It Huffed and It Puffed...

Some surprise weather came through the southeast this past weekend and a lot of the preliminary arrangement of our basement ICF panels was undone by the winds of Mother Nature.




We were luckier, however, than other areas of North Carolina that were stricken by full-blown tornadoes and even fatalities. By Tuesday, Chris and Richard were able to rebuild the basement walls and reinforce them with the wood planks across the top edges. Note: The only wall that remained after the strong winds was the one that was already braced. All windows in the basement have been temporarily framed and next up is the pouring of cement into the ICFs starting at the corners since the 90-degree angle can be a problem for adequate concrete flow.

Like Building with LEGOs

The rebar was set in the footers of the main house and the ICF assembly has begun. Each ICF panel is essentially styrofoam (which accounts for their high efficiency rating) with some plastic, so they are very lightweight. The edges are modular and they connect to each other like LEGO bricks, and then they are easily cut for doorways and windows. A rebar framework reinforces the panels and holds them in the correct position while concrete is poured into them resulting in a solid concrete wall.



Now you can really see the home taking shape as the walls are put into place. The wide opening you see in the photo above is the french doors that open to the back patio. With the ICFs to help us envision the layout, we've begun to think about furniture placement and where to put the wood-burning stove and 52" plasma TV (I wish!). One problem we ran into with the basement is that the ceilings need to be taller than we expected due to the steep grade of the hillside where we placed the main house. We are now expecting 10' ceilings in the basement to accommodate any Wookiee visitors.

As is evident from the photos, the kids are loving the construction site and refer to it as their "playground." What is somewhat less evident is that the children no longer have any clean white socks.

Garage Gravel and Main House Footers

It rained last weekend, but we managed to get our temporary house numbers up to make it easier for future construction deliveries to find us, and it was dry enough for Chris and Richard to continue construction. Concrete blocks were built up atop the poured concrete footers for the garage.


While there are some gaps and cracks in the foundation cinder blocks, we are told that they will self-seal once more concrete is poured into them.

The interior space was then filled with gravel.


The dumpster was also delivered so trash now has a proper home. (Note: the intent is to recycle or burn as much as possible on-site since hauling the trash off the property and dumping it can be quite expensive.)


The remaining earth below the future main house was also cleared and, much like the garage, channels were dug with the excavator and filled with concrete to form what is essentially the footprint of the house. It may look small, but remember that there are really 3 levels (basement, main floor, and second floor) plus a porch on front and back. As always, you can click any of the above photos for enlargements and the full construction gallery.

Not Your Typical Bucket o' Chicken

In an effort to make more use of the limited space inside our wire-hoop chicken coop, we've replaced the deteriorating waxed cardboard boxes (which can't be recycled) with eight 5-gallon plastic buckets. We modified the buckets by removing the handles and cutting the lids a little less than half-way across to keep bedding material from falling out, yet still allowing enough space for the hen ingress and egress. We then nailed a small strip of wood to the cut edge of each lid to eliminate the sharp edge and provide a comfortable step. The base of each bucket was then screwed to a wide plank of plywood in two rows of four which stack neatly and are surprisingly stable considering they aren't tied down. We then filled each bucket with pine shavings to complete this modular-style nesting box that can be easily moved and/or cleaned. We'll let you know if the chickens like it. Click here for more photos of the bucket chicken condo.

Moving Right Along

Today saw the pouring of concrete footings for the garage, more of the future basement for the main house was excavated, and the all-important Port-O-Let was delivered.

Our contractor also did some grading of the driveway so that a semi full of ICFs (Insulated Concrete Forms) could be delivered. The modular ICFs are stacked then filled with concrete for an amazingly durable and energy-efficient structure. Click here for a step-by-step on ICF installation. Click on the photo to link to our construction shots photo album.

Back at Rose Cottage, our landlord's handyman finally got around to mowing the rest of the yard which I had started last weekend since it was so overgrown. Chickens were let free at 2:30 in the afternoon after producing a baker's dozen eggs. We are keeping them in their run during the first part of the day now since we were suffering from low egg count by letting them free range first thing in the morning (we suspect they are laying eggs in undisclosed locations about the property... sneaky hens!).

A Groundbreaking Day

24 hours later than we hoped, but yesterday was a momentous day as the excavator finally dug into red earth where our future home will stand. Dionne called me early in the morning so I could hear the sounds of the diesel engine and machinery...it was truly music to my ears. Here you can see where they dug out the perimeter of the outer walls and placed rebar for the footings.


I've also added a countdown until the completion of the detached garage. Why the garage and not the home? We're moving into the garage first to coincide with the end of our current lease at Rose Cottage---no need to sign for another 6 months!

Contract Signed!

This was a busy 3-day weekend (I took a vacation day from the office), but it was well worth it as we finally got the actual construction contract with Jessica from Oakley Custom Homes squared away. Initial estimates show the completion of the garage by September 15th with completion of the main house around December 21st. We also spent some time on the property measuring and staking the future location and orientation of the house and the detached garage while Mema's dogs and the kids ran wild on our future backyard. Settling on the four corners of the house was more difficult than one would expect as slight changes of the front porch view drastically altered views from the back and side. We finally realized that this is because we chose to place the home at the mid-point of our "California-shaped" lot (think dogleg for golfers). From a bird's eye view you can see that it's impossible to have the front of the house face the main road and yet have the backyard view line up with our open meadow. We had to settle for facing a bit more toward Tom Black's house rather than Collinsville Road. Anyhow, several signatures and a few notary stamps later and we are set to break ground as early as tomorrow (Tuesday, April 22nd)!

Let Them Eat Snake

If you love something, set it free---as in free range. You've probably seen and heard the term "free range" but what does it really mean? The U.S.D.A. (United States Department of Agriculture) allows labels to say free range if they have "certified access to the outdoors," but does not specify other criteria such as the quality of the land/environment, size of roaming area, or the number of birds confined to a particular space. In other words, some chickens could be defined as free range simply by having a small run with nothing but gravel or mud. Also beware that there are no standards governing the term "range" or similar advertisements on egg cartons, such as "free running," "free roaming," or "free walking." True free range allows for chickens to sustain themselves on their natural surroundings.

About a week ago, with the okay of our landlord (who seems to have turned over a new leaf lately), we decided to bite the bullet and let the chickens roam free in the yard. We trust that they will use their instincts to determine what is food and what isn't, but just in case we scoured the property to ensure there were no obvious threats (physical or chemical). Like letting your child go off by themselves for the first time, we were nervous parents, imagining hawk attacks, lost hens, and other untold dangers. However, the flock doesn't wander far and we have yet to lose any to the nearby woods or the neighbor's car...they return to their coop each night as the sun sets and the headcount is always the same.

Now, aside from the usual plants and insects you'd expect them to eat in the wild, our flock is expanding their palate to include such things as small snakes (we caught them playing tug o' war with the one pictured above). Whether or not they actually ate it is anyone's guess since they are competitive about rare treats and will run off to finish their meal in seclusion. We've also noticed that they no longer seem to think that being handfed is such a novelty.

R.I.P. Dalmation Temptation

Sad news. Our one and only Silver Laced Wyandotte died. Dionne went out to collect eggs around 2pm on April 4th and she was laying there in the coop. She was fine in the morning, but had been dead for a little while because rigormortis had begun to set in. Dionne checked the inside of her mouth and it wasn't black, so we don't think it was worms or coccidiosis or anything harmful to the rest of the flock (who have been absolutely fine). Her lower abdomen was swollen and her oviduct was slightly expanded, so we think Dalmation was eggbound...this can cause a quick death if not caught early. Maya was pretty upset, of course, and Dalmation (whose was named for her black and white Dalmation-style spots and a word that rhymed with "dalmation") was buried in the backyard of the cottage complete with stones and flowers to mark the grave. We initially referred to this hen as "mystery chick" since she was of a different breed than the rest. Dalmation is pictured above with wildflowers sprinkled on her back's "bald spot" courtesy of the kids.

A Satisfied Customer

Although we eat our own eggs (and have certainly seen our share of oddities like no-yolkers, double-yolkers, minis, and monsters), it's always good to have some kind of feedback from our customer-friends to see what they think of our non-soy organic chicken ova. One of our regulars, Jenny, posted something to her own blog that shows some serious membrane below the shell from one of our hens. No bacteria getting in there! Check it out here.

Classic in Spirit, Modern in Style

As we near groundbreaking, I thought it would be interesting to share the article from Inspired House magazine which led us to the "Field of Dreams" home plan from Healthy Homeplans. One of my favorite excerpts defines a farmhouse as follows:

It looks like it belongs where it sits. It is constructed in a vernacular style, of materials that are native to its region.

There are multiple buildings on the site--anything from a barn or a henhouse to a detached garage.

It is shaped like a simple box and has a gable roof and clapboard siding.

It has an open porch to ease the transition from landscape to interior space.

Its proportions are carefully considered. Wings can't be too wide or the house will be stocky instead of tall and proud.

It has a simple, symmetrical facade with a pleasing arrangement of windows.

It features double-hung windows. The should be tall, with a minimum 1 to 2 ratio in width to height, and low (8 to 18 inches off the floor).

The pitch of the main roof is steep (8/12 or 12/12), while the pitch of the porch roof is low (3/12 to 4/12).

Part of the ceiling in the upper bedrooms slopes and the head height of windows is lower than usual.

There's evidence that it has grown over time: wings attached, rooms bumped out, second stories added on.

Click here to download a pdf of the full 8-page article.

Land Developer Sets Sites on Columbus

Yikes! Look what's coming just a few miles down the road...


Well, it's nice to think we've settled on a popular region and our land value will continue to rise. But, on the other hand, do we want this kind of development that means increased traffic on the equestrian trails and certain ecological impact? Visit derbyshirenc.com for more about this new English-style planned community.

Attack of the Hawk

A few weekends ago, we witnessed a hawk take down a dove on our back patio at the rental cottage. A lot of feathers and squawking, but also a reminder of the predator/prey circle of life. Just two days ago, we experienced our first hawk air raid on the chickens. It was the early afternoon when we heard a commotion outside and we caught a glimpse of the chickens scurrying into the safety of their coop. Maya exclaimed "Hawk in the chicken coop!" and the sound of nearby panicking crows confirmed the danger. I ran outside still in my socks, clapping my hands to make as much noise as possible. By the time I got to the chicken run the chickens were all in their coop and clucking in alarm mode---no sign of the hawk, but two kinds of feathers scattered around. I counted the chickens (no easy feat when they are weaving around each other), then counted them two or three more times. 27 sounded like the right number but I asked Maya if she noticed any missing hens (she can identify them better than any of us). The feathers belonged to a random buff orpington survivor and to our lead Araucana rooster, Fluffy. Maya was shaken by the near-death experience but I reassured her that Fluffy was a hero, having protected his hens from the predator at the cost of a few feathers (which were then taped to a sheet of paper in honor of his courage). For several hours, the chickens stayed in their coop unless a human was nearby, and then we decided to add a barrier to the exposed top of the chicken run by stringing some twine back and forth like a loose web roof.



This won't stop a hawk, but it will hopefully serve as a deterrent to buy the chickens a few seconds to escape to safety should there be another attack. Despite our efforts to protect the chickens, we must accept natural attrition and predation if we intend to go fully free-range with these egg-layers in the future. One solution, I'm told, is to get goats mixed into the flock.

Some Kind of Houdini

Over the past week, one of our Araucanas (which 8-year-old Maya tells us is "Gloria") had figured out how to escape the 10-foot-tall fencing surrounding our chicken run. Fortunately, she doesn't go far, but it has been a problem since we're not quite ready to go completely free-range. Yesterday, we were able to observe Gloria in action making a completely vertical flight to the top of the fencing where Maya promptly pushed her back into the chicken run with the handle-end of a nearby shovel. My theory is that this hen is smaller and therefore lighter than the rest of the chickens. Maya's theory is that she is simply smarter. As it turns out, Gloria does seem to have some sort of motivation.



While bringing in some firewood, we noticed a small nest of three Araucana eggs behind the woodpile and Dionne had mentioned seeing her back there during one of her escapades. It appears that Gloria was trying to find a way to keep her eggs from their breakfast plate fate, and it also explains our recent fluctuating egg count. A for Effort, Gloria.

Get the Skinny

Here's a quick way to find out more about Columbus, NC, where we are building:

http://www.zipskinny.com

You can also punch in your own zip code (U.S. residents only) to get more information on your local schools, employment, household income, and other social and economic indicators.

Revising the Home Plans

The layout we decided upon is a modified version of the Field of Dreams home plan by Healthy Home Plans. As you can see, the exterior has a traditional farmhouse look which complements the land where we are building. There's just something awkward about a contemporary suburban stucco home out in the country. We met with our builder, Jessica Oakley of Oakley Custom Homes, and made revisions to the "off the shelf" plan including selection of windows, flooring, etc. (Did we mention that Jessica is part of our food co-op? We tried to barter a life-time supply of eggs in exchange for the new home, but she didn't go for it...) Before final pricing, an engineer needs to give the revisions a lookover. Grading of the property, however, can begin as soon as we sign the contract!

The Chickens Have Landed

We finally had time last weekend to complete the new Sugar Mountain Farm-inspired chicken coop and the egg-layers have been relocated to Rose Cottage. The whole set-up at the rental cottage is designed to be modular and temporary, yet sturdy enough to secure the chickens and withstand the weather (cold, wind, and rain). Click here to view the entire construction process from start to finish. The chickens went right to clearing out the vegetation in their new run, and hardly skipped a beat when it came to laying eggs (sometimes traumatic happenings such as a physical move can cause them to stop laying). We were able to move them over in a makeshift cage in the back of Danna's pickup truck, although it took two trips. The old chicken run on the Smith property will be recycled into a dog run for their two new farm dogs, Abbie and Axel. The real beauty of relocating the chickens is the sheer convenience of having our twice-daily chores right outside the door versus a mile away. The kids appreciate being able to sleep in a little, too.

Let It Snow

Forgive the cliché headline. My co-workers tell me "You're soooooo from Florida." I can't help it. I'm excited about the snowfall, and while we got an inch or two in Charlotte, the light rain that immediately followed turned the fluffy white landscape into slowly dissolving piles of ice. But out at Blue Harvest Farm, there was a bit more fun to be had and the kids woke to a potential day of snowball fights, identifying animal tracks, snow angels, and even some sledding.





The chickens are safe from the elements inside the fourth stall with red heat lamp on and extra bedding for warmth. They have a tarp-covered area (originally intended for rainy days) in case they dare to venture into the chilly air. Frankly, I think they may prefer being cooped up for now!



They are predicting more snow on Saturday...and I'll be on the farm anxiously awaiting my turn to ride down the hills on the snow saucer.

Here Comes Winter (Like It or Not)

Being the Floridians that we are, we've been looking forward to some real winter weather since we moved up to the Carolinas in 2005. There was a dusting of snow last year, but we still felt kind of cheated out of the whole winter experience. Dionne's weather alert radio (every good survivalist should have one) went off this morning with the following report:

Statement as of 4:52 AM EST on January 16, 2008

...Winter weather will affect the region Wednesday night and
Thursday...

...Winter Storm Warning in effect from 7 PM this evening to 7 PM EST Thursday...Winter Storm Watch no longer in effect...

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has upgraded the Winter Storm Watch to a Winter Storm Warning...which is in effect from 7 PM this evening to 7 PM EST Thursday.

A band of moderate to heavy snow and sleet is forecast to move north over the mountains and foothills late this evening into the early morning hours of Thursday. This band will likely result in a quick accumulation of one to two inches of snow and sleet across eastern slopes of the mountains and adjacent foothills. A rapid transition to sleet and freezing rain will then follow during the early morning hours Thursday. An additional inch or two of snow is possible...mainly at higher elevations in and near the mountains. Freezing rain will then fall for much of the morning before temperatures warm to a few degrees above freezing. Where temperatures stay below freezing the longest...up to a quarter inch of ice accumulation is possible.

The timing of the wintry precipitation will likely lead to significant travel problems across the warned area Thursday morning. Ice accumulations around a quarter of an inch may result in some trees and power lines to fall...blocking roads and leading to scattered power outages.

A Winter Storm Warning means significant amounts of snow...sleet...and ice are expected or occurring. Strong winds are also possible. This will make travel very hazardous or impossible.

The rest of the day will be spent running around like ants before a rainstorm, making sure we've got supplies for both us and the animals in case there is a power outage and icy roads make travel (escape) too hazardous.

Splittin' Logs

Having grown up in Florida's warm climate, a fireplace was something of a novelty. Living in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, it's a necessity. A benefit of having a lot of wooded acreage is the constant supply of free firewood, however you still have to work for it. We are presently getting our wood from fallen trees on the east side of the property, where Harrison has already had them cut into 2-foot-long logs. We take Mema's truck down the path and then load up the wood to bring it back to their tool shed and the very cool gas-powered log-splitter. If the logs are longer than 2-foot sections, they won't fit on this splitter and they can be quite heavy.

The splitter uses a greased piston and hydraulic force to slowly ram the log onto an iron splitting wedge. I'm not sure of the pressure exerted but it's measured in tonnage, and it's awesome to hear the wood crack and split! Some logs require more than one split so they are a reasonable size for a fireplace. Also worth noting: You can't cut down a fresh tree and expect to the still damp wood to burn well...you must plan ahead and stockpile your logs allowing them plenty of time to dry out before tossing them into the fire and enjoying the warmth of carbonizing wood. Always remember to stand away from the splitting wood and wear eye protection!