Riverview, NSW

A lady in Riverview wanted a small bed to make the most of a sunny spot in her front yard, and to add a little privacy at the same time. Riverview's leafy, tree-lined streets make for beautiful gardens, but all that canopy means genuine sun is often in short supply, so when a bright pocket does exist it's worth building around.

We placed a single raised bed exactly where the light lands, sized to suit the spot and to sit neatly as a low green screen toward the street. Because it's a wicking bed, the water sits in a sealed reservoir in the base and travels up to the roots as the plants need it — so even in a cool, largely shaded North Shore garden, this one bed stays productive and rarely needs a hose.

The mix of light will comfortably carry herbs, salad leaves and the more forgiving vegetables, and the raised height lifts them up out of the shade and the clay soils that make in-ground growing on the Lower North Shore such hard work. It's a small footprint doing a surprising amount: fresh picking by the door, a touch of screening, and next to no upkeep.

Every bed we make is built from durable, food-safe timber chosen to hold its looks for years rather than greying and splitting. If you have a bright corner in Riverview, Lane Cove or the wider North Shore that you'd like to turn into a productive, self-watering garden, we're always happy to help you work it out.