Homestead Work - May 2018

It's amazing to think that it's May of 2018! Not sure where the time is going, but it's going fast. I see the need to tighten up a bit and get the big things in place for our homestead build. 

We've acccomplished the things we needed to these first few months; now, we need to get serious about the following: 

1) Build an "Outhouse". Why would we do this? There are several reasons; for people staying with us (camping/glamping), any workers or outside contractors, and for ourselves (although we have our trailer). We don't want to use the black water system in the trailer, I don't want to haul the trailer to a dump site every few months. Our outhouse will be a compost toilet; low maintenance and very permaculture-ish! 

2) Build a "Wellhouse". We have our well in, but we need to build a small (4'x8') enclousure for security, 55 gallon HDPE water barrel, and an outdoor shower. Basically, this is just a small shed that covers our well and allows us to add a simple way to retrieve water, take a shower, or use an outdoor sink. 

3) Finish fencing. We have about 800 feet of fence to put in. We have the pull post and corner posts set in concrete and are placed at our property pins. This will be completed sometime in the fall. 

We were on the homestead yesterday and when we pulled in, we saw this! 

Not much damage, it could have been worse! I need to get my chainsaw in here and remove these standing dead trees. 12 acres and I pu the trailer where a tree falls on it!!

Ponderosa Pine starting to make cones! We have pinon pine on the homestead, too! Tasty pine nuts! 

Almost 10 gallons a minute! We are still running the well system to clear it (murky water from the drilling sediment) - it can take several days to clear a well. Other than that, we are clear on tests and good to go! This is where we're building the first little structure (cover the well site).

The Mountains Are Calling

I've blogged for over a decade now. Not many people read these posts anymore, but I'm still compelled to write once in a while. Good threapy, I suppose. The world has changed (radically, in some ways) in the last ten years. And especially in the last two. 

All things considered, I've changed a lot, too. I would be embarassed and ashamed to say that I haven't. We're being delusional if we think we can remain "neutral"; we're either evolving or devoloving, period. There's no sitting on the fence. And you know if you're on the right track or not. If you keep the blinders on, or stay asleep, and keep telling yourself that you're happy and doing the right things, you'll wake up at the end of your life and regret most of it. Embrace change, take chances, do big things (in your life), don't fear the unknown!

I'm in my fifties now, I see where my life has made a difference in some areas, and where I've neglected other areas. I ascribe to Socratic philosophy, and I do believe an unexamined life is not worth living. I try to examine as often as I can. That's what I've been doing for the past two years, a lot. And it made me realize I need to take my own advice (again) and do something BIG and RADICAL!

To my point: Something has shifted. Things have changed. People have changed. I'm just now coming to the realization that what was, is gone, and it won't be coming back. And as I navigate through the maze of anxiety, stress, and the political upheaval, I find myself wanting a radically different life, away from the nonsense and chaos. Away from the hoards of mindless, robotic consumers that are blinded by the Empire's glow and the constant deception and lies. I need to move on down the road ;-)

"Everyone needs beauty and bread
A place to pray and a place to play
The mountains are calling and I must go."
John Muir