Fairhaven Farmhouse

When I arrived at the Fairhaven farmhouse in September 2022 the yard was wildly overgrown and strewn with debris slated for the landfill. I decided to turn my short tenancy into a zero-budget project with the goal of repurposing piles of timber, an old mattress, chipped pavers, broken outdoor furniture, and the like, into useful objects that would better serve the property. My other goal was to clear the overgrowth and build stick fences with some of the material that I cut back. This effort helped bring much-needed light into the interior of the house while maintaining a sense of privacy. The home went from dark and gloomy to colorful and cheery. I also cleared the overgrown back lot and experimented with sheet mulching to improve the health of the soil. Perhaps a future tenant will plant a little vegetable garden. When the owner returned after my nine-month tenancy, she couldn't believe her eyes. She was overjoyed—and so was I.