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In 2000, we bought our first home. This classic Ranch style house was built in 1900 and was in need of much restoration work. This began our small, 4 person families life of living in a fixer upper! Much work was done, including renovation of the backyard. We cleared and cleaned the yard, planted grass and blocked of a very small 6 x 12 garden off in one corner. As time went by, the grass never grew, but the garden did give us a few things. For the most part, we were a processed food family, buying prepackaged items from the local grocery store…
… And then came the day that our daughter Olivia was diagnosed with multiple food allergies, among other health issues. Also, Tracy was the heaviest he had ever been and his blood pressure was very bad.
So we started looking hard at what we were eating. We had to. As we read labels, we found fillers that could potentially kill our daughter and were most likely killing us all very slowly. Something had to change.
This was the beginning of something way bigger than we initially planned. We started by tearing out that little garden. Then built a bunch of raised beds and bought a small greenhouse online. Every year we added something more. We grew our own food and changed everything about how we ate. We moved from being the family the lived from a store and one that produced their own. Our little (and I mean little) backyard has become an oasis in the middle of the city.
So now we are on a quest to help everyone learn to grow, regardless of how little space they may have!
And by the way… Olivia ‘s food allergies have all but disappeared and Tracy lost 6o lbs!
The home is in the midst of restoration and has a VERY small back yard. We sit just blocks from downtown Colorado Springs in a small, older neighborhood. Not an area known for growing food. But that is the fun part! We are here to teach and guide others in all we have learned. To show others how they can do the same.
Currently our yard holds:
1,000+ sq ft of raised beds (standard and vertical)
A large herb/rock garden
A 6′ x 8′ Greenhouse
6 – 8′ Rain Gutter Planters
A Large, custom Chicken Coop
10 – Laying Hens (multiple breeds)
6 Ducks (2 breeds)
4 large bee hives
A 4 x 12 ft meat rabbit hutch/colony with 1 buck and 2 does
2 – Compost bins
Multiple other growing areas, rock pathways, multiple seating areas. a pergola and fire pit.
