April 20th, 2016
It sure has been a busy spring. We have added a small rabbitry to the homestead. We bought 3 New Zealand does and a buck. So far we have had 2 nice litters, though small. But both mothers were first time mothers. They are both doing great so far. We also added to our back up solar system. We now have 1 kw of panels and 832 amp hours of battery storage. I also just finished building a rain water collection system for back up source of water. Oh, I also just built our first beehive. Our honey bees are coming next week! Here are some pictures of our projects: |
Hi everybody, glad you found this section of the site.
Sorry so long since an update. Our internet connection at the cottage sucks. It has been really slow and hard to get on. I came to work early so I could update the site from work this morning.
We have been very busy after moving in. We moved in August 7th, 2012. Only after we moved, did it occure to us that it had been exacly 9 months to the day since we started to build. We have lots to finish before winter gets here. The chicken coop is finished except for staining. That will have to wait until spring so the rough sawn lumber can dry and take the stain better. The siding on the house has been on for a year now, so we started staining that.
Here is something you just won't believe. If you have the need to stain, believe it, and benifit from this: I bought a 5 gallon bucket of black fence paint from Tractor Supply. It is a latex, acrylic. I was able to thin it about 50% paint and 50% water and spray it on with a pump up type garden sprayer. After spraying it on, I brush it out just to even things out a little. I have done the entire house with 5 gallons, except for the front porch which we have to do yet. I have about 2 gallons of thinned paint left at this point. I don't think that will quite finish it, but it will come close. (It takes a lot of stain to do the porch spindles, etc.) A 5 gallon bucket of the fence paint was $39.00. At the most, it will take 10 gallons with about half of that left over. That will do the chicken coop in the spring. So, for less than $80.00 I will have the entire house and chicken coop stained! :-) (tip of the day) lol
I am hoping to get the stone put on the foundation too before winter gets here.
I have 4 raised bed gardens built now. For now, they are doubling as compost bins. I have added some aged cow manure, old straw, grass clippings, etc. and have been mixing them all up about once a week. I think they will be down to pure compost by spring for planing.
Here are lots of pictures to show what we have been up to.
Sorry so long since an update. Our internet connection at the cottage sucks. It has been really slow and hard to get on. I came to work early so I could update the site from work this morning.
We have been very busy after moving in. We moved in August 7th, 2012. Only after we moved, did it occure to us that it had been exacly 9 months to the day since we started to build. We have lots to finish before winter gets here. The chicken coop is finished except for staining. That will have to wait until spring so the rough sawn lumber can dry and take the stain better. The siding on the house has been on for a year now, so we started staining that.
Here is something you just won't believe. If you have the need to stain, believe it, and benifit from this: I bought a 5 gallon bucket of black fence paint from Tractor Supply. It is a latex, acrylic. I was able to thin it about 50% paint and 50% water and spray it on with a pump up type garden sprayer. After spraying it on, I brush it out just to even things out a little. I have done the entire house with 5 gallons, except for the front porch which we have to do yet. I have about 2 gallons of thinned paint left at this point. I don't think that will quite finish it, but it will come close. (It takes a lot of stain to do the porch spindles, etc.) A 5 gallon bucket of the fence paint was $39.00. At the most, it will take 10 gallons with about half of that left over. That will do the chicken coop in the spring. So, for less than $80.00 I will have the entire house and chicken coop stained! :-) (tip of the day) lol
I am hoping to get the stone put on the foundation too before winter gets here.
I have 4 raised bed gardens built now. For now, they are doubling as compost bins. I have added some aged cow manure, old straw, grass clippings, etc. and have been mixing them all up about once a week. I think they will be down to pure compost by spring for planing.
Here are lots of pictures to show what we have been up to.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2012
Yeasterday and today I have been working on the stone veneer on the foundation. Here are some pics. It is almost finished.
Yeasterday and today I have been working on the stone veneer on the foundation. Here are some pics. It is almost finished.
This past week, hurricane Sandy struck the east coast. Here in Ohio, we were very lucky compaired to much of the north east. We still had 50 mile per hour winds with 65 mile per hour gusts. Our little cottage survived just fine. In fact, we both commented how tight it was. It stayed warm and there were no drafts what so ever. The curtians never moved with 50 mile per hour winds!
November 3rd, 2012
Today, I finely put the driveway in. Durring the week of the hurricane it rained for 6 consecutive days. We are so tired of mud, we just decided to bite the bullet and spend the money. The gravel and bobcat rental all together cost us about $500.00, but it was worth it with winter coming. Here are some pics of the new driveway.
November 3rd, 2012
Today, I finely put the driveway in. Durring the week of the hurricane it rained for 6 consecutive days. We are so tired of mud, we just decided to bite the bullet and spend the money. The gravel and bobcat rental all together cost us about $500.00, but it was worth it with winter coming. Here are some pics of the new driveway.
Now that the driveway has been put in, the only mud we had was, what will be the yard area. It had become a real mud hole. I found a way to solve the problem and "kill two birds with one stone". I put an ad on Craig's list for old junk hay. I recieved more offers than I could count. Mostly round bales for about $10.00 each. The first one, I got free for hulling.
This will both cover the mud, and help ammend the soil for seeding grass next spring.
Here are some pics..........
This will both cover the mud, and help ammend the soil for seeding grass next spring.
Here are some pics..........
Ok, tonight, I really scored! A week or so ago I got a call from my craigslist add of a guy that had a lot of hay. He was going on vacation and would call me when he got back. Today he called. He brought me 3 - 1500 lb round bails for a total of $50 bucks delivered on his dump bed trailer. That will do all the mud we have left showing, plus compost, mulch for the garden, etc. etc. !
HERE IS A YOUTUBE VIDEO UPDATE POSTED NOVEMBER 25, 2012:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npBqmW8LWkY&feature=g-upl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npBqmW8LWkY&feature=g-upl
December 26th, 2012
I hope everybody had a very merry Christmas. Today, we got a little snow. Well, actually a lot of snow in a short period of time. At 9am this morning, there was no snow on the ground. I took these pictures at noon.....3 hours later!
I hope everybody had a very merry Christmas. Today, we got a little snow. Well, actually a lot of snow in a short period of time. At 9am this morning, there was no snow on the ground. I took these pictures at noon.....3 hours later!
JUNE 1, 2013
JUNE 1, 2013
Wow! Has it been this long since I have edited anything? I am truly sorry I haven't given any updates in this long. We have been so busy living our dream we haven't had time to talk about our dream! lol
Anyway, the gardens are in and doing great. The grass is starting to grow up through all that hay we put down over the muddy clay we have for dirt and I finished the garage. (see garage and workshop section in top boarder). Oh....and we have done a bunch of land scaping which is still in progress.
We also finely got screen doors on so we can enjoy the wonderful breeze coming through the house.
I will tell the rest of what has been going on with a bunch of pictures..............enjoy!
Wow! Has it been this long since I have edited anything? I am truly sorry I haven't given any updates in this long. We have been so busy living our dream we haven't had time to talk about our dream! lol
Anyway, the gardens are in and doing great. The grass is starting to grow up through all that hay we put down over the muddy clay we have for dirt and I finished the garage. (see garage and workshop section in top boarder). Oh....and we have done a bunch of land scaping which is still in progress.
We also finely got screen doors on so we can enjoy the wonderful breeze coming through the house.
I will tell the rest of what has been going on with a bunch of pictures..............enjoy!
Oh......one more piece of great news! This is the sign in front of our BIG HOUSE!!
JANUARY, 2014
Well, it has been quite a winter so far! First of all, for those who discovered it, this site was down for about a week. It took forever for weebly to figure out the problem. I seems that their software had identified my site as a "phishing" site. I assure you....as they aslo discovered, there was no reason for this. They reviewed my entire site and agreed so finely reinstated it. Wow, I thought for a second all my pictures and story were lost forever.
The temperatures from January 7th to January 28th have been very cold. Last night (the 27th) it hit 19 degrees BELOW zero!
Our little cottage has been cozy and warm, but the truth is the baseboard heaters just can't keep up with THAT cold of temperatures. It takes a fire in the wood stove to keep it warm. We have had it running about 74 degrees in the house though, so been very warm and comfortable.
I have worried about the chickens, but they seem to be tolerating it. Keeping water that isn't frozen is a challenge. I got a heated water dish, but it only holds a gallon. Their 5 gallon water dish is frozen most of the time. So....I fill the small one ALLOT!
I submitted our cottage for an episode of an upcoming reality show about tiny houses. I haven't heard back yet, but hope to get on the show to help promote small house living!
In a a few more weeks it will be time to start some garden plants that need started indoors. This year I have my shop built and will start the plants on the work bench.
Well, it has been quite a winter so far! First of all, for those who discovered it, this site was down for about a week. It took forever for weebly to figure out the problem. I seems that their software had identified my site as a "phishing" site. I assure you....as they aslo discovered, there was no reason for this. They reviewed my entire site and agreed so finely reinstated it. Wow, I thought for a second all my pictures and story were lost forever.
The temperatures from January 7th to January 28th have been very cold. Last night (the 27th) it hit 19 degrees BELOW zero!
Our little cottage has been cozy and warm, but the truth is the baseboard heaters just can't keep up with THAT cold of temperatures. It takes a fire in the wood stove to keep it warm. We have had it running about 74 degrees in the house though, so been very warm and comfortable.
I have worried about the chickens, but they seem to be tolerating it. Keeping water that isn't frozen is a challenge. I got a heated water dish, but it only holds a gallon. Their 5 gallon water dish is frozen most of the time. So....I fill the small one ALLOT!
I submitted our cottage for an episode of an upcoming reality show about tiny houses. I haven't heard back yet, but hope to get on the show to help promote small house living!
In a a few more weeks it will be time to start some garden plants that need started indoors. This year I have my shop built and will start the plants on the work bench.
update: october 26, 2014
I have been asked several times for an update.
We are still absolutely loving it here at the cottage. I thought I would show a little of what homesteading is all about. In our hatchery, we ended up with quite a few roosters in the incubators. Eggs just don't come with a label of "boy or girl". I found homes for most of the "roos", but ended up with 8 that I just couldn't place anywhere. I am a firm believer in humane treatment of animals, but the truth is livestock in only on the homestead for one purpose. To provide food. Either eggs or meat. Rosters are rather egg challenged so it was time do something useful with the roosters. I have processed my own in the past, and if I had to, could do it again, but I just don't like killing chickens I raised from peeps. There is an Amish processing plant about 15 miles away that "did the deed" for $3 each. Saturday morning I picked up nice clean birds ready for the freezer or oven. On Sunday, we decided one would make a really nice Sunday dinner.
Our raised bed gardens have been put to bed for winter. I am trying something I read on the web. All of our "root crops" such as potatoes, carrots, and onions have been buried under about 2 feet of hay. The article I read said the will remain dig able and edible all winter long. Since we don't have a root cellar, I decided to give it a try. So....anyway, I headed for the gardens for some fresh veggies to go with that REALLY nice fresh chicken.
I have been asked several times for an update.
We are still absolutely loving it here at the cottage. I thought I would show a little of what homesteading is all about. In our hatchery, we ended up with quite a few roosters in the incubators. Eggs just don't come with a label of "boy or girl". I found homes for most of the "roos", but ended up with 8 that I just couldn't place anywhere. I am a firm believer in humane treatment of animals, but the truth is livestock in only on the homestead for one purpose. To provide food. Either eggs or meat. Rosters are rather egg challenged so it was time do something useful with the roosters. I have processed my own in the past, and if I had to, could do it again, but I just don't like killing chickens I raised from peeps. There is an Amish processing plant about 15 miles away that "did the deed" for $3 each. Saturday morning I picked up nice clean birds ready for the freezer or oven. On Sunday, we decided one would make a really nice Sunday dinner.
Our raised bed gardens have been put to bed for winter. I am trying something I read on the web. All of our "root crops" such as potatoes, carrots, and onions have been buried under about 2 feet of hay. The article I read said the will remain dig able and edible all winter long. Since we don't have a root cellar, I decided to give it a try. So....anyway, I headed for the gardens for some fresh veggies to go with that REALLY nice fresh chicken.
Everything that was left, was taken back out to the chickens.....
Burt and the girls enjoyed there "Sunday dinner" as well!
Everything in that pot came from our little homestead. No growth hormones, no preservatives, no chemicals in the garden, and just as fresh as possible! And that my friends is what homesteading is all about!