Thank you for responding, I think I was unclear. The "portable" one wouldn't be 8" high total, I was thinking I'd need about 6-8" of soil, the box would have to be taller than that, of course. My concern is that being off the ground, the soil will be too cold from the air underneath. As to what I'd use it for, I was thinking starting seeds mainly and maybe growing things like lettuce, spinach etc, earlier and later. The more I think about it, the more I probably like the "permanent" box next to the trellis better. But, now I'm wondering if it will be too hot for lettuce and other leafy's there, even with the top off, on the concrete. That patio can get pretty hot as it faces east and that spot gets sun until about 5 p.m. This stuff is all trial and error for me given the spaces I have to work with. Your spot for lettuce intrigues me. I never thought under a tree would work for any kind of veggies. I do have a spot next to the patio, in my second picture you can barely see it behind the curve of pavers and potted tomaotes, where currently two dead dogwoods stand that are coming out this spring. The neighbors hickory tree shades that area and I've never had any idea what would grow there, given that in the middle of the growing season it's fairly shady a good portion of the day. Thanks again, I appreciate any advice.

Ken, no fluffing for me. I scuffed up the turf about an inch, just enough to break up the dead turf. Soil was dry as a bone and crumbly all on it's own with no mechanical intervention, unless you are counting the actual digging. The only place we get run-off here is on the driveway, 500' of packed road rock. I still appreciate the tips, for those times when I do run across such situations. Will, it is deceiving...We have a few trees, but really very little considering we are on five acres and two of the trees are not plantable under, being in the dog yard (and one being an apple tree.) We are actually very exposed here. It makes for most excellent views but does not leave a lot of room for mystery. I am making it two of my goals to 1) create some spaces that will stop the eye but not block our best views and 2) find ways to create some mystery here in the wide open. Here is another reason to be grateful for your location, none of this: two winters ago it was drifted this deep over our entire driveway for two days following a huge blizzard! This was the path I had to shovel to the barn:

Caliloo, don't count on having anything other than clay just because it used to be farmland. My yard was part of Sully Plantation once, and had been worked for cotton and tobacco (one presumes) for a long, long time. And then Levitt & Sons came through and scraped off all the topsoil and sold it before slapping up a development here in the 1960's, exactly like the Levittowns elsewhere. The people who owned before me did nothing to amend it. We've been putting in topsoil, mulch, compost, manure, and so on for seven years, but really, my major solution has been raised beds filled with purchased & amended topsoil. *sigh* I've let six years of shredded hardwood mulch decay in place, and that's helped, but I think enough's enough: next year, I'm going to try mulch nuggets, which takes longer to break down than the shredded stuff. I keep meaning to get it tested, but I kind of know the soil around the trees is acid, and the soil right up against the concrete is a bit base. And all that Levitt left behind is hard red clay with no drainage at all. Click the pic to see it bigger. Mine's in Virginia, but they are in Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York... the origin of the "little boxes...all made out of ticky-tacky" line in the old song.

A home inspector is a must for buying used houses, but IMO, finding third party contractors to review the work is a better bet. After framing is complete, get a structural engineer to review your house plan and the framing. This can be costly, maybe as much as $400-500, but they're qualified to opine, whereas a home inspector is not really qualified. Also bring a 4+ft level around and make sure there aren't any bows in the walls. Then bring in a seperate plumber and electrician when the rough-ins are finished. Most will charge about $100 an hour, maybe a service call fee as well (gas prices). You could also bring in an HVAC contractor. Get a seperate roofer to review. Maybe have the local rep for your window manufacturer come out and review that install. You might want to review the manufacturer's install instructions and watch a few being installed. I've listed over a $1,000 worth of "inspectors", here, so I understand if you call me crazy, but my order of competence is: Engineer followed by a Contractor followed by a GC followed by Building Inspector (only cause they're overworked and miss things) followed by a Home Inspector No offense to Home Inspectors, but most are a jack of all trades, master of none. Not what you need for a new construction phased inspection.