In Our Own Back Yard - Part 4 - The Shed Garden

As I mentioned before, getting the shed built was only the beginning......

There was no actual driveway into the side of the yard, so that had to be added.

It was amazing how pedantic Council was in relation to the slope.  They checked everything twice to make sure the section adjoining the road was at an exact angle.  Ho hum, you just have to go with it.

I forgot to share the little slab Mick poured between the shed slab and the little retaining wall he built. This was completed before the shed was built, as it would have bee rather awkward with the shed in place.

The reason for the little slab was to create a base for three slim line water tanks.  

Just a tad tricky getting them around the corner of the shed, but he managed.  They were all full in no time.  Another job on "The List" is to install a pressure pump (which is sitting, waiting in the shed), so that we can actually use the water on the garden. It will happen shortly, now that things are drying out and warming up.

All this took Mick up to the end of June.

The next job was to pour yet another little concrete slab, next to the driveway slab to store the trailer when not in use.  

He created a rather ingenious trolley he backs the trailer onto and then wheels the trailer sideways.  It works like a charm.

A small garden was created in front of the slab.  The mesh is to display some rusty bits and pieces and for a "Happy Wanderer" to grow over in time.  We got some compost from Mum's and as a result we have several hearts ease and poppies growing.  I think a little weeding will take place after the poppies have flowered.

Now, quite a bit more took place over the winter, but I forgot to take photos, so these are how things look now.

The main thing he worked on was tidying up the garden area between the shed and the fence on the street side.

Here is the recipe.

Save whatever plants he could.  Then add metal garden edges.  This was to be a functional garden.  

Add one post vice, previously his Dad's, but had been languishing in a shed at our place for many years. (Mick has a smaller one that is used all the time.)  Place it on an old sleeper and add a rusty wheel, a grinding stone and a horse shoe.

Add one anvil.  There is a story behind this too.  Mick was the losing bidder on a large anvil at an auction quite some time ago.  Later, during the auction, a fellow approached him and said he had an even bigger anvil that he would sell to Mick for less than the price of the one at the auction.  A trip to Lithgow took place, and the anvil came home.  It has also languished in the shed, never used.  When we moved into town it went to have a holiday at a mate's place.  However, his mate sold his house, so the anvil was on the move again, this time to visit my Mum's house.  Mick did all these moves himself, and believe me, that anvil weighs quite a bit.  For its final trip to our current house a mate with a little crane on his truck gave Mick a hand.  It is not going anywhere soon.

Both of these items are in constant use, which is good to see.........and several blokes walking past have a little bit of anvil envy.

Add an old mile post with a story.  This used to live 3 miles out of town on the Oberon Road.  We always knew it was there, as we drove past each day.  When some major road works were being carried out some years ago Mick happened to be driving past as the contractors were removing the old fencing along with the mile post.  A bit of quick talking ensued and the mile post came home to our place rather than being burnt with all the other old fencing.  What lucky timing.

Add some old harrows that have been kicking around for years, as has the decorative downpipe section.  Just ideal for a petunia to grow.  The old wheel used to be our hose holder, but it looks fine here.

Fill in the empty bits with plants.

It has turned out really well and will look even better as the new plants thicken up.

We didn't want the garden to go right up to the shed, but didn't want more concrete, so some cream stones were added where some water run off will go.  They just finish it all off.

Mick spends a lot of time here, tinkering away.  There seems to be a constant stream of people walking past, often with their dogs.  He is getting to be on chatting terms with quite a few now.  Funnily enough, he knows the dogs' names, but not those of their owners.  He also often chats to the girls doing track work with the horses over the road.

One positive thing has been the comments about the shed.  There have been no negative comments about its size, but quite a few positive comments.  The one he liked the best was that he was creating quite a bit of  "Shed Envy" in the neighbourhood.

More of the yard soon.