Where I`m up to ish

After 3 yrs of container planting and a Very modest veg patch not to mention becoming massively aware of the need to be able to provide for ourselves i have decided to take the plunge. By next summer i want to be able to provide most if not all of the food consumed in our home.
I have begun by taking up half of my lawn and securing it from my incredibly sweet and loving yet equally cumbersome 9month old ambull. My fence is almost comedic but serves it purpose and i`m proud of it my own little way and it cost me £0 "yay". Tho it has to be said no sooner had i got it up, i was planing on moving and extending it to take yet more of my gardens modest dimensions over to growing space (something i`m still contemplating).
With some left over bits n bobs from the fence i`m also building a planter to make use of some of the unprotected space in the garden. Planning on making more in the not so distant.

My space is not the easiest to make use of though i am south facing so bonus on that score. It consists of a very narrow strip of pathed land followed by a steep bank split in 2 down the center by some very dubious steps leading to the semi flat top of the garden.

I am wanting to plant perennial food giving shrubs on the left and sunniest bank to bind to soil and make the most of the light and seemingly awkward space. I thought maybe some old fruit varieties and maybe try the Siberian pea tree i have been hearing so much about, (that incidentally i think i may have found growing wild on some scrub land close by...may post a pic at a later date in the hope someone could confirm or deny).

On the other bank at the bottom i have the beginnings of a tiny herb garden soon to be extended (when i can figure out a cheap/free and friendly way of keeping Mr bones at bay. (oh bay! must get bay). At the top of the bank (the bottom of the soon to be food prod area) I have attempted a little baby bath pond in the hope of attracting frogs and toads from the woodland and large ponds nearby tho so far it has served as little more than a drinking hole for the dog n bath for the birds so not totally useless eh !.
In true me style (experimental) a have just slightly disturbed the ground of the food area a randomly broadcast chick peas over the area (apparently suited to this sort of ground) and then covered with a modest sprinkling of straw in an attempt at a cover and feed crop that i may or may not get an edible harvest from, think i may add peas and green lentils too, i will let you know.

I have begun composting back in spring in a plastic open bottom style bin and have successfully provided a nest to gazillions of ants that thankfully seem to have departed now and have even started adding home grown (inside me) nitrogen to this occasionally. No fully formed black magic yet but watch this space!!!.

I have a (cr) water butt just sat up the garden, really ought to get myself a proper set up sorted in that dept. Apart from the fact i am almost constantly reading about plant species benefits also intend to use containers and take on an allotment in Oct (more about this to follow) i think that is where i`m up to.@p

I hope to post some pics soon and would love to hear any thoughts, advice, ideas, suggestions or even a random folk song on any of the stuff i have waffled about here.