So without saying what my own style is (on the off chance that you can't tell!), here are the specs:
It's a very narrow area, only 6 feet wide, and 16 feet long. It's pretty flat, but the ground slopes down a bit. The patio stones are there to prevent animals from digging under the shed, which is not on a slab. I can water in there, am actually thinking about putting a gutter on the shed and installing a rainbarrel. It is sunny - southwest facing. It has potential as a utility area (compost, potting, recycling, storage), but is also kind of a nice spot to BE in the yard.

Looking forward to your thoughts.

Karin

PS the little doodad hanging into the picture is the head protector alert mechanism hanging off the corner of the shed roof.

Cutting to the chase...Following my interests and passion for experimenting I would:
1. Set up a timed drip irrigation to the area.
2. Experiment with this new, much touted method of using plastic gutters to grow small veggies/herbs installing them on the fence on brackets keeping them away from the wood. Do a search for...using gutters to grow plants. Self explanatory. This Zone 8, protected spot should allow 12 months of copious salad greens.
3. Have you constructed a living wall yet? Neat spot to trial a smallish one playing with best plants for your growing area.
4. Old windows leaning up against the fence during the winter would give you plenty of space for winter sowing and propagating woodies. If you want to do the latter a search here on the Propagation Forum for my ...toothpick technique...will give you an easy method. I have done several posts about it resulting in emails from growers around the country who find the method very helpful.

Just a few quick thoughts. I see your space as utilitarian. Easy to make it beautiful. But it is also important for the dedicated gardener to have a 'classroom' spot. This could be yours.

Nandina, those are very interesting directions, as yours always are. Not at all out of the question. I've not been a food gardener, much, partly because I believe our soil has a high lead content from a century of paint peeling off the house (and soil has been moved around a lot) but utilizing the fence as you've described would be a way to circumvent that problem. And I have an old window in the basement...

Woody, you've nailed the problem with planting in the ground, which is that it generates the urge to make a raised bed along the side and/or back fence. There is something about gardening (weeding, planting, snipping) where the ground is sloping away from you that is really annoying, and it's one of the reasons I'm hesitating. Protecting the wood with plastic may or may not be effective - in this climate, stuff stays wet all winter and rots quickly if it can't breathe.

Thanks for your thoughts so far.

Karin

sounds like potential to me.

Pave the whole area, I won't offer suggestions on material or you might never talk to me again, move the door of the shed to the side (or cut in another), paint the fence (mural) or add treillage, growing stuff is an option,get ONE nice relaxer and a small table, put a fridge (for beer or white wine) in the shed together with furnishings for wet days, a desk, run some electricity up there, close off the end and voila "Karin's Place- Private Keep Out"

I'll have to find a way of discouraging binners from peering over the fence... "treillage" will help. I might even stick to one paving material too :-)

I have a Davidia that might go in the corner too, eventually making it a shady retreat.

KarinL