A Most Delightful Nature Learning Experience. For Kids!

In 2018, we partnered with Wing Haven and local Scouts BSA Troops to provide materials and guidance for scouts to compete needed projects at Wing Haven’s new Student Environmental Education and Discovery (SEED) Wildlife & Children’s Garden. By completing these projects, scouts fulfilled the requirement to earn the rank of Eagle Scout. To make these projects appropriate for youth and adult volunteers, we pre-cut and delivered all of the components for ten 4’x8’ cedar garden beds. These cedar raised beds were successfully assembled by scouts and adult leaders, and and then filled with premium organic soil. This project launched the first phase of the new S.E.E.D. program, and soon after, other scouts assembled a kid-sized three bin cedar compost station and a small cedar tool rack. We delivered the cedar components for these projects precut and ready-to-assemble, just like the ten cedar garden beds.

 

The next addition to the new S.E.E.D. garden was a robust, rustic cedar pergola that was built by another scout working towards Eagle. With that impressive structure in place, we built two large cedar picnic tables and placed them beneath the rustic cedar pergola. We hand made these two 8’-long picnic tables with rough-sawn red cedar and stainless steel hardware, and you won’t find big and burly tables like these at any home improvement store.

We always love seeing the dozens of little campers comfortably seated at these two cedar picnic tables, engaged in garden crafts and other hands-on learning activities during summer day camp.

 

Since then, all sorts of fun enhancements have been added to the S.E.E.D. garden, including a Nature Play & Construction zone, Story Time area, Bird Observation Platform, Bird Nest, Bird Blind, Bird Feeding Station, Stream Bed, SEED Pavilion, Wildlife Den, Worm Digging, Living Tunnel, and programmatic gardens such as a Sensory Garden, Ozone Garden, Pollinator Garden and Healing Garden. 

So what could we add to the now utterly amazing Student Environmental Education and Discovery (SEED) Wildlife & Children’s Garden? 

With all these new elements in place, what could Wing Haven’s S.E.E.D. garden possibly still need to make their excellent garden program for children any better?

 

Well, with all that playing, exploring, climbing, worm digging, and bird observing, Wing Haven staff found that kids - and adults - could use some comfy places to sit down and rest for a while. So we built five cedar benches to be placed in shaded areas near the activity stations in the S.E.E.D garden.

 

Now, tired out kids can stop and rest between activities, and adults can sit comfortably and supervise all the fun. And since we know that the whole point of the S.E.E.D. program is experiential learning - with plenty of activity built in - we secured each of the five benches firmly to the ground with red cedar stakes. Kids will be kids, after all, and the last thing we want is one of our cedar benches tipping over and spoiling the fun.

 

Like the raised garden beds and picnic tables that were assembled in 2018, the new benches were made with rough-sawn red cedar. And for the very same reasons : A finish that ages beautifully over time, and a very long life span in outdoor applications like this. We fastened the bench components with stainless steel bolts and screws, which will help ensure that every bench still looks beautiful, and provides a comfortable place to sit and enjoy the garden -  long after that first class of little gardeners has grown up, spread their wings, and left the nest. 

Another item that the S.E.E.D. program requested from us was cedar storage shelving - scaled down so that kids can easily reach and use it. So we created 3’-wide cedar storage units that include hooks to hang trowels, cedar shelving, and a bin at the very top to hold watering cans and other gardening supplies. We placed the cedar shelf units underneath the covered S.E.E.D. Pavilion, where staff can easily transfer supplies from the pavilion’s storage closets to the new cedar shelf units. And we know those sturdy cedar shelves might look a little bit too much like a ladder to a young gardener - especially to the more adventurous ones - so we securely anchored the frame of each cedar shelf unit to the wall behind it. 

 

Back over by the cedar raised garden beds, an assortment of kid-sized rakes, shovels, and garden hoes had long been essential equipment for the seasonal planting and harvesting activities, summer camp programs, and other hands-on gardening events at S.E.E.D.

A simple, but functional, kid-sized cedar tool rack had stored these tools for several years, and it was finally time for an upgrade ; A covered cedar tool hutch that little growers could easily access and use to store their gardening equipment - and keep those tools and other growing supplies out of the weather. For this, we scaled down a cedar storage shed design, reversing the shed roof so that rain will run away from the building and over the front side of the hutch. We framed and clad S.E.E.D’s children’s tool hutch with red cedar, and covered it with tinted polycarbonate roof panels. These lightweight, high-performance roof panels are easy to work with, transport, cut, and install. They’re inexpensive, and best of all, they allow more sunlight into the cedar tool hutch - making it easier to see everything that’s inside, and quickly find exactly what you need. 

 

With these new amenities, the S.E.E.D. garden at Wing Haven seems pretty well set, and it would be hard to walk through the garden and not spot any or all of the items described here.

Still, they do have plenty of space there at the S.E.E.D. garden. 

And we certainly understand that gardening is a dynamic thing - like Nature Herself, always in motion, always changing. 

So we won’t be at all surprised if we hear from our friends at Wing Haven again. In fact, we’ll be delighted to come back over, if they ask us to build something that would make the S.E.E.D. garden even better.  

Edible Garden with a View

What do you get when you combine the speed of a Formula One race, the intensity of a Las Vegas roulette table, with the stress of a nasty divorce.  

A slow day at the office for a financial trader.

And finance workers that can thrive under this kind of high pressure? Well, they’re worth their weight in diamonds. You want to take good care of them, so they stick around and keep on thriving.

So, is it any surprise that Dimensional Plaza in Charlotte’s South End, makes sure that when it’s time for their staff to break for lunch, these finance industry all-stars can really unwind and relax?

 

Where would such a stable of champion pedigree finance traders even take a meal? Certainly not in a cafeteria or a food court. Dimensional Plaza’s well-appointed and upscale dining area would rival any fancy steakhouse in Charlotte. Gourmet chefs - their mesmerizing artistry on display through large plate glass windows -  prepare the day’s avant-garde menu. Just outside the kitchen and indoor dining area, a sprawling green roof - four stories high, with panoramic views of Charlotte - invites staff to come on outside, and enjoy lunch. The walking path that winds between delightfully placed ornamental plantings would lower the Incredible Hulk’s blood pressure. 

Now that’s taking care of your employees.

 

So how could such a low-tech, overalls-wearing, sawdust covered bunch like team Microfarm make this utopian employee amenity any better.

With five 4’x8’ cedar garden beds  - placed just behind the kitchen, where head chef David Quintana can grow edible varieties to use in his menu. 

Will Dimensional Plaza’s organic garden get enough sunlight to grow edible varieties. More than enough.

Are the raised beds convenient to the kitchen? Just a few paces away, actually. 

 

How about water supply to the five raised garden beds? After all, this has to be one of THE most exposed garden designs we’ve ever installed ;  with both intense sun and high wind exposure placing extra importance on the garden’s watering requirements. 

No problem. We can simply connect the drip line grids in the five raised beds to the irrigation system that’s already in place on the green roof.

Will Dimensional Plaza’s organic garden be safe from deer, squirrels and rabbits. 

At four stories, high, we sure hope so.

Will this edible garden design get the required airflow and ventilation? Surely so. This is one breezy organic garden site, and we have to confess ; we were a little more careful installing that last raised bed - the one right beside the railing.

With the garden site and raised bed sizes selected, the next step was getting the garden beds up to the green roof and into position, behind the kitchen. 

Now, building the raised beds on site definitely wasn’t an option here. After all, how would our noisy miter saws, ratchet drivers, and cedar sawdust wouldn’t add anything to such a peaceful locale, designed for relaxation.

We had to build the cedar garden beds in our Charlotte workshop, then deliver the five raised beds fully assembled - our standard practice. Then, we carefully brought the raised beds up on the building’s freight elevator, one at a time ; a process that took more time than our typical organic garden installation, but was ultimately successful.

 

How about the ten cubic yards of organic soil required to fill all five of the cedar garden beds?

These were brought up the same way ; in the freight elevator, one bagged and palleted cubic yard of soil at a time.

When the installation was complete, Chef Quintana came out to say goodbye, and he seemed to survey his new organic garden with satisfaction, before a quick pivot back inside to his busy kitchen.

And with Dimensional Plaza’s new cedar raised beds in place, - and another happy customer - we retraced our steps back to the truck, carefully tidying up along the way, and trying to leave the place a little better than we found it. And we might have paused for just a minute or two in front of one of those big plate-glass windows to admire a chef skillfully icing a chocolate cake masterpiece.

It's Showtime. In the Garden

For some  the expression ‘living in a fish bowl’ doesn’t seem strong enough. For some, a family dinner on the back patio might feel more like performing live at Madison Square Garden. On New Years Eve. Even attempting to count all the windows in the surrounding homes that have a view of their patio would weary the wings of Time itself. 

Fortunately, Dan Banker and his wife don’t have such a large audience viewing their backyard. Nothing close to a ‘fishbowl’, yet the layout was in clear view of a handful of nearby homes.  More like playing a song or two on the guitar at a local open mike night. And, their brand new, covered deck provided a little more privacy. 

Already a seasoned organic gardener, Dan had enjoyed several successful harvests in the raised beds that he had built and installed himself - in the backyard, right behind the deck.

This well-chosen organic garden site is south-facing, which means the garden has more than enough sunlight to grow any edible variety. And, Dan’s three 4’x8’ raised beds were also easy to reach with the garden hose AND close to the kitchen ;  these are the three most important factors we look for when evaluating an organic garden site.

Nice work, Dan.

So why did Dan call us? 

Well...the raised beds did look a little tired after a few seasons. And they weren’t exactly level, which is common with DIY projects. The three 4’x8’ raised beds looked a little like three snow sleds at the top of the slope, poised for another fun ride down.

Pro Tip - taking the time to level any outdoor project, like raised beds, greenhouses, chicken coops, compost bins, garden sheds, etc. makes it look better. WAY better. Much more beautiful and professional looking. The big exception to this would be a patio, driveway, walkway, slab, etc that should be made with a gentle slope so that water runs off in the right direction.

Yet, if not perfectly level, Dan’s three raised beds were still in the perfect site for an organic garden. And his harvests were consistent and abundant. But after a few seasons of sore joints and an achy lower back, he mused that perhaps his garden beds might be a little too low to the ground.

So Dan’s new raised beds needed to taller, level, and look more polished. 

No problem, that’s what we do.

“Also” Dan continued. “We have had some issues with rabbits nibbling some of the produce. We’ve tried everything, with no luck.”

“Could we build a 3’-tall fence around the garden to protect it from rabbits?”, he asked.

Of course we can. And, in fact, we have an excellent rabbit barrier design that’s just over 3’ tall, and sits right on the ground. it requires no digging, no setting posts, no concrete, etc. 

Our rabbit barrier design is framed with rough sawn red cedar 2”x2”,  and clad with 1/2” galvanized hardware cloth ; a rugged steel mesh that can’t be chewed through by rabbits, and lasts for many years outdoors.

But here, the plot thickens somewhat. The stakes get a little higher. The pressure to deliver ratchets up. Next, Dan proposed a new twist in his organic garden design that would make things more interesting. And put Team Microfarm to the test.

“Could we build A 20’-wide by 6’-tall trellis made with red cedar, and mount it on the back side of the three cedar raised beds.” Dan ventured. 

 

It was a pretty good idea, actually, and this large cedar trellis would serve as the back side of the rabbit barrier, give climbing garden plants plenty of room to ramble, AND add more privacy to the deck. 

But could we really deliver such a large cedar trellis, installing it perfectly level, plumb, and square? Right there ‘on stage’, between Dan and his small neighborhood audience?

“Of course we can.”, we said, summoning the needed confidence that the moment required. After all, everything we make is plumb level and square. That’s our goal, anyway.

But, Dan earns his living as an engineer. He’s paid to closely scrutinize measurements and small details.

And with such prominence in his backyard, the trellis, garden, and rabbit barrier all had to be virtually perfect. Any mistakes, miscalculations - however subtle and small - would be right there on display. Impossible to miss, like the Goodyear Blimp. 

So with a plan in place, and a little extra time and attention, we set about crafting the elements in Dan’s new garden design. And on the appointed day - our meeting with destiny - we carefully installed and filled the three 4’x8’ cedar garden beds, installed the 6’tall by 20’ long cedar trellis, and the 3’-tall rabbit barrier with hinged gate.

Now, to come all this way,  and skip the decorative pebble and flagstone pathways seemed silly. Unsound, even. So, next, we carefully placed commercial landscape fabric around the raised beds, and covered the fabric with the decorative pebble and flagstone varieties that Dan had selected.

With the project finally completed, we quietly held our breath and presented our best effort to the Engineer for approval. And Dan didn’t go easy on us either. With a thoughtfully serious countenance, he walked around all sides of the trellis, inspecting it closely - more than a few times. He tested the action of the rabbit barrier’s gate for the required smoothness of operation. He austerely scrutinized the entire project - from a myriad of angles - before he finally flashed smile and nodded his approval...perhaps the way a mathematics professor might smile when a student solved a famously-difficult calculus problem.

Edible Curb Appeal

Essential when selling a house. Helpful when buying one. It can keep you on good terms with the neighbors. Or, if lacking, can result in their displeasure. Perhaps, even their utter contempt - underscored with fines and censure from the neighborhood HOA. 

Such is the power of curb appeal.

Efforts towards its attainment might win you points with your spouse. Neglect could create problems. 

If it’s appealing enough, your home’s curb appeal might even put a smile on your own face as you pull into the driveway after a rough day at work. A tidy lawn, delightful ornamental plantings. A fresh coat of paint on the house. A newly-pressure-washed driveway. 

Who could fail to be pleased by this level of curb appeal. How could the very apex - the slender and lonely pinnacle of curb appeal like this possibly be any more appealing? 

Only one way ; If there was an edible organic garden out front.

If there were a handsome pair of 4’x8’ cedar garden beds placed just a few feet from the very curb itself, onlookers would quickly gather to get a closer look. Police might even be needed to keep the street cleared and traffic moving along. 

Instead of furtively peeking through the blinds at your new cedar garden beds, your enchanted neighbors would simply raise the blinds, and set a chair in front of the window -  to get the best possible view of your new organic garden.

And that’s just on the first day. 

Imagine the force of your now-soaring cub appeal once your cedar garden beds produced their first edible harvest?

Just the mental image alone of the swaying throng of eager organic garden onlookers - jostling one another like rugby players just to get a glimpse of your cedar garden beds - might be too upsetting to some readers. 

So let’s move on with our story.  

Now, the Sagor family was already keenly aware of the dramatic and positive effect that an organic garden would have on their home’s curb appeal. So it wasn’t a coincidence that they boldly included two cedar garden beds in the complete redesign of the front yard landscape of their Charlotte home - in the Historic Cherry neighborhood, practically in the shadow of Uptown.

 

At this point, we should probably briefly disclose that at least some small part of the reason for all this emphasis on the Sagors’s front yard might be that their backyard is completely shaded by a towering canopy of trees. And this scenario is not at all uncommon in Charlotte, either. Especially in the city’s older neighborhoods, where ancient, colossal hardwood trees often shade both the back and front yards. 

Nevertheless, we maintain that it was almost entirely the desire for the ultimate enhancement of their home’s curb appeal - and not the completely shaded backyard - that ultimately drove the Sagor family’s decision. 

So do the two cedar garden beds really enhance the home’s curb appeal? We think so. 

And the Sagor family sure seems happy with the prominent placement of their new organic garden.

But ‘appeal’ - like beauty - is a very subjective thing. 

And curb appeal might be guided by some general framework of standards - some precedent of what’s accepted as appealing from the curb.

Beyond these too-often nebulous whims, though, curb appeal is judged solely by those looking on from the curb - the very judge, jury, and executioners of curb appeal itself.

The right pair of pink flamingoes might work wonders for the curb appeal in a mobile home park. 

The wrong color on the third story shutters could be a curb appeal disaster in another part of town.

So do the two 4’x8’ cedar garden beds really enhance the Sagor family’s curb appeal like we think they do?

Have a look, and decide for yourself.

But we both know that the answer could only be an emphatic and thundering, YES! YES! YES!

Something For Everyone

Is it silver? 

Is it grey? 

Is it some combination of both?

Like teak, ipe,  and a handful of other durable wood species,  Eastern Red Cedar lumber will eventually weather from bright shades of pink, red, or even purple, to the iconic silver color that’s so easily recognized in raised garden beds, pergolas, arbors, benches, and cedar-framed greenhouses. 

And the weathered silver/grey is an iconic look, that has certainly stood the test of time. 

In fact, the large majority of our customers very strongly prefer the silver/grey color that our red cedar projects will soon show. Some customers are even so averse to the bright red color of their new cedar garden beds, that it’s with visible consternation that they ask, “So..the color won’t stay red like that, right? How fast will it change from red to silver/grey?” 

 

It’s in times like these, we’re extra thankful to that nearby, life-giving star - our Sun - and its variety of rays. Relief, sometimes tinged with joy, replaces that consternation as we explain that the UV rays from sun will not fail in their work to turn the pink color of those new cedar garden beds to silver/grey. Perhaps in only a matter of days.

Now, personally, we love the bright color of red cedar lumber as it comes right off the sawmill. After all, that red color is what instantly sets this special tree apart from other wood varieties.

And some few customers do heartily agree with us. They’re just as enamored with those lovely shades of pink, red, and purple, as we are. Not to mention the powerfully aromatic fragrance of newly-milled Eastern red cedar. 

So, instead of asking how soon the bright red color will turn to silver, these red cedar fans seem disappointed to learn that the color will eventually fade with exposure to sunlight - little comforted that, even though the color fades, the wood will still retain every bit of its powerful, resistance to decay and insects, for many, many years.  

“Is there a way to keep the red color?”, they ask ( ironically, with the very similar consternation as the ‘silver/grey fans’ just noted above). 

“Is there something we can apply to preserve the red color - some sort of exterior wood sealer that will prevent the cedar from turning silver/grey?” 

“Sort of.” is our answer. 

And we can apply clear wood sealers that contain UV blocking agents to the exterior of our cedar raised beds. Many of these clear exterior wood sealers are effective in mitigating the change in color, for only for a while. Even with UV-blocking ingredients, products like clear spar urethane wood sealer simply slow down the color fading process ; they won’t entirely prevent the eventual fading of the red cedar color to silver/grey. 

 

But to be fair, clear exterior wood sealers, like spar urethane, certainly do protect the exterior of the wood, help it age more gracefully, and give the exterior of cedar garden beds a cleaner, more polished look. 

But, again,  even the very best clear sealers, with the strongest UV-blocking ingredients, won’t prevent the fresh red cedar color from eventually fading to silver gray from exposure to sunlight ( something that we’ve carefully made sure that the raised beds will get plenty of.)

So what’s the answer in cases like this? 

How do we prevent the inevitable fading of our cedar garden beds from red to silver/grey.

By applying three coats of a pigmented, semi-solid exterior stain.

And it’s a pretty good Plan B, too. 

 

It usually only takes a quick glance around the garden site to find an existing color that can be closely matched or complemented - A deck that’s already been stained, or the trim on the nearby guest house, fence, or detached garage. Whatever the case, the customer simply chooses the color that will replace silver/grey for the raised beds. Sometimes a customer even has a fresh can of stain leftover from a recent project that we can apply to the garden bed - ensuring an identical color match. 

Or we can work with the customer to select the right stain color from scratch. We’ve done it many times. And if we are choosing a brand new stain color, we recommend one of the Sherwin Williams SuperDeck Semi-Solid Exterior stain colors. Through experience, we’ve found that three coats of this premium-quality, waterborne exterior stain delivers even coverage of the selected color, while still showing the beauty of the rough sawn cedar wood grain. Plus, three coats of exterior stain helps protect and substantially extend the life of the cedar planter. 

Now, remember that the amount of color pigment varies depending on the type of exterior stain. We’ve found that semi-solid stain is the best choice for our rustic outdoor cedar projects because it has just enough pigment to deliver even color coverage, while still showing the natural wood grain. Solid exterior stain has the most color pigment, but is essentially like an exterior paint that won’t ever crack or peel. Solid stain actually tends to conceal natural wood grain, and three coats of solid stain would render a rough sawn cedar board as smooth as a sheet of cabinet grade oak plywood. 

 

And semi-transparent stain? it just doesn’t have enough pigment to give the desired results in this case. With experience, we’ve found that three coats of semi-transparent exterior stain - or even more coats - just doesn’t have enough pigment to cover the natural cedar color: ( remember, that bright red color that will tragically fade to silver/grey? )

And so... the old adage “There’s something out there for everyone”  seems the most fitting way to wind down this story.  Are you appalled with the silver/grey color of weathered cedar? For goodness sake, don’t come unhinged - simply shop for the right stain color.

Is the silver/grey of naturally-weathered red cedar the look you’ve always wanted? Your first and only choice? Your ‘jam’, as they say?

No action required. 

Just sit back, relax, and let those UV rays go to work.