When Threads Collide. I started a thread about my planned carport project. And I've been interested in the thread about our veggie gardens.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?t=467315 See drawing of my driveway and potential carport location.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?t=481065 See lots of great gardens - and my garden too.
So now I am thinking, why not beef up the carport and grow my veggies on top of it?
The basic idea is: the best sun on my lot is the south-side which is all driveway and garage. My veggie garden is currently stealing space on the side of the driveway, growing in planter boxes, cultivated "square foot" style. Works fine but I am limited to only about 25 sq ft of garden space. Yes, I have a miniscule lot with big shade trees everywhere else.
If I put the garden on top of a 20 foot x 10 foot carport, let's say raised planter boxes around the periphery of the platform, I could have (1) 100-150 sq ft of garden, (2) even more sun due to less shading from neighbor to the south, (3) reclaim the side of my driveway or keep growing there for another 25 sq ft of garden, (4) have a place to sit with a cup of coffee and read the paper, tucked away amidst the tomatoes.
The obvious downsides are that this now becomes a bigger project, maybe no longer a DIY job, and my driveway will now be in deep shade - no biggie in summer but maybe depressing in winter.
Any thoughts? Anyone done this or seen this?