The client approached us to create a vegetable garden design – they had acquired a plot of land adjacent to their property in the beautiful surroundings of Dorset. They wanted to fulfil a long term ambition of being more self sufficient. By growing as much of their own produce as possible, and in a sustainable way. Which is one of the reasons they approached us. We always strive to use and promote greener growing methods.
The Brief
- Design a garden specifically for growing fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers.
- Use sustainable environmentally sensitive materials where possible.
- Recycle and reuse by products, such as perennial/annual weeds and compostable matter.
- Maximise the growing productivity.
- Use natural features of the plot where applicable.
- Provide adequate storage for tools and materials.
- Space to sit and appreciate life in fine or poor weather.
Our Design Response for the Vegetable Garden
- We designed the garden to consist of accessible beds that maximise the available space. Also allowing for crop rotation.
- Raised beds edged with long lasting tough steel edging. Because these allow for easier no dig gardening by accommodating manures and mulches for improved soil nutrients, mycelium and general health.
- Hazel hurdles for fencing and screening.
- Bark mulch paths to suppress weeds, and avoid using pesticides.
- Use of plastics minimized e.g. galvanised steel water butts and weed digester, timber compost bins, timber structures. Shed and Geodesic dome can be glazed with glass preferably. Or polycarbonate if the former is deemed unsuitable.
- With the Weed Digester. Weeds can be safely utilised without the risk of spreading seed or root pieces . Because this will extract a nutrient rich ‘tea’ to feed garden plants.
- Spacious double compost bins. These have bi-fold doors. Lift out lower panel and bi-fold roof. All insulated with 100mm hydrophobic insulation to promote decomposition.
Geodesic Dome
- A generous sized 3.5m Geodesic dome. Because this will enable all year round growing. Plus, domes make good use of available space, because they have no awkward corners. And we like their 70’s sci-fi aesthetic!
- Where possible beds run along Hazel Hurdle fence panels which can be used to support plants such as Raspberries – Rubus idaeus for example, or natural climbers like sweet peas – Lathyrus odoratus.
- The existing boundary bank has untended Hazel trees along it. So we proposed laying these to hedge, utilising them and the bank as a natural boundary to the rear of the plot.
- A spacious good quality treated timber shed. To store tools and equipment. With covered storage racking to the rear for less perishable items such as canes etc.
- The shed is large enough to accommodate two people seated in foul weather. It has a lean to porch roof to the front. This will give shade and shelter from light rain. As well as an area to the front for uncovered seating.
