Setting Up an Off-Grid Retreat in Wild and Wonderful West Virginia
So, its been a bit since I posted last but, I still have more to post! In my last post, I had finally got all the trees into the ground. However, thats not good enough. I was extremely concerned about deer eating the young trees while I was away and needed a plan for that.... Continue Reading →
So now we have a tractor and now know how to operate it. Lets get some trees in the ground. After everything else, this was relatively easy. Get the trees, get them out of the boxes, and get them into the the ground. Pretty simple. A few more steps I put into it, but that's... Continue Reading →
So, with the battle plans drawn up and and plants ordered... ITS TIME TO RENT A TRACTOR! Okay, its not a very big tractor, but for what I am doing, its going to work great. Why do I need a tractor? Two reasons, the big front end loader makes for a fantastic diesel powered wheelbarrow... Continue Reading →
So in part I of starting an orchard, I went through why I want an orchard, but in this post, I will go through the planning and prepping I did. First off, this project almost didn't get pulled off. First thing I learned about trees is you have to plant them winter or late spring.... Continue Reading →
One of the things I really wanted on my property in West Virginia, is perennial fruit trees and bushes. My paternal grandparents had an amazing 80-90 year old Abraham Lincoln Apple Tree in Western Illinois. My grandmother made a lot of apple pies for the church community and for her (great) grandchildren from this tree. The... Continue Reading →
Working off candles, flashlights, and kerosene works for a while, but eventually, you want to just have a working light switch. Well, I finally did it and didn't kill myself in the process. Eventually, the lighting will be ripped out when I install insulation and drywall in the future, but I am happy to have... Continue Reading →
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFAkeVpbQrE This is a 3 minute time lapse from 2 September 2018 to 9 March 2019. You will probably see minimal changes, but when the snow comes and melts away, its kinda cool. I also like watching the tree sag under the weight of the snow, then recover. Deer wandering around is also fun, but... Continue Reading →
To me, campfires are one of those things that are key to having an enjoyable, relaxing, retreat. It's one of those things that provides heat, is the center of where people gather, and tell stories. The last several months I have been working on figuring out how best to fell trees, skid logs, section them... Continue Reading →
While I have done a few day trips out to West Virginia, I have also been staying the night in the makeshift cabin/shack despite winter approaching. With the weather dropping into temps where snow is possible, there were a few things that needed to happen to get ready for winter. The first was cold prep.... Continue Reading →
The first winter on my land is approaching, but I am trying not to slow down. While I may not have been posting as much on the blog, I assure you I have been getting out there as much as possible. The rain this year continues to be absolutely absurd. According to the National Weather... Continue Reading →
Vantages From Vandalia 