FARMSTEADING.
Naturally, we dedicated much of our spare time and effort this year to getting into the cabin. We got it livable, and in effect, made ourselves at home. Of course, there is still plenty––PLENTY––left to do to "finish" it (you know, like getting water inside and such), but now that we're living in the cabin and comfortable, we've found a little bit more time to spend working on other projects around the property. For one, getting our gardens going.The other day we planted our elephant garlic (whose flowers will double as one of our favorite ornamentals in the spring) in our no-till, front yard garden. We're prepping the high tunnel to take on a bunch of food next year, envisioning peas growing up the skeleton, tomatoes under the remaining plastic. The broadfork is about to see some serious work again. Plans for a small greenhouse are being sketched and, although I recognize this isn't about gardens, I continue to haul the chainsaw into the woods and clear what I can for future pasture and future animals (not to be mistaken with futuristic animals, but I wouldn't rule it out either). In fact, we even preemptively purchased our first solar charger and fencing so whenever we're ready to get animals––pigs, goats, who knows––we'll be ready. We're still not sure what our market plans are for next year, but we know we'll be able to supply more and more of the food we sell from right outside our front door. The farmstead is coming along.- Jesse.
ONE YEAR LATER.
Right now, I'm sitting warmly in our cabin. The new kitty is playing below me (with anything and everything), the roosters are crowing, Hannah is knitting, Wendell is barking, breakfast is cooking away on the wood stove––it's a typical morning on the farmstead. But it's a typical morning in a place we could have only dreamed of a year ago.In mid-August of last year we were asked to leave the farm on which we'd been living. And when it happened, we had no money, no farm, and no idea what to do next. So, we turned to you. And twelve months later, we have you to thank for this cabin that shelters us, and this beautiful farm we're planting.After being asked to leave that farm, we knew we wouldn't have a home or farm of our own anytime soon––we knew we'd be lucky to even be farming at all in a year. But the Smiths graciously stepped in and sold us 7.5 acres of Bugtussle. You generously pitched in tons of support and several thousand dollars. And now we don't just have a farm, but our dream farm. Exactly one year after we had absolutely no farm at all.On this unfortunate anniversary you have given us reason to celebrate and we want to take this opportunity, and every opportunity, to thank you. You guys are the best, and we truly, and very literally, could not have done it without you. Sincerely, thank you.- Jesse.
CABIN UPDATE: THE DETAILS.
Sometimes it really is the little things. I know this is the case for me. It is really the trim going up around the windows and doors, the shelves with our canned goods neatly arranged, the light switch covers and curtains and all the stupid things that don't matter - these are the things that make our house feel like our home. These are the things that start to make it seem finished, as unimportant as they are. I can slowly see the form taking shape with each tiny detail coming together.
And in BIGGER news - we are starting to side the cabin this weekend! Pretty excited/daunted by this.
We'll let you know how it goes!- Hannah.