Life as a Schoolhouse

Around the Farm

2015-07-17T17:08:00.000-04:00

Its been a busy week here at Schoolhouse Farm! We started the week by harvesting around 125 meat chickens. This is always a tough day but a necessary one. Knowing where your food comes from is extremely important. The understanding on life and death. The fact that death does bring life to us is an amazing concept. Im not sure that I will ever grasp the whole meaning of this. But we now have a freezer full of wonderfully delicious chickens, that lived a great chicken life.

Harvesting chickens is a community effort

We got a new area cleared out and planted a cover crop. This area we hope to develop into pasture with fruit trees and bushes mixed in. It will take a while to get there. We planted pearl millet, buckwheat and sunn hemp as the cover crop. This hopefully will help smother out any unwanted plants. It will also serve to add nutrients to the soil and help attract and feed more pollinators. The next step will be to create swales and plant pioneer trees. We will do that in late winter.

The new cleared area

Another angle of the cleared area

Today we started a much needed barn. This will be a place to store the winter hay and milk the goats. Its not going to be huge or anything just big enough to get the job done. We are using the wood that we had milled last year from our property. It give you that feel of being a pioneer to be using wood that came from your own land.

6x6 posts for the barn going up

Some Summer Oil Recipes and Tips for the Whole Family

2015-07-07T15:09:00.002-04:00

From the homestead.

We've been in and out and all over this summer. Thoroughly enjoying it, the heat, the travel, the them parks, the friends. Lazy afternoons and breaking in new milk-goats. It's one little adventure at a time that fills us to the brim with memories and joy. Hope yours is unfolding in similar fashion.

Of course, with all those goodies...come a few stings. I compiled a list of a few of our favorite remedies for this season. I hope you use and enjoy them. It's hard to imagine how difficult life would be if the, 'mama, my tummy hurts. I need oils.' wasn't quickly met with some the digestive blend or peppermint. Or, the more time suffering our littlest would have had if I hadn't had a handy roller of lavender when she burnt her finger on a light-bulb in the car.

Summer's Hot.

Here are a few tips to keep you and your loved ones on the toxin-free track--especially with these common Summer pitfalls...

::After Sun Reliever::
(recipe here)
This popular recipe is simple and SO effective. No need to suffer through the pains of forgetting to lather on the spf. Encourage healing, and relieve the heat and itch.

::Summer Ear Discomfort::
So many kids (and adults) have to suffer from this unfortunate side effect of underwater play. But, with a few simple oils, pain and suffering can come to a quick end!
1 drop of Basil or Melaleuca on a cotton ball resting in the ear is a great way to relieve pain, as is Lavender around the back of the ear. Diluted Oregano is another amazing boost for the immune system and helps fend off nasty bacteria that can turn an innocent day at the pool into a prescription anti-biotic. Avoid all that struggle and use these quick tools to give your body what it needs to take care of the problem itself!

::Bug Bite Itcher-Blocker::
A natural anti-histamine, lavender is a simple fix for the worst of bug bites. It's ability to pull out toxins makes it great to have on hand even in more emergent situations, like spider or snake bites. Chigger attack? unscented lotion and lavender worked wonders for what had to have been hundreds of bites our dear 5 year old had. Relieved itch and they healed up much more quickly where we applied, vs. the hard to reach ones on the scalp.

(of course--seek medical assistance--but grab and apply the lavender fast and frequently!)
Other great options: Purify, Balance, Terrashield, Frankincense

::Bug Off::
Natural and even pleasant smelling, Terrashield is great for humans and animals alike! Prevent ticks, fleas, squeeters, chiggers, flies and more. This blend is great in a spray bottle, or just dabbed on. We'll often mix in some of our other favorites, like lemongrass, for added protection.

::Gotta Cool It Spray::
Peppermint is a natural temperature reducer. The cooling effects have proven themselves time and again for our family. Simply fill up a spray bottle with water and add several drops of peppermint--mist the back of your neck, or your back...aaaaaaah. Cooling relief that lasts for a while! (plus, peppermint is a fly and spider deterrent, great for headaches and to fend of allergies. Is that a four-fer?)

::Skin Irritation Relief::
(recipe here)
This recipe is so easy and useful. We've had some rough bouts with skin irritation from plant contact--Dead Sea Salts and Basil are some other great remedies. (and avoiding it altogether is optimal)
For more sever break-outs, we've found Basil helps a lot as well!

::Hydration Station::
It's important to stay hydrated! Picnics, parades, swimming and tee-ball are all wonderful activities that get us outside--but keeping liquified is important! Adding a drop of lemon to a glass or Stainless steel water bottle is a simple way to get flavored water that is healthful and nourishing.
(reminder: Citrus oils cause photosensitivity when used topically--be careful if you apply it to avoid direct sunlight)

::Car-sickness Buster::
Roadtrips are popular in the summer! Prepare yourself with the inevitable nausea that can follow. Eating poorly, twisty roads, and screwy schedules can all take a toll on our digestive system. Never fear! the Digestive Blend is a lifesaver! Touch the top of the bottle, apply it to the navel and find instant relief!
Even kiddos find fast relief from tummy-aches with this amazing blend.
Stock up!

::Sore No More::
Overworked it in the garden? Hauled too much mulch? Spent endless hours on the Habitat House? Fixing your own? Paddled too hard on an impromptu Kayak trip?
The Soothing Blend! The rub is phenomenal, and we often layer it with the oil for deeper penetration. And the cooling effect is an added bonus! Make sure you have this simple tool in your toolbox and ache no more!

::Slumber like Lumber::
It can be hard to fall asleep when the sun is still up. "..in summer quite the other way, I have to go bed by day." --Robert Louis Stevenson
Know that poem? It's one of my favorites, and I remember the difficulty of going to bed before dark as a kid. But, sometimes a gentle sleep aid helps our little ones get the rest they need. And us! This is our favorite sleepy-time blend, we use it nightly! The lavender helps us fall asleep, and the cedarwood encourages a deeper sleep. It's life changing when you get a good night's rest!

RECIPE:
1 10ml roller bottle
8 drops Cedarwood Essential Oil
8 drops Lavender Essential Oil
Fractionated Coconut oil to fill.
Use: Apply the blend to the big toe and back of neck and sleep like a baby that actually sleeps.

Don't have oils yet?!

Let us help you get started.

(Use this link to unlock wholesale prices for a year without paying membership fee! www.referral.doterra.me/330704 )

Homesteading: The Fence Part 2

2015-04-17T15:26:00.000-04:00

So like 2 years ago...

We told you more on fencing was to come with this post. And it turns out we had more to learn. And do...

I sit here and write about it while Drew is in trenches getting it done. And the girls--the girls are master-fencers now too, and it couldn't have been done without them. Have we discussed child labor? Yep.

Anyway, the point is, we've done a little of nearly everything the fencing industry has to offer. Save for barbed. The first fence is working great, but it was by far the most expensive and difficult route. And, though it's still holding up fairly well--goats climb it, pigs dig under it and if trees fall on it, well...bad news.

We rely heavily on electric netting like this. We use it for poultry completely, which gives us the ability to move the chickens and turkeys all over the property, getting them on green grass as often as possible, while protecting them from predators and keeping them--for the most part--out of the garden area where they otherwise flock. (pun intended) We also use it for the goats to get them in areas that are either too difficult to fence, or that will will never put a permanent fence to, and honestly--for beginners who are on a new property, hands down, this is the best option. There is an investment for the fencing, and we use mainly solar chargers, but it's so versatile. Frustrating to cart through wooded and brambly terrain? YES. But, we have been able to clear a lot of underbrush that would have been impossible to clear this way as well. And--it has given us the ability to let our goats fertilize and graze in areas, like our infant-orchard, that we never intend to fence.

BUT. Our property isn't pasture. As we've mentioned it is wooded and hilly. We've had lots of timbering done, not clear cut, but the back part of our property--about 6 acres, is somewhat untouched because it's difficult to access; our 1 acre pond divides our property in 2. And we've been aching to get the goats back there to clean it up, and to have more to graze on. And, potentially, to introduce a beef cow at some point. So--currently this is underway, and we're using a fencing method we've used to expand our first paddock in which we used structured wire. It has proven faster, more versatile and less expensive, and we were worried about the goats staying in--but so far, they're happy to avoid electric which means they don't apply pressure to the fencing and posts as they do with the structured wire alternative.

By using t-posts and the trees already on the property to hold the wire, and after having a fella carve a path with an excavator so as to make the task doable through the thick woods and brambles, we are adding a little over an acre pasture on the back part of our property. With a little electric the 6 strand electric system will make for a lot more freedom for our growing herd/flock. And, it'll be nice to tap into some more of the property to meet their needs.

see that mess of wire NOT on the spinning jenny? Well, it's nice when equipment doesn't malfunction--and when it does, it's fair to cry...especially when you're 6.

Let me point out, we border all down the side a beautiful rolling pasture that belongs to our neighbor. It's lush, green, probably deplete of great diversity, but man would it be easy to fence...but, shh. The grass is always greener, right??

but when you're 6 and you can fence, well...i'd say she's ahead of the game.

Honestly, the biodiversity in our wooded area will hopefully establish quickly as a great place for fodder for multiple livestock species, and the goats will likely make quick and easy on cleaning it up so we can work to establish even more grasses and such. There's something very satisfying--no matter how difficult--about pioneering the land this way. And, we're anxious to eventually add a cow or two, silvo-pasturing is the wave of the future. ok, maybe a stretch, but still, it is going to be interesting to see how it plays out. #adventuresinpermaculture

What are your homesteading projects right now?

How to Homeschool on a Farm

2015-04-09T15:36:00.000-04:00

From the non-expert.

People often tell me, or ask me, or mention to me something about homeschooling and I'm pretty nearly clueless. Sure, I've heard the terms and can sometimes even understand when the long-timers start talking their homeschool lingo. But, I usually laugh, shrug and say--'yeh, we're unschoolers'. In fact, i think we're a new category of un-unschoolers.

Not everyone appreciates this style, and I get that. Many mothers, in particular, seem to struggle with the fear that their children aren't being a filled up with educational experiences as possible. I can promise that the less full we leave them the more they will blossom on their own. Let them be full with curiosity. It's hard not to want to explain every fact at every question, but my 6 year old doesn't need me to go into a unit study on weather when she asks 'Why does it thunder?' (But trust me, it's a difficult temptation to avoid.)

Educating my children has become more about me educating and molding myself into a curious being--someone willing to trust and experience and be willing to have wonder. It's blissful, but it isn't easy. But I would encourage you to try!
Maybe we're 'wonder-schoolers'...I think I like that.

Why unschool?

--We truly believe that learning is a completely natural process and that in a literate home, it would be impossible to raise uneducated children.

--Life offers daily opportunity to teach and more importantly, demonstrate learning to our kids.

--Having tried structure, and knowing the learning styles of our children it is painfully apparent that a classroom type style of teaching/training or rigid curriculum is painful, stressful and unproductive. It's more important for our home to have peace. It would also be detrimental to their love of learning to continue to pursue more 'traditional' education styles.

How we do it:

--Our kids are not entirely free to do whatever they want all day. Our lives are structured with yearly, monthly, weekly and daily rhythms. Chores, farming, small bits of math and reading work are incorporated and required from our kids. However, the majority of their day is unofficially structured. Free time, rest time, play time, creative time, exploration time. While they are expected to uphold some responsibilities, even our 3 year old, we have merely tried to create an environment in which they can find and do and ask.

--We often encourage or come up with new games, projects, etc. and through living and working together as parents we are learning our children's gifts and struggles. We try to creatively meet their needs without stressing too much about the standards school systems would impose, and more on how confident they feel as learners.

--Too many structured activities are the opposite of what we're going for. We'd love to have our kids play soccer and little league and join swim team and take art classes and more. But--the point of having them home is not to run around like chickens with our heads cut off. We have to make a concerted effort not to jump in on too many co-ops and extracurriculars so we can be at home and unstressed. These boundaries are the hardest to maintain. Our children have chosen ballet and music lessons and we have to draw a line there. This has been important for us.

--Everyday is not perfect and being with kids and responsible for their training ALWAYS comes with frustrations and head-butting. But, we also have plenty of time to overcome these difficulties together, and knowing that our goals are specifically to offer our kids freedom and free-thinking helps us maintain balance. Most days.

--pretty much John Holt has already said everything important, read some of his inspirational books!

What do you think, are you Wonder-Schoolers, too?

Apple Trees and Goats

2015-03-20T13:25:00.000-04:00

We always bury our goats under the apple trees. The tree gets nourished by the goat body. The grass always grows really well there. Then the goats get to eat the apples and the grass. Then the goats make more goats. On and on it goes. This year we have had to bury two so far. Its part of farm life. Really its part of all life. Its a part that not everyone gets to participate in as much as they should. Its the part that makes farmers such great people. If people knew how fragile and precious life is maybe they would respect it more. Its not until you see death that you really appreciate life. This week i had the privilege of standing out side in the crisp morning air with my three daughters as we cried about a baby goat that had died over the night. No matter how many times it happens it always pulls on your heart some. Being the dad and the main farm manager its hard to not feel responsible for all the bad that happens but some times its out of my hands. I dont always have the answers and when it comes to baby goats dieing I really do not have any answers. If it was up to me they would all live.

We also had the same mom goat get really sick and we almost lost her. Luckily we were able to bring her back. She seems to be doing really well now. For the farmers out there. I used a drench of vit C, and probios. Then I gave her b12 injections every 8 hours. Now she is on free choice seaweed meal, high quality grain, and hay. She went from laying on her back and foaming at the mouth to standing and grazing in about 24 hours.

We have also had lots of new life on the farm. We have had three new babies born this week. It seemed like every time we came home a new baby had been born. This is such an exciting time of year. Plus soon we will have fresh goats milk.

Eliza Feeding comforting the moma

This little girl is just hours old.

Bottle feeding the babies while the moma gets better.

These little guys are just hours old.

What's a working farm?

2015-02-25T15:05:00.002-05:00

It has come to our attention that we may never actually have a farm that is our major source of income. It's a bit of a drag really, and based on our experience has more to do with sustainability than anything else. Are there people making money? Absolutely. But, from what we've seen it's people who don't have mortgages on their homes and have money to invest in infrastructure and equipment. We don't. Or, at least we didn't. And we spent years figuring out how to even get our hands on some land.

Our hope is not to discourage anyone from striving for their farm dream--but we do hope to encourage MORE people to reach for their homestead dreams, because ultimately we're all more sustainable if we're all more sustainable. Go ahead, read that line again. But, homestead dreams are different than farm dreams...

What's that? You think if you had free-range chickens fed the finest of non-gmo, organic, local grains you could charge a fair price and get it? There's a demand for that? Well, we've done the math. And, if you're doing good, breaking even seems fair. After all, the feed is paid for when selling those egg-cess eggs, but the person willing to pay $8/dozen is hard to come by. But, that is the the market value of a dozen of our eggs. Probably more if we included a fair labor wage. We're thrilled to feed our children eggs worth upwards of $8/dozen because they're worth it. But, not so many parents think so simply because they can't afford it.

Again, take heart--do not be dissuaded. We are all in this boat together. The value of food in modern society is tragically lost. Don't even get me started on what we would have to charge per pound of chicken meat to earn anything remotely resembling a profit. We're thrilled to give our children the experience of being sustainable--that's the real payday. But we've had to admit, there would be no way to sell to markets. Direct to consumer sales are the only small possibility. But alas, then there's marketing fees and more time investment. Our chicken is good. We've ironed out the kinks and it's mighty tasty and something to be proud of, and we're fortunate to have a freezer full. For ourselves. On occasion we sell--heck, maybe one day we will owe zero dollars and have the infrastructure and healthy soil and fields it requires to do everything from hatch to feed these birds on our own...but still, that's a lot of investment. Still the goal, to have that for future generations. But, for our generation we are only beginning and need to be realistic.

You'll find books and farmers out there saying it's totally doable. But, they're usually selling a book. Who's going to buy the book we write about the impossibility? Books fund farms. So...maybe we should be less dreary and more optimistic to get those of you like us to buy it. It's ok not to believe in that possibility. It's ok to realize that things will have to be seriously altered, head-over-heels style, to make people realize the value of their food. And even then--even if education weren't the only hang-up, it'd still have to be a 'labor of love' because there's no retirement plan for the farm-income.

At the most recent Sustainable Agriculture Conference in SC we heard from Mark Shepard. It was great, inspirational, thought-provoking. But, he said some things that were very meaningful to me that many seemed to overlook. Mark Shepard has some great books, including Restoration Agriculture. It's an amazing read, and his property in the mid-west is like an Eden in a desert of corn. He has restored balance and harmony on his acreage in a way that is far beyond just sustainable. For years he will be set in produce and bountiful pasture for his livestock and more importantly, his children. It's brilliant and as the title implies, revolutionary. But, he didn't talk about how much money he makes from his farm. In fact, that was sort of brushed aside. What he did mention was as sustainable agriculture revolutionaries we need to get in on the ground floor of something. For him, as one of the founding members of Organic Valley, a dairy co-operative, he has an income to aid in the building of his farm. A reliable source of profit. He isn't just a farmer, he's a business man and the author of popular permaculture literature. He earns residuals.

What was our take away from that? Hope! Being in the midst of starting a farmstead, doing the math on installing fences and raising barns, let alone acquiring decent livestock and feeding them, you quickly become overwhelmed. (and we've done this all without heavy equipment so far, don't get us started on that investment!) Not to mention having bought a foreclosure or some cheap piece of land to get you started because you didn't inherit the back 20, or a trust fund...Well, that can all be disheartening, overwhelming and even dangerously expensive. A debtor's hay day. It wouldn't take a great salesman to talk a person like this into the overhead of a tractor at x.y% apr. Debt and farming are like synonyms this day and age. But--that's not sustainable either, and it's certainly not good news for our kids.

So, where did I find hope in this speech from Mr. Shepard? 2 places actually.
1. 'Get in on the ground floor of something.'
Thank goodness! We have done that and are passionate about that work, and the movement it is creating. (Great news, there's plenty more room for others to get in on this, and we'd love to have you. Talk to us about what that looks like!) But, the key is: find something that you're similarly passionate about and use it to fund your farm dream. It's totally possible. Just don't quit- be willing to sacrifice your immediate comfort for the long term satisfaction.

2. We're all more sustainable if we're all more sustainable.
Think about that for a while. What if you didn't have to DO everything, because your neighbor did the eggs and you do the milk and across the street they raise goats and you garden-swap weekly. And you share equipment costs and trade canned goods...What if THAT'S the goal we we were all working toward.What if you could go on vacation because you had a trustworthy network of folks who could pick up the slack for a week? The ultimate co-op. And really, it's the only sustainable model there is. Sure, it's a stretch based on modern culture, but it doesn't have to be. This is how it WAS and is in some places. Even in the city this is the perfect solution. Heck, one guy could be the chiropractor, or the midwife...it all sounds heavenly to me. If there's one thing we've learned is this earth of ours is bountiful, plentiful. Everybody can thrive.

At the rate our dreams are growing I don't doubt we will see this movement in our lifetime. We don't expect our grandchildren to know much different. So, first: fund your dream with something you love. Let your farm be your why in whatever it is that will get you there, but release the stress of thinking sustainable means profits, it doesn't. It means enough for everyone. We're all more sustainable if we're all more sustainable. Find your profits somewhere else. That is all.

The woodstove

2015-01-19T21:08:00.001-05:00

"Firewood warms you twice, once when you cut it and again when you burn it." - some lumberjack

At the end of this summer we got a wood stove for heating the house. It has been a learning adventure. There is a famous permaculture guru Geoff Lawton that says with traditional wood stoves you will always "be a slave to your heating source" He is a firm believer in using rocket mass heaters or masonry heaters. We explored both of these for a while and decided that at this point it was just not safe to have a rocket stove in the house and a masonry stove is just to expensive. So we went with the most efficient stove that we could afford.

On our property we have a lot of woods. In fact the majority of it is woods. Did you know that if you cut a tree down split it and stick it in the wood stove it will not burn? So this year we are not going to be able to use the firewood from our property. We need wood that is seasoned and dry. It needs to be seasoned for year or more before it can be burned in the wood stove. Anything less just smolders in the stove and does nothing good. I had no idea that this would be a problem, but it is. So I built a large wood shed that will hold a little over four cords of wood. So now for the "slavery" part. I will be collecting wood to fill that shed for the rest of the winter. Not only collecting it but splitting it, stacking it, letting it season, then carrying it to the house to burn.

The main reason that we leaned towards burning wood, is that it is a renewable resource. With proper management we should always have a power free option for heating the house. If we add this with other sources of heat like passive solar, and a solar water heater, we should be able to drastically diminish our power consumption.

While we are speaking of cold. We had also had a new arrival on the farm. We had no idea that Dot the mom was even expecting. Then around 2am on the 14th we heard a goat crying. When i went down to the goat house to see what was going on i found that Polka Rose had been born. She is the sweetest little goat. They are Kiko goats that we got from a friend. The mom is really sweet and good natured. Im not sure if it is just a Kiko trait or just her, but either way they are both really sweet.

Winter is leaving

2015-01-03T22:31:00.000-05:00

This is the time of year that I look forward to. Some would say we are deep in winter. But all I can think is that Spring is near. We have been busy making new shelters. Putting up more fences, building a woodshed, planning and preparing the garden for spring.

There will be baby goats in two and a half months and we hope to have at least four goats that will be milking this year. If you have never had goats milk before all the rumors of it tasting really bad are simply not true. Our little heard makes some of the sweetest milk I have ever tasted. Its way better than cows milk. Thanks to our wonderful and sometimes creepily friendly Sire "Uncle Buck" we should have some great little kids. Uncle buck will follow you all around the farm. Most goats will, but most goats follow you because they want you to feed them. Not so with this little guy he follows you around because in general he enjoys your company. By the look on his face he really thinks you enjoy his too. It is pretty fun to have a goat that likes me for me. Not just for the food I provide.

In three months it will be time to start another batch of broilers. At the end of this year I had vowed to never raise meat chickens (broilers) again. We had decided a while ago that we would never do cornish cross because of the ethics of raising such a breed. So we tried a few different types of heritage broilers. Jersey Giants and Delawares, both with promising reviews of giving great carcasses. We fed them well and let them go well past the twelve week mark but every time we were greatly disappointed with the size. In general the finished size was in the two pounds and that was sadly mainly bones. This year the last batch we did on a whim of desperation was the freedom rangers. They were great. Really friendly, very healthy, and finished around four pounds. In the spring we will be getting another batch of these guys to raise.

Our Great Pyrenees Rutabaga

The seed catalogs are in. We have the garden planned. We can see some of the garlic starting to sprout out of the heavy mulch. We will be expanding the garden again this year. Hopefully to add another five or six rows.

We added some new pasture for the goats. This time we went away from the traditional woven wire fencing and used hi-tensile wire fencing. We did six strands that so far seem to be keeping everyone in. The first day that we let them into the new area things did not go so well. One after another they would do up to the fence get shocked and jump through. But it seemed that all they needed was the shock. Since then no one has tried to go through and they all keep their distance from the wires. If it continues to work we will be adding new sections back into the woods on the other side of the pond. Its our goal to start clearing out that section next.

The other thing that we added was a new feeding station for the goats. Since we keep our hay and feed at our shed it seemed really crazy to carry it all the way down the hill. So now just across from the shed we can feed the goats under a roof. It also has a hay feeder that will hold three bales of hay at a time so we don't have to fill it every day. We plan to collect the rain water off the roof into a small pond for the goats to drink.

We still have perennials to plant, more fences to build, a barn to put up, a woodshed to fill with firewood and more pasture area to make for the chickens. This has been a busy winter so far and looks like it will continue to be.

It is time to prepare for the coming life of spring.

What are you doing to get ready for spring?

Poultry Day

2014-12-22T22:07:00.000-05:00

The Sunday before thanksgiving is our last processing day. Its the day that officially ends our poultry growing season. Here is how we do it.

We gather all the birds the night before. We go into the coup with a red light and catch everyone and then put them in cages. Make sure to keep them protected so nothing eats them over night.

The night before we plug in the scalder and let it run all night. In the morning its nice and hot you dont want to be waiting on the water to heat up. We keep a propane burner and large kettle going just in case we need to add more hot water. The cone you see is what we use to kill the birds in. The bucket is for heads.

After the scalder its into the plucker

Then to the processing table. After that we put them into a cooler of ice cold water to bring down the temp as quick as possible. This year we got a fish fillet table. Its way easier on the back and has a hole for guts.

Then they go inside and get a final rinse and dry.

Then into the package and ready for the freezer.

The best and final step is to enjoy with friends!

Basket Love

2014-09-23T14:17:00.001-04:00

Baskets of Baskets

A Haiku Ode to Baskets:

You hold my treasures

You invent new collections,

One by one by one

Like an ark for nature

for yarn and blocks and produce

When ere there's a need.

A creativity nest.

Simple, ancient craft.

One by one by one,

I gather baskets.

by Lacey

To support or to be supported...that's is the question.

2014-07-02T16:38:00.000-04:00

A revelation on Essential Oils and Network Marketing...

I have always supported and respected my friends who worked in direct sales and found success. From Tupperware to Shaklee to Jewelry and Make-up. I love paying a little extra, hosting parties, taking orders and earning a little free product while my friend earned some extra income. It felt like I was doing them a favor--supporting the local economy. Sure, prices were inflated, and products not much different than what was available at the mall, or other retailer, but it felt better to help them out.

But, I'm not asking for any favors.

When I was introduced to this company I hemmed and hawed about being involved with Multi-level-marketing. There were far more marks against than for.
1. I had a business I loved and made some money at--I'd been building it for many years, I did not want to let that go.
2. I had a bad taste in my mouth from a brief encounter I had with MLM's several years ago.
3. I knew someone who was successful but was working extremely hard with another MLM company.
4. I didn't want to be a part of that culture, and thought it might stifle my creative nature.
5. Lastly and mostly, I didn't want to have to sell anything.

But I used them, and I talked, and it started.

Right here and now I proclaim that I am not asking anyone for their support. The products I have at my disposal are life-changing-miraculous and I would share them regardless of pay. Sometimes I forget to check on payday, but the checks come, and that's really nice--but mainly because it reinforces what I already know: for those who have listened to my schpeel, and given in, and tried--well, for those people these essential oils and nutritional supplements have worked. That's why I keep doing it. Do I love vintage and miss hunting, gathering and selling it? Yes, it's fun. But, my creativity has not been limited by sharing someone else's products. I mix and share and create and market and think of ways to develop my 'mission' every day. Furniture makes people happy, it truly does. These products make people live better. I have to push on in that direction. I share them to support you.

We've been blessed dualy. First, by the empowering nature of having these effective, safe essential oils at our disposal. Second by money, always second is money.

And I work hard some days, but because it is a mission, an obligation even, it comes easy. I love it.

I don't sell oils. Let me be clear: I want you to buy these oils. Badly. I want you to join my team of oil-educators and share them with everyone you know. Badly. For YOUR sake. For your family's sake. (bonus: for your bank account's sake.) I want you to give them a real shot and change your healthcare. I want you to try them and to be relieved from the meds, pain, emotional stress you might be dealing with. I do want that.

Help Your Own Self and let it go.

OR, 'the Pyramid Scheme de-bunked'

When people say they will not join in a 'pyramid scheme', I totally get it. I'm right there with them. I don't want to sell products for more than you could get them at the local store. I don't want to trick friends and family into signing on the dotted line and committing to months of orders with a company that pushes a faulty product of little value. Health is everything, and these are the medicines used from the dawn of time--valued higher than gold and silver. Why have we forgotten them? Why is their healing power now a secret? Don't sell them, share them. That's how network marketing works for EVERY great product. No commercial, or sales person at the mall will give you the one-on-one user support your friend can. No physician even. No healthcare practitioner. We all know that a good thing will go viral if it's truly a good thing. Network marketing takes advantage of our social nature, and it's the smartest capitalism out there. No commercials, no gimmicks. No lofty promises or bait and switches.

PS. our company is one of 2 innovative companies to reach 1 billion dollars in sales in 6 years. Know the other? (I imagine if you have one of their products you'll wish you could have earned a referral when you talked friends into getting one).

P.P.S. Every company that is successful forms a pyramid. A few at the top, and more at the bottom. It's the nature of capitalism. I'm all for socialism, but I can't get the Tea Party on board, so I'm just going to avoid the need for healthcare as long as possible. You can too :)*

P.P.S.S. Don't sell them, don't share them. Keep the secret. (but, still enroll as a wholesale member and get 25% off, there are no minimums or requirements. Just like shopping at Costco).

P.P.S.S.S. We want you to be able to get the oils for free so cost is NOT an excuse for anyone. If only our doctors gave us referral payment...what would the world look like?

P.P.P.S.S.S. It's not a pyramid scheme this time. It's a smart business plan that the wealthiest business tycoons in the world agree to be the smartest way to move great products.

Ready to try? Share? Talk to me.

*please don't give me credit for being a socialist. I do think it'd be great if it could work, but I am not officially associated with any political party or movement. I just want to heal the world. Make it a better place...

the Flip Side

2014-05-19T15:04:00.000-04:00

Death on the Homestead

New life is so much more fun to post about, but in reality all things aren't just joy. There has to be sorrow, and we've experienced an eye-opening amount of that as well since we've been on this homestead.

In the last week we lost this brand new duckling the night it hatched, along with the clutch of eggs that went with it. Is it a tragedy? Feels like it. Feels like the day before mother's day is just NOT the time to lose a baby. This little guy was not our first loss. Last year we lost 95% of a chick shipment the day it arrived--talk about panicked! We've lost several hives for no explicable reason (probably neoconitoids--beware), a goat, turkeys to a less than brilliant giant puppy dog. And ducks and guineas go missing with nothing left but a pile of feathers at least monthly. This week, almost nightly. Something is on the prowl.

So, while we do what we can to scare away predators and hope our dog will someday be effective at guarding more than just the goats, which he almost play with to death from time to time, we are in fear. And sometimes we lose sleep over coyotes yipping in the distance, and because of squabbles on an otherwise still night. We run outside armed and ready to take down what scares us and what threatens those in our protection but really we are only capable of trying. We are only doing our best.

I've heard many amazing testimonials about the healing people have been able to find through natural medicine and the essential oils over the last year. But, people still die. Healing and protection and life are all not really in our control and all we can do is our best. Perhaps this ray of darkness is what makes the light more tender, more warm. It's hard to measure something without a counterbalance and so as useless and hurtful and pointless as these regular tragedies seem to be, they seem to be what makes life precious.

Perhaps in modern day we shelter ourselves too much from this torment. We guard our children from experiencing these difficulties & we fear death so much that protect our children from overexposure. In the end we are pretty damn resilient. In the end we're better off for having these moments of the worse.

It was just a duckling. But to Jackie O. who sat on that nest and nurtured those eggs--those promises of life--it was everything. And to watch her sulk and limp and aimlessly shuffle around our homestead was the pain that balances out the joy of the bouncing baby goats, and nursing piglets...to celebrate mother's day last week in the midst of such contradiction...well, I still mourn her loss. And my kids, though challenged by this disappointment, know that life is a gift.

L'Chaim! (to life)

2014-05-08T15:13:00.000-04:00

We've had AMAZING weeks here. Truly amazing. The weeks that really make it all exactly what we expected and all that we want to do! Babies. Babies. Babies. Everywhere. Leviah said it best 'It's like it's baby season around here!'

meet Craig (front) & Cecile--twins from Clover

Video minutes after birth.

So far 4 kids from our goats. It was the first birth for all of them, and they all did amazing! There are 2 left that haven't birthed and while we *think* they are pregnant, we could very well be wrong. We are new at this. So new. We milked one mom briefly, and tasted. Warm milk is not my thing, so that was a big deal for me...but, hopefully we'll get the hang of that too and be able to take advantage of an other product from this homestead.

Hopefully.

The garden is well underway as well, and it's a weird year to be sure. It seems un-productive and we've only harvested Spinach thus far. Which I love. We're working on setting up systems that will allow us to harvest spinach and lettuce and kale year round. Still in the planning stages there.

nursing piglets--caution, image may offend those who think breastfeeding lewd.

Our first ever wwoofer is coming this weekend. That is intimidating too! We want so badly to make this place an open-type environment, but in reality housing strangers is just a little scary. I can't wait to get the knack of that, because we could use the help. So many plans.

But, the point of this post is just to say. l'Chaim. To life. (if you are not familiar with Fiddler on the Roof, well familiarize yourself. And listen to the song again and again. l'Chaim!)

and because it's mother's day this weekend I have a special treat for you.

Essential Oil Skin Care Cream

2014-04-16T14:20:00.001-04:00

This recipe is fantastic for soothing many different skin irritations. Enjoy!

Essential Oils for Skin Support

You'll need:

1 4oz Mason Jar
Coconut oil
10 drops certified pure Frankincense (the 'miracle oil')
10 drops certified pure Lavender (the 'soothing oil')
10 drops certified pure Melaleuca (the 'anti-germ oil')

Simply fill the jar with coconut oil, add in the essential oils and mix until combined. You can also add all ingredients to a blender and whip until you have a nice creamy consistency--this only works when coconut oil is solid and it will melt to liquid as soon as it's warm enough. Apply to the affected area as frequently as needed! Essential Oils are great.

Out of the dark & into the Garden

2014-03-05T13:16:00.002-05:00

The weather here as of late has been less than my favorite. Wintry, cold, grey...occasionally a 70degree day tossed in just to remind us how much we love to be outside and having the windows open.

the oppressive grey.

Blah. And, even though it is so cold and icy and miserable we must plan for the spring, which is due to arrive at some point--this is North Carolina after all! Blue skies are destined to break through and sunshine will inevitably wake us out of hibernation. And, when it comes our garden beds and seedlings have to be ready.

So, it's that time of year. Plant your gardens! Drew built us a larger greenhouse structure on the South Side of the house. It's attached and should help warm the crawl space as well. That couldn't hurt our power bill, which has been shockingly high for a 1200sqft house these past few months. One day we'll have a more efficient wood-burning system, but in the mean time we are using a lot of blankets and layers...

looking for a GREAT Southern Gardening book? This is IT! I adore this book. I saw the author speak on growing garlic at the Carolina Sustainable Agriculture conference & picked it up then--you should order!

The greenhouse has 3 small trays of tomatoes in it. Turns out it's WAY bigger than the last portable greenhouse and we are still working on ideas to make it an efficient place to grow out seedlings, keep some tropicals, maybe a rocket stove and grow in every season. Oh the vision of all-season-productivity we have!

While the ground is wet (and in between frozen) we managed to till up and terrace our south hill, where we cut down all those trees last year. We've run the goats, chickens and pigs through that area a few times to help root up the brambles, kill back some poison ivy and fertilize so we might be able to convert the whole hill to garden as time goes on. The terracing is swales on contour and represents permaculture at its best. The water that could potentially wash all the topsoil and nutrient down into the pond is now caught by our garden beds, sunk and used to improve our garden soil quality. It's such a relieving feeling to know something is working to improve our garden without us lifting a finger! Granted, we still have a lot of work to do when talking about water catching--such is the story for folks living on a hill. But, it's a vast improvement, and we have a much better idea of where the water is coming from and what we need to do to be more efficient. The end goal is to not need to water, and at the most have a few small ponds up hill to use so no one has to lug water up the hill or pump it.

these are not ducks; they are girls in the pond. they call this an 'island'. whatever--i like girls who play in the mud.

We've planted some in the garden beds that are ready, but, only after we put a rabbit proof fence around it all. Though we've seen a few rabbits, our ducks are the detriment of anything we plant. If they don't find a seed as soon as hits the ground, they gobble up any green thing that pokes its head through the dirt. It's been a struggle to plant cover crops and even some plants we've put in the ground were ripped to shreds. Who knew? Somebody...

The fence is working, and the garden seems to be in the perfect spot--just beneath the house where harvesting and admiring will be easy. Give it a few years and I can certainly envision a more idyllic and less barren place. Rosemary, lavender (that's right, I won't quit trying), lemon balm, chives, chamomile...I can't wait to get these perennials established. Feverfew, valerian, comfreys, some hedges and wildflowers...I need this vision today!

We planted veggies in the beds like peas, kale, carrots, swiss chard, broccoli, cauliflower, artichokes, spinach and more. So anxious to see some sprouting. I keep writing because in doing so I am feeling a little transported...

sometimes the sun shines from below...

Life on Schoolhouse Farm is busy and slow all at the same time. The house is under renovation which makes escaping outdoors even more desirable. While we convert the garage into living space we're all feeling even more pent up and claustrophobic. The dust and debris is making us all sick, plus there are mounds of clutter and boxes and furniture all waiting to settle in its rightful place in this new space. It'll be a homeschool room, laundry room, pantry...above all else it's the 'window room'. We installed 2 windows we scored at Habitat for Humanity and they are dreamy. I cannot wait to take a nap in a room filled with spring time. I cannot wait to feel the sun through the glass. I cannot wait to sit in a breeze filled room with the girls all working on their separate projects. This house needs that light, and so do I.

Presents for a Braniac

2013-10-23T13:58:00.003-04:00

Birthdays Can Be Treacherous

We're mid-birthday-month right now. Naomi and I have birthdays at the beginning of October, which involved nearly a week's worth of festivities this year, and Leviah's is at the end of the month. Birthdays can mean an onslaught of plastic nonsense that clutters are hallways and bedroom floors. Sure, they initially have a special place in the closet but the '1 toy at a time' rule is just so darn hard to enforce! We're trying to think of some new approaches, this one is particularly intriguing...

Anyway, after purging a ton of toys, games and clothing before the birthdays (as is a yearly tradition) the last thing I wanted to do was restock on unnecessities. So, we went basic.

Mancala (she squealed with delight)

Turnabout is Fairplay

Origami Paper

Yarn

and my personal favorite, a Fraction Circle. This thing is awesome! She put off playing with until I forced her last week. I knew when she opened it she's too old for me to dupe her into thinking learning toys are good gifts. But, she thanked us and quickly opened another.

When I finally did encourage her to pull it out to see what it was all about we all fell in love! I'll let the pictures give a better idea:

there's an empty circle frame to which you add from the many fraction pieces that came with.

you can see how having 12/12's is the same as 1 whole circle, like like 2/2's.

Plus you can mix and match fractions.

Everyone took a turn coming up with things, comparing 2/8's to 1/4, etc.

Which piece of pumpkin pie do you want?

Anyway--this inexpensive manipulative (and everything in Sima Design's shop) does make a great gift!

Child Labor

2013-10-07T17:24:00.000-04:00

We work them around here. They don't earn their keep, and they're not always cheery, but they work. They are paid in food and shelter and really great birthdays. And when other kids visit their faces light up and they squeal at the opportunity to help reminding us all how great we have it.

It has been a process to make a system that works for everyone--animal and human. There are still some kinks to work on, but it's better everyday and the more accessible animal care is for the kids the more capable they feel and act.

Here's how it happens:

First, they march (and sometimes run) up to the shed.

They fill each scoop.

They pull the wagon.

They deposit each scoop in the appropriate bowl or trough or tube or bucket.

They pull the wagon back up to the shed, close the door and they come in for breakfast.

And everyone's happy.

They also gather eggs, empty dishwashers, put away clothes, clean their room and help in other ways too.

Do your kids have chores?

1 Year Reflection.

2013-09-10T14:07:00.002-04:00

Some months later...

This blog has not become what I'd expected since we moved to our new homestead. It has been a little desolate these last few months. As I've confessed before, it's such a daunting thing to wrap my head around what we've done here, and what is yet to be done. So, I'll do my best to make a sweeping update in one short and sweet post.

Firstly the house is NOT what it was 1 year ago. Of course, the hustle of getting things in order those 2 weeks before we moved in held the majority of the updates, but since then we've (nearly) refinished the master bath and I'm really excited about it. There are several small changes that are lined up and just need to be accomplished, but our room has become a sanctuary of sorts. It's always cool back there, and with the seating area it's often quiet and I even make an effort to keep the bed made! Other bits of paint, curtains, pictures hung and shelves mounted have helped make the rest of our space feel like home. Certainly there still remains a bounty of ideas that will someday come to fruition, but for now our home is pretty cozy and I'm learning that +/- 1600sqft is the perfect size. Not too much, not too little.

The acreage on the other hand...so, in that regard I think everyone might think the more the better and maybe that's true. On one hand though, it's very difficult for us to not feel obligated to make the absolute most of what we have--every square inch. It's not the back .25acre anymore! Having nearly wrapped up our Permaculture Design Certification we know SO much more about how to effectively plan and use the terrain, but it's a little overwhelming. We're finding ourselves with goals we can't even imagine ever getting to! 10.5 acres is FAR more than enough to sustain us if we were really diligent about growing all our own foods, etc. So we're trying to focus on the immediate; trying not to become bogged down with the overwhelming vastness of possibility. There are 2 year goals, 5 year, 10 year...lifetime even.

And, can I just say that every day I'm more thankful for where we've landed? Do you remember my whining from last year? The complaining about the house? Well, it's still not my dream farmhouse, but it's got potential and with the new addition of a fantastic covered back deck it's growing on me. I was never a 'ranger station in the woods' kind of girl, but it's morphing into the country cottage I could see myself in for a long time...

"The plans He has could far surpass my own, and for all I know my dream would have been limiting."

Those are words from that whining an entire year ago and a day rarely goes by in which there isn't a revelation of how true it is. Rereading that post is still pretty painful because it occurs to me how many of my dreams have come true in this past year and how none of it would have if I hadn't hit as close to rock bottom as I think I ever have. Extreme doubt and frustration is silly in retrospect, but it was the only thing that brought be down to where I needed to be to accept all these gifts we now have.

We can't sit still around here and I'll blame the neglected blog on too much to do, difficulty focusing, etc. Honestly, a little of my writing here feels like bragging or like something that might hurt people who aren't here yet, who aren't where they know they want to be. Plus, most of the post titles would be something like, 'so, our chickens were laying 7 eggs a day until yesterday and now they're laying 2. What the heck?' or 'People say turkeys poop everywhere--that's true'.

We are where we wanted to be, and obviously it's not Eden. The world was created with this perfect balance and this could be Eden if we just pursue that and this place has taught us a lot about that. The rhythm of the place around us is totally out of our control to embrace or resist. We're figuring out how to ride those rhythms and make the most of it all.

Anyway. A list of what has been done on the 'farm' end.

planted: Chinese Chestnuts, Apples, Blueberries, comfrey, stinging nettle, peppermint, witch hazel, loofah, blackberries, raspberries, mulberries, elderberries, asparagus, figs, persimmons, rhubarb, hydrangea, mushroom plugs, cover crops, animal forage...we have a few annuals going in the garden area, but we REALLY focused on getting the perennials going this year.
cleared: 'back yard', garden area, cleared out many trees from our back 5 acres.
built: chicken coop, goat house, mobile chicken coop, fencing, mobile fencing, covered deck, garden beds, trellises, bee yard.
raised: laying chickens, goats, meat chickens, turkeys, guineas, dog, ducks.
education: Permaculture Design Certification, holistic beekeeping, orchard class, lots of reading, beginning farmers farm tour...
classes: We had several bee classes and essential oil classes and can't wait to add more to the list as the farm progresses.

In sum: we don't update this place as much as we should--my fault. But, things are happening very regularly and we are content to be where we are. Still a little scared because there's so much, we have moments of complete overwhelmtion (and you can quote me on that). Anyone want to move in next door? We're learning more and more how much this type of lifestyle is better when your neighbors are on board! A few of ours down like ducks in their lawn? Or cat paws on their cars? Silly country folk...

Easy as Cherry Jam

2013-06-19T21:13:00.002-04:00

Our Cherries and Essential Oils are 'in a Jam'.

We picked and pitted 50lbs of cherries in the last 3 days. I'm glad to say our counters are cherry free for the moment--unless they're in jars becoming wine, in pie, in bags as leathers, or canned as 'Tango Cherry Jam'. Having not yet tasted the wine, we can't know for sure until that's done, but so far the Tango Cherry Jam is by far the best result of our picking adventure. And I have to share.

Tango Cherry Jam by Schoolhouse Farm

5lbs Bing Cherries washed, pitted and mashed up.
2.5cups sugar
1 package Sure Gel Low Sugar Pectin
1 cup of water
10 drops Certified Pure Tangerine Essential Oil (ask us how you can get some free!)

Bring cherries to a simmer and add in 10 drops Tangerine Essential Oil.
In a separate pot mix water, sugar and pectin. Over the burner stir constantly until it comes to a boil, then allow to boil while mixing for 1 minute.

Quickly pour the pectin mixture over your cherries and stir in quickly and thoroughly. Pour into clean canning jars leaving 1/2inch headroom, cover and allow to sit on the counter over night or until set.
Store in the freezer or in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Makes about 9 8oz jars.

on freshly made sourdough? perfection. I just captured our first wild caught sourdough culture (following the simple directions available in this book) since having moved in and it worked so well. Makes me wonder what took me so long, nothing beats warm bread with a generous layer of butter and homemade jam!

Homeschooling on the Homestead

2013-05-23T14:36:00.000-04:00

I'll likely never feel like we have homeschooling all figured out. People sometimes ask me for advice, or what we do, or how we make it work...well, I'm always intimidated by these questions. Someday, when everyone has grown and I no longer feel responsible for what my kids know, maybe then I'll feel qualified to impart 'wisdom' on this topic.

As it goes right now, we are most likely 'unschoolers' if labeling came into play. On occasion we have a spare minute to sit and learn, but generally we're moving around too much. Sure, we try to make the most of 'learning' opportunities, but sometimes I irritate myself with the 'why's' and the 'did you notice's'. Honestly, I'm in a spiral of letting go when it comes to schooling.

Perhaps Naomi is to blame, she has taught me ~~a little~~ boat loads about how learning doesn't have to look like what I think it should--as free-spirited as I like to think I am. And then there's Leviah, who will likely teach herself to read one afternoon in the hammock.

So, between chopping down trees, feeding chickens, adopting new livestock, training puppies, hiking, removing ticks, collecting tadpoles, catching lizards, building birdhouses, identifying wild herbs, gathering dandelions, planting trees, potty training sister, visiting new cousins, swinging, cleaning creek beds, dancing, gathering eggs, reading stories, occasionally fighting, feeding worms, emptying the dishwasher and sometimes remembering laundry we're often lucky to fit in dinner. As to homeschooling...well these days it's more of an all-hands-on-deck style of learning. We review our multiplication chart from time to time, throw in some phonics...that's about it.

(this girl is 2 today and needs no schooling in the art of devouring strawberries)

Not everyone is sailing along in the same 'homesteading' boat as we are, maybe because you're not called to it, or it's on the horizon, now that we're here on this plot it's obvious; more important for our family than the homeschool room (which don't get me wrong, I envy the notion) is the outside space, I know because the more time my children spend outside the more settled and content they come to be. Surely, as the NC summer heats up to unbearably hot we'll likely retreat and return to more regularly structured 'learning' time, but this spring, though at times overwhelming, has proven just how much being 'country folk' suits us. These kids are learning and interacting with the world around them so intimately--it's impossible to think that strapping them to a desk for any set time would benefit them more.

Timbering Doos-n-Donts

2013-05-05T13:07:00.002-04:00

Timbering on the Homestead

Since we moved in to our new place we've known taking down trees to for sunlight in the garden area would be necessary. Based on accessibility and Permaculture zone systems we also knew that we wanted the gardens close to the house. The large Oaks at the 'front' of the house were out of the question, one in particular serves as our swingset and the kids favorite retreat. That left us with the back of the house, the south facing side closer to the pond. While the shade nearly 20 trees offered in that area was enchanting and kept it comfortably cool, they weren't conducive to growing food, and while Drew cut down several, some of them were over 100' tall and a little out of Drew's expertise.

Having a professional arborist come to cut the trees down we found could be pretty expensive. Our lack of funds inspired us to search out an alternative. After looking around (on craigslist) we found some local companies who would select cut, take timbers to the mill, and split the profits 60/40. So, we chose one of those advertisers somewhat blindly and had him select cut several of the large Poplars and Oaks on the back part of the property; he also agreed to remove the growth around the house where we are building our garden.

garden area before.

garden area after.

there's still a huge pile of logs that weren't worth taking to the mill--according to the guy we used. we're working on it, Drew is trying to cut it all into more manageable lengths, doing some splitting lengthwise for a split rail fence, garden borders, rustic benches, etc.

Though it's sad to cut big trees in one way, in another it's the best thing we can do for the forest health. By thinning out some of the older trees we give younger ones a chance to grow, also now we have several clearings in which to plant crop producing trees like Chestnuts, Hazelnuts, Walnuts, and even berries. Now we have an opportunity to utilize this wooded area in a way we didn't originally realize; the forest floor is FULL of highly fertilized soil, perfect for growing and having cut some large trees down, there's enough sunlight to really get some things started--a 'food forest'.

Like most of our experiences here there are things we are happy with, and things we could have improved--hindsight 'doos-n-donts'.

First, we found a guy that seemed decent and interested in timbering a small parcel like ours without tearing it all apart from driving equipment. The company we used had a bobcat with tracks which made it possible to maneuver around very efficiently while keeping ruts to a minimum. It was still a muddy mess. Perhaps taking these trees down before the temperatures warmed and the ground softened would have been better. But, we did ask that they smooth the path they made on their way out which they did willingly.

We were told that this was a small company, essentially just one guy, and it would take him awhile to get it done. In our minds awhile=two weeks. It ended up taking him about a month and a half. A lot of that had to do with weather, but trying to get a more definitive time frame would have been smart. Hearing chainsaws and bobcats and seeing them parked in your yard for over a month gets old.

A contract would be a good idea. There was a week where we didn't see, nor could we get in touch with our guy and it was a little nerve wracking. He had taken the majority of the logs out and we only had an email address and phone number to get in touch, he turned up, but it would have been nice to have a stronger sense of security.

Also, getting a rough price of what lumber is going for would be wise. Foresters are available, they are paid consultants to help estimate what your should get and in negotiating the best price possible. In retrospect we should have done this; the amount we got for all the mess and work was surprisingly low--but then we didn't have to pay like we originally thought we would so in the end we're happy.

Lastly, we were not really prepared for the mess. There are piles and piles of tree tops and undesirable pieces all around the property, we were a little blown away by this mess. While there are a few options for getting this cleaned up, most of them cost a significant amount.

One way is to get it in the contract that the timber company will clean it up; obviously this will drastically reduce how much return you get from the timber sale. But, there is a two fold benefit from this approach; one, it will encourage them to load and take more to the mill which means more money on the front end, and two they'll mulch and leave that for you to use as you wish.

Hiring a forest mulcher to come in and mulch everything is another clean-up option. These mulchers can do everything up to eight inches which will take care of the majority, and they can clean up about 1 full acre a day. But, be aware, they charge about $1000.00 per day.

So, us cheapskate homesteader types are going with the do-it-yourself option: we will *slowly* cut it all for firewood or wood crafts. One of our neighbors has a wood splitter, so he's offered to trade for some of the wood for himself.

Knowing your property boundaries is also important. You don't want to make enemies of your neighbors, who we're learning can be one of your greatest resources in these endeavors, so we walked the lines all around with the adjoining property owners. One maple, we found out, had been planted nearly 80 years ago by one neighbor and his father and we made it to our timber guy not to touch it. It's magnificent and with a history--even better.

our new 'road'.

Having a plan where you want the skid road to be. The timber company create a "road" dragging out all the trees which for us was a great opportunity to make the back of our wooded property accessible. If you guide them they should stick to it and when all the timber is out, the road will provide a nearly driveable path. We even had them create a few swales for our permaculture food forests on the way out which is hard to do without heavy equipment like the bobcat.

Having the land timbered served us very well; it gave a us the road to the back, opened up the canopy, removed some unwanted trees, created a huge pile of firewood, and provided us a little cash to reinvest in planting our new trees. There's still a mess to clean up, but all in all we were fortunate to have found this route in managing our property. The chestnuts we've planted in the clearings are already thriving.

Perhaps one day soon we'll post on something less farm related, but as we're learning this homesteading life is nearly somewhat all-consuming. We hop around from one project to the next! What projects are you working on?

Learning from the Bees

2013-04-23T12:21:00.001-04:00

Our First Behind the Scenes Hive Tour

Even with 7 years as beekeepers we still feel like 'new-bees' when it comes to understanding all the dynamics of the honeybee. But, we're thrilled to answer questions when we can and we're even more excited to be offering our first bee 'class'. We are having a few folks over to take a peek into one of our busy hives. We'll search for the queen, some larvae, workers, nurse bees and attendees will have an opportunity to see firsthand the inner-workings of a bee colony as a whole. The bees never cease to amaze us and we want to give others the opportunity to open and explore a hive themselves! Come to take a look with us, and bring any questions you might have. Class is geared toward ages 10years and up.

This class will be $15 and includes a jar of honey to take home and enjoy! Beekeeping is a labor of love, come and see why we're so enamored...

Visit the link to sign up and for more info. Space is limited.

us working on catching a swarm a year ago:

Getting Parenting Right-ish

2013-04-08T21:32:00.005-04:00

A quick tip for keeping cool with your kids.

Before I had kids I was magnificent with them. I adored them, joked with them, spoiled them and encouraged their cantankerous ways. I'm not like that much with my own children...which recently struck me as a bloody shame.

Though I don't ever see myself letting loose in quite the same fashion I did before I had the weight of child-rearing on my shoulders, I need to see my children differently. What's the difference between interacting with other people's children? Well, obviously, they're not mine and I'm not responsible for their behavior, failures, successes or defeats, I'm just a person they (usually) respect and they rarely come crying to me. But, I would comfort them if they did...and those interactions with kids are what I thought parenting was all about, and I wanted them to come crying to me.

I've determined, and it is helping me de-rigidify, I need to see my kids, even in their worst moments, as if they're not my own. This is a revelation when I'm irritated, angry, tired, worn out, beat down, busy, or at any given moment really. Even in the midst of good times, this thought lately occurs and softens. And, as a matter of fact, they really aren't mine after all; they're a gift. Sure, I'm obligated to them, but I asked for these gifts and got them. Yes, we're caretakers, somewhat obligated to provide them shelter and nourishment, ought to have authority and so on, but I've got to see more often how even at their worst they are what I asked for, and beautiful at that. It's amazing how a different mindset can add some perspective in heated moments, and the fun moments can be a little funner, too.

Now this is a serious digression from the farm goings-on, surely not because there's a short supply of them, but as much as it's been helping me to think this way, I thought it might be useful to other mums and dahs out there. (English slang as a result of our Larkrise to Candleford watching lately). In conclusion: your children aren't really yours, so be funner.

p.s. yes, these are all instagram pics. come and follow...

hugelkultur (hoogle culture)

2013-04-02T08:47:00.000-04:00

Permaculture's hugelkultur

We're making an effort to embrace and learn permaculture systems by incorporating them in our homestead as much as possible. Permaculture embraces ways that work with nature, not against--utilizes the natural tendencies to get the most out of things with the littlest (long term) efforts; Hugelkultur is a prime example of taking advantage of nature's way. The idea behind this system makes a compost pile to plant on simply by digging a shallow hole, burying yard waste and letting it do it's 'thing'. The wood itself develops its own ecosystem while decomposing, and eventually converts into a very fertile hill. The logs release nitrogen, retain moisture and compost all at the same time. These types of beds are a great way to clean up a property that has logging debris all about, like ours right now...

So here are the (our) steps.

Dig a hole, employing your most agile diggers. (ours is about 12" deep x 15' long and 3'wide)

Fill the hole with logs, rotting ones are even better.

Then cover the logs with wood chips, leaves or both.

Finish it up with the dirt you dug out of the hole and cover the logs/waste. Some people import more dirt and compost to pile on--we used what we had and were surprised how far it went.

The finished thing looks something like this (a hot mess).

Then plant into it. This hugelkultur is it's own thing, an ecosytem unto itself--or that's the idea. The wood below will rot and hold water, create compost, and provide everything your plants need by the third year. A hugelkultur is capable of growing anything, from fruit trees to herbs and flowers to tomatoes. Of course, thanks to 'google culture' there's plenty more available for those of you interested.

If you're going to try one, do it now while it's cool and the ground is soft. This was hard work, even with all hands on deck it took us approximately 6 hours. We were pooped and felt very deserving of our day off. Thank goodness 'farming friday' falls right before shabbat. But, over time our time saved on tilling, weeding, and watering will hopefully prove our effort worthwhile.

Homesteading: the Fence

2013-03-14T22:02:00.000-04:00

Putting up Goat Fence on Hilly Wooded Terrain.

In the last few weeks it's been all about the fence. We're about ready for some goats, and for their sake the fence has to be just right--from what we've read they think like escape artists.

It would seem that over thousands of years of fencing in livestock the process would be simple, easy to find resources, and straight forward. Not so. One guy says this, another says that and ultimately it's a figure-it-out-on-the-fly type of deal. So, we will attempt to share what we did in hopes that it might save future fencers some time and headache, maybe even a dollar or 2. It's going to come in parts, most of which you might find utterly boring. AND, I'm sure there are simpler methods of fencing and no one has just the right formula, but here's what worked (and didn't) for us.

PART A: Building the Frame for a Livestock Fence:

--land/area to fence

--twine ($3)

--wooden fence posts. (we did 3.5inches x 6.5feet every 30 ft*) (Tractor Supply had these for less than Lowe's hardware, but they are much farther from us, Lowe's price-matched for us, so shop around)

--auger ($75/4hours)

Determine which type fencing you want/need to use. We went with Red Brand goat fence. It seems like a great product, but note--100 ft rolls are hard to come by, 330' seems like the standard.
If you know you want to use 330' cut twine to this length (325' to be safe) and run it on simple wooden stakes or similar around the area you want to fence. (our mistake: trying to calculate while running the line. We should have cut first, THEN run it, we ended up 30 feet shy by miscounting in the field. oops!)
Clear the area around where your fence will be installed, a nice 1-3' wide path is great, so if it's wooded walk it again and again with a machete or chainsaw and get a decent clear path on which to run your fencing.
Rent an auger. Or borrow. Drew gave a short effort to post-hole digging 2 foot deep holes every 30 feet all around the line, plus 2, 6 feet from the corner post holes, but quickly determined it would take for-ev-er to get it done. We'd still be digging...the auger rental was $75 for 4 hours, and it made for much easier work. (easy is a relative term, it is heavy, jerks you about and makes you sore for days, but it was quick....quicker).
It's likely that having your posts on hand would be ideal. And, before you dig all your post holes, test your soil. In some cases (as we wish we'd considered) a t-post might be a better option. Our soil is very sandy and only on the corner and brace posts did we use quickcrete. The other wooden posts are quite wobbly, and a t-post driven in would have been more secure, easier to install and cheaper.
Install your wooden posts. *looking back we would use 6in x 8ft wooden posts on the corners with 3.5in x 6ft supports, all in concrete, with only t-posts every 10ft all around the rest, except where the gate goes, then space them as wide as the gate will be--generally 4ft or more (we built ours, so exact measuring was only important when on that).

putting down the post-hole digger, picking up the auger.

gettin' 'er done.

you'd be a fool not to take a hand when it's offered...

This info is probably SO boring for most of you, but for the other 'homesteaders' on the internet, like us 4 weeks ago, it could be useful. Look forward to possibly 2 more parts to this 'how-to'. Hope someone somewhere can learn from our mistakes/successes!

post in the ground.

tamping around the base--this didn't help much in our sandy soil.

the closest wooden post to the back of the coop/goat house. nearly done.