| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Tammy Claxton |
Posted - Jan 14 2008 : 07:39:06 AM
I am gonna turn my backyard and home into my little "farm" in the "burbs". I have made a list of these to do this Spring to help transform my backyard into my little slice of "farm" heaven complete with firepit, veggie garden, and sitting area! I can't wait! I have an acre of land, but I only uses about 2/3 of it since the rest is woods. Hopefully I can get my fireplace in this year and by next winter use some of that wood! What does everyone else do that doesn't have a farm of their own??
What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger!
http://countryintheburbs.blogspot.com/ |
| 24 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Tammy Claxton |
Posted - Jan 17 2008 : 04:55:10 AM
Thanks for the site Tina - I'm gonna check that out!
Jonni - Your yard sounds great! I definitely want a firepit. The kids love it (we have a snall drum now that we do fires in). We roast marshmallows and make s'mores for them on weekends. I am also thinking about a few fruit tress in the yard. I jusst have to go to the co-op and see which ones will grow in this sandy soil. I already have the handmade adirondack chairs and table for my firepit and I'm going to do a screened in porch type sitting area. Mosquitoes can get pretty vicious here in MD in the summer! It'll be fun getting the kids out there with me so we all can get our hands dirty digging up a garden and planting things! I am so excited about it!
What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger!
http://countryintheburbs.blogspot.com/ |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Jan 16 2008 : 1:37:40 PM
Hey Tammy--
We have just about an acre, a long and thin backyard lot that goes down hill into a graded wooded area. My husband and I have been really working for the last few years to make this our "farm"...
We have raised garden beds on the east side of the house, where they get the best sun--last year we raised potatoes, peas, onions, green beans, carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, etc...this year, it will be about the same, only different types, heirloom and also planted garlic in the autumn. The back yard is divided by a wood fence--our dogs own one half and we own the other AFTER the back fenceline. My husband painted the gates dark barn red, and they are large enough to fit tractors, wheelbarrows, etc.. through.
We have blackberry brambles and an old pear tree on the first plateau, and we are clearing out invasive species right now to plant 6 heirloom apple trees.
The next plateau is going to be reserved for our honeybees. We are both attending beekeeping classes this March, though I am letting him spearhead the "movement" because I do a lot with the garden.
The rest of the yard is being planted with native species, both wildflower (prairie) and trees. We have a large black walnut that produces really well down at the base of the creek (haven't been able to get them hulled yet), and that is where we have our copper firepit and chairs to sit under the canopy of trees.
Farmgirl Sister #80, thanks to a very special farmgirl from the Bluegrass..."She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"...
NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian.
http://www.buyhandmade.org/ |
| Tina Michelle |
Posted - Jan 16 2008 : 1:19:14 PM
of course it will be the "winterized" version of my yard. Spring and summer look so much better.
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~
visit me at:
http://gardengoose.blogspot.com/
and at www.stliving.net
you can also check out my etsy shops at:http://GardenGooseGifts.etsy.com |
| Tina Michelle |
Posted - Jan 16 2008 : 1:18:04 PM
it is raining here today, but as soon as I have a nice sunny day..I will try to get out and get a few images.
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~
visit me at:
http://gardengoose.blogspot.com/
and at www.stliving.net
you can also check out my etsy shops at:http://GardenGooseGifts.etsy.com |
| mommatracy |
Posted - Jan 16 2008 : 1:14:59 PM
I've really enjoyed reading about all the backyard gardens. Wouldn't it be great if pictures were posted from those who could. I would love to see all the beautiful and creative backyard garden art! Please pretty please! |
| Tina Michelle |
Posted - Jan 16 2008 : 12:42:40 PM
here's the site for Backyard Poultry magazine.
http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~
visit me at:
http://gardengoose.blogspot.com/
and at www.stliving.net
you can also check out my etsy shops at:http://GardenGooseGifts.etsy.com |
| Tammy Claxton |
Posted - Jan 16 2008 : 05:20:48 AM
I just told hubby last night that I wanted a few hens for fresh eggs...he looked at me strange. lol. I don't think my neighbor would mind at all. He's a "stoner" if you know what I mean and just goes with the flow. The angora bunnies sound interesting too! Hmmm
I did sit down and draw up my backyard plans for Spring - even thinking about moving my backyard fence out a little to give me even more room to play with! I'm so excited about doing this. I love Winter time, but I am now looking forward to Spring!
What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger!
http://countryintheburbs.blogspot.com/ |
| Carol Sue |
Posted - Jan 15 2008 : 10:06:35 PM
Hey Tina,
Backyard Poultry, I love that one, no laughing is there a website for that one, figured I would ask you before chasing all over the place to see if there were sites you liked and recommended.
CS
listening to the quiet moments
Farmgirl #39
www.Quitemoments.blogspot.com |
| Tina Michelle |
Posted - Jan 15 2008 : 4:56:08 PM
I've been working all day long in the yard today..Naomi and I.
I'll have to get some pictures soon.
I had some clean up to get done today..and still some more to do yet.Sprintime the yard always looks much better..in winter of course things die down and look brown..even in Florida. ...but yes..I'll share photos soon.
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~
visit me at:
http://gardengoose.blogspot.com/
and at www.stliving.net
you can also check out my etsy shops at:http://GardenGooseGifts.etsy.com |
| Tina Michelle |
Posted - Jan 15 2008 : 4:54:01 PM
oh..and angora bunnies for spinning your own wool too.
there are lots of things you can have "in the city" ..within reason of course.
but gardening..shoot! the sky is the limit!...well..that and your pocketbook too of course..ha.
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~
visit me at:
http://gardengoose.blogspot.com/
and at www.stliving.net
you can also check out my etsy shops at:http://GardenGooseGifts.etsy.com |
| Tina Michelle |
Posted - Jan 15 2008 : 4:52:15 PM
and by all means..check into backyard poultry...hens don't need a rooster to produce eggs...and you can allow them to "free range" in your yard during the day with supervision.
So..you can enjoy "farm fresh eggs" in the city.
Check to make sure your neighbors are cool with it first though.
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~
visit me at:
http://gardengoose.blogspot.com/
and at www.stliving.net
you can also check out my etsy shops at:http://GardenGooseGifts.etsy.com |
| LeslieAnne |
Posted - Jan 15 2008 : 3:20:35 PM
Tammy, your post is so timely... for the past 2 days, I've been doing a lot of online research into mini-farms, backyard farms, whatever I could think of to call it... my backyard isn't nearly as large as yours, only about 1/10 acre (4500 sq.ft.), but I'm itching to turn it into a farm... I have lots & lots to do to get it going, but it's just sitting out there, waiting to be farmed... thank you, & everybody else who posted their plans/successes... now I don't think I'm so weird...
LeslieAnne...westTexas |
| carmeniris |
Posted - Jan 15 2008 : 06:17:03 AM
Tammy you have a farm. My lot in the city is 1/3 acre. The first thing I planted was many fruit trees (dwarf). You'd be surprise how close together they can be planted. Also, many small fruit bushes and plants. I then began pulling out the lawn from the backyard and some area in front. I created herb and vegetable gardens. I will continue pulling lawn to expand the vegetable area, in the front I will be planting many more native perennials to attract bees and birds. I made a small pond in a very large metal container but I will be digging a permanent one soon. My previous yard was half the size yet I would pick enough berries to keep me supplied from one season to the other. I had to buy a freezer. This yard already had almost a dozen 90 year old oaks and pine trees that mark the property line. You can do a lot with your yard. |
| Tammy Claxton |
Posted - Jan 15 2008 : 06:14:27 AM
Thanks for all the words of encouragement. I am siked about starting now....Hubby said let's go for it, so at least I know I can put him to work! LOL. It seems like we all have our little slices of farmgirl heaven! We should post pics of our farmettes and our progress as the months go on...
What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger!
http://countryintheburbs.blogspot.com/ |
| Carol Sue |
Posted - Jan 14 2008 : 10:26:09 PM
h you girls have made me feel grand. I live in a mobile park so have small space but have worked on planning it out to put lots in that smaller space, our front yard it 80 ft long, part of it is parking, but I have flower beds with herbs, rhubarb, blueberries, strawberries,(have to change their spot this year) I love how it is turning out, have oregano varigated sage, russian sage, thyme, tarragon, 2 butterfly bushes, Luciferious iris, delphiunium, yarrow, lavender, corpeois,blue flax, and lots more. I have had fun doing it, strated putting bricks around the outside of it to mow the little bit of grass we have easier. Have a small shady area that have a vine maple, hostas, astriluims?....shoot forgot name, lily of valley, and a pretty ground cover with purple flowers. Have a bench to refinish to sit in and watch the butterflies and hummingbirds who like to come visit. My dh and I called it the veranda this summer, he would go to the veranda to have a cup of coffee, we had a table and chairs which I think I will do a small brick spot so we can move the chairs easier. It was enjoyable. I want every part of my space to be liveable. The back yard needs the work, need to build small chicken coup for this spring and reading up on square foot gardening.
Trina, I love what you are going to do with your space.
Tammy what you want to do is so doable in stages and time you made me start thinking and dreaming about the yard. Thanks.
listening to the quiet moments
Farmgirl #39
www.Quitemoments.blogspot.com |
| La Patite Ferme |
Posted - Jan 14 2008 : 10:01:39 PM
Tammy,
Your plan is very doable as you have seen from others. And an acre gives you a lot of options. I too have a small place - 1/3 acre. On it DD and I have a small barn 12' x 24' which we built ourselves along with sis and G'pa. On one end of the barn is our chicken coop with 8 girls and 1 roo. The other end is for DD's 4-H lambs which she shows through the spring/summer, at our county fair in August and then sells. Hanging on one wall are 2 rabbit cages with a "poop shoot" going out the side of the barn. I have bins to catch the manure so I can spread it in my beds.
We also have 6 fruit trees (apple, peach, pear, plum, asian pear and tangerine), a new berry patch (rasp, black and bababerry), a few blue berries and eight 4' x 8' raised veggie beds. Last fall I built another raised bed for squash and pumpkins. Even with all this we have plenty of room for a formal flower garden, a rose alley, a sweet pea fence, lawn, fountains and a sitting area. My goal this year is to build a potting shed near the veggie beds with a little patio that has a firepit.
One thing I found helpful was to list what I wanted then plan how to put it in. I try to space big projects - like one in the spring and then one in the fall. That way I don't get too discouraged if things are not happening fast enough. That's my biggest problem, I want it all done NOW while I'm still able to do a lot of the work myself, but there just aren't enough hours in the day.
As long as your "little" farm has all the elements you would want on a "big" farm then you really do have a farm and are a farmgirl. |
| Alee |
Posted - Jan 14 2008 : 7:44:14 PM
I am very excited to see where we will be moving to- I can't plan a garden for this year, but I will be busy planning all summer and preparing! We will probably plant flowers if anything.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
Please come visit Nora and I our our new blog:
http://FarmgirlAlee.blogspot.com" target="_blank"> http://FarmgirlAlee.blogspot.com |
| Tammy Claxton |
Posted - Jan 14 2008 : 6:50:12 PM
Wow Tina - I would LOVE to see pics of your yard!! Hmmm, fruit trees.....that is something to think about. Our soil is very sandy here since we are surrounded by water on three sides...not sure how fruit trees would do, but we have a farmer's co-op nearby and I can definitely go and ask questions.. Your yard sounds beautiful!
Sherry - Don't feel bad, I can't grow a whole lot either, but this year I am going to try like crazy to get a veggie garden going....cukes, tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, and hopefully carrots and potatoes. * Crossing my Fingers* I'm glad to hear that you are getting some land to use for a garden. Let me know how it goes!!
What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger!
http://countryintheburbs.blogspot.com/ |
| Tina Michelle |
Posted - Jan 14 2008 : 11:02:33 AM
I have done that same thing Tammy..converted my city backyard into a "country" plot. When we moved here 7 yrs ago there was only 1 single oak tree in the backyard and 7 pines in the front yard. We now have tree rows on either side of the backyard of tall trees about 14 ft. tall now for the birds. I have a 10 ft tall cypress tree,a maple tree by my back door that was started from a seedling that sprouted in a flower bed..it is now about 10 ft. tall.
Another maple tree that is about 15 ft. tall....(surrounded by my rose garden).
2 pear trees ..one of which produced about 40 lbs of pears last year.A myer lemon. A small citrus tree.
A cottage garden area with wildflowers that bloom in the Spring and all through until winter.
2 raised beds that last year produced some tomatoes and bell peppers.
A rose garden.Irises and ferns around the big oak in the courtyard.
A courtyard dining area complete with arbour with jasmine vines and passion flower vines. There are 2 flower bed areas on either side of the courtyard that will be used this year to grow vining vegetables/beans.
We had built a deck 7 yrs ago by the french doors just off the patio...we just removed the boards from that and are converting it into another kitchen garden raised bed area.
I also have a bird feeding station directly outside my kitchen window that has a large drake elm that we planted as a young sapling..it is now about 20 ft. tall and absolutely gorgeous.
My front yard had nothing but a row of boxwood along the front of the house and the 7 pines..we now have it with 2 flower beds /landscaped.
All in 7 yrs...and on less than an acre.
I also have 2 pet Peking ducks... 1 male/1 female..I hope to sell ducklings once they start breeding/laying and to use the eggs in baked goods...and 2 chickens/hens...that will provide "farm fresh" eggs..as I plan to let the little ladies free range in my yard as much as possible .
The ducks have a portable cage, and the chickens will wind up having a portable coop as well.
And..I intend to either build or buy a composter soon to use for the garden...to which the duck and chicken droppings will definitely be added to to create the necessary "heat".
I intend to add more raised bed areas along my fence line in the areas where there are no trees..to grow things that need support.
So..yes..it can be done....you can be a "country girl" in the city.
I have been and continue to be! So..I say "go for it gals!"
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~
visit me at:
http://gardengoose.blogspot.com/
and at www.stliving.net
you can also check out my etsy shops at:http://GardenGooseGifts.etsy.com |
| chicken necker |
Posted - Jan 14 2008 : 10:29:58 AM
I hate when I do that! I submit before I finished again. Must be mentalpause, lol. But anyway, I was talking to my friend just yesterday about wanting to at least find a plot to grow my own veggies this summer. He has a good sized parcel of land out in the middle of nowhere, perfect really, and he offered to clear a small section for me in the spring! There's more too! There hasn't been a single chemical on it since the 1920's if ever! WooHoo, not only my own garden fresh veggies but organic too! My rent is a share of the goodies! Boy, I could kiss him, but being married, that wouldn't be such a hot idea ;)
Wish me luck!
I love deadlines. I especially like the whooshing sound they make as they go flying by. ~anon |
| chicken necker |
Posted - Jan 14 2008 : 10:19:44 AM
I would love to do that too, but the only things that "flourishs" in my yard are tree roots, weeds and dirt!
I love deadlines. I especially like the whooshing sound they make as they go flying by. ~anon |
| Tammy Claxton |
Posted - Jan 14 2008 : 10:04:52 AM
Sounds great ladies! I think my plans will make my yard look so much better and feel better too! Right now it's just a playground for the kids, but they are gonna have to give up some yard for momma! lol. They'll live, I'm sure. I'll be nice and save them a spot or two..LOL.
What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger!
http://countryintheburbs.blogspot.com/ |
| BarefootGoatGirl |
Posted - Jan 14 2008 : 08:02:56 AM
I have recently gone from a 4 acre farm to an apartment, but I have plans to make my own country corner here. There is a generous deck around two sides of my apartment and a small, shaded patch of grass I have been given permission to use. I am going to make a container garden on the southside deck with hanging and setting pots of veggies and herbs. I am also going to make a seating area in the grassy patch and fill it with potted shade plants. Where the deck turns around the side of the building, I am going to set a large wicker chair in the elbow so I can sit out and study. I have already begin collecting pots from yardsales and thrift shops. I got two stand type planters with wicker insets that I am going to place on either side of my door with impatients. Also, I am going to make bird feeders to put in my shade garden/seating area.
It sounds so good to hear myself laugh. --Rascal Flats, "No Reins" |
| Georgia Girl |
Posted - Jan 14 2008 : 07:41:46 AM
With being in the middle of a big city, I have had to do the same thing as you. I don't even have an acre though, oh what I would do for that!! I do have my garden, I also container garden, I have my chickies and lots of flowers. You just have to have the right mindset and it sounds like you have gotten there.
Denise
Proud Farmgirl Sister #113
http://mybigcityfarm.blogspot.com/ |
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