That's a wrap! We've completed this awesome permaculture paradise in West Seattle. It was a great deal of hard work, but a really rewarding process. The plants have been installed, the barked pathways and retaining walls are sculpted, the irrigation lines are set, the lawn has been seeded, and the owners are moving in!
We'll be checking in again on this client after the new year, so stay tuned as we watch this outdoor space develop and grow!
Over the last month, Stone Soup Gardens has been immersed in a new construction job on the west side of Seattle. We came to the project when the new house was 90% complete, and began working with the owner and designer to create a gorgeous garden and outdoor retreat. The design was done by Jenny Pell, a well known and respected founding member of Permaculture Now! When we began, the landscape was a giant dirt pile. Our first week on the job involved grading and prepping the area around the house for the Desert Stone Patio installation. We prepped and installed a flagstone pathway from the driveway to the front door, and we began the process of grading and prepping the different areas of the garden, including a rockery, raingarden, and raised beds. Next up is laying the Desert Stone patio, completing the rockery and log accents for the beds, as well as building the cedar raised beds for the side of the house.
There are more pictures to come as we progress on this awesome project. Stay tuned!
Summer is a busy time here at Stone Soup Gardens. There are so many awesome projects afoot. Here is a little sneak peak of a few of the great gardens we've been working on. Stay tuned, the final pictures are yet to come... These are masonry hugelculture beds done in the "roman-ruin" style. This is a new construction with a landscape design done by the fabulous Jenny Pell. We will begin on this project in August. Huge permaculture enthusiasts, these clients want a cistern which will overflow into the raingarden, and a fully edible front yard.
As the flagstone was being set from the last project (Grass Removal Business), Dusty was busy prepping and planting out the raingarden. The pallet for this design was mostly native plants and pollinators, which we received from our friends at Go Natives! Northwest Native Plant Nursery. We also included several birch trees for shade while creating a bit more privacy in this large corner lot. This was a lovely project. We built an arbor to ferry the water into the double raingarden, which runs the length of the house in a dry creek bed style. We included a winding bark pathway that curves around the front of the house, and gives a nice complementary texture. There will eventually be a small circle of grass (to please the dog) which is seeded out and on the grow. The place looks great, and I am excited to be able to watch it flourish and develop. Nothing beats working in my own neighborhood, as I can watch all of my little raingarden landscapes grow and change over the years. Removing grassy lawns always makes me happy. There are so many more interesting ways to create an awesome yard than just laying down grass. For this client, we did a total yard overhaul. The grass is gone, and instead, we have a lovely habitat for the birds and bees that travel through the neighborhood. We also took out the concrete walkway and added a lovely flagstone path to the front door. This adds an eye-catching element to the front entryway, and also allows for better drainage during the wetter months. Here are some photos of the yard before we started the overhaul. Setting flagstone is like a giant, very heavy jigsaw puzzle. It's a good brain tease, but it is also very labor intensive. It's nice to see the crew can still have fun with it. Here are a few photos of the flagstone patio going in. The rest of the yard is also taking shape. Check back soon, I'll post more photos of this project as it rolls along!
Stone Soup Gardens has truly awesome clients. Every so often we like to check back in and see how their gardens are growing. One of our clients, who also happens to be a neighbor, has been consistently adding improvements to their garden year after year. We still have a few projects to go, including adding a couple of railings, finishing up the stairs, and planting out a few more areas. The improvements have been enormous, and it is wonderful to see the place taking shape. For a look back at the project over the last year, check out the blog posts HERE and HERE.
Just today I went out to check on my logs and prepare a water bath for them as the rains come, and look what I found. My first oyster of the season. I can't wait!
Are you interested in growing mushrooms at your house? Contact Stone Soup Gardens today. We can help you get started. Or, come to our upcoming class: Growing Mushrooms at Home October 11, 10:30 - 12:00pm 4804 S Snoqualmie Street, Seattle 206-661-7628 -- gardenergnome@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/events/646535972131479/ Check out this awesome upcoming Permaculture Class! Jenny Pell is a great human being, and I really support the work that Permaculture Now is doing. Join us for an incredible evening of permaculture, architecture, and urban design. Seattle is a leader in urban agriculture, green building, walkable cities, and local food - urban dwellers of all stripes are eager to be a part of the solution for thriving, resilient cities. Homeowners are demanding features that allow them to easily step into the flow of sustainable living - edible landscapes, small livestock like bees and chickens, rain gardens, legal grey water, water catchment, passive and active solar, outdoor kitchens for community gatherings, and more! Jenny Pell is a former tree planter, helicopter pilot, carpenter, and yurt builder. Jenny manages many of the Permaculture Now! projects. Based out of Seattle, WA Jenny works in Washington State, Central America, Hawaii, and Europe. Her slideshows and presentations inform, inspire, and motivate people to make changes that help move us towards a sustainable future. The number of participants will be limited, so please RSVP to assure your spot! Purchase Tickets HERE More Information HERE Wednesday, May 28, 7pm - 9pm Phinney Neighborhood Center (lower brick building) 6532 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103 |
This is how Stone Soup Gardens rolls - check out our blog for current, upcoming, and past projects, events, and other super cool stuff worth mentioning.
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