How I Converted an Old Rock Garden to a Garden Storage Area

How I Converted an Old Rock Garden to a Garden Storage Area

Thirty-eight years ago, the original homeowners designed this area of our back yard as a rock garden. To me, it’s always been unusable space. It collects leaves. And undesired plants and weeds took up root. The area is in the back and on the opposite side of the house from the gate. I decided that I wanted to use this space for garden storage and a compost bin.

Original Rock Garden

Rock Garden Removal in Process

Step 1   List the rocks for free on Craigslist.

Last year I listed the rocks on Nextdoor. One couple responded. They came over and took 3 or 4 SUV loads of rock. Then the area sat untouched until this spring when I ran the ad on Craigslist. Success! Several people responded and within 2 weeks most of the rocks were gone. I still had to dig out and move a few and relocated them to another part of the yard.

Step 2   Fill in the holes.

Removing the rocks left an uneven surface. The front area was dirt, or mostly dirt. I know there is black plastic down in the soil somewhere but I don’t intend to plant here, so I left it. I filled a rather big hole near the tree trunk with used potting soil.

I then collected several 5 gallon buckets of spruce pine needles from the front yard and spread it thinly over the clay and watered it down. Next I put on a layer of cardboard, allowing a 2 foot square around the tree. The gutter drains into this area. I sprayed water on the cardboard.

Spray Down the Cardboard Mulch

Step 3   Cover the cardboard with wood chip mulch.

My son helped me mulch the area with wood chips. This gave a nice clean appearance that can easily be back filled as it breaks down. I got the wood chips from a local tree trimming company. No charge, just tip the driver.

Layer Wood Chips Over the Cardboard

Now I have a lovely outdoor garden storage area and a place to make compost and weed tea that isn’t visible from the windows or the patio. I’m very pleased.

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Why I Quit Counting Calories

Why I Quit Counting Calories

I finally deleted my online calorie counting account.  I haven't had the app on my cell phone for many months, but I am still monitoring my health stats. Constantly logging Every Bite is Over! I'm sick and tired of it. That's why I quit counting calories!

A recent blood test revealed that my cholesterol is up.  Again.  In spite of my dieting,counting, monitoring, and logging, I have watched my lipid numbers yo-yo just as my weight has.

So now what?

I'm eating vegetarian most of the time. So, yeah, I still eat animal foods, but I avoid it most of the time. Gradually, I am able to be happy and satisfied eating whole plant foods. Many restaurants have started offering a vegetarian selection on their menu, so it's not too hard to find something besides a salad.

Do you count calories?

Why I Quit Counting Steps

Why I Quit Counting Steps

I’ve worn or carried a pedometer for somewhere near 14 years. My first one was the Oregon Scientific PE316CA. It was a pendulum counter with a belt clip on the back. I loved it! I could get my step count, distance, and the time. I monitored what I ate, got 10,000 steps most days and I lost weight.

Oregon Scientific Pedometer

Eventually I lost that one. Since then I’ve owned more pedometers than I can even remember, but the last pedometer I carried was the PED USA PE-771 Tri-Axis Multi-Function Pocket Pedometer. It’s a great unit. If you want a pedometer, I recommend this one for accuracy, size, and ease of use. You can get it on Amazon.

Recently I quit counting steps, and here’s why:

• In all these years, I have lost weight, gained weight, lost, gained, while recording millions of steps on my trustee pedometer. Thus, I have finally determined that lack of steps is not the cause of my weight problem.

For a few days I would reach for my pedometer in the morning; but then, remembering my decision to stop carrying, I would recoil. And throughout the day, I would feel my pocket, looking for the pedometer. In those moments I realized how much mental energy was wasted in carrying that little tracker. Always in the back of my mind was this question: What is my step count?

Sure. In the beginning a step counter can help a person realize just how sedentary or active they are. But to go on and on, counting steps indefinitely, produces diminishing value. I no longer reach for my pedometer, and I don’t miss it.

I am not a health professional. This is my personal experience, and not intended as guidance for others.

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