Sunday, April 27, 2014

The Garden Fence


 This spring our big project was putting in a fence around our vegetable garden.  We've always wanted to add a fence, but it became a necessity this year to act as a deterrent for the chickens when they're out foraging around the yard.


When debating different options, we kept coming back to a picket fence.  At my childhood home, we always had a white picket fence around our yard, so this project brought back a host of memories for me!

Last year our vegetable garden was sized 20x40, which worked really well for us, so we settled on 24x40 when working on our fence plan. 


 That size meant just under 300 pickets!  The boards are reclaimed wood, so Justus actually had to cut the picket on every single board and then I sanded every single picket... and eventually painted every single picket.  Whew, yes, it has been labor intensive!  But oh, I love it.  The reclaimed wood, while not perfect, definitely lent a feeling of this fence having been here for a while. 


 When looking at a picket fence, I never imagined there would be so many details we would need to iron out first.  Where would the rails be placed (to the inside, outside or center of post)? Would the posts be visible?  How tall would the posts be?  How tall would the pickets be?  How much space should be left under the pickets?   As we were looking at different options, we just happened to come across an old picture of my aforementioned childhood picket fence, and knew its design was perfect for our fence.  As you can see, the posts are only visible from the inside, and the rails are placed to the outside of the posts, so it was easy to nail the pickets on.

We spent hours (yes, hours) making sure our posts and pickets were perfectly square and level.


 One of my favorite details was adding this old iron gate.  This came from my brother's previous 100 year old home, and Justus really had to warm up to the idea of using it, but I think it's safe to say that we both love how it turned out!


 I love its old time charm and character.



  Once our fence was in place, Justus used old bricks from our home's previous chimney to create a little landing and purposely gave it a bit of a rustic look - the reclaimed wood, old iron gate, and old bricks all working together to create a fence that fit with our home. 


 The garden remained in the same location as previous years - convenient to our back door and kitchen.



 As you can see, I only have a small portion of the garden in.  This weekend I added some tomatoes and peppers.  I have a lot of work to do these next few weeks!  (smile) 


 The back end of the garden, where the spring peas are growing...


 Although the chickens are perfectly capable of flying over the fence, so far (knock on wood), they've stayed out and we've been very strict about keeping the gate closed! 

We're so happy with the way the fence turned out, particularly since vegetable gardening is such a part of our lives now.  And I can't help but smile every time I look at it - thinking of my girls growing up with a white picket fence, just as I did.  (smile)

34 comments:

  1. This is such a sweet post. I love your memories.
    You did a great job. Beautiful!

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  2. I love this! I have a white picket fence behind my perennial garden. I did get kinda sick of repainting it every year. It eventually got beyond painting and rather rotten so we made new fence sections that are removable. They have been stored over the winter and once I get the garden all weeded and fertilized, they will be installed again Hopefully this means I won't have to paint them every, blooming year, ha!

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    1. I'm definitely not looking forward to painting it every year (I have those memories too)! :-) The removable panels sound great.

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  3. Andrea, what a beautiful fence, but the gate is amazing... brings back memories for me as well ... it is the same kind of gate of my grandparents front yard... loved all of this... You have a beautiful place... Hope you have a great week ahead...

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  4. I was waiting for this post!!! I kept checking to see if you were going to do it tonight after the girls went to bed! Ha! I love your fence, love that all that painting you helped me with on our picket fence didn't ruin you for one of your own! I love, love, love it. - Mom -

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  5. I love it! It's absolutely charming and the gate is perfection! I'm wondering if deer are a problem in your area? We are trying to figure out fencing too but deer can be a real nuisance here and they could jump a lower fence in a heartbeat.

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    1. Thanks, Anna! We have deer in abundance around here, but for whatever reason and despite the fact they even bed down in the field across from our house, we haven't had any problems with them in our garden.

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  6. Andrea, your fence is just gorgeous! Charm, charm, charm.
    Every project you do is so beautifully executed. :)
    Happy gardening!

    Heather @ GreenWay home

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  7. It looks great with the fence. The gate is a real eyecatcher. Beautiful!

    Greetings from Germany
    Birgit

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  8. I love it! The old gate is the perfect touch!

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  9. Wow Andrea ~ all of your hard work really paid off. Your fence is so charming and perfect with the style of your home. We're trying to start a garden this year so we'll see how that goes!

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  10. Just gorgeous! I love the gate. Amazing job.

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  11. I love your fence and the old iron door! The picture of your daughters and the chickens is too precious! I am starting my first vegetable garden this year. I'm so excited! Have a lovely week, Andrea. ~ Jamie

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  12. Andrea, your fence turn out lovely and I LOVE the fact that you used an old gate. What a task, cutting and painting all the pickets. Once again, Justus and you have enhanced your charming home. It must bring a smile to your face every time you look out your kitchen window and see the garden and coop. How fun.

    Debra

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  13. I am in love with your garden and fence! I love the country appeal that the iron door has and your home looks so inviting. Thanks for sharing!

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  14. Ok, this is just wonderful. The white picket fence is exceptional, and the work behind it is the just the best. I love how personal it is to you and your family. That is what makes it your home. Your hens are adorable. I hope you have a bountiful harvest this growing season!

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  15. I love it! Everything is so pretty. Thanks for sharing!

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  16. Andrea the fence is so lovely. I love picket fences. Yours is lovely.Your property looks so lovely.
    Great job.
    Love the chickens.
    xoxo
    Lisa
    Leeshideaway.blogspot.com

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  17. Oh I love, love, love the fence and the gate. How fabulous. I would love to have you link up to Inspire Me this afternoon. Party goes live at 3 PM. www.astrollthrulife.net Hope to see you there.

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  18. It is the prettiest garden fence and gate that I have seen in a long time. xxo

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  19. Wow. You keep your husband just as busy as I keep mine. Do you have a problem with any other critters in the garden?

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  20. Look where you live! Absolutely gorgeous!!

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  21. I absolutely love picket fences and vintage wire loop fencing. It's beautiful!

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  22. So, so nice!! You should be VERY proud of all your hard work and labor. WOW!! (actually, I know you are.)

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  23. What a beautiful way to contain your garden...there is nothing like a charming white picket fence and so love that you chose to use an iron gate..looks terrific...Love the pic of the girls with the chickens...looking forward to your garden progress...

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  24. Perfectly charming! Making it yourselves must make you feel good.

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  25. Oh, Andrea, I LOVE it! That fence reminds me so much of my childhood home, and I hope your daughters have the same sweet memories I had growing up. :-)

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  26. I love that you took the time and effort to reclaim the wood; then cut, sand and paint it. You're awesome. This is upcycling at its very best. (Makes me want to build one of my own ... and I live in an apartment in Manhattan!). I wish Robert Frost were here to write a poem about this beautiful fence.

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  27. I've been looking forward to this post, the fence is such a nice addition to your home! Can't wait to see the garden growing inside it. The old iron gate is the perfect finishing touch!

    Esther

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  28. The fence looks beautiful! I love it because it made me smile as I also thought of the white picket fence at your childhood home and many good memoreis there.

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  29. I even got in on painting it while standing in a pile of red ants!

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  30. Your home and surroundings remind me of days gone by. Love the picket fence & gate. What a team you and your husband are, making your home sustainable with the chickens and garden. Reclaimed wood for the fence and your kitchen counter. Kathleen in Az

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  31. I love this! I'm in the process of putting up an old picket fence around a small garden area....now I'm on the look-out for an old garden gate!

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  32. we put up a picket fence at our former home. you brought back some memories for me. absolutely love the old gate.

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