Window Pergola Finished

This is a continuation of my recent blog post "Dan's Latest Project." I reckon we could call it part two. Here's where we left off in that post...

The beginnings of a system to shade the windows
and grow deciduous muscadine grape vines.

The next step was to put up the trellis.

This was a matter of building a frame and cutting the lattice to size.

Here it is before staining. 

We talked about where the bottom of the trellis should be. Lower to the ground would block it off right now, but we need room to install the greywater system, build up the bed, and plant. We can fence off the bottom later if needs be.

Here it is in the sun! The lattice helps shade the
window too, even without vines growing on it.

An added bonus is the increased sense of privacy it offers. We put a box fan in the bedroom window at night, and while it doesn't face the road, I like the feeling this set-up offers. 

The shading, of course, will be even better once we get vines growing up the trellis. My thought has always been muscadines because they are native to this part of the country and make my favorite jelly! Happily, we already have some volunteers!

Volunteer muscadine vines already growing in the bed.

Now, Dan can move on to making the driveway gate. 

Window Pergola Finished © July 2021 by Leigh 

at http://www.5acresandadream.com

Dan's Latest Project

If you're a longtime reader of my blog or perhaps have read 5 Acres & A Dream The Book, then you may recall this sketch...

Idea for laundry greywater soil filtration bed & gate.
Pergolas would shade the windows & trellis grapes.

It was an idea we came up with years ago while analyzing water resources and brainstorming for our master plan. The washing machine is on the back porch, which is on the left-hand side of the house. This was one idea for how to use the wash water for irrigation rather than filling the septic tank with it.

Dan built the bed five years ago, and that was as far as we got. This year we've had increased problems with a roaming dog(s) visiting our property, killing our chickens, and pooping on the sidewalk. Our entire property is fenced, except the driveway. It was time to install a gate.

We might have just gone straight for the gate, except that we need to make sure dogs can't simply bypass the gate through the bed.

So before the gate, Dan decided to build the first pergola. He started by milling the lumber.

Dan's portable sawmill. One of the
best investments we ever made!!!

I have to mention that without that mill, we never could have bought the lumber! He used the pine that has either fallen down or been cut down at the back of the property.

Dan would be quick to say it isn't perfect, to which I say, 
neither is the overpriced stuff they sell at the big box store!

He started with the windows
closest to where the gate will be.

The nearest post will accommodate the gate latch.

It's already helping shade the windows
from the hot afternoon summer sun!

For the trellises on the sides of the pergola, Dan will use wood lattice. 

Amazingly, the price of wood lattice hasn't jumped through the roof.

These were $30-something each, a price he was willing to pay rather than the time and fuss of trying to make his own. Once the lattice is up he can move on to the gate. After that, we'll be looking at completing the laundry water system in the bed and then planting. 

I have to say that I wasn't sure we'd ever get this done. It's been on the planning list for almost nine years! It might have stayed as an idea on the list indefinitely, if it hadn't been for roaming dogs coming onto the property and killing our poultry. We hated to lose our birds, but there will be multiple benefits in completing this project, so there's our silver lining. I think it's been a good lesson in not lamenting the things we haven't completed, and being glad we put the forethought and planning into it when we did. That meant we didn't have to start from scratch trying to figure out what to do; we had a solution ready. All we've had to do is implement it.

Dan's Latest Project © July 2021 by Leigh 

at http://www.5acresandadream.com