I went home that night thinking about what could be done to help my neighbor continue to garden without pain and got an idea that I spoke to him about the next day. He was very excited!

His garden was 20 feet x 16 feet and located on a slope. He had used timbers to create a boundary around the space and had small areas portioned off to plant flowers around the garden. We went in and took the timbers out and created 2 raised beds that stand about 3 feet off the ground and run horizontal to the slope and are 16 feet by 4 feet. We were able to reuse almost all of the timber so there was little out of pocket cost and the dirt from the garden was used to fill the raised beds.

I was actually shocked that we were able to do everything with the dirt that was in the garden. The hardest part was pulling up the weeds and grass that had taken over but once that was done it was just a matter of good old fashioned shoveling. We took strawberries that had gone crazy in the old garden space and replanted them in one raised bed to create a strawberry patch. The other has an array of plants including more tomatoes, sweet potatoes and peppers of several varieties.

We used some trellises from the old garden as well so the tomatoes will grow up them and leave room for everything else to grow. I see my neighbor almost everyday out watering and weeding and he is extremely thankful that a solution was reached so he could go back and garden the way he loves to.

When faced with a challenge, use your imagination and see if you too can find a new solution to an old problem.

As someone who has done vast woodworking projects including pergolas, gazebos and out buildings such as garden sheds, etc. I can tell you there are no such projects where you don’t need a little guidance and a lot of instruction. Just getting a cut sheet or a materials list is worth the money you would pay for a set of plans these days because they are really cheap and sometimes free! I would take a good look at what you get for free and if they don’t have the materials list or cut list I would pay the $20 to $30 dollars to get the better set of plans. You will find out very quickly that the better the plans, the better the project goes, the less the waste and the more fun it is. This will lead to other such projects because you did such a great job on this one.

Speaking of projects, you can find several different types of shed plans and woodworking plans that have a lot more to them than meets the eye. One of the best things about these online downloads is they can be affordable because they are not having to draft them like they used to or mail them to you. This is why they send you a variety of shed plans and other wood project plans for you to choose from, which helps you afford them.

It just makes no sense what so ever to spend $300 & up on materials and a weekend or two in time building and not spend the $20 or $30 to insure that you are doing it correctly. Spend the money on well thought out plans and get the job done right!

However, it is my world of lush green flowers and herbs, a place I can grow and be a part of the earth on a year-round basis.  There is no better place to get back in touch than spending some time in nature.  Since most of us don’t have a lot of “nature” in our backyards, you can create your own garden oasis with a garden greenhouse.  After just an hour or so of escape, I am ready to reenter the real world refreshed and ready to go.

I highly recommend playing in a little dirt everyday as it sooths the soul.  There is no better way to accomplish this than with a wonderful greenhouse.

Arbors add a touch of elegance and extravagance to your outdoor space that no other outdoor structures can.  They say welcome to all who enter here.  A great arbor can also change the whole perception of not only your yard but also of your home.  A good perception of your home translates to a good perception of you.

Give everyone who enters the wonderful experience of a welcoming yard.  You might be surprised at the difference something as simple as an arbor can make in your life.  Opening up your heart to those who enter your home is always a good thing. 

A pergola can make your yard picture perfect; a truly extraordinary yard.  Pergolas add character and depth to any yard and make an otherwise dull landscape into something that is intriguing and inviting.  A pergola can transform your perfect, sterile looking yard into a place that draws you in and calls out to you and your friends.  The ordinary becomes the extraordinary.