We have done so many projects in the backyard in the last month that I don’t even know where to start. A lot of the changes have been massive weeding projects, cutting down or relocating shrubs and trees, and shuffling the yard art. The biggest and most exciting backyard project we have tackled thus far? Raised planter beds. Vegetable garden here we come!
Before we started looking for our first home, we agreed that we needed a backyard big enough to plant a vegetable garden. You don’t new much space to plant veggies, but the point is we were both really excited at the thought of having fresh fruit, veggies, and herbs straight out of our backyard. So it’s only fitting that this was our first big project! Like most projects, this started off with lots of planning, list-making, and a trip to hardware store. Unlike most projects, this also involved a trip to the rockery to buy lots and lots of dirt.
Dirt is my favorite 🙂
We coerced my dad’s truck into our backyard, unloaded the copious amount of dirt, then took off for the yearly Easter shenanigans in Perrydise. Yes, we took almost a full day off from our weekend “job” to eat, drink, and be merry!
Getting the truck into this spot definitely involve some coercing, but it was well worth it. So much time saved!
Sunday was back to work. While at Perrydise, we had recruited some volunteers to help with the raised planter project. My parents and Chels helped us schlep, shovel, and construct, and Kirbie was our fearless mascot, of course.
Recruitment may or may not have been dependent on shots of Bushmills…
By the end of the day, we had constructed, installed, and filled two redwood planter beds, each 8 feet long by 3 feet wide by 2 feet tall. That is a lot if planting area! We built the planter beds along the fence in front of the fruit trees, so all of our edibles are in the same area. On top of the raised beds, Justin and my dad did some serious irrigation work, and now the planters are equipped with a dripper system! Yaaaaaay!
Building, building, building
Kirbie the mascot, a large pile of dirt, and lots of discussion
Installation! Getting ready to add the dirt, drippers, and plants.
Operation: irrigation!
Operation irrigation, part II
Look at that trench. Gorgeous!
Dirt added! Time to compact.
And finally, planting. All this work for these little plants 🙂
They also dug a trench back to the fruit trees for some automated irrigation back there as well, but that project hasn’t quite been completed. You can only do so much in one day… and the planters aren’t quite complete yet either. Justin is going to put in a redwood board along the top edge of the planters, to hide the black plastic liner and to give them more of a finished look. We also plan to put pea gravel or some other sort of path around the area to finish off this part of the yard.
Planters, installed. Since we’ve put them in, the plants have really gone to town. Especially this week with all the heat!
As of now, we have planted tomatoes, green beans, squash, lemon cucumber, basil, strawberries, lettuce, peppers, chiles, and asparagus. Can’t wait for the harvest!
And one more, for good measure!
To give you a little perspective on how behind I am on blogging (sorry, life is crazy!), we did this work Easter weekend. And what Easter is complete without deviled eggs and Coors Light?!
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The JustinKays Chronicles 
Great project! Love the play-by-play.
Nancy