Planning a strategy
Week two of the lawn project is here! I still have grass, lots and lots of grass, but at least it is nice and green now. Looking out at the expanse of lawn you might not think that I’ve followed through on my one project a week promise. This week’s work is just not obvious.
Those of you that know me may have figured out that my first step in any new endeavor is usually to make a lot of lists, sketches, pictures and plans. (Chris would probably argue that my first step is really to buy the largest book I can find on the topic.) So, you will have to look inside for progress on the Lawn Project this week.
I started out the week by walking around the yard and thinking. I already had some ideas about what I would like the yard to look like and how I would like it to function, but I decided that it would be a good idea to make a concrete list of those ideas and my overall goals.
I thought all the comments were right on the mark last week. I will definitely be keeping some grassy areas for plan and relaxation. I am also trying not to rush the process in order to meet deadlines. The entire project will likely not be finished in one year, and will continue to evolve for as long as we live here. But, especially with a lager scale project like this, I like to have a road map of where I want to go. Detours will certainly happen, and the final destination may not even remain the same, but having a direction in mind helps to focus everything. This lack of overall planning has been one of our biggest problems in the past, I am trying not to make the same mistake again!
So…drum roll…here is my list of goals:
- Install thoughtful plantings that include food for us, food for wildlife, food for bees, and food for the plants themselves. Lots of food.
- Spaces for recreation and relaxation
- A more extensive collection of herbs, both perennial and annual
- Manageable pathways and low maintenance edges
- Flexibility built into the design
I started off by dividing the yard in to four quadrants, the NE, NW, SE, and SW. I measured both the SE and SW sections this week and drew a map of each showing all the existing plantings and landmarks. After that, I began to sketch in the ideas that I have been playing around with.
Now…
SE section Before
And Later…
SE Section Proposed
Was I sitting around in the house all week drawing? Nope. Sig and I took advantage of the nice weather and planted 3 new trees, another peach tree, a new sweet cherry, and a pine tree that the nursery down the street gave Sig and Acadia for Earth Day. We also continued the general spring cleanup and managed to get a few potatoes in the ground before it rained. Here are a couple of pictures of the new trees and plans.
Have a great week!
Fresh From the Folly 