coat of paint! We were thrilled and so very grateful for their generosity! We have hidden it between some trees to try and create a "secret" feeling shady space for them. We will grab some big gum-tree rounds and make steppers and jumping logs around the area, great for balancing.
So this is our plans so far. I'm not sure if that will be enough productive growing space for us. There is a large un-coloured area on this design you can see, which is where the clothes line will go. An easy walk from the laundry and full sun. I'm hesitant to put lawn there, but also unsure if we will be able to viably manage any more productive growing area then what we already have.
What are your thoughts?
Much love,
Emma
xx
