OK... I've been slacking since I went on vacation a month ago. That doesn't mean there's nothing to write, quite the opposite, I find myself behind. While I was on vacation I went to the frontier culture museum in Staunton, Va. a few times. Lots of old farms (old world and throughout America's early years). What I've really been dying to write to you guys about comes from that place, but, requires pictures and I've been too lazy to upload them. Eventually I'm going to show you some old, horse drawn and hand cranked equipment and walk you through (visually) how wheat came from the fields and ended up as bread (and a few other things). And I also want to write about the cast of characters I've been meeting along the way, but, I need to sit and hash that one out a little better. So, now, I'm going to tell you about our goal of a self-sufficient house.
The ever present realities of money and time have caused us to make some adjustments. We're still going for a farm, but, baby steps... we had to get the land first (checked that box), next is a home on that land, a garden, and then we'll start to add animals and equipment. It'll take us a few years, and may be a lifelong journey. So, now that we have the land, we just want to focus on step 2... putting up a house.
My Wife and I had different views on "need" in house, she sat me down this weekend and won. Thankfully she's smart, pretty, AND talented. We took an autocad program and laid out what we want in our next house. Goals: minimlasitic and self sustaining. We ended up with a 1 floor, rectangular footprint, 1 bathroom, at just over 1300 sq. feet. We'll be designing AND building as much of it as we can (and I'm pretty stubborn and demanding, I might just build the whole damn thing). Our considerations for this house are far different from the other homes we've had built in the past; log home, stone floors, masonry heater, alternative electric, big pantry (root cellar?), greenhouse, a well, on demand water heater, how to orient the house on the land, etc... I'll start with these and see where that leads me.
Log home? Simple: Thermal mass. What is thermal mass? Well, it's the ability of an object to retain, displace, and shed heat. Simply put, "Insulation". Our home now is 2X4's and regular insulation with drywall and siding. How well do you think that retains heat (or cold) compared to 6-8" thick logs? Not very well = ) . There are plenty of kits out there, but, after a lot of research I think we've decided to work with a company called Coventry Log Homes (based out of Nashua, N.H.). They sell kits, but, also work with people like us who want to design their own. They'll do the blueprints (off our design) and cut the logs specifically for us. Plus a log home is just dang sturdy. Put in some energy efficient windows (oh... and just because something is stamped "Energy Star!" doesn't mean diddly poop. I'll tell you about that some other time. We'll be researchng our doors and windows). Some people have asked if I'm concerned about fire. Well, yeah... I guess... about as much as I am about fire here with my 2 X 4's and sheetrock and insulation. The way I figure it that stuff will go up like kindling whereas a big-old fat log will take a long time to burn. (Go ahead, next time you're at a campfire throw in a good stized stick, and then throw in a log). So... log home for us. sturdy, efficient, cost effective.
Stone floors? Have I told you about my friend "thermal mass"? Yeah, same holds true with the floors. Gonna get me some soapstone (eventually) and do the floors out of that. I got the idea from a friend's farm this weekend. The room his woodstove is in has a floor of soapstone (used to build masonry heaters, which I will get to). Soapstone sucks up heat from the wood stove while the fire is burning and then radiates it out throughout the room through the rest of the day. And during the summer... well you'll noice a stone floor is cooler in summer. In a sense, my house will work like a big thermos... that I get to live in. It keeps the hot things hot, and the cold things cold. Amazing! How do it know? = ) . Yeah, I'm concerned with 3 little kids and cracked noggins, but, I can always throw down some thick area rugs, which will gve me... more thermal mass! YAY!!!!
Now onto the masonry heater. First I need to explain a new concept to you. It's called "thermal mass", say it with me now "Ther-mal mass". Good. What is it? Well, it's like a woodstove on crack. It's usually a gigantic soapstone firebox (1500 lbs for some of the smaller ones). You fire up the wood and the the soapstone sucks up all the heat and then radiates it out throughout the day. Instead of a chimney where 85-90% of your heat is lost up the chimney this bad boy can be up to 95% heat efficient. And that heat will radiate out to my soapstone floor... and log walls. It's got a labyrinthine (maze-like) flue which traps the heat in the firebox longer and burns cleaner (more of your carcinogens are burned up). Yeah, I said the scary 'carcinogens' word. You burn wood you have carcinogens. You burn coal, you have carcinogens. Nuclear power, carcinogens. Get over the scary word. We all have 'em. I'll just have less. History lesson on masonry heaters: a few hundred years ago Europe had a mini ice-age. They deforested a lot of places just trying to keep warm, so they had to become more efficient. hence, the birth of the masonry heater. Now where the masonry heater factors into the land is that back 6-8 acres I'm going to clear and turn into a woodlot (hope to help a friend bring back the American chestnut). The American chestnut grows fast and burns well. Sold me. We will also get an oven upgrade for our masonry heater (just in case).
Alternative electric... hmmm... this one may be tricky. We're all electricity hogs. I like it as much as the next guy. First thing... CUT DOWN. Wherever I can, I'll maximize natural lighting. Get rid of the non-essentials. Install real (not 'yippy skippy' energy-star-rubber-stamped) appliances and lighting fixtures. Solar assisted hot water heater (to pre warm our 'on demand' water heater). But, that'll still leave me with things to power and I've been pricing things out. Alternative energy may be something I have to pursue later down the line. A 1 kilowatt system (self installed) can cost up to $10K. Yeesh! And an energy conscientious home uses, on average, 4 KW. Hmmm... It gets less expensive to add KWs after that (up front you may need batteries, inverters, etc...), after that you may only need more panels. We may have to hook to the dreaded grid (at first). Let me tell you this though, there's a good reason why more panels may not be the right answer. Why you ask? Because think about how God created the seasons. There's less sun in the winter. But, there's also less leaves on trees, ergo... more WIND. Adding a wind turbine down the road will give an added power boost, but, will also help balance out the amount of power you have on hand year round. Pretty cool how that works (almost like God meant for that to happen). BTW... that whole leaves, wind / tree thing doesn't just work for electricity. Plant the right trees in the right places around your property and they'll allow sun in to warm your house when you need it, and provide shade during the hotter months. (It almost sounds like I've been doing some reading, doesn't it?)
Big pantry: Duh... we want to grow our own food, can it, and have it on hand for long periods of time. It's gotta sit somewhere. Big pantry or an old fashioned root cellar. We'll probably (eventually) do both. If I have to explain a pantry to you, I'm sorry, you're just too dumb for me to deal with. It's a room in the house where you put food. We want a big one, because we want to put a LOT of food in there (see the correlation?). i'll give you a pass on the root cellar, they're not as common these days. Basically they can be done in a basement, outside the house, anywhere you want to store food. Ours will be on the outside of the house (North of the house, in a manner where it will catch less sun). Anyone who has been around ground-pounders in the military knows the further you dig down the more constant the temperature becomes (right at about a good 60 degrees). Winter or summer, another cool thing a lot of people have forgotten. Basically it's how we kept food before electricity (well... one way). There's also canning, smoking, dehydrating, pickling, salting, etc... and guess who's been learning how to do all hese things? This guy! Fun fact: a potato can keep in a root cellar for 3-6 months. Take that Frigidaire!
Eventually I'll be adding on a greenhouse (or 2) to one side of the house or the other. Still gotta figure this out. The greenhouses (attached to the house) started over in Europe. Simple concept, it's cheaper to build a 3 sided structure and attach it to an existing building than it is to build a 4 sided structure (magic!). Someone (or some room) inour house will have an interesting view during certain parts of the year. Did you guys know plants get bigger when there's more sun? (Seriously). When there's more sun, it's hotter. Follow me on this short train of thought. If the plants are bigger when there's more sun (and it's hot), guess what's NOT getting in my window and heating up my house? All that sun (bigger plants block mre of it). Ha! The greenhouse can also be used to help start seedlings and get them ready and hearty enough to survive the elements of the garden.
The well, that's being drilled sometime in the next few weeks, courtesy of the in-laws. Yee-ha. I've gone into specifics before regarding the well (why it's better than city water). Read that post. Simple explanation... I need water, there's lots of it under the ground, I'm having someone dig to find me some.
On demand water heater. I'm not so tough that I don't like a good bath or am willing to brave a life of cold showers. Lets face it, in the summer a solar hot water heater may be enough, but, in the winter, it'll just take the edge off (and help the on demand heater). Traditional water heaters CONSTANTLY keep a reservoir of hot water. They are CONSTANTLY burning or having current pumped through their electric coil. Heating with electricity is very innefficient and very costly. An on demand heater, has a sensor that tells the unit that hot water is needed. The sensor tells a burner to fire up some natural gas and within a matter of seconds you have as much hot water as you need (no more running out of hot water). When you turn the hot water off, off goes the natural gas burner. Yes, we will have a natural gas tank, which the stove and some other appliances may draw from as well (such as an emergency generator).
Now we talk about orienting the house on the land. Lots of things need to be factored in and you have to prioritize based on what you (specifically) want. If your solar panels are going to be roof mounted, then you want them on the broadest part of your roof facing south. This orientation also helps with passive heating and cooling. I figured this out once, something to do with the angle of the sun (and how it hits the house) during the summer and winter. I've forgotten the details. Or maybe you want the prevailing winds to act like a natural HVAC during the summer. Then you have to know where your prevailing winds are coming from and face the side of your house with the most windows that way. Or you're scared a tornado will wreck your roof. Tornados (at least around where I'm at) come from the east. My wife is leaning towards the "prevailing winds" theory right now. By default, I also am leaning towards "prevailing winds", and will settle for my solar panels mounted on an array which tracks the sun, somewhere nearby the house. *Important note* If ou plan on having a barn, as I someday hope to, you'd best figure out where your prevailing winds come from... and put your barn on the opposite side of the house, far, far away.
Anyway, that should be enough to hold y'all over for now. Those are the basics of our self sustaining home.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Well...
No that's it, we're getting a well. = ) . No crazy hidden socio-political meaning behind this title... we're just getting a well. We had the property inspected today, a highly scientific process which I will get to later.
Let's face facts first though, as much as you want to simplify life you're going to need water. Our property is 10 miles past the middle of nowhere, where public water doesn't go. That's fine by me. Momma always said "Public water is like a box of choc-o-lates, you never know what you're gonna get". Yes, I will likely have to treat my well water, but for the most part it's pure and has been collected in a natural reservoir right under our feet. Translation: Clean water is almost free. ('almost' being I don't know what it'll cost to treat it... in the long run probably less than your tap water, ha ha) and factor in excavation / pump, etc...
I am trying so hard not to get all socio-political up in here, I have enough of those, but (and there it is, the 'but') do you know what's in your tap water? I know D.C. has some of the worst public water there is. And I know som Marines stationed at Camp Lejeune North Carolina are having health issues due to the high metal content in the public water in the barracks.... the same base where I was stationed for 5 years, lived in the barracks, drank the tap water, and knew 15 years ago it had a high metal content. There's also the stuff we don't know about (bacteria gets in everywhere, so I will know my water very well (pun intended on the 'well' part)). But, let's talk about what we do know.... check online to see what's in your local area's public water. I can't say what you have, but, I do know we were all raised on good old fashioned, all American "Fluoride"! Let me shatter that illusion, fluoride might not be exactly what we think. Matter of fact there have been some studies done by other countries on what fluoride does, and how to effectively employ it. But... that all crosses over the line for where I want to go with this blog.
What I want to talk about is the engineers and state of the art science and technology that goes into locating the right spot on your property to put a well. Namely, an old man and a stick. I don't think any old man or any old stick will do. It takes a 'dowser' or 'water witch' to do it. For us, our little old man was in his late 50's, in a t-shirt and jeans, and he snatached a green branch off of one of the trees on our property, split it halfway up the middle so it made a 'Y', held onto the handles of the 'Y' and went where it took him.
That thing took him across the field of debris I've been clearng where he locked onto a stream he said was about 20 feet down. But, he said at that depth you'll probably get a high iron content (gets convolluted to get that drinkable). Then the stick took him back across the yard where he found another underground stream and followed it to where it intersected with the first stream. He told us that if we dig about 300 feet down we'll hit that second stream and get ample, clean, water.
I am a studious man of the world, and love to figure out how things work... what makes them tick. For the life of me I don't know how some people can dowse. But, if you ask me if I think that old man with the stick is right, my answer is "Yes". I think if we dig down to about 300 feet or so where he said, we'll find an ample amount of clean water. I don't know how it works, but, I've seen enough of these types of things to believe that they 'do' work. This is a 'technology' almost every single one of our ancestors relied on not much more than a hundred years ago.
I don't where the story is in this. Where this goes, I usually like to draw a conclusion. I can't figure out the trick, I don't know HOW it works, I just know that it does. So, I suppose that's the conclusion I'm supposed to draw. These are the things that God put on me, be a scientist and a skeptic, follow how things work. But, accept there are somethings that we just won't 'get'. Maybe one of you know how this works. Don't tell me, I either want to figure it out for myself or live on the faith that I have. While I might not understand it, once I connect to it I will tap into a refreshing, life-giving , wellspring. Kind've like having a personal relationship with God.
It's almost like I had planned to reach that conclusion all along, huh? Wanna know the truth, I didn't. I just let that last paragraph write itself pretty much, literally started at a loss for how to end it. Followed that on faith, like an old man with a stick.
Let's face facts first though, as much as you want to simplify life you're going to need water. Our property is 10 miles past the middle of nowhere, where public water doesn't go. That's fine by me. Momma always said "Public water is like a box of choc-o-lates, you never know what you're gonna get". Yes, I will likely have to treat my well water, but for the most part it's pure and has been collected in a natural reservoir right under our feet. Translation: Clean water is almost free. ('almost' being I don't know what it'll cost to treat it... in the long run probably less than your tap water, ha ha) and factor in excavation / pump, etc...
I am trying so hard not to get all socio-political up in here, I have enough of those, but (and there it is, the 'but') do you know what's in your tap water? I know D.C. has some of the worst public water there is. And I know som Marines stationed at Camp Lejeune North Carolina are having health issues due to the high metal content in the public water in the barracks.... the same base where I was stationed for 5 years, lived in the barracks, drank the tap water, and knew 15 years ago it had a high metal content. There's also the stuff we don't know about (bacteria gets in everywhere, so I will know my water very well (pun intended on the 'well' part)). But, let's talk about what we do know.... check online to see what's in your local area's public water. I can't say what you have, but, I do know we were all raised on good old fashioned, all American "Fluoride"! Let me shatter that illusion, fluoride might not be exactly what we think. Matter of fact there have been some studies done by other countries on what fluoride does, and how to effectively employ it. But... that all crosses over the line for where I want to go with this blog.
What I want to talk about is the engineers and state of the art science and technology that goes into locating the right spot on your property to put a well. Namely, an old man and a stick. I don't think any old man or any old stick will do. It takes a 'dowser' or 'water witch' to do it. For us, our little old man was in his late 50's, in a t-shirt and jeans, and he snatached a green branch off of one of the trees on our property, split it halfway up the middle so it made a 'Y', held onto the handles of the 'Y' and went where it took him.
That thing took him across the field of debris I've been clearng where he locked onto a stream he said was about 20 feet down. But, he said at that depth you'll probably get a high iron content (gets convolluted to get that drinkable). Then the stick took him back across the yard where he found another underground stream and followed it to where it intersected with the first stream. He told us that if we dig about 300 feet down we'll hit that second stream and get ample, clean, water.
I am a studious man of the world, and love to figure out how things work... what makes them tick. For the life of me I don't know how some people can dowse. But, if you ask me if I think that old man with the stick is right, my answer is "Yes". I think if we dig down to about 300 feet or so where he said, we'll find an ample amount of clean water. I don't know how it works, but, I've seen enough of these types of things to believe that they 'do' work. This is a 'technology' almost every single one of our ancestors relied on not much more than a hundred years ago.
I don't where the story is in this. Where this goes, I usually like to draw a conclusion. I can't figure out the trick, I don't know HOW it works, I just know that it does. So, I suppose that's the conclusion I'm supposed to draw. These are the things that God put on me, be a scientist and a skeptic, follow how things work. But, accept there are somethings that we just won't 'get'. Maybe one of you know how this works. Don't tell me, I either want to figure it out for myself or live on the faith that I have. While I might not understand it, once I connect to it I will tap into a refreshing, life-giving , wellspring. Kind've like having a personal relationship with God.
It's almost like I had planned to reach that conclusion all along, huh? Wanna know the truth, I didn't. I just let that last paragraph write itself pretty much, literally started at a loss for how to end it. Followed that on faith, like an old man with a stick.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Between two worlds
Since I've been making these chanes in my life I've found myself a Colossus astride two vastly different worlds. At no time has this been more apparent than it was yesterday... in one day I experienced both worlds, and I'd like to share those.
Yesterday morning I woke up and did my morning routine, got dressed in a business suit, dress socks, dress shoes, tie, tie clip, hair well coiffed, etc... I rode off to work and logged myself onto the computer. Throughout the day I sat in a cube and worked on a powerpoint presentation, poring over data and assimilating it into a format which I hope will be sufficient. Meetings happened and people pontificated over their own importance. Thinly veiled hositlities were exchanged in a politcally correct atmosphere via e-mail. Smiles and pleasntries were exchanged in passing, after which all of our cliques convened in empty rooms and whispered in secret. A project I've been working on for over a year continued to languish in somene else's que. Lackies scrambled like lap dogs and cronies waited patiently for crumbs of praise to fall from the master's table. Finances, meetings, and training were discussed, spreadsheets updated... without all of which who would be important? The sacred system, yet again, managed to perpetuate itself. I am guilty of all of this, and hold myself above no one.
Lost in this ocean I was thrown a line. A request to help someone else as much as it rescued me.
I received a call at my cube saying a friend was having trouble and needed my help getting 100 bales of hay into the barn. All day I sat in excitement waiting to travel to that "other" world.
The proverbial bell rang and I dashed home to cast aside my favorite Italian cut suit and Donald Trump collection tie. These were quickly traded for an old pair of jeans, a t-shirt, flannel, workboots, and work gloves. I had my passport for another world 20 minutes away. I have never bucked hay before, and looked forward to the challenge.
I was greeted with warm smiles, a cool drink of well water, good conversation and a view of the mountains. Another friend from work joined us and we were off to buck hay (Bucking hay is getting hay bales onto a wagon and stacking it in the barn). We did 100 bales (yet another skill learned for me!). My daughter sat on the sidelines the whole time, my personal cheering section. The sweat that poured out of me cleansed body, mind, and spirit. Every bale stacked was a step away from an excel spreadsheet. If you have never bucked hay before I swear to you this one thing: you will never find a better workout. It works the whole body. Plucking bales out of the field, hauling them to the wagon, stacking, chucking them up into the barn, re-stacking. Balancing on an undulating 8 foot mountain of barely bound grass while hauling bales up to the window is like the ultimate stairmaster.
Funny thing about barns and farms, they're all about families and animals. As I bucked hay I got to watch my daughter take her first horse ride. Nervous at first, gradually wanting to go faster and faster. Then onto feeding goats, and I watched my boys play around the corral and in the hay, all the while working with good friends.
When that was over we were treated (as thanks) to a most delicious dinner. We watched the sun go down and talked about the 'other' world. = ) .
Coming away from working at my own place an hour and a half away I've trudged into town (town being a strip about a quarter mile long) I've been dirty, grimy, unshaved, hair matted to my head... even still, on my way to get something to eat, three groups of people stopped me to say "Hello"! People I've never met. Funny how I never expect that where I wear a suit. There people walk by and barely notice each other whereas in 'town' I look like a homeless person and stangers greet me as if I belong. These 2 worlds even have vastly different cultures. I was a stranger in a strange land and it felt foreign to me to answer those greetings from strangers those first few times.
Let me ask you this dear readers... which one of me would you be more apt to say hello to on the street? The suit or the vagrant? The funny thing is if you had met me in one of my previous professional incarnations I can guarantee you would not want to talk to me at all!
The law of the land of the people who I want to belong to is to work hard and help each other. Maybe that's what those guys in town saw as I walked to get a beer. Someone who worked hard. I know in my heart of hearts that I have to work harder, and help others more, and make my life a testimoy to others for God. It is something I am striving to take accountability for.
God bless!
Yesterday morning I woke up and did my morning routine, got dressed in a business suit, dress socks, dress shoes, tie, tie clip, hair well coiffed, etc... I rode off to work and logged myself onto the computer. Throughout the day I sat in a cube and worked on a powerpoint presentation, poring over data and assimilating it into a format which I hope will be sufficient. Meetings happened and people pontificated over their own importance. Thinly veiled hositlities were exchanged in a politcally correct atmosphere via e-mail. Smiles and pleasntries were exchanged in passing, after which all of our cliques convened in empty rooms and whispered in secret. A project I've been working on for over a year continued to languish in somene else's que. Lackies scrambled like lap dogs and cronies waited patiently for crumbs of praise to fall from the master's table. Finances, meetings, and training were discussed, spreadsheets updated... without all of which who would be important? The sacred system, yet again, managed to perpetuate itself. I am guilty of all of this, and hold myself above no one.
Lost in this ocean I was thrown a line. A request to help someone else as much as it rescued me.
I received a call at my cube saying a friend was having trouble and needed my help getting 100 bales of hay into the barn. All day I sat in excitement waiting to travel to that "other" world.
The proverbial bell rang and I dashed home to cast aside my favorite Italian cut suit and Donald Trump collection tie. These were quickly traded for an old pair of jeans, a t-shirt, flannel, workboots, and work gloves. I had my passport for another world 20 minutes away. I have never bucked hay before, and looked forward to the challenge.
I was greeted with warm smiles, a cool drink of well water, good conversation and a view of the mountains. Another friend from work joined us and we were off to buck hay (Bucking hay is getting hay bales onto a wagon and stacking it in the barn). We did 100 bales (yet another skill learned for me!). My daughter sat on the sidelines the whole time, my personal cheering section. The sweat that poured out of me cleansed body, mind, and spirit. Every bale stacked was a step away from an excel spreadsheet. If you have never bucked hay before I swear to you this one thing: you will never find a better workout. It works the whole body. Plucking bales out of the field, hauling them to the wagon, stacking, chucking them up into the barn, re-stacking. Balancing on an undulating 8 foot mountain of barely bound grass while hauling bales up to the window is like the ultimate stairmaster.
Funny thing about barns and farms, they're all about families and animals. As I bucked hay I got to watch my daughter take her first horse ride. Nervous at first, gradually wanting to go faster and faster. Then onto feeding goats, and I watched my boys play around the corral and in the hay, all the while working with good friends.
When that was over we were treated (as thanks) to a most delicious dinner. We watched the sun go down and talked about the 'other' world. = ) .
Coming away from working at my own place an hour and a half away I've trudged into town (town being a strip about a quarter mile long) I've been dirty, grimy, unshaved, hair matted to my head... even still, on my way to get something to eat, three groups of people stopped me to say "Hello"! People I've never met. Funny how I never expect that where I wear a suit. There people walk by and barely notice each other whereas in 'town' I look like a homeless person and stangers greet me as if I belong. These 2 worlds even have vastly different cultures. I was a stranger in a strange land and it felt foreign to me to answer those greetings from strangers those first few times.
Let me ask you this dear readers... which one of me would you be more apt to say hello to on the street? The suit or the vagrant? The funny thing is if you had met me in one of my previous professional incarnations I can guarantee you would not want to talk to me at all!
The law of the land of the people who I want to belong to is to work hard and help each other. Maybe that's what those guys in town saw as I walked to get a beer. Someone who worked hard. I know in my heart of hearts that I have to work harder, and help others more, and make my life a testimoy to others for God. It is something I am striving to take accountability for.
God bless!
Monday, June 13, 2011
McDonald's... for the brain
OK, first off throwing out a warning, many of you may not like this post or it may make you uncomfortable. These posts are my opinions, and for those I offer no apologies. I am, however, open for discussion.
This weekend was not a weekend at 'the farm' I've found myself split between weekends there and weekends actually taking farm classes (every other Sunday). This week was a week for classes. At yesterday's class I found myself towards the end eating kohlrabi, roasted peppers, onions, shrimp, potato salad, taragon chicken and a host of other things I don't normally eat (but they will be the norm... someday). This has become regular fanfare at the farm where we take classes and I find myself eating less on Sunday mornings when I know we'll be headed there. A lot of these foods are new experiences for me (being nearly a strict carnivore these past 38years). But, I find myself feeling better when I leave having eaten all that good food.
Yesterday I started thinking why, and the answer was pretty obvious... I am choosing to put better things in my body, duh, simple. This is a choice I can make every day. How would I feel if I woke up some morning and that choice was taken from me? Instead of healthy foods I was only allowed to eat from the McDonald's menu? Like Morgan Spurlock in "Supersize me!". Watch the movie, in a month you will see him go from a vibrant person to someone who has gained an excessive amount of weight, is lethargic, and, at times, craves the chemicals that are in McDonald's food.
No one would like that situation forced upon them and it is undoubtedly unhealthy. Anyone reading this is probably nodding in agreement with me right now.
Here's where the tough part comes in... where was I on Saturday? I was at he convention for the Home Eductaors Association of Virginia. That's right... we plan to homeschool. This is not an attack, it is another personal choice, I merely wish to cause people to think (as was done to me) and perhaps open up discussion or debate. The lifestyle choice we're choosing to make goes beyond what we do for a living, where we live, and what we eat... it's whole living, back to basics. It's taking responsibility for what goes into our body as well as our minds (and those of our children, whome we view as the most precious commodity we must manage). I am not looking to force my beliefs on anyone, nor do want beliefs forced on me, but, if I am one thing... I am honest. So, here's my point of view...
I see public school as the McDonald's of education. It is cheap, easy, and of low quality. I have reasons for this, which I will get to, but, I'd rather talk about the impact of this if I am right. I see our system as being set up to get children through tests, or shuffle them through. I see the light that has gone out in the eyes of too many teachers. I equate sending my kids to this type of place as a a game of educational Russian Roulette ("this year little Johnny had a good teacher, let's hope he gets one next year." Does that only sound stupid when I say it out loud.) What I don't see is a system dedicated to teaching kids how to learn, how to solve problems, or how to love learning. I have probably attacked a sacred cow to many out there... what did I say in the opening paragraph? "I offer no apologies, these are my opinions". While I offer no apologies, what I do offer is myself, and my own experiences in public school. (I firmly believe myself to be a 'survivor' of the public school system).
I won't go into all the details, and won't lie and say "there was nothing good". But what I will tell you is true. In first grade I had a gym teacher throw me to the floor and threaten me. I was 6, he was probably in his 30's at the time. In 5th grade Mr. Malone took me out in a hallway and pinned me to a wall and threatened me. I have always had bad handwriting, to this day my handwriting looks like a ransom note... but all throughout elementary school I was sent to special classes every week because I was labeled as having a learning disability due to my handwriting. I was basically told I was 'slow'. I stopped caring somewhere throughout all this and started actually believing these people who said I was slow. My grades fell and by the end of eighth grade I should've failed a class which would've kept me back, but one of the teachers just decided to pass me. While I was happy to not be kept back, is this representative of a good system? I was given an assignment once in high school (Mrs. Cahill's English class) and I decided to actually try. I wrote a report on the history of filmmaking. I put everything into that and delivered the very best that I could. She failed me on the suspicion that I had cheated as the work was "far too good for what I was capable of". I was given the option to fail or turn in another assignment (of my 'own' work) in the hopes I could receive a 'D'. Yes, that was the best I could hope for, a 'D'. Does anyone know what that could do to a kid who was earnestly trying to crawl out from under a rock like that? I told her I would not do the report again, and would opt for the F. Were it not for the support of my Mother I would've gotten that F, but, my Mom WATCHED me do all the research and put it together and knew what I had done. I got an 'A'. Mrs. Cahill is in my prayers in the hopes that she has changed her ways and now has a positive impact on students like me. But, my thoughts since then have not always been as such.
I took U.S. Government (Mr.Cook) my junior year, and something about him and his class made me realize I actually enjoyed learning (again). Mind you 6-7 years (of my formative years) had passed since I had given up on myself. I began to turn things around, some of you who know me know that I ended up in honors English the next year. The first day I walked in I think some people thought I must be lost. (Except Liza, who, since first grade has treated everyone with kindness and respect). Many of them were likely skeptical of me until about the time I beat all of them (except Liza) on the SAT's.
Anyone who remembers me from back then may find some of this hard to believe or may think my facts are distorted. Memory does that from time to time. But, one day a few years back I decided to take a challenge I'd been thinking about for the better part of 10 years. I took the MENSA exams (October 18, 2008, I will ALWAYS remember). Needless to say I am a lifetime member. If you know what MENSA is, challenge yourself and take the exams. If you don't, a rough translation is that I am not 'slow'. [ ;-D
So, I offered up myself as one reason why I don't put much faith in the public school system. Your experiences may be different, but, I don't feel like taking the gamble with my 3 kids where they can be thrown to the ground, against walls, labeled as 'slow', passed through an inadequate system, and / or called liars in the hopes that one day they survive all this and maybe rekindle their love of learning. My Wife and I are taking on the responsibility of avoiding Mcdonald's, of all sorts, in our lives.
Having put that out there, I will address the biggest argument against home schooling. "What about socialization?". I follow the sage words of Rick Boyer (he and his Wife have homeschooled 14 kids and he's spoken at the conference the past few years I've been able to attend). What does Rick have to say about socialization? "I'm not looking to raise socialists". = ) . That, and take a walk around the mall on a Saturday, look at the kids who are your kids age. Are they the peple you want your kids to be emulating? That's what we do when we socialize. When asked if he's afraid that his kids won't fit in, Rick has been known to respond with "I am scared to death they WILL fit in".
Then you'll get the one nay-sayer out there who says her boyfriend's sister's best friend saw Ferris Bueller pass out at 31 flavors last night... and a homeschool kid who doesn't quite fit in. (A little Ferris Bueller reference). OOoooooKay... are we going to take that and pretend all the kids at public school fit in? I'm not sure I agree with that logic. The farm classes we go to are run by a couple who home school, their 12 year old (can't be much more than that) is the most polite thing you could meet, very knowledgeable, and runs the farmers stand by herself. When I see her, and I see the kids at the mall, you can see the direction I'm probably leaning.
Our kids will have the opportunity to socialize with children their own age. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Church, Sports, etc... where they will learn valuable life lessons and hopefully be a positive impact on the kids around them. I never had any intention of sending my kids to school to socialize anyway. I'm more interesting in them learning and preparing them for life while at school.
By homeschooling we get to review the curriculum taught. If there's something we don't agree with, we don't teach it. We don't put those unidentified parts of the chicken known as 'McNuggets' in the heads of our kids. I'm not asking you to agree with my curriculum, that's the point the curriculum and family values are ours to teach, we take responsibility for that. I just don't like an anonymous board deciding on the menu for the education of my kids.
Homeschooling is not for everyone, there are certain situations where it could be more difficult (both parents are working, single parent, a whole host of things). I sincerely don't have the answer for that. My Wife and I decided that since we are afforded that opportunity that we'll take advantage of it. But, remember I am actively making adjustments to my lifestyle that are not conducive to a 6 figure salary either. More money doesn't necessarily mean a better quality of life or a better investment in my kids. I haven't become happier the more I've made, I personally haven't had a correlation between more money and a better life. When I was little we did have a pot to piss in, but, we had to rent the window we threw it out of (little humor here), but, my Mom had us doing stuff every weekend, and after school (and she was a single parent). We were happy and that made us rich.
This weekend was not a weekend at 'the farm' I've found myself split between weekends there and weekends actually taking farm classes (every other Sunday). This week was a week for classes. At yesterday's class I found myself towards the end eating kohlrabi, roasted peppers, onions, shrimp, potato salad, taragon chicken and a host of other things I don't normally eat (but they will be the norm... someday). This has become regular fanfare at the farm where we take classes and I find myself eating less on Sunday mornings when I know we'll be headed there. A lot of these foods are new experiences for me (being nearly a strict carnivore these past 38years). But, I find myself feeling better when I leave having eaten all that good food.
Yesterday I started thinking why, and the answer was pretty obvious... I am choosing to put better things in my body, duh, simple. This is a choice I can make every day. How would I feel if I woke up some morning and that choice was taken from me? Instead of healthy foods I was only allowed to eat from the McDonald's menu? Like Morgan Spurlock in "Supersize me!". Watch the movie, in a month you will see him go from a vibrant person to someone who has gained an excessive amount of weight, is lethargic, and, at times, craves the chemicals that are in McDonald's food.
No one would like that situation forced upon them and it is undoubtedly unhealthy. Anyone reading this is probably nodding in agreement with me right now.
Here's where the tough part comes in... where was I on Saturday? I was at he convention for the Home Eductaors Association of Virginia. That's right... we plan to homeschool. This is not an attack, it is another personal choice, I merely wish to cause people to think (as was done to me) and perhaps open up discussion or debate. The lifestyle choice we're choosing to make goes beyond what we do for a living, where we live, and what we eat... it's whole living, back to basics. It's taking responsibility for what goes into our body as well as our minds (and those of our children, whome we view as the most precious commodity we must manage). I am not looking to force my beliefs on anyone, nor do want beliefs forced on me, but, if I am one thing... I am honest. So, here's my point of view...
I see public school as the McDonald's of education. It is cheap, easy, and of low quality. I have reasons for this, which I will get to, but, I'd rather talk about the impact of this if I am right. I see our system as being set up to get children through tests, or shuffle them through. I see the light that has gone out in the eyes of too many teachers. I equate sending my kids to this type of place as a a game of educational Russian Roulette ("this year little Johnny had a good teacher, let's hope he gets one next year." Does that only sound stupid when I say it out loud.) What I don't see is a system dedicated to teaching kids how to learn, how to solve problems, or how to love learning. I have probably attacked a sacred cow to many out there... what did I say in the opening paragraph? "I offer no apologies, these are my opinions". While I offer no apologies, what I do offer is myself, and my own experiences in public school. (I firmly believe myself to be a 'survivor' of the public school system).
I won't go into all the details, and won't lie and say "there was nothing good". But what I will tell you is true. In first grade I had a gym teacher throw me to the floor and threaten me. I was 6, he was probably in his 30's at the time. In 5th grade Mr. Malone took me out in a hallway and pinned me to a wall and threatened me. I have always had bad handwriting, to this day my handwriting looks like a ransom note... but all throughout elementary school I was sent to special classes every week because I was labeled as having a learning disability due to my handwriting. I was basically told I was 'slow'. I stopped caring somewhere throughout all this and started actually believing these people who said I was slow. My grades fell and by the end of eighth grade I should've failed a class which would've kept me back, but one of the teachers just decided to pass me. While I was happy to not be kept back, is this representative of a good system? I was given an assignment once in high school (Mrs. Cahill's English class) and I decided to actually try. I wrote a report on the history of filmmaking. I put everything into that and delivered the very best that I could. She failed me on the suspicion that I had cheated as the work was "far too good for what I was capable of". I was given the option to fail or turn in another assignment (of my 'own' work) in the hopes I could receive a 'D'. Yes, that was the best I could hope for, a 'D'. Does anyone know what that could do to a kid who was earnestly trying to crawl out from under a rock like that? I told her I would not do the report again, and would opt for the F. Were it not for the support of my Mother I would've gotten that F, but, my Mom WATCHED me do all the research and put it together and knew what I had done. I got an 'A'. Mrs. Cahill is in my prayers in the hopes that she has changed her ways and now has a positive impact on students like me. But, my thoughts since then have not always been as such.
I took U.S. Government (Mr.Cook) my junior year, and something about him and his class made me realize I actually enjoyed learning (again). Mind you 6-7 years (of my formative years) had passed since I had given up on myself. I began to turn things around, some of you who know me know that I ended up in honors English the next year. The first day I walked in I think some people thought I must be lost. (Except Liza, who, since first grade has treated everyone with kindness and respect). Many of them were likely skeptical of me until about the time I beat all of them (except Liza) on the SAT's.
Anyone who remembers me from back then may find some of this hard to believe or may think my facts are distorted. Memory does that from time to time. But, one day a few years back I decided to take a challenge I'd been thinking about for the better part of 10 years. I took the MENSA exams (October 18, 2008, I will ALWAYS remember). Needless to say I am a lifetime member. If you know what MENSA is, challenge yourself and take the exams. If you don't, a rough translation is that I am not 'slow'. [ ;-D
So, I offered up myself as one reason why I don't put much faith in the public school system. Your experiences may be different, but, I don't feel like taking the gamble with my 3 kids where they can be thrown to the ground, against walls, labeled as 'slow', passed through an inadequate system, and / or called liars in the hopes that one day they survive all this and maybe rekindle their love of learning. My Wife and I are taking on the responsibility of avoiding Mcdonald's, of all sorts, in our lives.
Having put that out there, I will address the biggest argument against home schooling. "What about socialization?". I follow the sage words of Rick Boyer (he and his Wife have homeschooled 14 kids and he's spoken at the conference the past few years I've been able to attend). What does Rick have to say about socialization? "I'm not looking to raise socialists". = ) . That, and take a walk around the mall on a Saturday, look at the kids who are your kids age. Are they the peple you want your kids to be emulating? That's what we do when we socialize. When asked if he's afraid that his kids won't fit in, Rick has been known to respond with "I am scared to death they WILL fit in".
Then you'll get the one nay-sayer out there who says her boyfriend's sister's best friend saw Ferris Bueller pass out at 31 flavors last night... and a homeschool kid who doesn't quite fit in. (A little Ferris Bueller reference). OOoooooKay... are we going to take that and pretend all the kids at public school fit in? I'm not sure I agree with that logic. The farm classes we go to are run by a couple who home school, their 12 year old (can't be much more than that) is the most polite thing you could meet, very knowledgeable, and runs the farmers stand by herself. When I see her, and I see the kids at the mall, you can see the direction I'm probably leaning.
Our kids will have the opportunity to socialize with children their own age. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Church, Sports, etc... where they will learn valuable life lessons and hopefully be a positive impact on the kids around them. I never had any intention of sending my kids to school to socialize anyway. I'm more interesting in them learning and preparing them for life while at school.
By homeschooling we get to review the curriculum taught. If there's something we don't agree with, we don't teach it. We don't put those unidentified parts of the chicken known as 'McNuggets' in the heads of our kids. I'm not asking you to agree with my curriculum, that's the point the curriculum and family values are ours to teach, we take responsibility for that. I just don't like an anonymous board deciding on the menu for the education of my kids.
Homeschooling is not for everyone, there are certain situations where it could be more difficult (both parents are working, single parent, a whole host of things). I sincerely don't have the answer for that. My Wife and I decided that since we are afforded that opportunity that we'll take advantage of it. But, remember I am actively making adjustments to my lifestyle that are not conducive to a 6 figure salary either. More money doesn't necessarily mean a better quality of life or a better investment in my kids. I haven't become happier the more I've made, I personally haven't had a correlation between more money and a better life. When I was little we did have a pot to piss in, but, we had to rent the window we threw it out of (little humor here), but, my Mom had us doing stuff every weekend, and after school (and she was a single parent). We were happy and that made us rich.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
You can't always get what you want...
...but if you try sometimes, you'll find... you get what you need!
Well, here I sit, another weekend down and half of 1 acre cleared of debris (A few more weeks and the 'home acre' will be cleared of pine).
I expect, if anyone is reading this, that they don't want to continuously hear about the glamorous life of raking up pine tree debris week in and week out. So, this one is about 'what I want' vs. 'reality'. The 2 concepts seem to live in vastly different universes.
The nemesis of my grandiose dreams seem to mostly be money and time. I've had to learn to balance my goals, my wishes ad my dreams.
Case in point #1 "I want" the Ponderosa. A half million acres of prime land. "I need" at least 15 acres that can support me and the family. "I managed to afford" 22 acres that's been cleared of pine and the soil isn't the best. See how I've had to trade off the Ponderosa for reality? Money was the limiting factor here, but, I met my needs and what I couldn't afford in cash, I'll trade in sweat equity. Raking up pine debris, planting a cover crop to be plowed under to improve the soil, etc... It's the difference between a dream and a goal. You can sit there and 'want' something all day, a goal is something you make happen.
Case #2 "I want" a $35,000 dollar tractor with a mulching attachment that can turn one acre of scrub into turned soil in 1 hour. BTW... one acre can cost you $4K for having this done. At 22 acres... shoot, I'm tired,... you do the math. "I need" a tractor with at least 50 horsepower, a power takeoff, and a brush hog. This could run me $10K. I'd be hard pressed to cover that right now, so, I've decided to wait. What "I have" is a couple of 20 dollar industrial rakes, a pick, shovels, and a pry bar worthy of a Spartan. More imporantly, what "I also have" is good friends who offer up serious sweat equity in exchange for a chance to camp out and knock back a few beers and chicken wings on my dime (I UNDOUBTEDLY got the better end of the deal, Thanks Joe!). I may sweeten the pot down the line and throw in some skeet shooting next month. So, I have some friends who help me (it's the code of living in the country), and are helping me hit my goal.
Case #3 "I want" this done yesterday. Seriously I wanted at least 5 acres cleared and planted with a cover crop by November. Could it be done with what I have and the tractor that I want to buy? Yes actually, but, I've decided to hold off on the tractor until next year (purchasing the land was a big financial hit, the tractor would be maxing me out). I'm only out there on weekends (and some weekends I have farming classes), so, I've had to adjust accordingly. I know with the rakes and picks, etc... I can have the home acre cleared in about another month or 2. Then I'm going to rent a tractor with a bucket and a backhoe, dig a fire pit, and burn up the debris I've been raking. After that, till up the acre and plant a cover crop to improve the soil.
I'll be travelling at the end of the year, but, when that's done I may have enough to put down the log home that I want on the 1 acre. And may be able to swing a decent tractor (some of this will likely have to be financed though). Maybe a year from now I'll be ready to plant that home acre (This is where you plant your own garden, herbs, veggies, orchard, etc...). That's a big step! And maybe towards the end of next year I can start clearing the rest of the acres with the tractor. in 2-3 years add me some animals, set up a wood lot to manage in th back 6-8 acres, and BAM! I'm self sufficient!
See what kind've land I have left over after that and start planting for a farmer's market accordingly.
Oh, BTW... Case #4: "I want" to grow all sorts of goodies to bring to a farmer's market. "I have" sandy soil right now. Managing my expectations... I'll work to my strengths. Grapes LOVE sandy soils! So do potatos. Until I can get the soil improved by platning cover crops I know I can also plant corn and grow most grasses. And... I'm working on learning how to improve the soil (composting, cover crops, etc...)
Yeah, reality has hit me smack dab in the face more than once already, but, as long as I'm smart about this and manage my expectations, I'll get there.
BTW... before I burn all that pine debris I'm driving my truck up and down the windrows and setting aside the pine logs that are still good enough to make fence posts out of. Ma Greene didn't raise no dummies!
Well, here I sit, another weekend down and half of 1 acre cleared of debris (A few more weeks and the 'home acre' will be cleared of pine).
I expect, if anyone is reading this, that they don't want to continuously hear about the glamorous life of raking up pine tree debris week in and week out. So, this one is about 'what I want' vs. 'reality'. The 2 concepts seem to live in vastly different universes.
The nemesis of my grandiose dreams seem to mostly be money and time. I've had to learn to balance my goals, my wishes ad my dreams.
Case in point #1 "I want" the Ponderosa. A half million acres of prime land. "I need" at least 15 acres that can support me and the family. "I managed to afford" 22 acres that's been cleared of pine and the soil isn't the best. See how I've had to trade off the Ponderosa for reality? Money was the limiting factor here, but, I met my needs and what I couldn't afford in cash, I'll trade in sweat equity. Raking up pine debris, planting a cover crop to be plowed under to improve the soil, etc... It's the difference between a dream and a goal. You can sit there and 'want' something all day, a goal is something you make happen.
Case #2 "I want" a $35,000 dollar tractor with a mulching attachment that can turn one acre of scrub into turned soil in 1 hour. BTW... one acre can cost you $4K for having this done. At 22 acres... shoot, I'm tired,... you do the math. "I need" a tractor with at least 50 horsepower, a power takeoff, and a brush hog. This could run me $10K. I'd be hard pressed to cover that right now, so, I've decided to wait. What "I have" is a couple of 20 dollar industrial rakes, a pick, shovels, and a pry bar worthy of a Spartan. More imporantly, what "I also have" is good friends who offer up serious sweat equity in exchange for a chance to camp out and knock back a few beers and chicken wings on my dime (I UNDOUBTEDLY got the better end of the deal, Thanks Joe!). I may sweeten the pot down the line and throw in some skeet shooting next month. So, I have some friends who help me (it's the code of living in the country), and are helping me hit my goal.
Case #3 "I want" this done yesterday. Seriously I wanted at least 5 acres cleared and planted with a cover crop by November. Could it be done with what I have and the tractor that I want to buy? Yes actually, but, I've decided to hold off on the tractor until next year (purchasing the land was a big financial hit, the tractor would be maxing me out). I'm only out there on weekends (and some weekends I have farming classes), so, I've had to adjust accordingly. I know with the rakes and picks, etc... I can have the home acre cleared in about another month or 2. Then I'm going to rent a tractor with a bucket and a backhoe, dig a fire pit, and burn up the debris I've been raking. After that, till up the acre and plant a cover crop to improve the soil.
I'll be travelling at the end of the year, but, when that's done I may have enough to put down the log home that I want on the 1 acre. And may be able to swing a decent tractor (some of this will likely have to be financed though). Maybe a year from now I'll be ready to plant that home acre (This is where you plant your own garden, herbs, veggies, orchard, etc...). That's a big step! And maybe towards the end of next year I can start clearing the rest of the acres with the tractor. in 2-3 years add me some animals, set up a wood lot to manage in th back 6-8 acres, and BAM! I'm self sufficient!
See what kind've land I have left over after that and start planting for a farmer's market accordingly.
Oh, BTW... Case #4: "I want" to grow all sorts of goodies to bring to a farmer's market. "I have" sandy soil right now. Managing my expectations... I'll work to my strengths. Grapes LOVE sandy soils! So do potatos. Until I can get the soil improved by platning cover crops I know I can also plant corn and grow most grasses. And... I'm working on learning how to improve the soil (composting, cover crops, etc...)
Yeah, reality has hit me smack dab in the face more than once already, but, as long as I'm smart about this and manage my expectations, I'll get there.
BTW... before I burn all that pine debris I'm driving my truck up and down the windrows and setting aside the pine logs that are still good enough to make fence posts out of. Ma Greene didn't raise no dummies!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Eating the Elephant
When I started this (yeah, just last week) I was worried that there wouldn't be enough to write about, but, as I've been thinking about it I've wanted to write about how we decided on the right amount of land, the search over the past 6 months, and a host of other things... to include things that have bitten me (Clearing land is not for the squeamish and in only 2 weekendss a couple of things have gotten a hold of me, btw that's what the panty hose are for... yet another story).
I was having a conversation yesterday with a friend of mine who was talking about how to work through things when circumstances feel overwhelming. I forget where I picked up this saying, but, times like those are like eating and elephant. How do you do it? Simple really, one bite at a time.
I have 22 acres to clear and get ready, 21 acres of scrub... 1 of pine debris. I've been out there for 2 weekends and I've not yet cleared 1/4 of the acre of pine! You see, I have to rake it all into windrows. Just these long narrow rows of pine debris to be dealt with later (Oh... I so desperately hope I get to burn it!). The work is back breaking and exhausting, and after 2 weekends I haven't even scratched the surface of the 1 acre. But, if I focus on that, I'll get discouraged, so, I take it one little bit at a time. One bite at a time. And I have a goal, be done with that one acre by the end of June (else it'll really be hot!). I want to be on the tractor clearing scrub when its really hot, not, raking pine! BTW... I have no tractor... yet. Another story.
So, I have the beginning of a plan. Done with the pine by end of June. That gives me something to shoot for. And every windrow finished is one of those bites.
It also doesn't hurt to have a boonie cover. (Marine speak for wide brimmed floppy hat). When the body gets tired and the mind numb, I just look down at whats in front of me. The brim of the hat blocks out the rest. So, I'm not stuck staring at the huge elephant carcass I have to eat. Its a trick I learned as a Jarhead. Long way to go? Tired? Don't want to go on? Put your head down, and keep moving. Is it going to make it suck less? No. But, you're moving. Keep moving and the next thing you know you've done 25 miles, with a full pack, weapon, and an old PRC-77 radio (Yes, I'm old enough to have humped the PRC-77).
With that said, all this talk about figuratively eating elephant carcasses reminds me of something else. After overcoming the shock of being stalked in my tent 2 weeks ago in the middle of the night, I got adventurous and decided to scope out what it was that was investigating me. Apparently I have all sorts of tasty friends roaming my property, though I have yet to see one. Saturday morning I heard a wild turkey hollering out there somewhere (bipedal, not bottled), and there's deer tracks galore. For those who have never had wild turkey, you SO haven't ever REALLY eaten a turkey. A few weekends ago we had rain one night at the property and the next morning I found the tracks of a 'Jurassic Park' sized turkey. He is fortunate for now, I haven't time to make a feast of him while I'm out there. And I have a strict rule about not killing tasty friends unless I intend to eat them.
But, let that turkey be forewarned.... in a year or so things'll be different. And by forewarned I'm assuming that turkey has internet access and can read this. That sounds fair.
I was having a conversation yesterday with a friend of mine who was talking about how to work through things when circumstances feel overwhelming. I forget where I picked up this saying, but, times like those are like eating and elephant. How do you do it? Simple really, one bite at a time.
I have 22 acres to clear and get ready, 21 acres of scrub... 1 of pine debris. I've been out there for 2 weekends and I've not yet cleared 1/4 of the acre of pine! You see, I have to rake it all into windrows. Just these long narrow rows of pine debris to be dealt with later (Oh... I so desperately hope I get to burn it!). The work is back breaking and exhausting, and after 2 weekends I haven't even scratched the surface of the 1 acre. But, if I focus on that, I'll get discouraged, so, I take it one little bit at a time. One bite at a time. And I have a goal, be done with that one acre by the end of June (else it'll really be hot!). I want to be on the tractor clearing scrub when its really hot, not, raking pine! BTW... I have no tractor... yet. Another story.
So, I have the beginning of a plan. Done with the pine by end of June. That gives me something to shoot for. And every windrow finished is one of those bites.
It also doesn't hurt to have a boonie cover. (Marine speak for wide brimmed floppy hat). When the body gets tired and the mind numb, I just look down at whats in front of me. The brim of the hat blocks out the rest. So, I'm not stuck staring at the huge elephant carcass I have to eat. Its a trick I learned as a Jarhead. Long way to go? Tired? Don't want to go on? Put your head down, and keep moving. Is it going to make it suck less? No. But, you're moving. Keep moving and the next thing you know you've done 25 miles, with a full pack, weapon, and an old PRC-77 radio (Yes, I'm old enough to have humped the PRC-77).
With that said, all this talk about figuratively eating elephant carcasses reminds me of something else. After overcoming the shock of being stalked in my tent 2 weeks ago in the middle of the night, I got adventurous and decided to scope out what it was that was investigating me. Apparently I have all sorts of tasty friends roaming my property, though I have yet to see one. Saturday morning I heard a wild turkey hollering out there somewhere (bipedal, not bottled), and there's deer tracks galore. For those who have never had wild turkey, you SO haven't ever REALLY eaten a turkey. A few weekends ago we had rain one night at the property and the next morning I found the tracks of a 'Jurassic Park' sized turkey. He is fortunate for now, I haven't time to make a feast of him while I'm out there. And I have a strict rule about not killing tasty friends unless I intend to eat them.
But, let that turkey be forewarned.... in a year or so things'll be different. And by forewarned I'm assuming that turkey has internet access and can read this. That sounds fair.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Bought the farm
Last year my Wife and I decided to learn about living the old fashioned way, more natural. Mind you, I am a purebred suburbanite (as is she) but after trying a few things we decided there was a better way to live than waiting for a new episode of House M.D., packing ourselves into a development, and eating stuff that we have no idea where it came from. These, among other things, were the catalyst that God put on our hearts to begin changing our lives completely. (Yes I believe in God, and will mention his influence often, if that is offensive... please feel free to read another blog).
A very good friend has suggested I start chronicling all this as there may be others out there that feel the same way, and might be encouraged by our trials and tribulations. For anyone out there thinking I'll be able to offer much advice off the bat regarding this style of living, I'm sorry to disappoint, we've done a lot of reading, but have little practical application! I'm hoping this will be a forum where ideas will be shared with people of similar mindsets, old hands and greenhorns alike.
I can guarantee there will be plenty to laugh at, we have almost no idea what we're doing, and I'm not one of God's more graceful creatures. But, I'm obstinate and not afraid of hard work.
So, where are we headed? Well, over the past year the Old lady and I decided we wanted enough land to support ourselves (me, the Old lady, and 3 little hooligans), help out with some of the extended family, and have a little to sell at the farmer's market every now and then. We want to make this as self sufficient and self sustaining as possible. Everything from a kitchen garden to orchards, some vines, a fish pond, some crops, and animals ranging from chickens to pigs to goats and cows to a horse or 2... and throw in some bees for good measure. (I'll tell you how I robbed a behive in another story).
Where are we at? Well after looking for land the past 6 months... we scored 22 acres (with the help of some family). The size is right, the price was right, the land is good... but there's a lot of work ahead of us. it ain't perfect. There's lots of scrub to clear and I'll be spending the next month or so raking up pine debris (limbs and trees) from where the land was harvested for lumber a few years back. Not pretty, yet, but... it's ours. And I'll be out there tomorrow sweating my butt off, raking up pine trees (yes pine trees, yes raking).
How are we going to get there? Hard work, dilligence, reading, reaching out to other people online, and being smart enough to listen to people who know. We've begun taking classes at a local farm (I'll post their contact info later, wonderful folks).
In the next week or so I'll take some time to get you caught up as to how we got here, how we made our decisions for the right amount of land, and began our search. You'll have to excuse me, first blog, a little tired tonight... so not much comic relief. You'll get a bit of that later when I tell you about the mini tornado that touched down 40 yards away from me 2 weeks ago (First day out at the property). BTW mini tornado does not look so 'mini' 40 yards away. With the right overactive imagination and nothing but wide open spaces, that thing seemed to have its mind set on snatching me up off the ground and having its way with me. And the tricks your mind can play on you in a tent in the middle of the night when there are deer and wild turkeys roaming right outside... To someone raised not 10 minutes from the mall it sounds like a stampede of rabid bison, with a couple of grizzly bears thrown into the mix just for fun.
If you're real lucky I'll tell you how it is exactly that I know I wear a size Queen PLUS in women's panty hose (as a 6'5" 250 LB former Marine I'm comfortable enough with who I am, and swear there's a perfectly goo explanation... honestly).
A very good friend has suggested I start chronicling all this as there may be others out there that feel the same way, and might be encouraged by our trials and tribulations. For anyone out there thinking I'll be able to offer much advice off the bat regarding this style of living, I'm sorry to disappoint, we've done a lot of reading, but have little practical application! I'm hoping this will be a forum where ideas will be shared with people of similar mindsets, old hands and greenhorns alike.
I can guarantee there will be plenty to laugh at, we have almost no idea what we're doing, and I'm not one of God's more graceful creatures. But, I'm obstinate and not afraid of hard work.
So, where are we headed? Well, over the past year the Old lady and I decided we wanted enough land to support ourselves (me, the Old lady, and 3 little hooligans), help out with some of the extended family, and have a little to sell at the farmer's market every now and then. We want to make this as self sufficient and self sustaining as possible. Everything from a kitchen garden to orchards, some vines, a fish pond, some crops, and animals ranging from chickens to pigs to goats and cows to a horse or 2... and throw in some bees for good measure. (I'll tell you how I robbed a behive in another story).
Where are we at? Well after looking for land the past 6 months... we scored 22 acres (with the help of some family). The size is right, the price was right, the land is good... but there's a lot of work ahead of us. it ain't perfect. There's lots of scrub to clear and I'll be spending the next month or so raking up pine debris (limbs and trees) from where the land was harvested for lumber a few years back. Not pretty, yet, but... it's ours. And I'll be out there tomorrow sweating my butt off, raking up pine trees (yes pine trees, yes raking).
How are we going to get there? Hard work, dilligence, reading, reaching out to other people online, and being smart enough to listen to people who know. We've begun taking classes at a local farm (I'll post their contact info later, wonderful folks).
In the next week or so I'll take some time to get you caught up as to how we got here, how we made our decisions for the right amount of land, and began our search. You'll have to excuse me, first blog, a little tired tonight... so not much comic relief. You'll get a bit of that later when I tell you about the mini tornado that touched down 40 yards away from me 2 weeks ago (First day out at the property). BTW mini tornado does not look so 'mini' 40 yards away. With the right overactive imagination and nothing but wide open spaces, that thing seemed to have its mind set on snatching me up off the ground and having its way with me. And the tricks your mind can play on you in a tent in the middle of the night when there are deer and wild turkeys roaming right outside... To someone raised not 10 minutes from the mall it sounds like a stampede of rabid bison, with a couple of grizzly bears thrown into the mix just for fun.
If you're real lucky I'll tell you how it is exactly that I know I wear a size Queen PLUS in women's panty hose (as a 6'5" 250 LB former Marine I'm comfortable enough with who I am, and swear there's a perfectly goo explanation... honestly).
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