We’ve had a wonderfully productive weekend so far and lots ahead of us yet. Yesterday a friend visited with his bobcat and dug three wide arched trenches. We’ll be digging the holes for our 225 trees in the trenches and filling them in with straw and mulch. This should help us with water capture and retention in our (normally) extremely dry environment. The arches themselves will create little microclimates on the property in addition to blocking some of the extremely cold north winds. Of course that’s dependent on the trees growing to full size which will require some time and deer proofing.
A neighbour also dropped off a tractor bucket full of manure for us. Most of it is a couple of years old and perfectly black and crumbly. Gorgeous for the gardens! So I spent yesterday moving compost into the gardens and turning it over. I expect the gardens will be even more productive this year than last and can’t wait to see them overflowing with life.
Shane asked if we could pay for the compost, or do anything in return. The farmer didn’t want any payment but suggested if we really wanted, we could help during calving season. Are you freaking kidding me? I’m in! I can’t wait! I’ve never done anything like that and am beside myself with excitement! It’s like asking someone how much you owe them and being offered a fifty dollar bill instead. Sweet!
Wow, looks great! A nice beginning to your spring! What trees are you planting by the way? and did you overlap the arches? Blocking the wind is a big help, even for us ontario folks, One of my uncles farms had a good tree shield, and it always seemed like a little oasis in his yard, as opposed to the rest of the farm.
We have Maple, Hawthorn, and choke cherry bushes coming. We’re doing two rows per arch. It’ll be a challenge watering it and keeping it safe from the deer that roam our property but fingers crossed! 🙂
I just found your blog I like that the farmer is letting you help with calving. Boy I wish you lived near me I would have gave you manure and loaded it for help. My husband works and It would have been nice to have a neighbour willing and able to help. Nice neighbour. Good luck with the planting.
B
I’m hopeful that next year, once things around here have settled down a bit, I can help our neighbours with more of their chores. I’d love to be able to trade manure and old bedding straw and the like for labour. Beats a regular job any day of the week! 🙂
Hey there! My man and I are your southern (Venezuela) counterparts, although we’re waaay behind you. Similar situation though – rural land, just the 2 of us, he works so it will be me by myself most of the time during the week. We’re starting with small projects too – a free-standing bathroom and then a tiny roundhouse we can live in while we build the main house. Our main house will have a lot in common with yours, not to mention the gardening/food production thing – I swear sometimes reading your blog is like looking in a mirror! (Well, a mirror into the future…). Let me tell you, you are my HEROES. We’re in the planning stages still (just clearing the land out a bit) and I often find myself thinking no way, this can’t be done. But now I look at what you guys have accomplished and I am inspired. Thank you thank you! When you get tired, remember you’ve got an adoring fan in me who’s just dying to see your next photos and is looking to you for guidance. 🙂
We’re blogging at http://casaabyayala.tumblr.com/. We’ve barely begun so there’s not too much to see yet but feel free to drop by anytime.
-Zafra
ps just saw Dirt The Movie – might be the best documentary I’ve seen, ever. And someone else mentioned the Corporation – if you haven’t seen it, do, even though it’s long and dense it’s worth it.
pps are you guys doing a full second floor or a loft? either way, how are you planning that part of the construction?
Hi Zafra! I will have to check out your blog. I haven’t been on the computer much in the last few weeks. We didn’t exactly bite off more than we can chew, but we’re still chewing. 🙂 Finished the tree planting and gardens and we’re back to building now. We did consider a loft but we’ve changed our minds a few times now, mainly due to time constraints. There’s only really a few months of good weather and we need to focus on the structure itself and the lime plaster before frost. When it was in the plans, we’d intended to use round wood and lay floor boards on top. Whether we go that way or without a second story at all remains to be seen. I’m leaning towards “no” right now, just to keep the schedule moving. Speaking of which- I’d better get back out there. I will check on your blog soon- can’t wait to see what you’re up to!