This is so exciting for your family! Will it still be off grid? I like the design. It's modern and still has character. I'm glad you're back. I finished making black drawing salve today. Another medicinal added to the apothecary. :)
Oh nice! What did you put in yours? I've seen so many recipes, most with comfrey and plantain, along with activated charcoal, but then they have just about everything in them from bloodroot to pine pitch. I'm always curious what people go with (and how it works for you).
I used lavender, plantain, comfrey and mullein infused in olive oil along with the charcoal and bentonite clay. I wanted to keep it pretty simple but I can see myself getting addicted to salve making.😂
I had to leave my thirty acre off grid dream in AZ at about 6,000’ elevation due to age and health concerns. We may try again on our five acre lot with a much reduced menu.
Makes sense, and it can definitely be a lot. We've increased and decreased our menu over the years here, trying to find a balance, but I know age and health will eventually really decrease the menu over here too.
i have SO missed your blog! I've done a fir amount of home remodeling/rebuilding myself, and it is an enormous amount of work. I applaude you for tackling this, along with all you do.
Enjoy the process! There are... so many choices....We started building our sustainable home on an island in Greece in 2008, and finished... about 10 years later (!) building as we had the funds to do so, as the Greeks do, and lived during the rainless months, in one room and "camped" in the ongoing house. Winters were on our boat. We are here full time now, pleased to be off the grid, living very cheaply! Unfortunately it is nearly impossible to grow our own food, bad soil and difficult climate - unless you are born here and really know how to! You do so many wonderful things, love getting your emails, always inspiring!
Congratulations! So exciting and I look forward to seeing its progress. It would also be great fun to see photos of the inside of your current funky house, maybe especially once it’s converted into project and pantry extraordinaire! It sounds like the new home won’t be off grid though but with being self employed and budding teenagers that might get tricky. Best wishes!
Love this update! My parents bought land in 1990 and built our entire homestead, house included, with some new and some upcycled materials and their own hands. They knew building and slowly learned homesteading. We still only know a fraction of the information you have gathered and made available here. It's cool to see that you're learning the building aspect of self-reliance.
I totally understand the idea of wanting more space as the kids mature. My family lives in what used to be a polebarn on my parents compound, and the high ceilings are great. The only interior door being the bathroom is tricky. 😆
Good luck on this leg of the journey! Can't wait to hear more updates, but please take all the time you need, I know it's a lot to juggle. 😉
Oh boy. What fun, fun. Enjoy the experience and keep us updated with the progress. It sounds as if it will give you more space for canning, projects, etc. I am very happy for you. Bette Axiak
How SO exciting and nerve-racking all at once. It's a beautiful design and makes sense to use your one room home as your workshop. Once it's done, what a functional and Practical solution!!
As always, I am a devoted follower of your exceptional websites!
my wife and i decided we would buy 5 acres in north Georgia Appalachia . i was 52 years old my wife 51 years old, we decided on a log cabin , priced our logs locally , wow, prices and timelines were crazy , we found a saw mill in Alabama that bought trees and sold precut logs , tongue and grooved top and bottom , but not a kit , just machine logs built to stack on each other , that varied from 8 ft to 12 in length yellow pine (really hard and really heavy ) logs were seasoned for months then machined with equipment made by the owner ,daughter and son, all ran by belts power by a straight 8 1953 Buick engine . we designed our small cabin . our basement 9ft tall , 8" pour walls , 28x36 ft , soon we started on the mounting the logs , doors and windows were cut out, the a second floor ,not logs , but framed construction , the a metal roof , we live in the 1008 sq ft main floor , my wife has her craft /stained glass studio in the basement , up stairs is about 870 sq ft , we add chair lifts up stairs , and down stairs . i wired it with the thought of adding solar soon , we both had full time jobs , lol, only doors are to the basement ,upstars , front door , but we have 2 8ft sliding glass doors one in the living room , one in the bed room , both great views west to see the sun set .we ate in our very 70's now ! enjoy your new home it sounds great . so proud you of you guys ! thanks for all you share with us ! dale and alison.
Ashley, Congratulations on your new adventure! The design looks lovely and peaceful!
Thank you!
This is so exciting for your family! Will it still be off grid? I like the design. It's modern and still has character. I'm glad you're back. I finished making black drawing salve today. Another medicinal added to the apothecary. :)
Oh nice! What did you put in yours? I've seen so many recipes, most with comfrey and plantain, along with activated charcoal, but then they have just about everything in them from bloodroot to pine pitch. I'm always curious what people go with (and how it works for you).
I used lavender, plantain, comfrey and mullein infused in olive oil along with the charcoal and bentonite clay. I wanted to keep it pretty simple but I can see myself getting addicted to salve making.😂
Awesome!
Sweet! I am intrigued!!!
Thanks for the update. How exciting!
I had to leave my thirty acre off grid dream in AZ at about 6,000’ elevation due to age and health concerns. We may try again on our five acre lot with a much reduced menu.
Makes sense, and it can definitely be a lot. We've increased and decreased our menu over the years here, trying to find a balance, but I know age and health will eventually really decrease the menu over here too.
i have SO missed your blog! I've done a fir amount of home remodeling/rebuilding myself, and it is an enormous amount of work. I applaude you for tackling this, along with all you do.
Thanks Merri!
Enjoy the process! There are... so many choices....We started building our sustainable home on an island in Greece in 2008, and finished... about 10 years later (!) building as we had the funds to do so, as the Greeks do, and lived during the rainless months, in one room and "camped" in the ongoing house. Winters were on our boat. We are here full time now, pleased to be off the grid, living very cheaply! Unfortunately it is nearly impossible to grow our own food, bad soil and difficult climate - unless you are born here and really know how to! You do so many wonderful things, love getting your emails, always inspiring!
Wow, living on a boat sounds like a dream! (Though I'm not sure I'd be up for the difficult soil on the island.)
So, so cool! Can't wait to see the finished house! Yes, great choice on the slightly curved door :)
Congrats!!
Thanks Maureen!
And big Cudos on finding a contractor with time these days!!!
Yeah, seriously!
Congratulations! So exciting and I look forward to seeing its progress. It would also be great fun to see photos of the inside of your current funky house, maybe especially once it’s converted into project and pantry extraordinaire! It sounds like the new home won’t be off grid though but with being self employed and budding teenagers that might get tricky. Best wishes!
Love this update! My parents bought land in 1990 and built our entire homestead, house included, with some new and some upcycled materials and their own hands. They knew building and slowly learned homesteading. We still only know a fraction of the information you have gathered and made available here. It's cool to see that you're learning the building aspect of self-reliance.
I totally understand the idea of wanting more space as the kids mature. My family lives in what used to be a polebarn on my parents compound, and the high ceilings are great. The only interior door being the bathroom is tricky. 😆
Good luck on this leg of the journey! Can't wait to hear more updates, but please take all the time you need, I know it's a lot to juggle. 😉
Thanks so much Erin! Sounds like you and your family are in a very similar place.
Congratulations on your build! I really like the style!
Thanks Pam!
Oh boy. What fun, fun. Enjoy the experience and keep us updated with the progress. It sounds as if it will give you more space for canning, projects, etc. I am very happy for you. Bette Axiak
Thank you Bette!
So happy for you.
How SO exciting and nerve-racking all at once. It's a beautiful design and makes sense to use your one room home as your workshop. Once it's done, what a functional and Practical solution!!
As always, I am a devoted follower of your exceptional websites!
Thank you!
Thanks Eden!
You're welcome. And thank you! You're truly an Amazing person!
Good for you guys , God bless
Thanks Joe!
my wife and i decided we would buy 5 acres in north Georgia Appalachia . i was 52 years old my wife 51 years old, we decided on a log cabin , priced our logs locally , wow, prices and timelines were crazy , we found a saw mill in Alabama that bought trees and sold precut logs , tongue and grooved top and bottom , but not a kit , just machine logs built to stack on each other , that varied from 8 ft to 12 in length yellow pine (really hard and really heavy ) logs were seasoned for months then machined with equipment made by the owner ,daughter and son, all ran by belts power by a straight 8 1953 Buick engine . we designed our small cabin . our basement 9ft tall , 8" pour walls , 28x36 ft , soon we started on the mounting the logs , doors and windows were cut out, the a second floor ,not logs , but framed construction , the a metal roof , we live in the 1008 sq ft main floor , my wife has her craft /stained glass studio in the basement , up stairs is about 870 sq ft , we add chair lifts up stairs , and down stairs . i wired it with the thought of adding solar soon , we both had full time jobs , lol, only doors are to the basement ,upstars , front door , but we have 2 8ft sliding glass doors one in the living room , one in the bed room , both great views west to see the sun set .we ate in our very 70's now ! enjoy your new home it sounds great . so proud you of you guys ! thanks for all you share with us ! dale and alison.
That's Amazing! My uncle build a log cabin slowly over a decade when I was growing up, and boy is that ever an undertaking.