Aug 10: Edible gardens pre-tour: Deanette’s garden

August 10, 2013

Allan and I continued our pre-tour of the Edible Garden tour with Deanette’s garden.   I like the description that Deanette wrote of her garden for the Edible Garden tour Facebook page:

“Our garden is small and in its second year. Our first year was hard and not successful. We thought of giving up… but fellow gardeners came along side to encourage and help. This second year is a great improvement. We are thrilled to be eating out of our garden daily. We want to encourage others who may be just starting or discouraged. We have a variety of gardens and edibles: cold frame style green house, container garden, raised beds, herbs, chickens, composting. We hope to help present part of the wide range of gardens here on the peninsula: from the large, experienced, impressive to the small, just learning. Please stop by to look and chat.”

I find edible gardening much more difficult than ornamental, so I appreciate her candour.

I hope I would have recognized the house immediately as having belonged to our friend Jill Grey, sister of J9.  Jill had sold to move to the Arizona mountains sunshine two years ago, and Deanette and her spouse had been the buyers!  Allan had told me ahead of time, though, because in conversation with Deanette he had figured out that we were going to Jill’s old house.

my friend’s former house!

Behind the house is the Dunes Bible Camp woods.  During really big windstorms, Jill used to get scared enough to go to a motel,  but I think any danger trees came down during the big blow of 2007.

Visiting family members were camping in the back driveway.

The front driveway forms an arc, convenient for entrance and exit; the driveway garden along the street was much bigger when Jill lived there, as I recall.  Deanette told us the problem that had caused her to change it, but I can’t recall what it was!  I would require more height and privacy there to be happy… Not everyone feels that way.

driveway garden

from near the street, looking south

veg protected from deer on east side of driveway

On the west side of the front yard, they have built an attractive greenhouse.

greenhouse

inside

The big pot to the left (above) was outside with some cucumbers in it, and the deer ate the tops!

in the greenhouse

So far squash growing on the west wall of the house have not been fallen victim to the deer.  Perhaps deer do not like squash leaves, as they also do not bother a few that I am growing in a bed that is outside my deer fence.

Where Jill had a flower garden, Deanette now has a fenced vegetable patch against the west fence, in front of the garage.

veg garden

The soil in the veg garden has been amended with soil testing help from Jim Karnofski of Biocharm Farm (where we will end our day of pre-touring).

looking south, with garage behind

veg garden looking north

My photo did not pick up the detail of sand dollars set into the base blocks of the fence.

The back yard has the most exciting addition….Well, the greenhouse is exciting, too, but I have a soft spot for chickens!

chickens behind the garage!

Google tells me these are Barred Rock hens…I think.

southwest corner back yard

Allan and Deanette observe the L shaped chicken run.

chicken run using a bit of the woods

cat door in back yard

decorative garden bed along south wall of house

on the east side of the property, compost

Since acquiring the house, Deanette and her spouse have covered the deck on the east side with clear material.

deck, enormously improved for bad weather days.

Some herbs in pots are readily available to the kitchen.

I emailed the photos of the garden to Jill, who replied, “WOW.  I am impressed.  They did a nice job and the back yard looks great.”

Next, we head back up the Peninsula almost to Oysterville to tour Mary’s “Lavender And”.