I too walk the Appalachian yard line. At the old place, we had tires for planters for a time before discarding them in favor of cast iron tub. Later we added the porcelain sink, which looked great with cascading plants. Here, we try to keep the misc stack of "useful" items somewhat contained behind the garage. But there's a small fridge on the front porch right now and there's been a felled tree in the front yard for some years. And while I like how it frames that section of the yard, there's probably a bit more to my reluctance to remove it. Our lot was here long before the neighboring subdivisions, and it's a reminder to accept us as we are. We moved here to shed some of the constraints of the city, to have the satisfaction of tending our own land and freedom to let that wood sit until we're ready to do something with it . . . or to have the space to park our old trucks and fix them in the driveway. We push our mowers because we want to, not because we have to. And sometimes, it does look great when the grass is trimmed, but we also like to leave it long at times for the lightning bug habitat. All in all, I think the unpredictable at the edges serves a great contrast to the more designed aspects of the yard and garden.
The song made me laugh. Here in Hawaii some people drag yard cuttings across the road to the empty lot. But everything re-roots and regrows so I find it funny too.
What a joy to read How to Have an Appalachian Yard. Your voice is grounded and uplifting, reminding us that even the simplest landscapes can bring joy and teach a deep optimism that strengthens resilience. It felt like sitting with you on your porch in the sunlight and sharing wisdom.
I envy the freedom you have on your property. We live in a borough which I shall not name 😄 where people other than us have lawn services and profesdional landscapers. We are do-it-yourselfers, and right now due to the hot and dry, we are not doing! I'm sure our weeds are raising some eyebrows. One good thing has come from the local ordinances. My studio.
We were not allowed to keep a boat parked outside so we built another garage for it. After the kids moved out on their own taking their cars with them, we were able to turn the boathouse as we called, into a studio for me. I am nestled behind the main garage in private bliss with the wild turkeys and deer. (🤫 don't tell anyone...there may be an ordinance against it)
And ‘put it out back’ is the historic ‘reuse’ part of reduce-reuse-recycle. We called them “borrow pits’. Watch for snakes, but if you need a piece of something-to-fix-something it might be found in the borrow-pit. Sadly it seems the steeply carved out dry-creek along my property line seems to be where stuff got dumped, including an old washing machine and an upside down turquoise painted car. A few years back I built a ladder at a spot that’s fairly accessible so I could get down there to try to do a bit of cleanup. It’s not as fun as mudlarking but related. lol.
God bless you, Lee Ann. Going over the hill to clean up long ago garbage is a certain kind of hell. I have been looking at a shopping cart thrown over our steep ridge for years. And a toilet!
I too walk the Appalachian yard line. At the old place, we had tires for planters for a time before discarding them in favor of cast iron tub. Later we added the porcelain sink, which looked great with cascading plants. Here, we try to keep the misc stack of "useful" items somewhat contained behind the garage. But there's a small fridge on the front porch right now and there's been a felled tree in the front yard for some years. And while I like how it frames that section of the yard, there's probably a bit more to my reluctance to remove it. Our lot was here long before the neighboring subdivisions, and it's a reminder to accept us as we are. We moved here to shed some of the constraints of the city, to have the satisfaction of tending our own land and freedom to let that wood sit until we're ready to do something with it . . . or to have the space to park our old trucks and fix them in the driveway. We push our mowers because we want to, not because we have to. And sometimes, it does look great when the grass is trimmed, but we also like to leave it long at times for the lightning bug habitat. All in all, I think the unpredictable at the edges serves a great contrast to the more designed aspects of the yard and garden.
So glad you get this subject! Thanks for the sweet comments and for reading. I love that you have a fridge on the porch!
PS I saw a dragon in a yard with the tires cut in half stood up. Looked like “Nessy” at Locness. It was great.
The song made me laugh. Here in Hawaii some people drag yard cuttings across the road to the empty lot. But everything re-roots and regrows so I find it funny too.
What a joy to read How to Have an Appalachian Yard. Your voice is grounded and uplifting, reminding us that even the simplest landscapes can bring joy and teach a deep optimism that strengthens resilience. It felt like sitting with you on your porch in the sunlight and sharing wisdom.
I would choose an Appalachian ‘yard’, even with a tire🌻flower pot EVERY day of the week over an HOA!
Even with the tire.. 😲
I envy the freedom you have on your property. We live in a borough which I shall not name 😄 where people other than us have lawn services and profesdional landscapers. We are do-it-yourselfers, and right now due to the hot and dry, we are not doing! I'm sure our weeds are raising some eyebrows. One good thing has come from the local ordinances. My studio.
We were not allowed to keep a boat parked outside so we built another garage for it. After the kids moved out on their own taking their cars with them, we were able to turn the boathouse as we called, into a studio for me. I am nestled behind the main garage in private bliss with the wild turkeys and deer. (🤫 don't tell anyone...there may be an ordinance against it)
Your secrets are safe with me. ❤️
HOA = capitulation
I love the way your posts often trigger memories for me.
2 tires? I’m pretty sure you could make 2 types of tire swings outta those 🙃
When my sons were young I recall seeing one made that looked like a horse. It’s hard to cut them tho.
https://www.pinterest.com/zybercon/tire-swings/
And ‘put it out back’ is the historic ‘reuse’ part of reduce-reuse-recycle. We called them “borrow pits’. Watch for snakes, but if you need a piece of something-to-fix-something it might be found in the borrow-pit. Sadly it seems the steeply carved out dry-creek along my property line seems to be where stuff got dumped, including an old washing machine and an upside down turquoise painted car. A few years back I built a ladder at a spot that’s fairly accessible so I could get down there to try to do a bit of cleanup. It’s not as fun as mudlarking but related. lol.
God bless you, Lee Ann. Going over the hill to clean up long ago garbage is a certain kind of hell. I have been looking at a shopping cart thrown over our steep ridge for years. And a toilet!
My favorite yard.