BKYD Life

Gather. Create. Grow.

backyard

Friday 5

The month of May sure did fly and it’s time for another Friday 5. Today, I would like to share with you 5 Instagram accounts that have inspired me to gather, create and grow in my backyard. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Living with Landyn

Landyn has great style and uses her backyard daily. She has a pool, pool house, a garden and chickens at her home in Nashville. She shares helpful tips and ideas for adding potted plants to your patio decor, not to mention the meals she and her husband create on their many grills and outdoor cooking spaces.

Here is the link to her website and here is the link to her Instagram.

Danielle Walker

Danielle shares her journey of health and healing through food. She gives us a glimpse of her family and their home in Northern California. Danielle is the author of several cookbooks that I thoroughly enjoy. They include recipes that can feed several and some are grill friendly. As a matter of fact, I am making a meal from her Eat What You Love cookbook tonight. We really enjoy the Grilled Shrimp Summer Harvest Salad with Basil Vinaigrette, if you have the cookbook it can be found on page 155.

Here is the link to her website and here is the link to her Instagram.

Wendy Bellissimo

Wendy is a designer of home, baby and pet products. If you don’t have something in your home now, you may be ordering or looking for her designs in stores near you. She lives in a gorgeous home on a California hillside with her husband, four beautiful daughters and several sweet dogs (and I think she might have a cat or 2). She shares her backyard frequently on her IG stories and it looks like a great place to relax at the end of a long day.

Here is the link to her website and here is the link to her Instagram.

Brooke Giannetti

Brooke also lives in California. She, also a designer, and her architect husband, Steve Giannetti, have a small farm in the Ojai area. You can find inspiration for flower gardens, vegetable gardens and all sorts of farm animals on her feed. Brooke and her husband are the authors of 4 books that detail their journey on their farm as well as within the design and architectural world. After following their IG for awhile, I want to move to the country and get some mini-donkeys!

Here is the link to her website and here is the link to her Instagram.

Lylah Ledner

Lylah is local to my hometown of Phoenix, AZ. She and her husband have a sweet space of garden beds and goats. A few years ago, Lylah began using her garden beds to grow elements for natural skin care products. She uses the goats milk for yummy caramels that I love to include in Christmas packages every year. Lylah is also fantastic at building community and uses the space at her small farm for events and farm dinners among the garden beds. My husband and I recently attended one and we thoroughly enjoyed the evening, meeting new people, drinking wonderful wine and devouring an incredible meal.

Here is the link to her website and here is the link to her Instagram.

So that’s my Friday 5 for today. Please feel free to reach through email and let me know if you have any ideas for future Friday 5’s. have a fabulous and safe weekend!

Quick Weekend Getaway

A couple weeks ago, my husband and I went on a little weekend getaway for our anniversary. We chose Ojai, California. It is such a sweet little town just a little north of Los Angeles. From our home in Phoenix it’s a simple 45 minute flight and a quick drive in a rental car.

We stayed at the Ojai Valley Inn. It was a magical weekend, to say the least! The property is incredible. The food was so yummy. The rooms are very comfortable. The people ~ it’s always the people that make an experience worth remembering ~ the people of the Ojai Valley Inn (and really the people of Ojai) are just so kind. They answered every question, no matter how simple or silly, with a smile. Each person we encountered just elevated our trip.

We ate. We walked. We relaxed. We shopped. We enjoyed every minute.

We relaxed by the pool. They have several on the property along with a golf course and gorgeous mountain views.

We went wine tasting in town. There are a couple different tasting rooms, but this one was so quaint in an old fire house that I had to take a photo.

We walked all over the resort and peeked into an event space that is referred to as the Farmhouse. The garden beds on one side are enviable.

But the best part of the trip was sitting under the trees at sunset. The guest seemed to be drawn to this area of the resort every evening. There is a slight pink glow that just can’t be captured with an iPhone!

If you ever get a chance I would highly recommend the Ojai Valley Inn for a romantic getaway. I always encourage friends and family to “take the trip” because experience makes you both knowledgeable and grateful. And, in this case, it brought me so much peace. A great place to relax will do that.

So, do you have any trips planned for this summer? I would suggest making plans for weekend getaways ~ they allow for memories to be made all summer long, easier to pack for than a 2 week vacation, and give you the opportunity to see more than just one place.

Now, give me some suggestions on where I should go next…go to this photo on my Instagram and leave me a note on where I should go next.

Friday 5

We are starting a new feature…The Friday 5. You won’t find it every Friday, just once a month on the last Friday we will give you something to think about on, well, a Friday.

Here’s our first one. 5 things that you can grow in your backyard, or any outdoor space really.

1. Fruits and Vegetables

This comes as no surprise if you have been here for a bit. Want to read about the costs of a garden? You can do that here. Bottom line is that once your garden is established the costs are minimal and the savings you see at the grocery store will be maximized. But most of all, gardening is good for the soul ~ and that is priceless.

2. Flowers

While fruits and vegetables are good for the body, flowers will put a smile on your face. Having a cutting garden to brighten up the inside of your home is so worthwhile. If you have room in your backyard, I can’t emphasize enough that having both a vegetable garden and a space to grow flowers is something that will bring you days, weeks and maybe months of joy. They also attract hummingbirds and butterflies ~ and if they don’t bring a smile to your face, then I don’t know what will!

3. Animals

Clover

My first thought is that my dog loves to run and play in the backyard. We really do consider her a member of the family. She also loves to go on walks around the neighborhood and say “hi” to her friends. But maybe you have the space and are zoned for other animals. Maybe you have chickens, goats, donkeys? Many people would consider spending time outside with animals as a great stress release. Growing or raising animals is fantastic way to help children learn responsibility and compassion for others. What I know for sure is that when I am outside with my dog, Clover, I am completely present ~and that’s a good thing!

4. Relationship with Your Family and Friends

Do you love to entertain? When the weather is right, hosting a gathering of family and friends in the backyard is a great way to spend an afternoon or evening. I remember when I was younger, Sunday’s my family spent the day together at my grandparents house. Grandma and Grandpa had a swimming pool and my brother, cousin’s and myself would spend summer Sunday afternoons in the pool. The adults would tell us “Your lips are turning blue, get out for a little bit.” Of course, we didn’t want to get out. We loved to splash and have swimming races. Creating those memories and those bonds are what summer’s in the backyard are all about ~ oh, and ice cream, too!

5. Relationship with Yourself

This might be the most important thing you can grow in the backyard. Taking time to get quiet and really check in with yourself is a great backyard or outdoor activity. Whether go for a walk or even a hike, get your hands dirty in your garden or pots on the patio, or sit on a lounge chair with or without a book we all need time to breathe deep. When we take time for ourselves, we end up as better people for our loved ones and our community. We can envision our dreams and know our next steps to get there. Let the sunshine on your face, take a deep breathe and know you are worth knowing ~ the birds are singing your song!

Happy Friday, enjoy the weekend in the fresh air!

Eating Healthy on a Budget

We all know that healthy eating includes lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. But did you know you can do it AND stay on budget? Here are a couple tips to accomplish your health and budget goals.

  • Plan your meals for the week and then prep them ~ you are more likely to follow your plan when you have reduced the daily preparation time
  • Shop for seasonal produce ~ the prices are lower when an item is in season
  • Review the sales section in your local newspaper for grocery store ads and shop the produce on sale
  • Start a garden ~ you can easily grow some of your produce for your weekly meal plan

Let’s take a closer look at that last idea. Many vegetables for a simple salad are easy to grow in a small amount of land or in pots on a balcony.

Lettuce

Lettuce is not only the base for many salads, it grows quickly and can be harvested easily. You can simply snip the tops of the plants or pick leaves as needed. Lettuce takes up very little space. It can even be grown in containers, perhaps accompanied by flowers or tucked under taller plants. You can even plant the seeds in partly shady areas.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are, possibly, the most popular vegetable for any size garden. You can grow tomatoes in hanging baskets or other containers as long as they get lots of sun and have support for their stalks. Starter plants from a garden center, your local hardware store or a nursery are the easiest to grow. I even saw some on my latest trip to the grocery store. You can get both tomatoes and tomato plants at Whole Foods, who knew?

Pro tip ~ If you plant basil next to the tomato plants, you’ll naturally repel pests and even improve the flavor of the tomatoes—and, luckily enough, like other herbs, basil is simple to grow as well. On top of that, herbs will increase the flavor in your salad. And when your salad is full of flavor you will enjoy it even more. You will then want to eat more salads, so this is a bonus no matter how you chop it!

Kelly Neil Photo

Cucumbers

I love the crunch of cucumbers in a salad. Cucumbers like sunlight and warm temperatures, as well as support for climbing. Thanks to their vertical growth, cucumbers do well in containers and with a little water they grow almost like weeds. You’ll probably have enough cucumbers to donate to your neighbors.

Dim Hou Photo

Radishes

Radishes are a nice addition to a salad. But you can also enjoy them as appetizers, snacks and side dishes. Even though not everyone loves them, once you see how easy they are to grow, you might add them to your garden. They take just 20 days to reach full size! 

Other Easily Grown Vegetables

Carrots are pretty easy to grow. The only thing about carrots is they might not grow very large, especially if you have rocky soil. Deep, well-drained soil is preferable—a raised bed is a good idea. Nevertheless, carrots are simple and fun to grow (your kids might even want to help). They tolerate light shade too, although, like most plants, they prefer full sun.

Mor Shani Photo

All sorts of green beans, from snap beans (or string beans) to shell or whole beans are ideal for home gardens. There are hundreds of varieties to choose from, and snapping beans to harvest them is kind of entertaining. I’ve had better luck with the vine type compared to the self-support bush types of snap peas, but the bush types require less space. Both types grow easily from seeds. Most beans prefer full sun and well-drained soil.

Like beans and cucumbers, zucchini plants are prolific, whether they are grown in containers or directly in mounded soil. Like beans and radishes, they grow easily from seeds. They need good moisture, though, and prefer warm soil, so it’s best to sow seeds later in the warm season (a good plant for gardening procrastinators!).

Jocelyn Fletcher Photo

Pumpkins are relatively easy to grow and are great to have around during the autumn season. As you probably know from baking and carving, there are different types of pumpkins and some are simpler to grow than others.

Now you have some easy to grow vegetables to assist with your healthy eating on a budget journey. And, remember if you have children they can help in the garden and that can promote healthy eating as well.

Privacy and Peace in your Backyard

I think we can all agree that 2020 is unlike any other year in recent history. Finding a place for calm in all the chaos can be tricky, but so necessary. We need to relax and recharge, we need time to learn how to move with the new rhythm of life. Creating a space outside is perfect for accomplishing this.

Clean up

Start by cleaning up your outdoor space. It doesn’t matter if you only have a small balcony or a large patio with extensive grounds, dead leaves and clutter need to be cleaned up. Being surrounded by excess stuff does not bring calm to anyone.

Sweep the ground, get rid of cobwebs and contain any children’s toys. This will be the start of a soothing space. I would even suggest getting your children involved, if you have them. They should be in charge of their toys, they play with them, they should put them away. As a former teacher, I know that when reasonable, but high expectations are set for children they always step up to the challenge!

Furniture

You can use our backyard style quiz to identify your style, here. Having a comfortable spot to sit in your preferred style contributes to finding calm and peace on your patio or backyard.

Water

While a pool is a great place for relaxing, if your backyard is on the smaller size you might want to opt for a water feature. The sound of flowing or babbling water always contributes to a calming atmosphere.

Fire

Fire is another calming element and can make the evenings a perfect time to relax and recharge in your backyard. Read all about different fire pits or features here.

Plants

Plants help soften the hard edges and can increase privacy. While I would love to direct you to specific types of plants, the best options will depend on where you live. Contact your favorite local nursery for the best recommendations.

When speaking with garden professionals, you might want to ask about plants that attract birds, bees and butterflies. I would also suggest you consider fragrant plants with beautiful blooms, as both visual and aromatics can impact your ability to relax on your patio or backyard.

Other types of plants to consider are trees for shade and quick growing vines for privacy. Again, your local nursery professionals can guide you in the best choices for your needs and what will grow best in your area. They can also guide you in maintenance for your selections.

Getting fresh air out on your patio or in your backyard is a great way to relax and recharge. You deserve a great space that is private and peaceful so that you are better able to face the challenges of the day.

If you enjoyed this article, please leave a comment below or on our social media. We would love to see how you are using your outdoor space.

Gather. Create. Grow.

Gather. Create. Grow. 3 simple words. Each with multiple meanings. . .

People enjoying a dinner party in a backyard

You can gather supplies; gather items to use in the garden; gather meats and vegetables to cook on the grill; gather pool toys; gather chocolate bars, marshmallows and graham crackers for S’mores around the fire pit.

You can gather your thoughts in a meditation garden.

We can gather together in community.

Gather is a verb that means to bring together into one place. The most important word in that definition is ‘together’! Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” And, she was right.

Gather (together) seems so simple, yet so powerful.

Create a calm space.

Create art.

Create a place to play, to imagine, to use your imagination.

Create a place to gather, to make memories, to tell stories.

Create, another verb, is to do something creative or constructive. Constructive is doing something to improve or better the place or situation. So when we create, we are doing something to make things better.

Create happiness is the ultimate creative endeavor.

Plants grow bigger.

Children grow up.

Relationships grow deeper.

We grow through sharing our stories and we grow though understanding. The best way to grow is by listening to each other. Listen, not to respond, but to understand.

You may have guessed ~ grow is also a verb. It means to increase in size or substance.

“Love is the only flower that grows and blossoms without the aid of the seasons.” a quote by Khalil Gibran

Gather. Create. Grow. Right in your own backyard, without boundaries or fences to keep you from gathering with all your community, create a shared understanding, and grow together.

I would love to know how do you ~ Gather. Create. Grow. Share your backyard life in the comments below, sign up for our newsletter and connect with us on social media. Everyone can use some new ideas for all the things BKYD Life can do!