Cat House

For about a week there has been a cat living underneath of the porch.  I am relatively confident that it sticks around for Ash-monster's dog food.  The other day she ran up under the hood of my car.  After waiting a good bit of time, I started up the road.  About 2/3 up the dirt road she jumped out and sprinted back towards the house.

The other night she was meowing under the porch.  Several minutes later I heard the crunching of the dog food.  I tip toed to the door only to see the familiar opossum snacking away.  I opened the door and told him to beat it and chased him into the dark.  Instead of continuing his path for the tree line he turned and darted under the porch.  I grabbed the flashlight from next to the door and pointed it under the deck.  The cat and opossum stared at each other from the opposing sides of the dark crawlspace.  I decided to let them fight it out.  After several minutes of not hearing anything, I checked again and the opossum had won the evening.

Youssef and I continued to work on the debris lodge and aguaponics system.  I am still having trouble getting the syphon to stop after it drains the grow bed.  I have added some more pipe to the exit, but still no luck.  More playing is required.

Snow comes to town

After waking up and seeing several inches of snow on the ground and high temperatures of 23 degrees Fahrenheit, Youssef and I debated a plan of attack for today.  We bundled up and headed down the hill to the lodge initially with the game plan of collecting more tarps of debris.  The snow on the ground substantially increased the weight of the debris, and I was tired out relatively quickly from toting all that water.  At 8 pounds a gallon water weight adds up quickly.  With above freezing temperatures forecast for tomorrow, hopefully everything will be less wet and willing to be collected.

Cold gear

After several tarps of debris collected today, I took a shovel and threw the leaves onto the roof from the sides while Youssef raked the fallen leaves back to the sides and pushed the large piles on the roof.

I have been watching a lot of videos about fires inside primitive structures and flammability, so I was initially nervous about having a fire inside.  Initial testing went really well.  There was no smoke in my face and the place didn't burn down.  The our test fire lasted 20 minutes so we will continue to push the limit to see how everything holds up as more debris is added and the door is closed.  We sat on the ground for a little bit only growing colder.  A priority will be to bring in more debris to line the floor for warmth.

After trekking back to the house we sat around for a bit watching the snow fall.  We fed the animals, ate 2lbs of meat in sauce on spaghetti, and sat back down worn out.  At some point I decided I wanted to make a fishing pouch for some hooks and line.  Youssef joined in and not too long later we each had a pouch.

More Debris

The debris hut has started to fill in nicely with the addition of the debris collected yesterday as well as a lot of debris that was collected today.

Update video

Knock, Knock. Who is there? Debris. Debris who. More Debris that is who.

Today Youssef and I continued to work on the debris hut.  We got a few tarp loads of debris, then Youssef and I worked to create the door frame for a little less than an hour I think.  Freddie brought two boys with a family connection over to check out the goats.  He saw us on our way back down the hill after lunch, and we invited them to the house.  A little while later they met us down at the lodge and seemed very impressed with the progress.  It has been several weeks since Freddie has seen the project.  

The doorway

After hanging out with everybody inside, Youssef and I got back onto raking debris.  We figured the hardest part will be getting the debris on the crown of the roof especially as debris grows from the sides.  The easiest plan we have come up with is filling trash bags with debris then throwing them up to a person standing on the roof who will empty them.

1200 gallons of debris ready for tomorrow morning.

Debris

Much of today Youssef and I gathered debris using lawn rakes and a tarp.  The trick is putting the tarp down the hill from where your debris is and using gravity to help you get the debris from the forest floor onto the tarp.  We are fortunate that the lodge is built in a debris heavy part of the woods, however, gathering debris is not just a hike in the park.

Gathering Debris

Progress Update

Pine Lodge

This morning first thing the deer were in the front yard per usual.  Today they were joined by a hawk who sat perched on a tree for a little bit before flying off when we finally left the house.

Youssef and I continued weaving trees to create a sturdier basket to hold a layer of pine bows before it takes debris.  The wind made for a cold working environment, but the start of that pine layer already serves as a great wind break.

Outside

Inside featuring the excess soon to be firewood pile

Weaving Saplings

With just a light dusting of snow covering the ground, Youssef and I worked to further complete the roof by weaving saplings through the horizontal supports.  I started by laying them on top of the frame, but after the second roof panel, the better idea came and in what seemed like no time at all we had finished half the roof.  Before the day was finished we would be back around to the door, but tomorrow I plan to cut off the first two sections that used rope to hold the trees down in favor of the design picked up as we were working.  

From the top

End of the day

Frap it up

We started working on the shelter today by harvesting some of the smallest trees from the pine patch on our way to the site; they will be limbed and placed on the top of the final seventh circular support ring that was lashed in place today marking the last of the wrap and frapping.  The structure has taken on the look of a jungle gym and is really gorgeous.  The intermittent snow and rain slowly increased from a beautiful day until we stopped working mid afternoon.  As of 9 this evening, there is a light dusting on the ground, but it doesn't look like anything is falling from the sky.  I have seen pictures from up the mountain a little ways showing 5 inches before it went dark.  The forecast is clear for the next week so I am hopeful that we can put in some hours into finishing the structure.  

I am also thinking about how I can make another bell syphon covering for the aguaponics grow bed.  For what ever reason when the syphon drains the grow bed there is still enough water so that it never breaks suction and perpetually drains.  I think if I make another one with less flow through the opening and lower to the bottom I will be in business.

The Debris Lodge Continues

The lodge / long term survival shelter building continued today.  Youssef started working by himself this morning as I got some square bale hay from a local farmer.

I joined up with him later in the day, finished adding another support ring, gathered some logs to keep the show progressing tomorrow, and stuffed the side panels with the tops of the pine trees while weaving them through the ribs lashed earlier.  One more ring tomorrow and the roof joists will be completed.  Just like on the body we will weave flexible pine branches to hold back the debris over the long term.

Finishing 1 of 7 bands

The process continues of weaving pine needles that will hold back debris and smell nice.

Treesons Greetings

Good evening again sustainable bloggers, it's Youssef again, checking in from neverspace to share some thoughts on the blog. Feeling like I never left, Scott smoothly transitioned me back into farm work mode, which had escaped me back home in Baltimore. The shelter is coming along well, and the aquaponics setup is a cool detractor of focus between spending all that time with the house.

House picture caption

We still need to finish weaving pine branches between the frame, borrow some more trees to finish the roof body panels, create a roofing, create a chimney/cap, build the interior, and debris, debris, debris. I envision it won't take too long now that the aquaponics system is pretty much dialed in. 

 

Safety first, sometimes second and third

Dialing in the aquaponics has left Scott with another set of challenges, fortunately it has been fairly problem-free for the portion of the process I've witnessed (a solid three percent). Notice the hose from the pump mimicking the St. Louis arch for the sunset pose. In actuality he needed to secure it to the tank so as to prevent water syphoning back into the pump tank.

All in a day's work

As Scott has mentioned previously there is so much that goes on here that we just can't fit in to a blog post. He found a hand axe and spent an afternoon sharpening it and creating a sheath for me to have; we've perfected our personal evolutions of the bug-out bag with the small, medium, and large variety, as well as our personal smaller projects we each have on the side, and clean. It's great to be back on the farm, and am going to continue to make the most of my time here learning and living sustainability. Thanks for reading everyone, until next time

Youssef

Watching glue dry

This morning the success of the aquaponics system overnight was apparent.  The murky water in the tank yesterday now looks like a crystal clear stream.  I plan on using a coffee filter to further remove particulate before it goes back into the tank during this initial cycling period.  The water was extremely cold due to lack of heat in the greenhouse currently.

Youssef and I tore apart the system after draining the sump tanks.  We cemented the pvc pipes and fittings together and reinstalled them back into the system.  When condensed into two sentences it does not really do justice to the amount of time we put into it; a majority of which was watching the glue dry.

We picked up some ammonia from the store to begin the process of creating bacteria in the media bed.  Other ways of starting the system include peeing into the tank, or using small goldfish to start the system with the expectation that they will die shortly.  I can see the initial shock when I tell people I peed in it, and I am just trying to avoid the objections.

Aquaponics cycling

The aguaponics system comes closer to completion as water is added to the entire system for the first time.  It cycles beautifully, slowly filling the grow bed until a few inches cover the stand pipe under the bell syphon.  

The IBC tote sports a new stand pipe.  The elbow is to suck up any solids that may accumulate.  Square tanks require a little more cleaning because the corners create dead zones that may allow solids to buildup.  The open T is used so that a syphon is not created here, draining the fish tank.

The over flowing fish tank fills the grow bed.

Almost like magic the syphon knows when to turn on.  It works similar to a toilet in that when you flush, the increase in water forces out the air in the trap sucking the water through until the suction is broken.  An aguaponics system adapted from a toilet would be an interesting project.

The sump tanks collect the water as it is pulled from the grow bed to the syphon.  The system utilizes two, 65 gallon water tanks available at Tractor Supply.  Next to the grow media, they are the most expensive piece of the puzzle.

Maker's Mark

There is a lot of heart in this project.

Video of the cycling system.  

Tomorrow the addition of glue will finalize the project.

Breaking Away

The summary of today is the aguaponics system is cycling nicely.  Here is how we got there.

This morning I had an appointment with a local contractor and installer for West Windows, a local Martinsville, VA company that manufactures replacement windows.  The single pane glass windows that were installed in the house originally were provided by Better Builder's Supply which is still in business today.  

The appointment was two fold.  Secondly, the single pane windows are not efficient in retaining heat.  Firstly, the single pane windows have shifted since installation leaving gaps that draft cold air from the outside.  The finger sized gaps between the window and the frame makes a perfect corridor to channel the stink bugs.  With the weather fluctuating from bitterly cold to short sleeve, the stink bugs have come and gone from the house.  I can't tell you how many I have killed.  If I remember I will take a picture of the collection I have gathered in the toilet.

My stink bug elimination plan is simple.  I leave my bathroom light on and wait for a collection to gather.  A good while before I go to bed I make my first pass with the Hot Shot.  They are not killed immediately, but I make sure every one has a good coating before going 'bout my business.  Directly before turning in, I will sweep the ceiling for any stink bugs that are on their way out but have yet to fall to the floor.

While the window man was here, Youssef headed to the earth shelter.  I have not seen his progress today due to spending time in the greenhouse finalizing the placement of everything for the aguaponics system.  When we reconvened towards the end of the day, the augaponics system worked as designed.  Some final teasing and glueing tomorrow and the countdown to fish will begin.

Tidying up

The past two days of rain broke into a gorgeous but slightly chilly day today.  Youssef and I worked to tidy up some things.  Particularly we cleaned up the garage where I was doing some construction months ago.  Youssef pulled his car into the spot we cleaned out, and he helped me push the Toyota farm truck into the garage so it can be hooked up to the trickle charger that will keep the battery topped off through the sometimes extended durations that it isn't moving.

From there our focus switched to the shop.  We moved some equipment and began stacking wood in the corner.  That went quickly.

The aguaponics setup is progressing very nicely.  The sump tank situation seems to be remedied with lots of extra room.  Tomorrow the whole thing should come together and the six weeks of cycle time before the fish can be added will start.

Adding the body pannels

Construction continued today with essentially a quarter of body panels studs being added to the survival shelter.  Some pine saplings were woven into further add support that will create the negative space inside the debris pile.

These smaller vertical studs are lashed to the frame.

The stud pattern continues.

One body panel almost done but could use a little further stuffing before the debris layer.

The frame is complete

After checking on the chicken's water project from yesterday to positive results as well as the other daily necessities, Youssef and I continued work on the longer term survival shelter completing the frame and beginning to add lattice to the outside that will eventually support the debris pile.

The final ring added.

Saplings laced to further support the debris covering.  I am most proud of the even spacing on the left hand side of the picture.  Square lashings made from excess rope from the frame lashings hold the vertical basket weave in place.

I saw this really awesome hawk earlier so I followed it down to the pond because it reminded me that I wanted to see what was going on down there water wise.  It was right before sunset.  The ground was still wet so the truck slid down the hill with the ABS doing nothing except making me nervous.  After pumping the breaks it slid to a stop.  There was a second that I though I was going into the pond.  I am waiting until the ground freezes a little bit more.  I just got back from closing up the chickens and the dirt there was solid, so I will go drive my truck out in a minute.

8:02pm edit:  The truck drove out easily on the now frozen ground.  The tire tracks had a bunch of look like chicken layer crumble but dirt in the floor of the track.  I think it was where the ABS was going off.  My tracks from earlier were an inch into the ground where now Youssef and I could walk easily on the surface of the concrete like dirt.

As a note, if you are viewing this blog without the aid of Google's hover-zoom through the Chrome browser or something similar, you are doing yourself a disservice having to follow the links to make the small thumbnails something visible.

Cold as ice

Youssef got back last night and jumped right out of substantially cold weather to slightly less substantially cold weather.  The weather report said that last night's lows were 5^o F.

We made a tripod that supports the net above the chicken run.  The longest part of the process was the half hour spent shooting sparks at a bird's nest that had fallen on the ground full decaying leaves and tree moss using a ferrocerium rod similar to this.

 I plan to add several more rungs for the birds to roost on at some point.  It will just have to be a support for the net until we get to it again.

After building the tripod and lashing everything together, we went to the hardware store to pick up electrical heat tape to rap around the chicken's automatic watering unit.  The previous application of 30ish feet of heat tape and a heat lamp was not sufficient to keep the pipes from freezing.  Today we added an additional 15 ft of heat tape and streamlined the original installation.  It will be interesting to see the outcome tomorrow morning.

Update on the mouse:  It was very fat at its time of passing under the kitchen sink caught by a conventional mousetrap from a big box store using peanut butter as bait.  In the review of the mousetrap that I made, I needed a better round spinning trigger and a larger bucket.  I plan to experiment with a five gallon bucket in the shop soon.

Goals for the new year

We are about a week into the new year, and I wanted to share my goals for the new year.

-Cover Crop:  There is roughly 20 acres of hayfield that needs to be converted to food forest over time.  While projects at the farm prohibit me from designing the area currently, doing the proper preparation will amend the soil without oversight.

-Goats:  I want to section the goat pasture into 5 sections to rotationally feed the livestock and install the automatic watering unit.  Watering unit at minimum.  Fencing may not happen depending on size of herd.

-Chickens:  Grow the laying flock to 100 birds to judge holding capacity of the coop.  Install a door that allows the birds to till the soil around the fruit trees.  Create mobile meat bird chicken tractors to further till the soil for cover crop see Joel Salatin.  Determine regulations on processing birds.

-Greenhouse:  Finish aguaponics station.  Clean it out again.  Provide starts to local farmers, gardeners, and myself.  If you are starting to plan your garden and would like to speak with us about starting seeds for you, you can contact me through sustainablehomesteadinstitute@gmail.com.

-The Gardens:  Two garden plots will be the focus of my attention this season.  They both need to be fenced in and set up for efficiency.  The larger section of 5 acres will be an interesting challenge of planning.

-Campsite:  The primitive shelter that Youssef and I have been working on will be completed shortly and habitable.  A small cabin campsite will be completed.

-The Organizations:  As campsites develop, it is a top priority to offer more classes and opportunity for interns through a charitable organization.

-Personal Development:  It is my goal spend more time in the shop creating beautiful things I need rather than purchasing items.

-Icing on the cake:  If the greenhouse and well pump could be powered by solar electricity.  That would make me really happy.  Also included a rocket mass heater in the kitchen.

This neighborhood rocks! Duh.

Most of the northeastern United States is covered in snow, but it just seemed to miss us here.  The weather delayed my sister's departure, and this morning we got breakfast on her way out of town.  While we missed the snow, the temperatures last night resulted in the lock on the front gate being frozen or broken in the shut position.  The cylinder turned but didn't move anything.  I went back to the house and grabbed the bolt cutters, which now live in the truck.

After a few minutes of me trying to cut through the lock, my sister reminded me that I bought the one that was impossible to cut through.  This duh moment resulted in the quick snipping of the chain that held the lock.  And we were off.

At some point during the day the bolt that held the gate collar to the gate had finally come unfastened.  This is the 3-5 time fixing the gate.  The first time I had to remove the post from the original 10ft gate to get some equipment in.  The second fix I had to remove the post from the 14ft gate that replaced the 10ft gate to move a building out.  The third time I concreted the post in place.  The collar has fallen off several times.  Each time we further crushed the side of the gate hoping it will stay.

I did not have the opportunity to fix at the gate.  After delivering some compost to a friend, I stopped by Southern States to pick up a new collar.  I saw the lights off and the man sweeping inside, I knew I was too late.

So sad, I headed home as the sun still managed to light up the horizon slightly.  Coming down the road I see the gate hanging beautifully.  Freddie had gotten out there with his car jack and fixed it while I was gone.  We spoke for a little bit, and he came up with an idea to fix the collar so it would never slip out again.  I was convinced I was going to have to bring a welder and generator.  Freddie pointed out that if I drill a hole and run a bolt through the whole thing, it would do the job better.

A lot of "permaculture principles" are the duh way of fixing things.  We as a society have come so far that we do not realize that the easier way is often more efficient.  In the example of a healthy forest, all layers support each other through nutrients from decay, and there is production at minimum seven levels.   Our modern agriculture system requires endless amounts of fertilizer from fossil fuels, yet production is limited to only one level.  I was ready to jump to the welder and generator when all I need was a hand drill and a bolt.  The problem with duh moments is that you need somebody to remind you to take a step back.  On the way out of the house to deliver the compost, I saw a huge hawk perched on the electric line surveying the ground for food.  I have herd it mention that the medicine of the hawk reminds us to take a step back when we are so wrapped up in things that we fail to see the full picture.

Chicken Hawk Barrier Complete (photo heavy)

The chicken coop draws closer to its inevitable completion.  Today Freddie helped me to secure the net over the top of the coop.  About a month ago I lost two birds to a hawk.  I am confident the addition of this net I have had in storage will allow the birds to free range unmolested.

My sister came midway through the day and helped by cutting the final strands of extra netting and taking a bunch of pictures.  Here are some:

After a trim

Soon to be automatic chicken door

Knuckles