18. The Gothic Cloister Sweet Berry Cloister
Introduction
Drawing inspiration from European monastery cloisters, this sweet berry farm places prickly berry bushes inside a tranquil, columned stone quadrangle protected by heavy wrought-iron security fences.
What This Idea Means
This design emphasizes patience, endurance, and quiet contemplation. Harvesting sweet berries from within a protected cloister transforms a mundane survival chore into a peaceful, rhythmic monastic ritual.
How to Make It
- Quadrangle Design: Build a square courtyard 15×15 blocks wide with a covered stone corridor around the perimeter supported by deepslate pillars.
- Central Berry Garden: In the open-air center of the courtyard, plant neat rows of Sweet Berry Bushes separated by cobblestone walking slabs.
- Iron Grille Walls: Replace exterior walls of the corridor with Iron Bars to maintain an open-air feel while securing the perimeter.
- Courtyard Well: Place a stone water well in one corner featuring a mossy bucket and chain.
- Climbing Vegetation: Let ivy and weeping vines drape down from the roofline over the stone arches.
Tips and Variations
- Variation: Use red nether brick accents for a more fiery, dramatic cloister color scheme.
- Tip: Harvest carefully from the outer edges of the bushes to avoid taking thorns damage.
Materials Needed
- Deepslate Bricks (100)
- Iron Bars (80)
- Sweet Berry Bushes (24)
- Cobblestone Slabs (40)
- Vines (15)