The Goat Bell Garden and Exterior Finishing Touches.

When we purchased the cottage it was accessible by a single rough track. What had been a garden many years ago, was now an overgrown slope of deposited rubbish disguised with weeds, a crumbled wall and three sad looking fruit trees.... I was excited about creating a garden not realising the immense task ahead of us.
There is a saying 'land rich, money poor' and it has always been my belief that what ever amount of precious land you may own, it must earn its keep; Be it to grow fruit and vegetables and keep livestock to feed your family, to have a small area for relaxation and pleasure, or to create an income.

Due to the amount of stone renovation of the cottage the garden quickly became an increasing mound of rubble. Earth was excavated to insert the vothros (toilet tank) and a retaining wall built on the lower level to prevent collapse of the soil and rocks above, creating a terrace garden.

 

Stone, plaka, sand and cement were delivered daily and we shoveled by hand and wheelbarrowed the rubble to the higher level.....never again!!!!

The big toys were hired to create the driveway and lower patio area. Once flat, the plaka was laid by hand. A drainage grate was made centrally in the drive to drain away rain water and prevent flooding.

Steps were made from the driveway to access the garden and lower door.

 

Steps at the front door were made also to create a more impressive entrance than before.

 
The outside kitchen is a project planned for the patio area but yet to be started..... Rome was not built in a day either!

The old interior roof beams were saved to separate beds in the vegetable garden.

I dug and raked day after day removing stones, weeds and old roots. I then helped the local goat herder remove a winters worth of composted pooh from his goat shed. Rewarded in return with ten bags of compost to enrich our garden soil. It then began to resemble a cottage garden. You certainly do reap what you sow.

To the left side of the house was a dilapidated pizza oven/wood store accessible by a flight of stone steps which we removed to allow us more space downstairs. It was backbreaking work shoveling and removing rubble day after day..

A neighbouring stable was removed from the side of our cottage and a dividing wall was built in its place.

Walls were built and rendered to define the borders from our neighbours downstairs and a fence erected to create privacy on the upper ground floor.

 

Maverick then set to, creating a downstairs apotheke and upper decked terrace area.

This apotheke has yet to be completed. Covid 19 'Lock-down' stopped some work.

It feels great now being able to sit, relax and appreciate this amazing view down our mountain valley.

We were gifted some old solid wood shutters. Re-cycled fittings and a lick of paint finishes off the windows. The door shutters were made by a local Greek carpenter. Wrought iron window railings were also made locally to add security for the bedroom.

The solid wood front door was made by a local Greek carpenter. The tiled canopy not only protects the door from weathering but also provides a dry area for removing shoes before entering.

At Easter the Greek Orthodox priest lights and blesses each persons candle which is then taken home. Using the lit candle traditionally a sign of the cross is burnt above the threshold of the front door to bless the home and all those that enter. 

No front door is complete without a wreath which I make all year round.

 

Maverick even made our ships cat Ricky a new abode (with mezzanine dining area) in keeping with our mountain home.

After Covid 19 lock-down Maverick unfortunately broke his wrist..... but there was no stopping him making an outdoor table and bench. Painted and varnished now sitting proud on the decked terrace.

We realised after the first summers intense heat in Greece that its imperative to shade the car. We purchased the metal bars which Maverick then erected deep in the ground and bolted together to form the frame.

No home is complete without a cockerel weather vain (gifted to us by friends in Austria) and of course the Greek flag (gifted to us by our Greek neighbours).

Its the all important finishing touches that add to the wow factor of a home. For this Maverick and I work as a team. I enjoy design and have creative ideas re-cycling objects and experimenting with natural materials. Maverick loves the challenge of trying out his skills in making them. The harder the challenge the happier he is and so bigger the reward.

Before the completion of The Goat Bell we purchased a small derelict mill. Our story continues with Mill Cottage......