So. We live in an area known for its ice storms, and boy, they aren’t kidding. And get this, there is even freezing FOG here. It blows in and coats everything with a thin layer of ice. All of this iciness definitely adds a layer of treachery to chore time (and you should see the chickens slip slide on it!). But danger aside, it’s beautiful. The whole world seems to be silenced, except for the crunch crunch of your footsteps and occasionally the craaaaaack of a tree limb giving way to the weight of the ice (aka the sound of firewood for next year).
All posts in The Area
Why Being a Prepper is a Good Idea.
Hurricane Sandy has definitely been an eye opener. We have been lucky to not lose power, or suffer any major setbacks; however, a lot of our friends in NYC and NJ have felt the brunt of it. As we lived vicariously through social media, I saw quite a few images and status updates that made me realize the difference between my farm/homesteading friends and those in the cities. In a small way, we even felt the difference personally.
24 Inspiring Farm Blogs to Fill Your Day
Whether you are dreaming of a farm, currently living the dream or just enjoy living it vicariously — there’s nothing better than discovering a new farm blog.
31 Reasons Why I Love Our Country Life
It’s been a little less than a year (wow.) since we moved from urban NJ, to the wilds of Southwest Virginia and boy, how has our life changed. We’ve learned how to put up a fence, and how to trim goat (and sheep) hooves. We’ve picked up baby chicks from the post office, and built a yurt. We’ve met some truly amazing people, and kept in touch with some really awesome ones. We’ve boggled the minds of both our city friends, and our new country ones. It’s been a BIG year. What do we love the most so far?
We Were Featured on Unfettered Ink!
Sorry we’ve been MIA this week, I know I have some anxious container garden planters out there, and we have to pick out some chicks (both laying hens, and meat birds…and KEETS!)! My Mom has been in town, and she’s been loving the chickens, and the yurt, and the raw milk, and I even converted her to a few of our “odd-isms”, like using castile soap as shampoo, and apple cider vinegar for a conditioning rinse. Seriously. I know, she gave me that look too. But, try it, it’s good stuff. So we’ve been BUSY, and I have lots to share in the next few days.
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A Little of This, A Little of That!
It’s hard to believe that it’s been less than a month since our “game changing” moment. And, according to the experts, Mike is going to be A-OK, which they were rather shocked about. Thanks to the experience, I hear there are quite a few more safety goggle wearers out there. Since then, we also launched a Kickstarter campaign, that is chugging right along (we’ve already met so many FUN people!). Here’s a little mishmash of fun things. Enjoy, and have a fantastic Friday night!
What’s This Blue Yurt Farms Thing??
It’s just about the most exciting thing we’ve thought up in a long time…no, EVER!! If I let myself get to pondering too much on it, my head almost EXPLODES (gross, right?) with all of the ideas and I-can’t-wait-to-do-its. And Mike quietly, and quickly leaves the room, ha! You see, we’ve been cooking up a way to get all of you even more involved in the whole farm process for awhile now, and had just started to finish the last tidbits up…when Mike’s eye decided to challenge a bramble. And we ALL know how THAT went, yes?
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Spring Has Sprung!
So, it wasn’t until we moved to the yurt, that I fully realized HOW back-in-time we’ve gone. It’s little things, like craving strawberries and not seeing them at the store (gasp! That would NEVER happen in the CITY!). Or watching a movie set during the Civil War and seriously empathizing with their daily struggles in a way I never have before. My Dad recounted a discussion with his high school students about heating with wood, and how “nobody does that anymore”. Um, we do. And, my Mom, laughing about “at least we don’t have to haul water”. Um, yeah, that too. For the goats, but still. Buckets of water are heavy, and walking down a steep, icy hill makes it even more “fun”.
Home is Where the Yurt is…
We finally made it! By the time you read this, we should have received our final certificate of occupancy, and we’ll be official dwellers of Meadows of Dan, VA…in a yurt. The animals are adjusting well, and we’re starting to make a tiny dent in the boxes. I know I promised a video…but it won’t be of the yurt. Not yet…but SOON. Plus, a break down of the costs for those curious, and explanation of how we came to choose a yurt. But for now…
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Guest Post: Culture Shock – Moving from the Suburbs to a Rural Farm
(A Guest Post by All Hallows Farm) Have you ever noticed how a lot of people use Wal-mart as in indicator of civilization? Well, for the purpose of this entry, that is what we are going to do. I am neither for, nor against Wal-mart as a corporation, it is just something, that as Americans we can all probably relate to.
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