The Chair Saver - Update

Back in July of 2013 I wrote this blog entry about The Chair Saver Kit. It has been one of my most popular entries. Unfortunately, shortly after posting that blog I started having problems. Eventually the Chair Saver was no longer helping at all, so I had to abandon it.

My current office chair, which I've had for nine years, started sinking recently. I considered the options and decided to give The Chair Saver another shot. I ordered it earlier in the week and it arrived yesterday. I installed it this morning and so far things are looking good.

The kit has changed since the one I bought in 2013. The original kit consisted of four one inch rings and one half inch ring, allowing adjustments between one half and four and a half inches. The new kit contains only three rings, one each in two inch, one and a half inch, and one inch sizes. The max height works out the same, but  there is a bit less overall flexibility in the adjustments. My chair required the maximum height, though, so that was fine for me. The new kit also seems to be made of strong plastic than the old one, which makes me optimistic.

The chair onto which I installed the kit seems better suited than the last one I tried it on. The plastic cylinder cover on this one was able to be pulled down, exposing the entire cylinder. This made it not only easier to install the rings, but also much easier to securely wrap everything with duct tape once I finished. This was a step I had missed originally the last time, but was recommended for users above a certain weight. By completing this step from the start I am hopeful it will make a difference.

I plan to regularly update this blog entry as time passes to share my perception of the product as I gain experience with it. So far I'm pleased, but the same initially true with my previous use of the product.

Thoughts on Zero Waste Grocery Stores

I recently read an article about a zero waste grocery store in Berlin called Original Unverpact. I really loved the idea so decided to write about it.

The idea behind the grocery store is that the only things that would be packaged, such as some liquids, would be packed in reusable containers with a deposit fee to encourage shoppers to return them to the store. For everything else shoppers would need to provide their own containers, which they could fill from bins containing the various items.

Perhaps I'm so interested in the idea because we already do some of our shopping in this way. We purchase several items from the bulk food section of the Good Foods Market, using glass jars as containers. This works out wonderfully for us.

As I see it there are many advantages to a zero waste grocery store.

First, buying from bulk food bins allows the customer to buy exactly as much as he/she wants. If you need a lot, just take a larger container. No more needing to buy multiple packages of the same item. If you need just a little or want to try something, get as little as  you need. No more buying more than you want because that is how the item is packaged. No more paying more because you bought the smallest package, which has a higher per unit price.

Second, it is entirely possible to use the same containers both in the store and at home. Instead of getting home from the grocery store and opening packages so the contents can be transferred to a storage container, why not just take the storage container to the store? We use various sizes of glass jars, depending on the items. These work just as well for storing the items as they do for transporting the items home from the store.

Third, this sort of store could work very well within a local foods movement, especially in allowing smaller producers to get their products into the store. One issue facing small businesses is that many grocery stores only want to buy large quantities of an item, rather than buying smaller quantities from multiple sources. In some cases this requires a third party be added to the system to purchase smaller quantities from multiple sources, then combine and package those and sell them to the retailer. This is not only inefficient, but negatively impacts the profits of both the producer and the seller, as those now have to be shared with a middle man. A zero waste store, however, could easily purchase smaller quantities of items from various producers and combine them into one bin.

Fourth, and somewhat related to the above, would be the movement away from "brands" within the grocery store. This also removes the need for brands to compete with other products on the shelves, so no fancy packaging (which wouldn't exist anyway in the store) and no in-store advertising. In fact, if the zero waste model became the norm it could put an end to the advertising for almost all foods, which would have many benefits.

Fifth, a zero waste store could, and should, change the way we approach shopping. Rather than just quickly going through a store grabbing packages of products we would be forced to slow down. While this may be viewed by some as a negative, I consider it a positive change. I believe it is worthwhile to slow down and really think about each thing that we buy. Our purchases should be meaningful, and this is especially true for food.

Obviously, in addition to the benefits I've listed, there is the big benefit of reduced packaging ending up in the landfill. That is the primary purpose behind the idea of a zero waste store, although I think the other benefits could be just as important.

I'd like to see the zero-waste concept applied to all types of stores, not just grocery stores. It could easily be applied in department stores for most types of products. The benefits in other types of stores might be different than those for grocery stores, but I still believe the concept could work. We just need for someone in the US to prove it can be done by opening such a store.

Shampoo-Free Update - 1 Week

It has been one week since I stopped using shampoo on my hair. I thought it would be a good time to write a quick update about the experience. Really, though, there isn't a lot to say.

I've continued with the same process of using only water on my hair. At this point I have no regrets, although much too little time has past to make any sort of judgement. When I'm rinsing my hair it feels quite different, which I suspect is because it still has natural oil, rather than in the past when I would have stripped them away with shampoo. I'm told that it looks the same as before, and there is no waxy building yet.

If this works like I hope it will there will be several advantages. I'll keep my fingers crossed and provide more updates along the way.

Initial 2015 Garden Planning

Planning for this year's garden is well underway. We spent most of  yesterday filling in details on the plan I had started previously. Jen and I also spent a couple of hours laying out additional beds in the garden.

We currently have six permanent garden beds laid out. Each bed is 30 feet long, and has room for two or three rows, depending on the crop. With just a bit of work I can make room for three more beds. There is also room for two or three shorter beds. Anything beyond that will require a bit more clearing, although should easily be within reach for this year's crop if needed.

As of now we have 21 different vegetables planned, many of which will have multiple varieties. We have 47 total varieties on the list at the moment, but I expect that to grow as Jen hasn't picked out Lettuce varieties yet.

I am in the process of determining when we should plant everything, or start the seeds for those we'll start indoors. I'm also working on determining how much space we will need based on the quantities we plan to plant of each variety. My initial guess is that we will need to make room for at least a couple of additional beds beyond what I mentioned above.

This is a very ambitious garden for us. Not only will it be, by far, the largest we have ever planted, but it will include many items we have never grown before. I will do another post once the plan is finished.

Compost Pails in the Bathroom?

We recently decided to place a compost pail in each bathroom. You may be wondering why we would do that. Do we frequently eat or prepare food in the bathroom? No, of course not. These pails aren't for collecting food scraps. They are for the many other compostable items frequently found in a bathroom.

We put a variety of items into the bathroom compost.

Facial Tissue - During this time of year it is common for me to use multiple facial tissues in a day. I try to use handkerchiefs when I'm outside working, but when I'm indoors I'll frequently just grab a tissue from a convenient box. Andrea and Jen do the same. The result is that we were throwing away several tissues daily, which could easily be composted. You may wonder about spreading germs, and I'll admit that I've had this concern myself. The composting process should kill any germs, but I've still decided to continue throwing away tissues if/when one of us is sick, rather than just having a simple runny nose.

Toilet Paper - We do not add all toilet paper to the compost. Any that only has urine on it, though, does go into the compost, as does any used for nose-blowing, wiping eyes, etc. Since I'm already collecting urine and adding it to the compost I have no concerns about adding urine soaked toilet paper to the mix. If you are concerned about the smell, you can remedy that by using an air-tight container. The strong smell of stale urine is caused by exposure to air, so limiting this exposure should prevent any odor problems.

Cotton Balls, Swabs, etc - Things like cotton balls can also be added to the compost, along with cotton swabs, as long as the sticks are made of a material that will decompose.

Hair - Any hair that is collected while cleaning out combs and brushes is added to the compost. Additionally, when my hair or beard is trimmed I collect that hair and add it to the compost as well.

Nail Clippings, Dead Skin, etc - Other things such as nail clippings or dead skin can also be added to the compost.

Dust, lint, etc - Most of what is collected while sweeping can be added to the compost. Anything that will not decompose, such as plastics, can be picked out and thrown in the trash before dumping into the compost pail.

Toilet Paper Rolls, Paper Packaging, etc - I shred toilet paper rolls and paper packaging for mulch. However, those could just as easily be added to the compost for anyone not already using them for another purpose.

As you can see, there are plenty of items that can be collected from a bathroom and added to the compost. A small pail takes up little space, and once you start using it you will be surprised at the amount of waste you add to it.

Straw Bale Cat House - Lessons Learned

As mentioned in my Straw Bale Cat House post we recently completed a temporary straw bale shelter for the cats. As also mentioned in that post I made a lot of mistakes and learned several lessons. So many, in fact, that I thought the topic warranted its own post.

Some of the mistakes were related to the design itself, while others happened during the build. So far it doesn't seem that any of the mistakes were fatal to the structure, but I'd certainly do things differently in the future.

My very first mistake was in not measuring the bales once I acquired them. In fact, I should probably have shopped around for the appropriate sized bales, but options were somewhat limited and I wanted to find something relatively close that was also cheap. If I were building a house or other permanent structure I would certainly take more care in selecting the bales. 

My design was based on "standard" two stringer bales, which one would expect to be 18" wide, 36" long, and 14" tall. The bales I ended up with, though, were more like 18x42x14. That significantly impacted my design as I had expected the bales to be half as wide as long, making alternating the courses work out evenly. I didn't realize the size difference until I was already stacking the bales. I should have stopped at that point and gone back to the drawing board. Instead, though, I continued, and just dealt with the gaps and odd overhangs as I encountered them. 

Another major mistake was building on a slight slope. Since the structure is temporary I didn't want to disturb the soil any more than I had to. Rather than trying to make the spot level I decided that I could use the slope to my advantage. I reoriented the structure so that the roof was running in the direction of the slope, giving me even more roof slope than my original design. I also reasoned that the slope would help carry water from the roof away from the base of the building.

If any mistake turns out to be a fatal flaw I think it will be this one. What I didn't expect, but should have, is that the slope caused the bales on the high side to shift. The wall on that side looks ridiculous  because it is so far from being straight. The problem is so bad that after leaving it for several days we found that when we returned to finish working on it the door was more narrow than we originally left it. I suspect that the shifting may not have been quite as bad if the door had been in a different location.

This leads to me my next mistake, which was not pinning more bales and/or courses. I had prepared a few pins in advance, which I planned to use for the half bales by the door. In hindsight I should have prepared many more and used them generously. I especially should have used more on the high side to help prevent it from leaning. I did put a few in once all courses of bales had been stacked, but it would have been better to thoroughly pin as I went. 

Not levelling each course of bales as I went was also a mistake. I should have taken the time to do this, as well as making sure each wall was plumb. I was in too big of a hurry to get the bales stacked, though, and so skipped an important step. I regretted doing this as soon as I started working on the roof and realized that my roof was going to be uneven. By this point I was unwilling to restack the bales to correct, so just dealt with it. I think it'll be fine for this structure, but not if I was installing a different type of roof covering.

The roof itself was designed to cover a 12' x 12' area, providing 18" of overhang on the ends and 9" of overhang on the sides. I planned for plenty of overhang to protect the bales from rain and snow so they can be reused in the Spring. The finished structure, though, was not the size I had planned because the bales were larger than expected. I should have redesigned the roof, based on the actual dimensions of the building. Instead, though, I went with the original design, which has left some of the bales protruding out past the roof edge. This is, obviously, less than idea. Although the cats like it since it gives them a convenient way to get onto the roof.

Another issue with the roof is the design itself. I feel like the roof is overly complicated for such a simple temporary structure. In hindsight I wish I had simply added another course of bales to the high side and then spanned the opening with 2x4s on which sheets of OSB would rest. This would not have covered the bales completely, and certainly wouldn't have provided any overhang. I think it would have been sufficient to support a tarp, though, which could have extended out over the edge of the bales. It would have been much simpler, less time consuming, and less expensive to construct. In hindsight I wish I had gone with this and used the savings to buy a larger and better quality tarp.

The overly complicated roof design had another major flaw. Even though it was complicated, it was also minimalist. In other words, I used the fewest rafters possible, to save money and effort. The result is a roof that is much too weak to put any real weight on. I actually have some concerns about its ability to handle any snow load. The inability to put weight on the roof made it difficult to adequately secure the OSB to the rafters in some areas. It also was going to complicated the application of plastic sheeting and roofing felt I had planned, which is a major reason I decided to just cover it with a tarp instead.

Not having a good tarp on hand when I started this project was also a big mistake. I have several old tarps, in varying condition, which I used to cover the structure. None were big enough on their own, though, which made it tough to get everything covered. At one point we had several days of rain and when I went back to the building site I found the tarps had separated in the center, allowing water to just pour inside the structure.

This also caused me to leave the OSB on the roof exposed for several days, during which more rain came. I had taken great care to keep the OSB in the dry prior to that, but then made the mistake of letting it get soaked by rain after installation. I had hoped to reuse it for another project in the future, but now I'm not sure it will be suitable for that. This was probably my most costly mistake, especially since I ended up buying a new tarp anyway. In the future I'll be sure to have a tarp capable of covering a structure like this, and if I don't have one I'll buy one before starting.

Since I ended up covering the structure with a tarp I have unused materials on hand. Had I planned to use the tarp from the start I could have saved myself the expense and trouble of buying the roofing felt and plastic cap nails. I'm going to try to return them, if they are in satisfactory condition. I was storing the felt inside the structure, so it may have gotten wet. I know that the box the nails are in got wet because they were in the bed of the RTV while we were working and there was a misting rain. One of the boxes with screws in it literally fell apart, but I'm hoping the nails didn't get so wet. If I'm able to return those two items the refund will cover the cost of the tarp. Otherwise it a sunk cost until/unless I find another use for them in the future.

As you can see I made plenty of mistakes on this building. I am certainly not happy with how it turned out. It looks sloppy and I seriously doubt its longevity. I am glad to have gotten it built, though, so we could relocate the cats. Since it is intended to be temporary I hope that the longevity doesn't become an issue. If nothing else it was a wonderful learning experience. You can bet that I'll never make these same mistakes again, especially not all on one building!

Edit: Having said all of the above, I don't want to make it seem like I'm completely unhappy with the structure. Yes, there were a lot of mistakes and both my planning and execution were lacking. It really was a great learning experience, though, and will be valuable because of that. Also, this is the first time I have ever attempted to build something so large myself and my first time building with straw bales. As many problems as it may have, I'm proud of the building and of the accomplishment it represents.

Going Shampoo-Free

I have decided that for the foreseeable future I will be shampoo-free. You may have heard of other people doing the "no poo" thing. I'm not a fan of that term, though, because it sounds like a fad to me. I am hoping that this will be much more than a fad, and will be a long term change for my personal hygiene.

My plan is to go all the way with this experiment. When many people give up shampoo they switch to soap or baking soda and apple cider vinegar or some other alternative. I do not plan to use anything on my hair, though, other than good old fashioned water. I'm not suggesting that there is anything wrong with using an alternative. It just isn't the approach I have decided to take.

There are plenty of websites and blogs explaining the reasons for going shampoo-free. I'm certainly no expert on the topic, so will leave it to each of you to do your own research if you are interested. I have no idea how this experiment will work out, but am eager to see the results. I will share my findings in future blog entries.

Straw Bale Cat House

As mentioned in previous posts, we recently constructed a straw bale structure to serve as a temporary home for several cats. The structure is only intended to be used for a few months, until we can build the permanent building. Once the cats have been relocated to the new building we will disassemble the straw bale structure and re-use the material for other projects.

I designed the structure using SketchUp, which I've found works wonderfully for such projects. The design is very simple. The plan called for a 10' 6" x 9' footprint, which provides 45 square feet of interior space. Things didn't quite go as planned, though, but I'll get to that in a follow-up post. The plan also called for 5 courses of straw bales, providing a height of 5' 10". The roof is 7/16" OSB supported by rafters spaced 4' apart.

Since this building was intended to be temporary I did not want to go through the effort of installing a foundation. I didn't want the bales to sit on the bare ground, though. I ended up deciding to put down plastic sheeting under the first course of bales, then folded it up on the outside and across the top of the bales. This should, I hope, protect the bottom course from both ground moisture and run off.

For the next course I had to make half bales to go on either side of the opening for the door. To make pins I cut some small diameter trees (less than 1") and sharpened one end. I then drove these through the bales, into the course below, to tie everything together.

After the fourth course I placed a sheet of OSB across the end of the structure opposite the door. This serves as a make-shift loft and provides an additional 12 to 15 square feet of space. The final course of bales were then placed on top of the OSB, which helps to hold it in place.

The rafters were constructed from 12 foot long 2'x4's. I used 12' rafters to provide 18" overhangs on each side. The bottom 2'x4' of each rafter was placed across the bales at the appropriate position, and then drilled so that length of rebar could be driven through to tie them to the bales of straw. I then attached a 2 foot length of 2'x4' to one end to provide a 1:6 slope for the roof. The other 12 foot  2x4 was then attached to the top of each rafter structure, providing support for the roof.

For the roof I used sheets of 7/16" OSB. After installing the OSB I had planned to put down a layer of plastic sheeting, which would then be covered by 30lb roofing felt. Due to time constraints, though, we ended up deciding to forego the plastic and felt and simply cover the roof with a good quality tarp.

I was concerned about wind lifting the roof off of the structure, so decided to secure it to the ground with treated 2'x4's. I screwed one end to the rafter on each corner, and then attached the other end to a short length of 2'x4' which had been sharpened to a point and driven into the ground.

I still need to do some work to box in the ends of the rafters, but for now the structure is sufficient for providing the cats with shelter. I'm sure there were easier, and probably also cheaper options. Using straw bales, however, provided me a chance to experiment with using them for building. They should also all be reusable once the structure is no longer needed, at which point they will be used for mulch in the garden.

Cats! Lots and Lots of Cats!

As mentioned in my Update post from a couple of weeks ago we have been planning to relocate several cats to the farm. Last week we finished the temporary cat house, or, at least, got it to the point that it is usable. With that done Jen decided to relocate the cats and get them settled in over the weekend.

On Saturday morning we got up early and prepped the Escape for the task. We began by putting down a layer of cardboard, which we then covered with an old sheet, in case there were any accidents during the trip. We then loaded an extra-large dog crate and five cat carriers into the back. Once we arrived at the cats' location Jen started loading them into the carriers, with the more troublesome ones getting their own, and the more cooperative ones sharing. She managed to locate and catch thirteen cats and load them into the carriers.

Surprisingly the hour and a half drive back home was relatively uneventful. There was some meowing at first, but the cats calmed down quickly. There were some pretty terrible smells emitting from the carriers on a couple of instances, but rolling down the windows helped with that. All in all it went very smoothly.

Things didn't go quite as smoothly once we arrived home. We loaded the dog crate into the bed of the RTV, strapped it in, and then headed up the hill to the cat house. The weather was warm, which made for a nice day to be outside, but a terrible day to be going up and down that hill. After the recent freezes the warm weather had thawed the previously frozen ground and left it a muddy mess. After multiple attempts I finally had to stop on the hill and have Jen take the controls while I pushed. Even with this we didn't manage to get to the top, so had to carry the carrier the remaining 20 feet or so. The next trip was much the same, although this time we managed to make it all the way to the top, with my pushing.

We had to make one more trip off the hill and back up later that day, and I actually managed to make it all the way to the top that time without pushing, although a couple of times I was sure I wasn't going to make it. Since that last trip I haven't even tried the RTV again and have, instead, just been using the four-wheeler since it handles that hill much better when muddy. I think it is due to the difference in air pressure in the tires as well as the significant weight difference between the vehicles.

I rode up this morning to feed the cats and check on them. They all seem to be settling in nicely. I've already made friends with a few of them. I have a feeling that the cats are going to thrive in their new environment. Jen plans to go back and look for the remaining four cats that didn't make the trip. Since we have relocated the majority, though, I'm calling it a success.

Have You Tried Turning it Off and On Again?

Yesterday I discovered the solution to a problem I've been working on, and that solution left me feeling pretty stupid.

A few weeks ago I needed some light out at the shed, so pulled the four-wheeler into a good spot and used it's headlights for the task. When I was finished I tried restarting the four-wheeler so I could park it, but it would not start. I finally gave up and just pushed it back under the shed.

The next day I tried again, making sure it wasn't out of gas, etc. When it still wouldn't start I decided it was probably time to replace the spark plug. The next time I went to London I ran into the automotive supply store and picked one up. A few days ago I switched them out and found that they had given me the wrong plug. The wire would not attach because the terminal of the plug was too large. Yesterday I returned it to the store and they gave me a different one that had a screw off terminal, which would then allow it to work.

I replaced the plug, but the four-wheeler would still not start. I figured I'd need to ask my Dad for some advice when I next talked to him, so went to work on another project. As I was thinking over anything I might have missed that could cause the problem I thought of a potential cause.

I went back to the four-wheeler, made one small change, hit the starter and it fired right up. The problem, as much as I hate to admit it, was that it was turned off. My four-wheeler has both an on/off switch and a keyed ignition switch. I always turn it off with the ignition switch, and leave the on/off switch in the on position. That switch is next to the controls for the lights. Apparently, on the night I was using it to light the shed I accidentally hit the on/off switch while fumbling around for the light switch in the dark.

I'm glad that the issue was simply user error. A two pack of plugs only cost $4, so I'm not out much. The lesson I learned was well worth that cost. Plus I now have a new plug in the four-wheeler and a spare.

(Plastic) Enclosed Porch - Update

Back in November 2012 I posted about enclosing the porch with plastic for the winter. This has turned out to be one of the most posts on the blog, so I've decided to write a follow-up. The original post can be found here.

In 2013 I followed the same process for enclosing the porch as I had in 2012. It worked well, but was a bit more difficult without my Dad's help. When the time came to install the plastic this winter I decided to make a couple of key changes.

I'm still using the firring strips from 2012. As long as I continue to take them down and store in the dry I expect them to last for several more years. However, I left those on one end up this past year and I expect that at least the one that was on the bottom will need replaced fairly soon. The only materials I had to buy this year was a roll of 4 mil clear plastic sheeting (25' x 10'). I had staples on hand, and re-used some screws from previous years for installing the firring strips.

The first change I made to the plan this year was to attach the plastic to the inside of the porch posts instead of the outside. This simplified the process since it allowed most of the work to be done without the need for ladders, and when a ladder was needed a small step stool was sufficient. By working under the cover of the porch roof I was also able to do the project even though it was lightly raining. So far I've seen no evidence to suggest that this will create any problems.

The next change I made was in the order in which I attached the strips. Previously we started with those on top. This year, though, I decided it made more sense to start with those on the sides. I left  6" of plastic above the top of the strips so there would be room for rolling the plastic around the top strips. After installing the first strip I stretched the plastic tightly and cut it to length. Once I had attached it to the strip for the other side it was stretched as tightly as possible while I attached the strips to the post. The result is that the plastic is stretched much more tightly than before.

The last change that I made was to install the top and bottom strips one at a time. The length of the porch requires two strips be placed end to end to span the distance. Previously we had attached the plastic to both before attaching to the posts. It was difficult, however, for two people to hold both strips in place and attach them. By attaching one at a time this year I was able to avoid that problem. I simply cut the plastic in the center where the strips would meet so that each side could be rolled independently of the other.

I have only identified two minor issues with the approach I used this year. First is that installing the plastic on the insides of the post required moving anything that was sitting near the posts, which for me included a gas grill and patio furniture. This took little time, though, and was a minor inconvenience. The other issue is that I needed to cut the vertical strips to length, since they could no longer extend down past the floor of the porch as they did when mounted to the outside. This did require an extra step, but now that it is done I won't have to do it again. If one were planning to re-use the strips for another purpose it could be beneficial to be able to avoid cutting them, but for me that isn't a concern.

In my original post I indicated that the cost of the project was less than $30. Since I only had to buy plastic this year the cost was just over $12. Over three years that averages out to $18 a year. As long as I continue using the same strips that average will continue to decrease, making the project a better deal each year.

Update

It has been nearly nine months since my last blog entry. If anyone is still following the blog, you probably assumed I had abandoned it. To be honest, I thought that might be the case as well. As 2015 gets underway, though, I've decided to provide a long overdue update. Much has changed since my last entry. I'm sure that I'll miss many things in this post, but will try to at least cover those that are most significant.

The first major change is that we have added a new member to our household. No, we did not have a baby. The addition is an adult. Our friend Jen is currently living with us, and will be building her own small home on the property next year if all goes as planned. She is currently evaluating various alternative building methods and hopes to finalize a floor plan this winter.

Having Jen here has allowed us to accelerate many of our plans, including the plan to launch a farm-based business. We plan to participate in a local farmers market this year, selling excess produce as well as soaps, lotions, and other hand-crafted items.

Way back in early 2013 I announced the chosen name for our farm. As we began serious planning for the farm we decided to revisit the name. With Jen now involved in the operation we wanted her input on the name. We had also not been able to acquire a domain name that exactly matched the original farm name, and neither of us were happy about.

After much debate and research we found a name that we are all very happy with. We are now known as Daggletail Farm. I'm sure that you, like everyone else we've shared the name with, are wondering what Daggletail means. A daggletail is the lower ends of a garment which trail in the dirt or mud. In other words, the hem of a dress, skirt, or pants legs which are soiled from dragging in the mud, which happens frequently around here.

Our plans to set up at a farmers market this year, combined with our desire to have a 4wd vehicle that three people can ride in led us to buying an additional vehicle. We looked at many options and test drove several. In the end we bought a 2007 AWD Ford Escape Hybrid. So far we have pleased with the decision. The cargo capacity will be a big help for transporting items to market. Driving a hybrid will also fit in with the overall image we hope to construct for our farm and business.

Much of our free time of late has been spent planning, either for the business or the much expanded garden we have planned, or attending educational workshops and events. We spent the past two days in Lexington, attending the 2015 Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference. Back in October we attending Kentucky Sheep & Goat Development Office's Annual Producer Conference as part of the Small Ruminant Profit School, which we'll finish up in March. We are currently evaluating several upcoming events to decide which we will attend. These include the Business of Farming Conference, the Organic Growers School Spring Conference, and Mother Earth News Fair in Asheville, NC. I know that we will definitely be attending the Kentucky Green Living Fair in early April.

As you may have guessed, we've decided to acquire small livestock in the near future. At first we were trying to decide between sheep and goats. Attending SRPS has helped us make that decision. We plan to start with goats, with a focus on milk production for our own use. Down the road we hope to also have a small alpaca herd for fiber production.

This winter and spring are shaping up to be busy around here. Jen will be bringing several cats to the property, which she has rescued over the years. We plan to construct a permanent structure for them in the Spring, but are putting up a temporary straw bale structure now so they can be relocated here as soon as possible.

We will also be building a chicken coop this spring. This will involve a re-work of my initial design to provide space for a larger flock than originally planned. We are also considering a different location for the coop than we thought, which may mean some additional work clearing the area. The biggest task, though, other than construction, will be cleaning up the old lumber that we intend to use for the coop construction. We hope to complete this task during the winter.

Our plans to expand the garden also mean additional work prepping the garden plot. We only used 3 permanent beds last year, which will be nowhere near enough for this year's garden. I hope to start laying out new beds soon and hauling manure for them.

As you can see, there have been many changes taking place over the past several months. The coming months are shaping up to be busy as well. While I may never post as frequently as I once did, I hope to begin blogging somewhat regularly again.