So much pea straw and the backyard is slowly transforming...

More pea straw kindly delivered by my brother

The bottom bale had to be broken up so that we could get it off the trailer

Down the side of the house, untidy and weedy

Adding pea straw

Notice pepper tree here

Zena enjoying the sun in her cat run

...and Jasper

All this pea straw had to be carted from the carport

Looking better presented and I can now see the gaps where I will need a few more natives to be planted

Pepper tree now gone! My new handsaw is coming in very handy.

Finished with a little pea straw left for a couple more garden beds.

The two plants on the left were tiny tubestock plants last winter, growing quite quickly. I am looking forward to next year when I can take photos to compare to tubestock that has been planted this winter. I have one more large bale of pea straw left to be used in the fruit orchard.

Sleeper raised garden beds slowing coming together...

My brother kindly donated timber sleepers to me months ago and I am finally getting around to working out how to build raised garden beds, for someone not handy at all!

These sleepers were easy to make into a bed as they have steel posts that I was able to push into the ground to hold them into place, then laid newspaper down and filled with pea straw, 3 blocks of potting mix (add water and it expands) and 3 bags of cow manure.

Added a couple of bed bases that came with the house, planted lots of kale and spinach for my daily green smoothies and sowed peas, snow peas, lettuce, beetroot, onion, rocket and chive seeds. Fingers crossed at least some of the seeds sprout.

 Picked up a hand saw from the local hardware store today and after work tonight tried cutting through the sleepers to trim to shape. Surprisingly much easier then I thought and in a short time managed to make four cuts, although did work up a sweat.

 Very happy with this cut!

Nicely trimmed to shape, just need to add a few screws to hold it firmly together, although don't think it is going anywhere.

Second raised garden bed coming together, just need to screw it together to hold in place, then can add the newspaper, peastraw, compost and manure ready for my spring plantings. Can't wait to get fresh corn on it's way. Finally think I have worked out where to grow my veggies. These garden beds are right at the back door step, on the way to the fruit orchard with the chooks and ducks, which I let out each morning and put away each night. It is the perfect spot to keep an eye on everything as well as watching from the kitchen window.

 It is fantastic to have my gardening mojo back :D