house perimeter planning

For this area we get so much water that one important strategy for this site is to create raised hugelkultur-style beds so the plants on site do not flood.  I have already added three beds on the north side of the house from old wood and soil from on site, and so far they are working famously in soaking up the moisture...already flooding is greatly reduced on the design site!  This is of course very encouraging and we are very excited to see what plants will do well in this raised style bed type.  (Picture included as well...this image has a bit of all three raised beds on the south.  Some lettuces and garlics are popping up on the right (planted 1-2 weeks ago), kale, peas, & rosemary can be seen in the far bed, and on the left two side of a keyhole entrance which we just started building...it needs to be built up more yet (not yet tall enough). (See also posts on: Raised Bed images).

For the map, the hops guild I have planned will be located on the north side of the property (but far enough away from the house that it receives full sun).  To the south of the house are the hugelkultur-style variation beds I have already built and begun to plant.

The water flow from the roof of the house drains to the four corners of the main structure, with the largest volume of water going to the northwest corner of the primary residence (where the water storage tank is located).

There is an abundance of exciting plants in this plan.  Fortunately I have a terrific seed collection saved up from the last two years when I really wanted to have a garden but couldn't yet.  I still need to acquire several kinds of seeds including bee balm, veronica, raspberry, rue, savory, and mint, as well as yarrow, valerian, & borage for the guild.  I have all the other seeds on site already including hops rhizomes for the hops guild, and many seeds already starting in pots indoors.

I'm not certain if raspberries will work on the east side but they will certainly get sun there.  I am trying for blueberries on the east side near the main structure...not *too* much sun, the soil is acidic, and that part of the yard gets a lot of moisture.  The mints and other companion plants help to attract bees, and the herbs on the south side (east of the porch) and native flower gardens are also for attracting pollinators.  This is so much fun to organize and begin to implement...I am excited for the spring to be in full swing and watch everything grow!