MY NEIGHBOR’S GARDEN – by Kay Faught

Rick and Michelle Moir, who live off Pair-a-Dice Ranch Road, have a beautiful garden and yard. Interestingly, they decided to kill a large portion of it this summer!

Ok, so maybe not kill it, but do a major experiment by sterilizing the ground where their huge, prolific vegetable garden usually produces in the summer sun.  Rick and Michelle have a great relationship with their home’s surrounding yard and garden  and did a good job dividing the use of their land.  Their goal is, “yard beauty, food production, and family friendly!”  My visit resulted in an interesting look at how it all works together!

In an effort to raise their children in a “country environment,” they moved here eight years ago from a city street in Medford, to their current Jacksonville home on over an acre. Surrounded by a “ranching” dry field, they had no fencing or trees, a small patch of yard, and a small deck in back.  In eight months, Rick took on the herculean task of adding a large terraced deck, putting-in fill and sod  for a huge back lawn… then added fencing,  a rock “creek bed,”  an estimated 50 different trees, and landscaping for the entire perimeter of the yard.  Now maples, barberries, deodora cedars, willows, lilies, lavender, and buddleias surround the home.  It is “views scape” of color, texture, and variety that surrounds the expansive lawn and creates a natural barrier that hides a bigger picture of their family life.   Imagine standing on a raised back porch, looking over an acre of landscape with a meandering dry river bed and wooden bridges, brilliant blue evergreens, bending willows, buddleia flowers moving in the breeze… and then discovering that behind it all is a rabbit hutch, an archery range, the boys club house, a playground, picnic table, shaded play area, and a large compost area – all contained in the outer circle around the yard, with none of it in view. And, you still see the surrounding hills.

On the west side of the home and lusciously visible, is the large 1/5 acre vegetable garden with an entry arbor that frames a 4-quadrant “herb” section in the center of the vegetable area.  Handmade stepping stones, each one a yearly mother’s day gift from the boys, form the walkway.  It is also the area that the boys use to grow whatever they want to plant each year.  Off to the right, a wide-edged section of surrounding beds hold towering sunflowers, followed next with strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. They provide Michelle with sharing opportunities with friends, as well as mountains of frozen treasures in the winter and freezer jams. She harvests everything in her garden possible, including her lavender and herbs.  This season, the rest of the vegetable area is now at “rest.”

Rick, Landon, Michelle & Nathan

Rick’s love is tilling the ground and growing – the larger harvest garden area is Rick’s.  Growing-up a “4H” kid and always having huge gardens, he and Michelle share this garden 100%.  He plants crops of squashes, melons, corn, zucchini, while Michelle does the herbs and harvesting. They focus on organic methods in all they do, including crop rotation, although last year’s abundance of weeds, bugs, and work led them to research sterilizing and “resting” the garden this year.  The covered area they put down in June has huge plastic sheets, weighted by rocks. It is now sterilizing the ground with heat. They only need 7-10 days with 100 degree temps to achieve their goal. (Michelle was excited to show me that so far, no weeds are showing!)  They soil-tested this year and will do so again after fall when they bring in soil and nutrients for next year’s crop, which includes adding their own compost. Next year, Rick will  return to abundant planting, including tomatoes which he loves to grow but hates to eat!  Michelle harvests that crop as well, preparing a roasted and pureed tomato paste she uses throughout the year.

I asked Michelle if they had any garden regrets so far.  She mentioned that she wishes she had done more raised garden beds for ease of work, but with Rick’s love of “tilling the earth,” Michelle’s  raised beds idea doesn’t really work with  his “therapy”!   Rick’s only regret is not having more grass! Michelle said that if Rick had his dream, he would be surrounded by acres of grass like an east coast historic estate.

I was really amazed at the beauty of this “yarden,” and how functional it was.  With their focus on raising their boys in a country and farming environment with animals, growing, and harvesting, and still wanting a beautiful yard, they have it all.  It was a beautiful garden example of combining it all.

When I asked Michelle for tips for other gardeners, I was expecting a different type of reply. Rather than a tip about all the garden and harvesting, she stated, “Make it functional. So many people have “pretty gardens” but they are not functional!  Don’t be afraid to create your garden so you can live in it and enjoy it and it works for you!  Make it apply to your life… if you are aging, scale-down if you need to and enjoy it.”   In the case of Moir’s home, it is functional and pretty, as well.   Obviously, one does not have to be at the expense of the other!

Thanks Michelle and Rick. I envy your garden and how you have applied your life and that of your family to it.  Good luck with the sterilizing project and I will see you next year for a follow-up article on the outcome!

Kay is the owner of Blue Door Garden Store, located at 155 N Third St.  Specializing in paraphernalia for the home gardener; she carries garden gifts, decor, and a wide variety of pots, tools, gloves, and organic product. Phone: 541.899.3242.