With winter rolling in steadily, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get work done in the field. Constant freezing and thawing of saturated ground is not the right recipe for landscape and hardscape installations. So, this downtime gives me the opportunity to focus more of my energy towards my personal vegetable garden. Several months ago, I decided I wanted to grow as many vegetables as possible for my family in 2010. Since then, I have been reading and researching as much as I can, amending the poor soil in the back of our house and trying to decide where to buy seeds. Well, the reading will never stop and the soil won't be tested an fully amended until spring. But I have found a great place to purchase heirloom vegetable seeds, and I recently did just that. Seed Savers Exchange is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and sharing selected heirloom vegetable seeds. I recently became a member of their organization by making a small donation that I am sure it will pay off many, many times in the future. If you garden at all, I highly recommend you check them out at: seedsavers.org.

My goal is to grow a beautiful, productive garden in 2010 and document the process here. At this time the space measures approximately 40' x 15'. I have split the main garden down the middle by creating a pathway out of flagstone left over from recent projects. With deer being so over populated in this area, they will no doubt help themselves to a late night snack if I do not fence off the garden securely, so that is something else I am working on. I recently built a gate and will install it soon, then impatiently wait for spring. Check back for more as the process continues...

Here is part of my ambitious list of heirloom vegetables I plan on experimenting with next spring:

Amish Past tomato
Redfield Beauty tomato
Italian Heirloom tomato
Ancho Gigantea pepper
Joe's Long pepper
Mini Red bell pepper
Mini Yellow bell pepper
Yellow of Parma onion
Ailsa Craig onion
Double Yield OG cucumber
A & C Pickling cucumber
Calabrese broccoli
Provider OG bean
Dwarf Sugar Grey pea
Green Arrow OG pea
Amish Snap pea
Dragon carrot
Paris Market carrot
Amish Deer Tongue lettuce
Grandpa Admire's OG lettuce


Merry Christmas and happy gardening!!

This is our newest project. We were hired to design a deck addition and raised paver patio area for the back of this home. The deck construction is under way, and when the weather cooperates, we will begin installing the hardscape elements.

The weather cooperated long enough for us to pour a footing and build a section of wall. We will be installing pavers over the gravel area next.

Exactly what you want to see....every time.

For those that don't know, at this time Cedar Hill is only a three person operation. Myself, my wife and one person that has been a major part of our success this year, Sean Davis. Sean is our only employee and happens to be my cousin. Without his continued strength and knowledge in the field, real world common sense and willingness to work in the rain, mud and heat this year, we would have never been able to complete the projects you see in this blog. We work together every day, and each project we complete is a success because of our dedicated teamwork. Besides the projects shown here, Sean and I have planted over 50 trees and over 1000 shrubs and perennials this year. We have spread a few hundred yards of mulch and serviced five full time landscape maintenance accounts while gaining almost fifty customers since January. Remember, this is Cedar Hill's first year in business with only two of us in the field. We are laying a strong foundation and plan on building an innovative landscape company based on what we already know...bringing to life creative, functional designs through old fashioned hard work, attention to detail, and unmatched customer service. Thanks Sean!

We are at it again...

We are using landscape blocks manufactured by Unilock and Pavestone, as well as decorative trap rock, to create a fire pit  with seating area in the back of this home. Almost finished...

Finished.