Step by Step
Yesterday I wrote about how and why we’re here in southwest Missouri getting ready to build an earthen cottage and start growing food. From now on I’m going to focus on what we’re doing day to day to realize our dream. In other words, the small, direct actions inspired by the dream, which add up to the larger changes we want.
The main things we hope to accomplish in 2009 are:
Complete an overall site plan for the entire farm.
Complete the cottage floorplan and construction documents.
Stake the cottage on the site and complete grading and drainage.
Build a mortar set natural stone foundation using stone from our area.
Complete the timberframe and metal roof.
Start our compost.
Start our first raised garden beds. They’ll be small at first while we focus on building.
Start at least two beehives on the farm.
Start some grape vines.
Plant a green manure crop on the unused areas.
Even though there are a hundred other things we’d like to do, what I’ve listed above is a lot, and we’ll feel great if we get some fair version of it done. But reality will be some mix of our plans and things we never dreamed, and there’s the spice and the fun of it all.
I could go on and on about what we’re doing, and want to do, in each of those areas and then some. But for now we’re mostly focused on the first two, the site plan and construction documents. We’re also planning a small garden this year. We’ve been brainstorming and sketching ideas for the cottage for a long time now and we feel ready to begin the actual construction documents. In a previous life I was a CADD drafter at several architecture and engineering firms so I’m confident I can produce the plans myself. I’ve ordered the CADD package (AutoSletch 9) and hope to have it installed by week’s end.
Also, it should be dry enough later this week for me to collect some soil samples to take to the University of Missouri extension office for analysis. They have a soil collection auger I can check out. I’ll post pictures of it and write about the collection, my experience, and the results.
We have a big dream, painted in bright broad strokes. But life is lived down in the weeds, down in the details. How do we relate the big picture of our life ten years from now with something we need to do today? First we have the dream. Then we order a drafting package. We take soil samples. We talk to someone about bees. We order seeds in January. We make cheese from our neighbor’s milk. We live the small steps one at a time here and now. The devil is not in the details. That’s where life is lived, step by step. Peace and love. - Rick
The main things we hope to accomplish in 2009 are:
Complete an overall site plan for the entire farm.
Complete the cottage floorplan and construction documents.
Stake the cottage on the site and complete grading and drainage.
Build a mortar set natural stone foundation using stone from our area.
Complete the timberframe and metal roof.
Start our compost.
Start our first raised garden beds. They’ll be small at first while we focus on building.
Start at least two beehives on the farm.
Start some grape vines.
Plant a green manure crop on the unused areas.
Even though there are a hundred other things we’d like to do, what I’ve listed above is a lot, and we’ll feel great if we get some fair version of it done. But reality will be some mix of our plans and things we never dreamed, and there’s the spice and the fun of it all.
I could go on and on about what we’re doing, and want to do, in each of those areas and then some. But for now we’re mostly focused on the first two, the site plan and construction documents. We’re also planning a small garden this year. We’ve been brainstorming and sketching ideas for the cottage for a long time now and we feel ready to begin the actual construction documents. In a previous life I was a CADD drafter at several architecture and engineering firms so I’m confident I can produce the plans myself. I’ve ordered the CADD package (AutoSletch 9) and hope to have it installed by week’s end.
Also, it should be dry enough later this week for me to collect some soil samples to take to the University of Missouri extension office for analysis. They have a soil collection auger I can check out. I’ll post pictures of it and write about the collection, my experience, and the results.
We have a big dream, painted in bright broad strokes. But life is lived down in the weeds, down in the details. How do we relate the big picture of our life ten years from now with something we need to do today? First we have the dream. Then we order a drafting package. We take soil samples. We talk to someone about bees. We order seeds in January. We make cheese from our neighbor’s milk. We live the small steps one at a time here and now. The devil is not in the details. That’s where life is lived, step by step. Peace and love. - Rick
Comment
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Comment by George Lansing on July 10, 2009 at 6:51am -
Rick,
great web site and congrats on your goals! I am wanting to build a timber frame guest house out of the 30 year old yellow pines I have here in southside VA. (Just three hours north of your old Charlotte stomping grounds).
I intend to use metal connectors as in the book, "Timber Framing for the Rest of Us." What references have you found helpful for confidentaly know load levels, design, etc.? Please, any info would be appreciated!
lansinggeorge@gmail.com
www.daysofoldherbfarm.com
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