Considering yesterday’s post was pretty morbid, depressing and not at all uplifting, I thought today I’d share with you a little project that I’m going to be working on this year. Given that spring is round the corner and life is popping up in all manner of colour and greenery, it’s the perfect time to think about what I’m going to do with our back garden.
This is it in it’s current state of neglect. A long patchy lawn, with poor, gravely soil, an annoying grassy border and a trampoline frame that has rusted so much, that I can’t get it apart to remove it. I must admit, when we moved in last year, it looked even worse. It was overrun by tree stumps, thorny shrubs and all manner of weeds, so it’s come a long way, but I still feel that it’s being neglected and going to waste, when it could be put to much better use.
Therefore with some gentle encouragement from An Exeter Mum, sparked by her potato chitting post, and some discussion with The Beef and my Father, we’re embarking on a gardening adventure, for the not-so green-fingered.
To begin with, we’re going to make our own raised beds for that hard to mow, grassy border, with the aim of having somewhere for the Hobbits to get their hands dirty and grow their own veg. I think it’s so important in this day and age of huge, domineering supermarket chains and convenience food, that we show our offspring where food comes from. I’m far from having a green thumb, but even if we can grow just one blooming carrot, hopefully it will sow the right kind of seeds in their impressionable little minds.
Eventually I want to make a play area at the bottom of the garden, where it’s fairly shaded and flat. But for now the raised beds are our pet project and who knows, perhaps it could be the start of a healthy family hobby!
Maybe it could even look like this one day! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I’m going to keep my blog updated with our progress, so keep your eye out to see how we get on!
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Really really liking this
something positive and feel-good to look forward to. Can’t wait to see how you get on! xx
MummyNeverSleeps recently posted…What You Should Know About Cosmetic Surgery
I’m a little nervous if truth be told – it seems like such a huge project! It will be so worth it though when it’s finished.
Lilandrael recently posted…The Run Down Garden
Fantastic! We are doing the same at Damson Lane. Please do put posts about your garden adventure on the G+ Community ‘Gardening With Kids’ (https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/103077896319158707107/communities/116149664569247986665) and we can share the successes and things that don’t quite go to plan. How are you going to build the raised bed? We have been looking at buying old scaffold boards but haven’t taken the plunge and ordered them yet! Good luck and look forward to seeing how it all goes.
Damson Lane recently posted…Gardening With Kids – Recycled Planter and Water Jug
I will definitely link up – I remembered receiving your invite to the group a few weeks ago, so have finally accepted and will get sharing!
We’re planning on getting some planks of wood from a local saw mill (if my dad can remember where it is!), but reclaimed scaffolding sounds even better and much stronger!
Lilandrael recently posted…The Run Down Garden
Great idea! Hopefully the Hobbits will love it. I used to grow vege, then I had kids…
They’re probably old enough to enjoy it with me now though, so I;ll make this a project too for when we finally get a proper house here!
JallieDaddy recently posted…How to break the heart of a 2-year-old boy
“Then I had kids…” love it! Saying that I’ve been of the same mindset recently. I keep putting stuff like this off because it’s too much stress, but it’s no excuse really. What’s a bit of dirt compared to the fun of seeing things grow!
Lilandrael recently posted…The Run Down Garden
Fantastico! That grassy border by the path will be perfect for raised beds though I would be inclined to dig up all the grass down that side and dig over the ground first so there is more space for roots to grow xx
An Exeter Mum recently posted…Chitty Chitty Potato
That’s what I was thinking. My sister was over this morning – she has a plot on an allotment and she suggested digging up the grass and putting it at the bottom of the garden, where the patches are.
My head is nearly exploding with everything gardening related that I’ve learned, in the past 24 hours!
Lilandrael recently posted…The Run Down Garden
This sounds brilliant. The youngsters will love the excuse to get their hands dirty and play in the mud – and in return you’ll hopefully get some very sustainable food.
If my grandparents garden can grow potatoes in what was essentially a demolished garage then I’m sure the naturally richer soil around there can get some veg going. The garden foods I got the most out of when I was younger were things I could pick straight off the branch, if you can get some raspberries, strawberries or even garden peas growing they’re fantastic. They might not ever make it to any kind of harvest due to being eaten but at least the kids will be snacking healthy. Seriously, peas straight from the pod still take me right back to being about 3.