This post was inspired by What the #%*&! Is Permaculture by @agsurrection, who in the post included an interesting idea I had never heard before -- that one part of permaculture is "a lovely place to sit on a warm evening and watch the sunset in your back yard, all the while providing you with growing food." And "The best part of permaculture for me is the fact that it can be applied loosely or tightly, on a patio or a million acre plot of land."
Well, I have a fairly small suburban yard, and it fits the above description quite well. We grow a fair amount of food, although I could do better. And it is our tranquil place to prepare meals and enjoy them, surrounded by the fruit of our labor and a few chickens. I have been working on the #permaculture of our yard for about ten years now, with much of that time spent selecting and locating drought tolerant plants, enriching the soil, and caring for lots of fruit trees, bushes and vines, but this was a big addition that made all that hard work something we could live within, while enjoying some of our best family time.
The idea for an outdoor kitchen nestled in our garden came during a trip to my wife's aunt's house on Guemes Island in the Pacific Northwest. We spent more time outside than in, and enjoyed one delicacy after another in that perfect northwest climate. Aunt Mary is a great chef, and she also taught us how to make paella on the fire pit, and that just boosted the inspiration.
As I set to work designing our space, I knew I wanted a patio at ground level, so that we could be enveloped by the plants we grow, and move easily in and out of the space. I began the project by excavating a bit to build a solid wood foundation.
From there I installed a deck, and then a pergola.
Don't tell my wife, but in truth, I really just needed a canoe rack but things got a little out of control :) But the canoe is an excellent counter top and bar!
In order to make the patio more usable in mid summer, I added a UV corrugated plastic roof. It is simply amazing how much cooler it is even in direct sun. And it still allows plenty of light. We grow grape vines that trail up the posts and spread out under the roof, dangling big bunches of grapes over the dining area. Its kind of amazing.
Here are closeups of the fire pit . . .
and the raised vegetable and herb beds. I love having herbs growing next to the kitchen.
We grow hop vines all along the fence which adds a great sun shade in the evenings, and really adds to the effect of being surrounded by lush green.
And here are some of our chickens enjoying a walk around the beds.
Here are our rolling composters that help process all the amazing chicken manure we get.
And chickens and boy under one of the apple trees.
Momma is definitely not okay with this situation!
The big canoe (and the cat) can get stored up high for more space on the deck.
And finally, here are some happy people enjoying the space . . .
. . . while waiting for . . .
Paella!!!
Feel free to ask any questions about building something like this in your own back yard.
Beautiful back yard, and I love that the chickens can run around freely!
Thanks. We used to let them free range more when they were young, but they are very messy so not as much now. But they do have a very large run.
I've got friends that are doing something similar, so I'll have to show them your post. You've given me some great ideas here. Thanks for sharing!
Great to hear @poimenpost. I’m thinking of trying something new here, and yours is the first comment I am replying to since thinking of it. Feel free to link something you’ve posted here in a comment. I know that’s considered taboo when it’s unsolicited, but I’m really looking to improve the quality of my feed. So if you’re game, post something you think is good, even if it’s old.
Thanks, that’s a good way to share ideas. Good information has a way of getting lost and missed. I was thinking of doing a post about my friends’ setup. If I get it done I’ll post it here too. Thanks again!
Poimenpost i love your comment but i belive in the principle of upvoteforupvote
This post has been resteemed as part of the Steemit Newbie Resteem Initiative. :)
Thank you! Very much appreciated.
yes good to listen
Hi i loved your post, and i built my self sufficient log greenhouse and decking out of reclaimed wood. Also being greatly into self sufficiency myself i have been looking into ormus rocks to increase the yields of the crops. Have a look at Ken Rohla. Also there is a very interesting video called water has memory which talks about structurizing water, the chinese do it to increase plant growth.
My posts recently have been talking about wilhelm reich cloudbuster and i would recommend you give that a look if you are concerned about chemtrails, sunlight, heavy metals etc as i have built a cloudbuster to help increase the sunlight as i am in the UK and the spraying is a problem for growing. Finally these cloudbusters negatively charge the atmosphere which attracts wildlife including the pollenators such as bees as they have magnatite in them and are attracted to the area. Sounds crazy but it is a thing. Here is a picture of my little project and i really enjoyed your article so i have promoted and voted you up. I will look forward to catching up with your post and feel free to look up some of my mine.
Thanks sean
Interesting things to follow up on. Thanks for the comment @gameywatchman. That shed and deck look great!
Thanks, and i am inspired by the grill on your decking, roll on summer.
It’s actually sunk in the ground, with the decking built around it. Just making sure you don’t try building a fire on top of your wood! :)
Don't worry your talking to one of the sensible people, so funny though and thanks for checking. You never know! Gave me a chuckle.
@gameywatchman, can you post a picture of your log greenhouse? I've got 3 citrus trees that need to be moved out of my house and I'm in the planning stage right now.
Hi, here are a couple of pictures, there are 8 panes of glass at the front with 4 skylights all south facing, on the back there are 2 skylights for getting the morning sun and a long window at the front for the last of the evening sun. Attached to the greenhouse are 3 grow beds and an aquaponics tank and shingle grow bed.
Thanks Sean
That’s really nice. My last big house project is going to be rebuilding the back deck and making a three season porch.
Thanks for the comment, my family really enjoy this area , watching the chickens from the decking. Good luck with your next project, it would be nice to see a post when you have done it.
Now that's my kind of backyard. I think if many more people had a setup like that the world would be full of stress free, relaxed, happy individuals. At least I would like to think so. I'm with you. Enjoy!
http://www.thebackyardprovider.com/
Great website. That should keep me occupied for a while! I read the post on back yard chickens. I was part of a group that fought for four years to convince our town to lift an ordinance prohibiting back yard hens. It’s was completely absurd and also quite educational. We would spend a year answering to all the concerns and convince people it was okay, and then a whole new group of angry townsfolk would show up to a meeting and start the whole process over again. We ended up compromising and created a pilot that gets renewed every year. It has now been running for three years and with 25 families raising hens we have not a single complaint, and miraculously, home values have not plummeted like the doomsdayers believed. That was probably the most educational part — learning about how people would line up so-called experts, like real estate agents, who couldn’t provide a single piece of credible evidence. It was like shooting fish in a barrel because we had the evidence, but as I said, the process was circular. But in the end we won, but only because the town commissioners realized we simply were not going to quit. Now we are teaching our kids to understand and value what it takes to get nutrition to the table, something you obviously appreciate. To someone with not interest in such things we seemed like. A bunch of mit jobs, but to my wife and I it is critical knowledge to be fostering in our kids. I used to hunt, and I still have the means, but it’s been a long time. I keep thinking I might again if either of my kids are interested down the road.
I do know exactly what you mean about the bureaucratic mindset. I fought them to, as well as the county health inspector, and others. After awhile it is like beating your head against an immovable object, mostly because the terms one is trying to satisfy are either undefinable or constantly moving. There's is a circular logic, and no one is ever responsible, in my experience.
I had been collecting horror stories from folks like us for quite awhile. I have not kept up with the latest injustices for some time, as I had been busy developing a new website and other things. No doubt that it still goes on - with vegetables too.
And if you really want to set your hair on fire sometime, take a look into the issues of raw milk. You can go to prison for that one!
I am glad that you like the website. I hope that you will write some more on your backyard oasis. Love the chicken pictures by the way, particularly the one on the deck.
Best!
Loads of efforts and time involved in the project. Hard work has paid off, a comfy patio to enjoy sunshine, foods, chatter and laughter and fun with whole family.
Very impressive! I've got a huge remodel which includes a redesign of the garden coming up. I'll share as I go.
Looking forward to it. Have fun.
Thank you for sharing. Hope you will get a positive day, good luck and wish you success.
I have resteem and upvoted this post.
Best Regards
With Respect From Banjarmasin, South Borneo / Kalimantan, Indonesia
Thanks! As Charles Barkley says, I’ve never had a bad day in my life! :). It’s great to make new friends in Indonesia.
very nice
Thanks. I like the kinds of things you’ve been posting too.
Mmmmm!!!! This food must be delicious. @cstrimel.
A really amazing post. I love the hops and you have grapes as well. I wonder do you do any form of home brewing?
This post has been resteemed as part of my #newbieresteemday. I resteemed it from @mudcat36 and his #newbieresteemmegaswap post.
This is part of the Steemit Newbie Resteem Inititative, where great content from new and up and coming users is promoted for the benefit of the author and this platform. Feel free to have a browse and either contribute or resteem anything you fancy.
Thanks! Here’s a link to post I wrote recently on home brewing. I decided to start with a general overview on the topic, but will follow up with more specific ones on recipes and such.
https://steemit.com/homesteading/@cstrimel/from-0-to-8-5-a-practical-guide-to-brewing-beer-for-beginners
cheers mate, heading to have a look now : )
Oh man, I like the way you repurposed that canoe into something perfectly functional and fun. Great work blooming where you are planted, and turning your spot into paradise - at least that's how it looks! Good news: This gem of a post was discovered by the OCD Team!
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I will check it out. Thanks for the info. When I started this post I thought I had more pics of the yard in mid season. I will have to update this summer.
Inspiring project - I feel like I'm letting the side down with very little homegrown produce! I must do better this summer! And you've planted some seeds of ideas with me now....
I really recommend growing fruit if you have the right climate. We do blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, grapes and apples. We do some veggies too much they tend to suffer when we inevitably go away during the summer.
I think i love this
Awesome post- love permaculture and growing - resteemed and following
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it. I appreciate the resteem!
Good post, I am a photographer, it passes for my blog and sees my content, I hope that it should be of your taste :D greetings
Well, that was quite a feat! It must be cool to know you've achieved that. Me, I feel like I've achieved something after I finish an IKEA cabinet.
It keeps me sane. I’m a teacher in my regular job, so if I’m not doing something with my hands I get lost.
I'm a teacher too. Good to get to know you and I can relate to the need to have something else to focus on something else!
DANGG!! That is one hell of an oasis you show here! Congratulations for your generous quality of live amongst your veggies!