Yeah, I was looking for building blocks -- or options -- and, you gave me a TON! I do have a problem with weeds on the paver patio I built, but primarily because I need to fix my pressure washer. I need to replace the carb. If I get that going this year, I can clear out the weeds, then re-apply polymeric sand for a few years of peace before I have to repeat it.
Now I know why I get these giant white soccer ball sized mushrooms. LOL None of the leaves that fall leave my back yard. I collect them and put them it in one of several locations.
I did build a dog house I never actually took outside to complete. The only problem with adding a structure like that is the rabbits will have another place to nest underneath it, and my dog already goes nuts hunting them. They are not the smartest critters.
I could create a location for firewood. I'll likely leave it open in the beginning until I get used to where I need to reach to adjust things, so I don't initially block things off. But, you're right that I'll have to plan the height to take into consideration what will be underneath it. One thing for sure is that the dog will pee on anything below 2'.
I have a friend that his solar panels were randomly dropping in efficiency, completely random and never when he was home...
SO...
We went out and had a look.
DOG TRACKS on the panels!
When he left for work his big lab would go lay on the panels for some reason!
When he was home the dog laid on the porch... (GOOD DOG!
)
We solved the issue with an electric fence for about a month, then just left the wire up and moved the charger,
But if the dog hadn't had wet feet from dew, that would have been one heck of a 'Problem' to track down!
He already had plans to send his big all in one inverter back for service having had looked at the panels, no dog tracks then, he was SURE it was the inverter/charge controller...
Another customer had chicken roosting problems, but he knew what was causing it.
One customer installed a drip watering line at the top of his panels (which I copied),
He had mulberry trees behind the panels, and the birds would fill up on mulberries and perch on or fly over the panels, releasing a TREMENDOUS amount of 'New Car Color' on the panels.
He hated dragging out 300 feet of garden hose, so I just installed a drip water line at the top and used a long handle mop to clean panels.
(Cheap LONG handles that aren't flimsy or stupid heavy, any Pool Supply store)
You asked for ideas, there is a blue million out there.
As for fire wood,
I saw a picture of this,
A guy had posts/beams/slanted roof sections, long and skinny, up off the ground 7 feet or so.
It was cover for fire wood being seasoned.
The roof became solar panels on a single pipe that rotated to track sun.
Posts were already there for the wood stacks, a pipe & panels and he was off to the races.
I saw a picture of a roof over dog kennels that got solar panels, a producing dog house, shade for the dogs.
It's all in what you have and how you use it...