Land recovery/improving the landscape

Our place sits on exactly 1 acre of land, and at least 1/2 of it is not very usable. Directly behind the house, the land slopes severely to the bottom of a big ravine. The ravine itself would make an excellent pond if a liner was installed - and I've contemplated doing just that over the last few years. But for now, i'll just continue to work on the areas that can be cleaned up for adding to the actual landscape surrounding the house. While walking the property the other day, my wife and I discussed different possibilities of enhancing the yard, and came up with 2 winter time projects for me to tackle. The areas of concern are along the driveway, and also the area directly behind the house.

In this first photo, you can see that there isn't much of a "yard" once a person walks to the bottom of the stairs for the deck. This is the area that I showed in a video a while back, and also mentioned building a retaining wall. My plans are to raise the elevation of land to where it will become even with the soil at the bottom of the deck support posts. Yeah....this project may put me out of commission for good. Realistically speaking, it may take me over a year to complete.

Photo below - here's a view from the opposite direction. I went ahead and cleared off all of the undergrowth with Austin's help, and several small trees had to be cut down, too. My wife said they were obstructing the view of the woods, so we just started hacking away. I enjoy demolition projects, because my OCPD isn't a factor at all. Anyway, the wall will begin at that large tree in the center/left background, and come straight toward the 2nd tree from the right - going about another 30 feet in the same direction. Yeah....big wall!!! It'll probably be 60-70 feet long, and 6-8 blocks high at the lowest point of elevation. Once completed, we'll be able to have a shade-loving perrenial garden back there, and all kinds of stuff.

Now for the other project....I put this "border" in place on one side of the driveway back in the spring, and the crabgrass didn't think too much of it, apparently. Man....talk about some invasive stuff! Anyway, i'll take care of this problem very soon, and may also extend the "border" all the way to the end this time.

Photo below - here's the other side of the driveway, which has never been cleared off before. The trees on the left are where the property ends, and everything from there to my truck was cleared off by me and Austin last Saturday. Small trees, honeysuckle vines, and brambles had completely taken over the area, but we made short order of that little problem! 2 years ago, this was my first intended spot for the square foot garden, but it just doesn't get enough sunlight. Besides...a garden here would have looked kinda funny, I bet. I wonder if a greenhouse would look ok...hmm....Nah, she'd never go for it. Wishful thinking, though!

I'm not sure what all my wife has planned for the area, but i'll make it pretty for her in the end. A large raised bed with small trees, shrubs, and flowers would look great, I bet. Anyway, this project will take place during the winter months, and will be ready for planting in the spring. I do most of my outdoor projects between November and April, because not much goes on during those months. I don't mind, because I hate watching tv. Blech!

Take care, and happy gardening!

EG