Crystal Van Velkinburgh's Urban Farm

Crystal Van Velkinburgh is a go getter. The Houston native has comitted the past twelve years of her career as an executive with Electrolux, and moved about the country as needed, from Chicago, to Savannah, before landing on a half acre in Plaza Midwood about two years ago.

“I fell in love with my house the minute I saw it,” recalls Crystal, while methodically harvesting mustard greens from one of her raised beds.  I’ve wanted an organic garden for years, and now I finally have one.”

“I actually have my own little urban farm”, she smiles, pausing to survey her raised beds, fruit trees, pallet compost system, and rain barrel.

“I love it….all of it!” She laughs.

Much of Crystal’s lot is shaded by tall poplar and oak trees, but the back of the property has a large area that receives full sun much of the day, and is a perfect place for an organic garden.  We built an L shaped bed that measured 10’ on the long sides, and a smaller, 4’x4’ square bed that nestled inside the L to create a large square area.

The beds were made with Western Red Cedar 2”x12” boards, and the area between and around them was finished with half inch pea gravel.  In the back corner of the property, a two bin pallet compost system stands ready to receive egg shells, coffee grounds, and grass clippings.

We also installed 22’ of rain gutter and a downspout on Crystal’s detached garage so that rain water that once ran right off the roof and into the storm water system, now fills an 80 gallon rain barrel that can help water the garden in hot dry summer months.

We planted an assortment of standard and semi dwarf cherry, pear & apple trees around the property, and even installed a stone patio to make it easier for Crystal to enjoy it all!

Comments

[Abdul]

Where did you order your gravel from?