Raised Garden Bed Enclosure - deer and critter proof

UPDATE::  Here is how my garden went CRAZY!!  Scroll down and read below for how it all started!

 cucamelon vines below

I'll try and make this first post quick, we are finally finished creating our 'Garden of Eatin'!

This is a walkout garden from our kitchen and the dimensions are 15'X15' covering our under-used patio slab we had of about 19' X 19'.  What was once littered with kids toys and bits and bobs of plastic stuff, is now a garden paradise!

I have to give huge credit to my two inspirations, my friend Jas who built raised garden beds and John Kowler from GrowingYourGreens.com.  I highly recommend John's youTube videos, very inspiring.  And yes, I'm using straight compost from kitchen scraps (city program) and Gaia Green Glacial Rock Dust.  Most of all, I have to credit my husband for letting me run with this crazy idea supporting me and funding my project ;-)

Then: 18mths with hammer in hand

Now: 7 months pregnant and on a mission to build my garden, we're on a deadline!

The garden is fenced with deer fencing all the way around (to keep our cats out) and strawberry planters line the sides.  Please excuse the strawberries appearances at the moment, they were sadly transplanted during the heat, but they'll take...eventually!  I always wanted a Dutch Door, so I built one!  I found the old window at Restore for $5!  My husband says I should take the price tag off, it looks tacky, but heck it was $5, I'm proud!!  I used 3/8 drip line inside the garden and along the strawberry boxes.

Currently I can run this manually on a timer, but eventually will get it hooked up to our in ground irrigation system.

Aerial View

Our backyard slopes slightly downhill so the other garden beds I have always involved getting wet or muddy feet, somehow this seemed the case anytime of the year.

Now, I just have to walk out the kitchen and pick what I need!

What did I plant?

Giant Oregon Snow Peas
Cucamelons
Lemon Cucumbers
Yellow wax beans
Scarlett runner beans
Hmmm some other Heirloom beans?!  what were they??
Purple Tomatoes
Blueberry Tomatoes
Strawberry Spinach
Kale
Purple Broccoli
Romanesco Cauliflower
Brussel Sprouts
Every colour of carrot out there
Pac Choi
Fennel
Gold Beets
Red Beets
Easter Egg Radishes
Basil
Corn
5 types of lettuce and water cress
Nasturtiums and Marigolds for pests and colour


So happy we did this, more pictures to come!

And three weeks later after seeds...progress!!

The Before Shots (below)

First boards down...so many more to go!!

Tweet

Purple Russian Potatoes

So I tried the 100 potatoes in a barrel method, hmmm I'm not sure what the actual trick is to get that kind of yield but I got maybe 15 lbs...nice looking potatoes!  Perhaps my yellow fingerling potatoes might work out better...haven't harvested yet.

Tweet

Pallet Garden Table

I originally lugged this thing home and planned to make a factory cart from it:

 The original plan...but aborted, perhaps to be revisited later again...damn sure love it!

But here is what ended up happening to it, cost was nothing all paint I had on hand.

Tweet

Burlap meets Beach

As you know I love the beach!  My other wreath needed something, well it got a revamp.  Here's what happened:

I should have taken a close up, but there is a fine pink weave in the burlap that goes with the starfish and the bow has a sequin that has pink iridescence to it.  I still think it is missing something, but I'm not sure what...

Tweet

Board and Batten - New Light in Foyer

Firstly, I have to say I pronounce it "Foi-eh?"  not "Foi 'yer".  I may like Modern Country, but I don't sound like I'm off the farm.  (Gee I hope I don't insult anyone!)

I'm so addicted to Pinterest and it is a wealth of ideas and inspiration.  In total I would say it took me 2-3 hours tops and maybe $30 in supply.  I was out of nails, can you believe it?!  After thoughts...perhaps should have used a PL adhesive instead of the nails but still very happy with the outcome.

Here are the before and afters:

 Taadaa!  All finished and it is so much brighter!  Now what to do to the closet...hmmm sewing nook, office, bench cubby?  Stay tuned!

Tweet

The Couch That Got a Face Lift

This couch apparently can never leave this house.  It has been here since the first owner, we are the third.  Perhaps it's like a boat, you can't change the name or it's bad luck?  I dunno, but I do love it.  It is super comfy!  I slept on it the first night in the new house, mostly because nothing was put together yet!

Well, you gotta admit, he's got a great frame, timeless and well built!  There was just one thing, he didn't have his original back cushions, and apparently the previous owners never had them either!  Weird!  Well, let's just fix that!

Here is the reveal on the new white slipcovered sofa.  100% Egyptian cotton, arrived with the script font on the paper packaging, truly authentic and cool!

Tweet

The Flowers and the Rockery

Okay I admit these were taken probably three weeks ago now, but you'll get the idea of what's happening in our garden.  

Backyard Shots:

Pathway to deck with awning.  

 Backside Patio looking onto deck.

 Front Yard Shots:

The bend in the road...I always curse this bed because of the number of weeds it gets.  I should take another photo from the road looking in...you'll see all the rockery I added to avoid weeds, but alas they still grow in landscaping fabric!  

 The front island garden, last year I added a bunch of rock in here again to try and cut down on the amount of weeding required, well they're easier to pull out but still happen...

This is the front walkway gardens, kinda dark picture was midday - if I could just think of it in the morning!!

 Oh, a little person!  "You take my picture Mommy?"  "Yes dear, you're in it!"

 My new Summer Sun echinachea, LOVE this colour!

 Some lillies, have a few different colours.  Managed to hack off a bunch weeding and trimming the other night - whoops!

Close up of these pretty things!

 Front island looking out from house.

 In the thick of it!

 Yellow Rudbeckia, just about to go crazy in blooms.

Some new blue delphiniums I couldn't say no to.  I like that they're miniatures!

Donkey's Ears and Yellow Lustrife - so vibrant.

The last of the Shastas, I've pulled all the others in the front beds by the house, they were looking a little tattered.

Sedum?  Hmmm, I dunno but I like it!

Fountains are finally working!  Yeah!

 Backyard Bay Leaf tree and garden

Tweet

Thrifty Find: Embroidery Hoops to Earring Holders

I recently bought some new earrings at a crafters clearance sale.  I love the notion of wearing earrings but I never get to see the selection I have.   I had some left over pieces of burlap coffee sacks which worked perfectly with the little holes for them to go through.

Tweet

Greek Lima Bean Dip

If you like humous you'll love this!

3 cups cooked lima beans (two 15 ounce cans, drained and liquid reserved)
2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons minced fresh dill
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/3 cup minced red onions
s & p to taste

Add beans to food processor and blend smooth, if you need more liquid add a little of the reserved bean juice) place into bowl and stir in the remainder ingredients.  Serve with crackers, pita, tortilla chips or baguette - yummers!

Lots of protein, low fat and really flavourful!

Great for a party and keeps for a couple days in the fridge.

Tweet

Simple Veggie Sushi at Home

It is super easy to make sushi rice.  Who says it has to be all fancy and wrapped?  I felt like veggie sushi tonight so I made this super quick.  "Talk about super satisfying too", says Carb Barb.  It's fun to decorate too.  One of my tricks in loosing weight is presentation and that includes some of my thrifty finds as new dinner sized serving plates.  Oh, that reminds me I have a few I should show.  The fish was hand made and I just love him.  He is the only part of this dish that is fish.  The best part of sushi is there is little or no fat - a real winner on the waist line.

Here is a plate of sushi I made for a ladies night a little while back that I hosted.  It's not entirely hard to wrap sushi once you get the hang of it either.  They were smoked tuna and salmon and veggie rolls.  If you're wondering what is up and to the left they are Kale Chips.

Tweet

Thrifty Find: Table

Okay, $5 how could I not?!  I'm not sure if it's teak or not, it has some of those mid century lines to it.  Here's my plan, I'm going to convert my front closet into a bench and coat rack area with baskets etc.  I'm not sure if I should paint it yet or not.  Perfect height for sitting.

Tweet