Spring Projects Commence

 It's that time of year again, the weather is warming up, lots of work to be done preparing for the season of gardening...but, it is much more fun to build and create.  

Looking down on the patio

I found another old barn foundation and asked for the limestone blocks.  Asking is the easy part!  Retrieving them, moving them and using them is the much more difficult part.  These limestone rocks are beauties!  I'm not sure exactly what they will be used for - maybe around the fire pit area as a barrier?  Who knows, but they definitely will be repurposed.   I brought one load home, but there is still more to get.  We've gotten plenty of rain so far this spring, but the ground was dry today, so the man with the equipment came over and moved some concrete pieces so work could commence on the patio and fire ring even if the ground was soft.  Many of these pieces aren't too large and can be maneuvered by hand.  There are still some big pieces buried in the concrete pile, and there is still a large pile left.  So much concrete!  Where else can I put it?

Raised beds under the wind turbine.

Another project started last fall and not finished were raised beds.  I am using the smaller concrete pieces to pave a walkway alongside the beds and leave the centers open for plantings of perennials like strawberries, rhubarb, asparagus and whatever else comes to mind.  I was able to haul some concrete pieces up here, but other than that not much work was done.  My muscles are looking forward to my Monday morning desk job.  Until next weekend...

Recycling at it's Finest

Wow, so it has been over two years since my last post, the hiatus is over.   In that time, many things have changed, but much more has stayed the same. 

 Remember the pile of limestone foundation rocks from 2014?  It became the landscaping for the steep slope on the west side of the house.  

Have I ever mentioned that I hate mowing?  This eliminates some steep mowing of a large area. 

I also needed a walkway.  My father was ripping out the old barn concrete floor and I thought the concrete pieces would save some of that history (my grandfather had poured the concrete) and give me a recycled (cheap) walkway.  

I think this would be a great idea for a patio area.  To me, a poured concrete slab looks too formal and man made.  However, pieced concrete adds so much more character, especially when you know where the concrete came from and what it was in its former life.  The plan would include a pergola shade structure, outdoor dining room and maybe someday a pizza oven.   This is the creative project for the summer!