*Right-of-way is now passable and the drive is 1/2 way covered in gravel! As long as the electricians can get up there, I'm happy! My husband bought a couple of loads of creek gravel (cheaper than quarry-style crush) and had them delivered recently. He was hoping to fill in our culvert area and back down the the road and it was just enough. This was accomplished today!
*I have recently scrapped the idea of living in the camper and am now set on the whole "tiny house" movement for our temporary residence while building. (I just love the idea of the tiny house and, if I didn't have two young children, I could probably just make due with that!) I ordered a 10x20 wooden building with a small loft. It should be here within three weeks. We plan to convert it into a *temporary* tiny house to live in while building and then convert it back to a shed afterwards! That feels like an adventure in itself! I have been SCOURING pinterest/internet for tiny house inspiration and, really, since they are so tiny- there's not a lot of options- itty kitchen and bath on one side, living space on the other, and loft for sleeping above. I'm almost as psyched about the tiny house as I am the cob house! What an experience! This way, I can go ahead and give the composting toilet and rainwater harvesting a trial before applying it to the Ca de Cob.
*I joined a beekeeping society with the best of intentions to start my first hive this Spring, but that looks like it may be going on the back-burner for a while. Though, when we get into the tiny house, I'm hoping to go ahead with a couple of raised beds and chicken coop- would love to start with some dairy goats, but may need to ease into this.
*Our land has made it through the winter well. I was trekking around it today, daydreaming about where the different parts of the farm will go. We planted a few fruit trees at the end of summer/early fall and they seem to be thriving (it has been a mild winter), we seem to have a natural abundance of blackberry bushes (Yay! Can't wait for fresh milk, eggs, and jam for breakfast!), and some unknown plant with a fruit-looking bud on it (I'm hoping it's edible, no word yet. I tried to identify it on a website, but when I found out that Tennessee has around 13,000 different species of plants- I decided it wasn't worth it yet.) ;)
*We have been accumulating items for the cob house: stones, mirrors, windows, colored glass bottles, wooden spools, an antique stove... still on the lookout for recycled and unique pieces.
*I am currently reading the book "Born-Again Dirt", it was recommended by a homesteading friend. It's about putting God first in your farming and what the bible says about it, interesting. Today, I was reading about the actual layout of the farm- which has been on my mind a lot. Being that I have never laid out farm plans, I'm fearful that I will make rookie mistakes....
I'm posting a few photos from today's views. Also, I'm currently taking considerations for the farm name- every good farm needs a name! I'm wanting something hip/hippy/earthy/biblical. The only thing I have come up with so far is "Maranatha Way (or Farm?)", but I'm not sold on this.
Until next time,
Blessings! <><
A driveway in the making!
Fence row and berries
The top clearing is our future homestead! -->
<---Our tiny trees!