Aunt Sue's Barn
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It's on the list...
Have you ever heard that expression "It's on the list" ?
We feel like that's all we say sometimes! What it means is that there are more things on that list than we could ever accomplish in a season, so we have to prioritize and determine what we really need to do or add each year. There is only so much time and money and something is always going to break and need fixing!
So, before you ask - hey, have you thought about doing this - I'll tell you now, it's on the list! Now of course if you have expertise in something that's on the list, let's talk!!
Propane heating - installed September 2009
greenhouse/hoophouse frame - installed September 2009
rainwater harvesting - This has started!!
The gutters are in and up. I decided that the water collection system should come first with slightly smaller tanks, about 1500 gallons two tanks on each side of the barn to feed each of the separate irrigation systems, starting with the south side of the barn first. We'll have 2 tanks on each side so that when one has to be taken out of commission for cleaning or repairs the other will still be in place. Initially this will only be for irrigation but it has the potential for supporting th barn also later on. Every step is an education. Once I schedule the tank members will be invited to the farm during the installation. I would have loved to participate in this type of farm class - and am still looking for on - so I will open this up to members when it's scheduled. I can't guarantee what day of the week it will be, hopefully Saturday, but whatever it is you will be invited if you are an active member.
tornado shelter - Rainwater harvesting is first, then this, then the wind/solar project. This is going to come from US Storm Shelters in Decatur....I haven't ordered it yet, but I have seen their work and I love the shelter I saw that they built down near Stephenville. Check out their web site - www.usstormshelters.com They are having a special for texas right now also.
off the grid - This will be after the tornado shelter. would we ever love this! Our hope is to be self sufficient with solar or wind at some point in the next 3-5 years. This is a $15K improvement in the farm. A portable generator wagon system would be nice in the interim - again, it's on the list!
certified grower - We have become a Certified Naturally Grown farm just this year!
Bird and bat houses - After attending a bat workshop with the people at www.batworld.org I discovered that the bat house I had purchased and put up is actually danger for bats.
Fortunately someone had give me a more substantial house that I am going to install in place of the one that's up right now.
We put up 2 bluebird houses this spring and had 2 families move in, and a third this fall. I have one more bluebird house given as a gift to put up this winter -that will make 3 houses.
We have 6 purple martins move into the martin house this year. Last year, 2009 I spent July 26th watching them fly all afternoon. The sounds were wonderful but by Tuesday the farm was silent. They've left and the silence is deafening. I can't wait to see who comes back in February!!! The bird houses were all taken down and cleaned out and are ready for the next season. This is a picture the day before they left, I wish they would tell me they're leaving so I could say good-bye.......by the way, look at the bird that is on the bottom left corner - it's a chickadee - has been there all summer, no matter what the martins do, it won't leave. I think it thinks it's a martin. The picture on the right is 8/1/09 - closed for the winter!
We feel like that's all we say sometimes! What it means is that there are more things on that list than we could ever accomplish in a season, so we have to prioritize and determine what we really need to do or add each year. There is only so much time and money and something is always going to break and need fixing!
So, before you ask - hey, have you thought about doing this - I'll tell you now, it's on the list! Now of course if you have expertise in something that's on the list, let's talk!!
Propane heating - installed September 2009
greenhouse/hoophouse frame - installed September 2009
rainwater harvesting - This has started!!
The gutters are in and up. I decided that the water collection system should come first with slightly smaller tanks, about 1500 gallons two tanks on each side of the barn to feed each of the separate irrigation systems, starting with the south side of the barn first. We'll have 2 tanks on each side so that when one has to be taken out of commission for cleaning or repairs the other will still be in place. Initially this will only be for irrigation but it has the potential for supporting th barn also later on. Every step is an education. Once I schedule the tank members will be invited to the farm during the installation. I would have loved to participate in this type of farm class - and am still looking for on - so I will open this up to members when it's scheduled. I can't guarantee what day of the week it will be, hopefully Saturday, but whatever it is you will be invited if you are an active member.
tornado shelter - Rainwater harvesting is first, then this, then the wind/solar project. This is going to come from US Storm Shelters in Decatur....I haven't ordered it yet, but I have seen their work and I love the shelter I saw that they built down near Stephenville. Check out their web site - www.usstormshelters.com They are having a special for texas right now also.
off the grid - This will be after the tornado shelter. would we ever love this! Our hope is to be self sufficient with solar or wind at some point in the next 3-5 years. This is a $15K improvement in the farm. A portable generator wagon system would be nice in the interim - again, it's on the list!
certified grower - We have become a Certified Naturally Grown farm just this year!
Bird and bat houses - After attending a bat workshop with the people at www.batworld.org I discovered that the bat house I had purchased and put up is actually danger for bats.
Fortunately someone had give me a more substantial house that I am going to install in place of the one that's up right now.
We put up 2 bluebird houses this spring and had 2 families move in, and a third this fall. I have one more bluebird house given as a gift to put up this winter -that will make 3 houses.
We have 6 purple martins move into the martin house this year. Last year, 2009 I spent July 26th watching them fly all afternoon. The sounds were wonderful but by Tuesday the farm was silent. They've left and the silence is deafening. I can't wait to see who comes back in February!!! The bird houses were all taken down and cleaned out and are ready for the next season. This is a picture the day before they left, I wish they would tell me they're leaving so I could say good-bye.......by the way, look at the bird that is on the bottom left corner - it's a chickadee - has been there all summer, no matter what the martins do, it won't leave. I think it thinks it's a martin. The picture on the right is 8/1/09 - closed for the winter!
