By mid-September, the hemorrhaging of cash had subsided, there had been no significant unexpected expenses, and all of my projects had come in under budget. I was feeling pretty good about my situation, but I was increasingly frustrated by the…
Weeks 16 & 17 at Farm 96: Trash Picking and Preparing for the Frost
For the nearly six months that I was under contract to buy this house, I was certain that I would be the kind of homeowner who had it all together: fully unpacked in the first weeks, decorating decisions made, art…
Week 15 at Farm 96: Woodchuck & Wood Stove Woes
I’ve been flying high – the autumn leaves have been stunning, my solar panels are installed, and I’m really living my homesteading dream. So, naturally, this week was a huge downer with a lot of frustrations. Growing Food I had…
Week 14 at Farm 96: Solar Panels!
It was a huge week on the farm, so I’m not going wax poetic – I’ll just get right into it: Energy Independence Usually this category comes last – while just as significant a goal as the others, it’s not…
Weeks 12 & 13 at Farm 96: First Harvest, Second Firewood Rack
The weather has been lovely, the leaves are starting to turn, and I am finding a rhythm with the work of the farm. There is a fabulous repetitiveness to it all – novel tasks can only be accomplished in the…
Week 11: Planting the Orchard & Blueberry Patch
This week was a perfect storm of non-farm responsibilities: daily after-school meetings throughout the week and lots of time spent on call as an EMT over the weekend. When I’m on call, I try to limit how dirty I get….
Week 10 at Farm 96: Loose Horses & Wild Grapes
Sunday morning started as usual – a leisurely wakeup before heading out the door to take my dog for a walk. My first thought when I stepped outside was how beautiful this property is; the steam rising from the goldenrod…
Week 9 at Farm 96: Spreading Wood Chips & Baking Sourdough
It’s the last push before summer ends and the school year begins. Typically, my back to school to-do list involves meal prepping and lesson planning; this year is the same, but with the added pressure of trying to finish every…
Week 8 at Farm 96: Mini Splits & Yard Sale Treasures
As a teenager, I used to climb through my bedroom window to sit on the roof and look at the stars. I scarcely saw a meteor, but it was one of the rare times my suburban neighborhood was quiet, and…
Week 7 at Farm 96: The Orchard Begins!
For all the money that I spent on my perfect custom couch, I certainly haven’t been using it. I got a lot done this week! Here’s what I’ve been up to: Food Production My orchard has officially begun; I planted…
Weeks 5 & 6 at Farm 96: Project Creep & Poison Ivy
I’ve been a little behind on updates – the weather has been stunning, if not a bit too hot, and the pressure of summer ticking away has pushed me towards focusing on anything but writing. As I work, I’ve been…
Achieving Semi Self Sufficiency on the Homestead: My Goals – A Revisit from the Farm
In early January of this year, I sat down to write about my goals for my future farm life. It’s wild to look back on now – not because the goals have changed (they haven’t), but because I wrote it…