Progress has been in fits and starts (most of the time it feels like I'm going backward), but I can look around and see that while things may not be perfect I am moving forward. I'm also learning a lot! Here is an update on several projects: Skirting! When we bought the place, the skirting around the bottom of the house was plywood. Plywood is not meant for long term exterior use so it needed to be replaced. Thanks to the assistance of Jonathan, Meg, Rick and my mom, I have insulated panels with an exterior finish surrounding the bottom of the house. There is metal flashing on the top so water doesn't sit on it. We also added a rabbit-proofing measure as well by folding some fencing into an L shape and stapling it beneath the panels. The cover for the water heater is also more appropriately sized and insulated. Almost ready for winter! Gutters are installed and working well. I only have two barrels to catch water right now, but I will get more or I will figure out how to direct all of the water to an underground tank. Early on, my mom and I built several conveniences including a ramp for the dogs at the back door, shelves under the kitchen sink and a gate to keep the dogs in the bedroom/off the stairs.
I've also made a lot of really nice compost by burying my Bokashi along with some shredded newspaper. It was so much easier to dig the hole with the backhoe! I'm getting better at using the tractor, but I don't mind letting visitors use my toy. Holes for all the apple trees are dug thanks to Sarah, Chris, Thomas, Mom, Meg and Rick. I'll be getting watering stakes, wind straps and compost this week and picking up the trees next week. After that major project is finished, I'll focus on getting the pump shed ready for winter so the pipes don't freeze again.
2 Comments
In the satellite image, you can see that there are two stream beds. I didn't walk over to the one farther from the house to see if it was also flowing though. Hail piled up on the deck, but it melted quickly. The storm shredded many of the plants including my last two peanut plants:( The watermelon plants survived because the plastic bottles protected them from the pronghorn and the hail! Too bad there isn't enough time before the first frost for them to actually produce watermelons. I learned so about this land today. What an amazing day! Absolutely beautiful! Next time, I'm going to set up the good camera on a tripod outside the screen on the other porch. I want to do repeats from the same position so I can see the sun rise further north and south as the seasons change. It just happened to line up really well with that space between peaks this morning.
|
AuthorTeacher, tinkerer and farmer. Archives
September 2021
Categories
All
|