NewlyWoodwards

an unconventional home

Building and growing in a raised bed garden

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By the beginning of this year, I knew I wanted to start a small garden. I missed having fresh veggies and herbs and I knew we could make some changes to help my vision align with my ability to follow through. The plan – a raised bed garden right next to the house.

A raised bed would be a smaller area to maintain, with less weeds (thanks to the soil added over weed barrier), in a much more visible and convenient location for maintaining and harvesting. When COVID hit in early March, we had already planned to start a small garden and it felt even more important to follow through – both to give us a project and for the ability to grow some of our own food.

Farmhouse porch skirting

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Like much of the world, we have been spending a lot of time at home in 2020. It’s taking homebodies to a whole new level. (Pssst: We are so thankful that we’ve been able to stay home and stay healthy. Hope that the same goes for you.)

Our calendars are clear, our fridge is full, and we are even checking some projects off the list – like adding porch skirting to the front of the house.

Guys. I have wanted this project done for YEARS. But for some reason (like so many other projects), it kept getting pushed to the back burner.

Ryan wants to blame the hundreds of OTHER projects I have wanted done for years. Eye roll. That doesn’t seem right.

In the end, Ryan purchased all the lumber and installed it all in one day! On what was likely the hottest day of the year in the full sun. That’s true love right there.

4 reasons to plant a tree in the fall

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It’s officially the first week of fall. And if you are like me, you’re decorating your home, busting out the scarves and boots, and enjoying some pumpkin spice and apple cider.

We may be focusing on cozying up indoor spaces in autumn. But fall is also the perfect time to turn out focus outdoors. Because while leaves are turning on established trees, it’s also my favorite time to plant new trees. This year, we planted a few trees, already, and have plans for a few more before the ground freezes. 

Here are five reasons we prefer to plant trees in the fall:

Getting the screened porch summer-ready

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Dudes. Owning a home isn’t all sunshine and roses. It’s also not all just the fun and exciting parts of decorating and coming up with big, grand plans and ideas. It’s not all Pinterest boards and paint colors. (Although this is how I would prefer it.)

Unfortunately, once you live in a place for a certain amount of time, you are required to do certain things to keep it hospitable. Things like cleaning and maintaining everything.

Bleh.

It can feel like a full time job at times. Because all I WANT to do is come up with new and exciting projects. All my brain WANTS to do is make lists of all the things we can still do to make the house even better. But all my house wants is for me to dust the baseboards and pull the weeds and change the furnace filters and mow the lawn (again).

DIY outdoor chairs for the porch

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When my birthday came around this year, I had a list of projects I was hoping could be completed.

Because while normal people make a wish list, I have a hubby to-do list. That’s because when holidays come around, I can ask for things that may not ever make the list at other times of the year. And NOBODY CAN TELL ME NO.

(Insert evil laugh here.)

But because I’m not UNREASONABLE, I have a few options depending on what fits into Ryan’s schedule.

This year at the top of my list – building outdoor chairs for the front porch.

Plant a tree for Earth Day | & $10 off from Arbor Day Foundation

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Earth Day was Monday, and we believe that one of the best ways to celebrate is by planting a tree (or a dozen).

We live in the country with 17 acres of land, and we want nothing more than to be surrounded by trees. They are beautiful, great for us and for wildlife, and an investment in the future generation. When we bought our land, trees had already been planted on 9 acres through a government program. And over the past year, we have nurtured and watched those trees grow every year. All the while, we have been adding and replacing trees where we could.

But whether you live in the country or in a small city lot (been there, too), trees are a great addition to your yard – for the environment AND for curb appeal. (Win-win.)