The Devil is in the Details

This is the original design for our backyard edible garden. The installation process has been a gradual process as our time and available materials permit.  An advantage of this gradual design-installation process is that is gives up time to reevaluate the design after each project is complete as we learn more about plants' needs, our climate, installation techniques, and the workings of a garden.

We designed the garden as a reaction to the farm aesthetic of rows and rows and rows of crops.  This organization strategy is a product of the tractor and plowing with draft animals, neither of which we are using here.  One goal with our design is to make the space feel like an informal, ornamental garden, but with useful plants in it.  Design decisions supported this goal.

We located the main seating area at the base of the existing stone steps.  Not only does this location benefit from shade from the cedar elms to the south, but it also connects the edible garden with the wildflower meadow providing pleasing views in two directions.  This location of seating area utilized the existing seat rock as natural seating and maintains it's historic use as a picnic location.

We positioned the new fruit trees to receive sun and disperse shade throughout the garden.  Since this initial design, we have seen the effect of the very HOT Texas sun on our plants, and we have begun to explore the benefits of creating a food forest.  We have since added a Mulberry and a Mexican Plum.  The garden's paths directly connect the main seating area to trees which are perennial anchors of the garden, unlike most of the other crop plants which are annuals and changed throughout the year.  The paths guide the eye toward the trees, making them focal points of the garden.

The chicken coop is also a focal point that stretches the eye to the edge of the garden.  It is on a small hill that is a very dry location in the garden where plants have never thrived.  We have noticed that by having the chicken coop on the opposite side of the garden from the house, we are able to conveniently monitor the garden frequently.  We originally left the area between the chicken coop and the seating area undesigned, because we were unsure what to do with it due to the high amount of shade.  We discovered that it was a perfect pasture area for the chickens (descendants of jungle fowl) who desire overhead branches to protect from or escape from predators.  The soil is also kept more moist because of the shade and better suited to the chickens for scratching.

Small paths allow access to the middle of the beds where the 4' wide planting areas can be reached from two sides.  This is an adaptation of the keyhole garden which is a permaculture design that maximizes planting space.  Rather than a long linear walking space between rows, the keyhole garden has a small point of 360 degree access.

We are slowly implementing the elements over time, and we are not afraid to alter the plan as we move forward with each new project and learn from each previous step.