Beginner designing a Tolkien-inspired edible landscape: help with privacy hedges, wild grass, blackberries, and planning ahead (Zone 8b, WA)

Hi everyone! I’m in western Washington (Zone 8b) starting a big permaculture journey on 4 acres of mostly open land I’ve named Bramble & Burrow — a nod to the wild brambles everywhere and the future hobbit house we plan to build. The goal is to create something that feels like it belongs in Middle-earth: practical and edible, but also magical, cozy, and old-world inspired.

I’ve been a lifelong plant killer, but now have the opportunity to learn on a clean slate. I work full-time and can only check in after dinner, but I’m really grateful for any guidance!

Challenges:

• Extremely aggressive wild grass (6 ft tall if left alone, grows a foot/week in spring)
• Invasive blackberries we want to partially keep for fruit but control
• Deer pressure and voles (especially near planned veggie gardens)
• No power or water until fall — planning now, planting a little, more action coming later

What I’m working on now:

1. The Entrance: We’re starting with the driveway. There’s a huge 10-ft wild blackberry bush where the driveway curves up a small hill — we’re pruning it to look neat and placing a 4-ft round spruce sign in front that says Bramble & Burrow to welcome visitors. It won’t frame the berry bush, just sit in front of it.
2. Privacy Hedge Design: Our land borders the road for about 4 acres, and I’d love to create a natural hedge that:
   • Provides privacy year-round or most of the year
   • Is edible or useful — berries, herbs, tea plants, pollinator-friendly, wildlife habitat, etc.
   • Feels magical or ancient — think hedgerows, food forests, or Shire-style woodland edges
   • Is realistic to start now with low water needs, or plan for planting in fall when utilities are in
3. Future Garden Plan: We’ll plant fruits and veggies in raised beds inside a deer-proof fenced area, since voles are also present. Any vole-resistant bed ideas welcome!

What I’m hoping for advice on:

• Productive, deer-resistant hedge plants for privacy and food
• Ways to keep a few blackberry areas for fruit without letting them spread
• How to begin sheet mulching or prepping ground now with no water access
• Tips on dealing with tall grass, blackberries, and voles using permaculture methods
• Long-term layout and succession ideas that support a Tolkien-like food forest feel

Thank you so much for your time — I know this is a lot! I’m learning from the ground up (literally) and appreciate any suggestions, ideas, or even plant lists to explore 🌱