I’m in the best shape I’ve been in about 2 decades, and you know what my hobbies have been since spring of last year?
Amateur farmer, construction worker, and landscaper. And I guess mechanic too, to a lesser extent.
I live in a pretty standard suburban US neighborhood of single family homes, but my little fenced-in back yard is an active construction zone rather than a patch of grass.
My oasis is coming along pretty well. I can’t wait to share it with those around me once it’s more presentable.
Some parts of it, especially my pond, are an area where I’ve done a ton of DIY and learning and designing from first principles or close to it, and where other hobbyists often need help. So I’ve taken photos along the way and have pondered making videos at simmer point.
That might actually happen, but my number of projects in flight right now is kind of ridiculous, lol.
Previous owner just laid down hundreds of square meters of weed barrier fabric and then dumped gravel on it. We’re currently trying to re-shape the situation into a US southwestern-style dry garden.
Specifically, I’m in the middle of moving a good deal of the existing gravel, removing the turf grass, and replacing it with a free-draining landscape built around gravel mulch and natural stone. Planting areas are shaped to create an open, desert-inspired feel, with plants grouped in drifts and clusters rather than traditional flower beds. Gonna focus on species that can handle cold winters, hot summers, drought, and wind while still capturing the character of those landscapes.
Rather than recreating Arizona, adapting the look of the American Southwest to the Canadian prairie climate and growing conditions. Small palette of hardy plants like yuccas, prickly pears, ornamental grasses, sages, blanket flowers, and coneflowers.
Goal is an open, sculptural, low-maintenance landscape inspired by northern New Mexico- adapted to the Canadian Prairies. Fire pit and seating area in the middle, so far, so good.
It’s amazing what you can DIY if you’re willing to put in the time and muscle! Oasis made me think of my wife’s cousin’'s backyard outside of Sacramento. He put in a few small shade trees, lots of overhead trellises with vines and stuff on them, and burbling water channels here and there. On hot summer days I swear it’s 10 degrees cooler back there.
I have lamented in comments before that it seems like society treats technology and “success” as things that mean you don’t have to put in any effort to do things or learn things.
Admittedly, I’m an engineer and enjoy learning about the world and creating things starting with the basic building blocks, so I probably enjoy the learning and doing more than most. But I also recognize how engaging with the world around us is good for us, and my experiences keep reinforcing that.
I’m in the best shape I’ve been in about 2 decades, and you know what my hobbies have been since spring of last year?
Amateur farmer, construction worker, and landscaper. And I guess mechanic too, to a lesser extent.
I live in a pretty standard suburban US neighborhood of single family homes, but my little fenced-in back yard is an active construction zone rather than a patch of grass.
My oasis is coming along pretty well. I can’t wait to share it with those around me once it’s more presentable.
If you’re documenting this anywhere, I’d love to see the work in progress.
Some parts of it, especially my pond, are an area where I’ve done a ton of DIY and learning and designing from first principles or close to it, and where other hobbyists often need help. So I’ve taken photos along the way and have pondered making videos at simmer point.
That might actually happen, but my number of projects in flight right now is kind of ridiculous, lol.
If you ever put those videos in an album somewhere, let me know. Doing similar projects on my property, always good to get inspiration
I will do that! It might be a while, who knows.
Do you have anything specific you have started, or have started eyeing up?
Previous owner just laid down hundreds of square meters of weed barrier fabric and then dumped gravel on it. We’re currently trying to re-shape the situation into a US southwestern-style dry garden.
Specifically, I’m in the middle of moving a good deal of the existing gravel, removing the turf grass, and replacing it with a free-draining landscape built around gravel mulch and natural stone. Planting areas are shaped to create an open, desert-inspired feel, with plants grouped in drifts and clusters rather than traditional flower beds. Gonna focus on species that can handle cold winters, hot summers, drought, and wind while still capturing the character of those landscapes.
Rather than recreating Arizona, adapting the look of the American Southwest to the Canadian prairie climate and growing conditions. Small palette of hardy plants like yuccas, prickly pears, ornamental grasses, sages, blanket flowers, and coneflowers.
Goal is an open, sculptural, low-maintenance landscape inspired by northern New Mexico- adapted to the Canadian Prairies. Fire pit and seating area in the middle, so far, so good.
It’s amazing what you can DIY if you’re willing to put in the time and muscle! Oasis made me think of my wife’s cousin’'s backyard outside of Sacramento. He put in a few small shade trees, lots of overhead trellises with vines and stuff on them, and burbling water channels here and there. On hot summer days I swear it’s 10 degrees cooler back there.
Yeah!
I have lamented in comments before that it seems like society treats technology and “success” as things that mean you don’t have to put in any effort to do things or learn things.
Admittedly, I’m an engineer and enjoy learning about the world and creating things starting with the basic building blocks, so I probably enjoy the learning and doing more than most. But I also recognize how engaging with the world around us is good for us, and my experiences keep reinforcing that.