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Formed: 2010 Established: 2010
This page last updated:5/12/2013
Central Pa Mountain wilderness farm
millersburg, Pennsylvania,
United States
my old horse and buggy
 Hello readers
READ PROGRESS + SEE NEW PICS below:
I am middle aged seeking another wilderness minded person who wants to partner with my farm + the 1800's home I bought with 6 acres in Central Pa. 50 miles N of Harrisburg, Pa. at the base of a 2000 ft Appalachian mountain. The farm is surrounded by larger farms yet located in a wooded section. I have trout streams running through 3 acres of my 6 acres. I have a creek running along my garden + house + a yr round hand dug well + a spring in basement of my home. I myself have been doing farming + forestry work since 1972. I started a recycling center in 1975 in Redway, N. Calif + have built green homes in Philly pa burbs in the 80's / 90's + planted many fruit trees + organic gardens around the USA + have left them for others to keep working as I moved on to do other places. Now I am finally settling down. I have found the Amish / Mennonite farming region of central pa to be one of the last best clean places where the weather is seasonal + land, water is clean (4 counties south of any Marseilles shale drilling). I am into recycling, conservation + utilizing the earths natural heat. This house has a fireplace in the basement, a wood cook stove in kitchen + parlor stove in living room. It has 4 bedrooms upstairs + legal outhouse outside. I want to build a sauna + well house for winter use. I am almost OFF-GRID with only 14.00 a month in electric bills. I built a root cellar in the basement. I want to build an icehouse someday.
I would like platonic people who want to do positive work + make this farm self sufficient. I dislike cigarettes + lazy people. If your a simple country person we will get along well. I am easy going. I have lived with all kinds of people, except for rednecks which are not my cup of tea.
Note: I am care giving my 88 yr old mother here, so for security I do not list my actual location online. I do not have many visitors + the ones who do come are mostly family or neighbors. I did have one woman come here but she was too much of a city girl for this farm. I rather the next person make a decision to stay a while before they even come here. My pictures + blog explains enough for a person to make a comfortable decision before coming here. We are a rustic wilderness household still using outhouses + chamber pots + hauling
be well
FOLLOW YAHUWAH
AND BE PREPARED
FOR HIS SON YAHUSHUA
  Status: FORMED
Contact:
50 miles N of harrisburg
CentralPaFarm AT aol DOT com

Email This Community!
Links:
This page last updated:5/12/2013
 
Visitors Accepted
 (YES VISITORS CAN COME IF THEY ARE TRULY SERIOUS ABOUT LIVING HERE)
Visitor Process: EMAIL ME ASAP SO WE CAN CONNECT CentralPaFarm AT aol DOT com
Statement of Housing Non-discrimination:
Our community does not discriminate in regards to housing based on race/color, national origin, religion, sex/gender, family status (i.e. having children, not having children, or being pregnant), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, ancestry, source of income, age, creed, personal appearance, political affiliation, HIV infection, military/veteran status, unfavorable military discharge, gender identity or expression, receiving public assistance, or being the victim of domestic abuse.

Comment: We accept all Veterans of all ages races and genders
Population
Members(adults and children):
1
(JUST ME + MOM SO FAR)
Non-member Residents:
1
Open to new members:
Yes
Government
Decision Making:
By consensus
Identified Leader:
No
Leadership Core Group:
No
Labor and Money
Financial Style:
Partial income sharing
(share buying food)
Labor Contribution:
Expected
(DEPENDING ON ABILITY)
Join Fee:
No
Regular Fees:
No
Land and Buildings
Rural
Area:
6 acres (2.4 hectares)
Land Owned By:
Individual community member(s)
(surrounded by large farms)
Number of Residences:
1
Food, etc.
Percentage of Food Grown:
over 50%
(GROW OVER 50%)
Share Community Meals:
Nearly all meals
Dietary Choice or Restrictions:
Diet is up to each individual
Alcohol Use:
Seldom used
Tobacco Use:
Prohibited
 
 
my old horse and buggy
house before i bought it
my trout stream thru 3 acres
back of house with recovered lumber
shed is finally gone time to build the barn
my antique propane stove
my wood cook stove
Part of log cabin and house below
log house needing rebuilt
my hoosier cabinet
my 1820 apalachian home
my basement fireplace
my spring
wall inside rootcellar
old loghouse with basement walls falling out
cleaned out before size reduction
logs from loghouse + logs recovered from lancaster county barn
my root cellar brick floor
my rustic shelf + apple cider press
my shale trail from garden to house hand carried
old sportsman collection
loghouse totally removed
Privy tank hole
stone from loghouse basement
more firewood
beans month 2 starting
corn month 2 starting
beans N Tomato's
squash N melons
rocks for building
more rocks
Trench from house to well
concrete Forms around well
Depth of trench at well wall
Trench drainage from house 90 ft long
strawberries in mounds under black plastic
Door to wellhouse + well
storage space above well for drying crops + hay storage
finished wellhouse
pump assembly next to well
hand dug well 1820
barn above wellhouse
Mulch hay with rototilled garden
Half garden mulched like Ruth Stout did
mulched garden w/ woodchips along road
garden completely mulched exterior
lowest point of garden
culvert water springbox
culvert water springbox pipeline
strawberry and rhubarb canned
Ash trees fall during storm 7/26/12
New Old Livingroom Parlor Stove
Barn dugout
Barndugout1
Barn dugout path
2012 to 2013 firewood
meadow grass coming in
future sewer pipe buried
future sewer pipe buried from where addition will be
future sewer pipe buried with caution tape
future sewer pipe buried
dirt ramp to barn
dirt ramp to barn
firewood 2012
barn loft back deck
Barn loft louvers
Loft balcony
Barn we took down for lumber etc
Trees cut down to give fruit trees more light along creek
Asparagus N Blueberry bushes
Back of barn which will be covered with upNdown siding
Last of the trees cleared along the creek exposing the fruit trees to more light
brush in garden burned + see the line of fruit trees in white wraps
Barn Doors finally yeaaa
Barn Doors close up
my Creek meets trout stream
My creek looking down from barn balcony
Looking up my creek from balcony
Looking downstream on my creek
Looking down again up close to garden
My headwaters at top of my creek next to top of garden
Looking down creek from 3/4 up along my garden
Turkey Stuffing N Gravy on the wood stove
Turkey Stuffing N Gravy on the wood stove yummy
my wood cook stove
Peeping Toms
Peeping Toms eyes
Basement fireplace
MOM IS 90 TODAY
jan 2013 deep freeze
septic tank hole
septic tank hole with septic pipe
septic tank hole with septic pipe to drain into it
tank installed today 2/13/13
tank showing level above loghouse tank
tank connected with riser
tank backfilled ready for stone wall surround
stone retaining wall for barn ramp and cover for septic tank
septic tank trench to privy tank
septic tank pipe connections
septic tank pipe connections with gate valves in black tubes
septic tank pipe connections with gate valves in black tubes showing pipe from 1500 gallon three 500 gallon main tank
railroad ties to hold barn bank soil
railroad ties to hold barn bank soil
railroad ties to hold barn bank soil
railroad ties to hold barn bank soil
railroad ties to hold barn bank soil
smiling after the bath but kicking and screaming before sunday baths
back of barn sided
back of barn sided
bottom railroad tie wall to hold future soil
stones ready to mortar in place for exterior barn walls to cover concrete walls
metal top for triple septic tank done
top front of barn finished
stone steps from window side of barn stall
barn stall window doors to open for horses in summer
Barn with corn cribbing
Barn with corn cribbing other side
Click an image to see it full size.


Become an Editor Current editor(s): DEClarke55
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Comment from Danie on 4/27/2013 (Reader Rating: 0)
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4 NEW PICS:
Well I jumped the gun with the tomato's + peppers. I lost 80% of them ouch there goes almost $20.00 It seems the ground under the hay was too cool for the roots. The plants with hardly any mulch did ok. It got warmed up with the sun.

I did finish the upper top front of barn + shed roof to triple septic tank + barn stall window doors + stone steps leading up to barn from those windows.

This week I should get my 1x3x16ft for the corn crib sides.

I will also get more shale to make a drivable grade down between the barn + well house on window side of stalls. That way I can drive down there + around back side of the barn. I can off load hay into the barn thru the barn window doors.

Monday I'll start on my gate to barn stalls. I will also start mortaring the stones against the concrete walls. I will give the stone steps a year or 2 before I try mortaring them in place.

The floor of the barn stalls could be graveled until I decide to pour concrete floors w/ r
Comment from Danie on 4/21/2013 (Reader Rating: 0)
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The barn should be done this coming month. With stonework , ramp, loft, bird cages on each side + stall in basement.

Then its on to the addition (which will have the composting toilet barrels under the poured concrete floor) w/ a cinderblock wall on 1st floor (to please building code). The basement crawl space will be 5ft tall but all poured concrete walls floor + ceiling which will support 1st floor cinderblock walls above covered with old logs for looks not structure.

The garden is coming in nicely. Tomorrow I plant 3 flats of peppers + plum tomatoes for salsa etc. I have seedlings coming in of radishes, carrots + spinach. I have been eating scallions, winter cress, dandelions + asparagus. I planted more seeds + peas. Some peas are starting to come up I planted 2 weeks ago. Its been cold + almost froze last night.

The giant stones are in place to cover the exterior barn concrete poured walls. The railroad retaining wall is done w/ fill coming this week to plant ground cov
Comment from Danie on 4/10/2013 (Reader Rating: 0)
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NEW PICS of barn siding on rear of barn along small creek

SPRING CLEANUP DONE House shop vacuumed + swept of winters dust from firewood + woodstove might get lit maybe 2 more mornings if that.

Romaine, Cauliflower, Broccoli, potato's + onions growing nicely. 3/4 garden mulched to control weeds + provide for permaculture as Taught by Ruth Stout. Fruit trees had a final pruning + are beginning to leaf. I still have the white plastic roll coverings on the trunks to slow flowering to prevent a late frost damage.

I planted a crop of 3 types of clover in my front yard + in raised area where future septic are will have the drainage pipes installed.

Also, I planted (back in January)a 25lb sack of creekside mixture across the trout stream, under the wires + poles to create a acre pasture. It should be coming in soon too.

The snows have filled the underground aquifers + the creeks + streams are running nice even though we have had few rains. My garden will do well CYA in a few
Comment from Danie on 3/30/2013 (Reader Rating: 0)
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The peas + onions are planted + today I plant broccoli, coli flower + romaine lettuce. Thursday I put in 4 = 8ft tall (2 1/2ft buried) grape vine post made of locust trees + tied them up + pruned them = 2 major vines coming from each plant. Yesterday I dug up easily the nice small plots of grass in my garden to be transplanted down along my ground gutter by my front porch to control erosion from splashing rain. In a week I will plant my potato's (that are sprouting in my root cellar) in my garden. Its finally staying above freezing temperatures. It has been a very late spring which is good for the fruit trees.

NOTE: I am so very impressed with Pope Francis, who is so kind and humble. He has even taken my confession by FB messenger + asked me to continue once a week with him.

Mom is doing great, as she is now into her 91st yr. of life. She keeps wanting to go everywhere. Must be cabin fever.

The barn ramp just needs some shrubs to complete the side by log house with railroa
Comment from Danie on 3/9/2013 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Today i almost finished a retaining wall which holds up the bank ramp to my barn and also becomes a covering for my septic tank. The wall has some metal roofing built into it to be able to overhang the doors i will make to cover the three septic cement covers. The doors will be slanted downward and fit under the metal roofing built into the wall. This way when i need to access the septic tank i can lift any of the three doors over any of the three cement covers to access any of the three 500 gallon sections. Under the doors i will lay in bales of hay to keep the area covered and to keep the fluids in the tank from freezing. Then anytime i can open a door or all 3 and remove the hay and open any cement access door to the 1500 gallon 3 compartment septic tank. I added pics today. I still have to add some more stone to the front lower section about 10ft long by 18inches high. The stone wall really helps to keep the shale leading up to the barn from eroding down hill. spring is here :)
Comment from Danie on 2/16/2013 (Reader Rating: 0)
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"" SEPTIC TANK INSTALLED AND BACKFILLED SEE PICS ""

Next i am waiting for warmer temp to build stone surrounds around each manhole cover. That will also double as support / retaining wall for the ramp soil and gravel leading to barn.

After approval i can hook up to tank beneath log cabin for worm farm system

to add mulch etc to compost to feed worms and so what comes out is worm castings as waste which is clean see here = http://www.wormfarm.com.au/
Comment from Danie on 2/12/2013 (Reader Rating: 0)
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hole dug for septic tank. That will be a 1500 gallon triple tank with 3 = 500 gallon areas where each one flows into the next and next and next and out the exit hole / pipe. When i get approved for the worm farm system i will connect this tank to the tank under the loghouse. Then that tank will be filled with mulch and worms and be used to raise worms with the grey water from the house. The log cabin will give me access in any weather to keep an eye on the system. I am hoping they deliver this new 1500 gallon tank tomorrow but it may be the next day. Then i can hook it up to the existing septic line coming from the back of the main house. Then i can start planning the addition. That will have the composting toilet for the poo and pee with 6 = 55 gallon drums rotating in place to be filled and stored under the concrete floor. After 2 yrs the oldest drum will be composted and the soil will be ready for fertilizing fruit trees. That room will be right off the two back doors. cya soon :)
Comment from Danie on 1/5/2013 (Reader Rating: 0)
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THE MEANING TO LIFE ......http://www.ted.com/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-jill-bolte-taylor/neuroscience_b_2404554.html

http://www.ted.com/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight.html

stroke survivor and brain surgeon speaks of the world of WE verses ME
Comment from Danie on 12/30/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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.................................................
******MOM IS 90 TODAY******
................................................

http://images.ic.org/directory/record_images/img/22661/mom1at90yrsol.jpg

we are practically off grid for over 2 yrs now.. so if mom can do it anyone can

we don't have indoor plumbing or bathrooms just chamber pots here

i think the wood heat which sometimes changes and gets hot causes her to sweat which releases toxins verse having it 70 degrees 24/7

mom is healthier now than when we came here

also all the homegrown food and clean water from our land and the clean air definately helps

plus the local amish raw milk and butter and eggs etc etc

mom almost died 3 yrs ago living in the suburbs next to the city as she has only one kidney and she ate all processed foods but we don't do that and she is so healthy now.. her DR's are surprised as they thought she might die

its calmer here which definately helps too

no traffic lights and al
Comment from Danie on 11/11/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I now follow the LUNAR SOLAR CALENDER. That is YAHUWAHS CALENDER. The first cresent is a free day and then the next 7 days are his week. That means for Nov 2012 it will be the 7th and 14th and 23rd and 30th. hOWEVER THIS CAN CHANGE ON EARTH DEPENDING WHERE ONE LIVES. Use this site to find yours. http://www.worldslastchance.com/lunisolarcalendar/web/WlcWeb.html

Now i am not sure of all things at that web site but i do believe in following the lunar solar calender + not the one made by man / the gregorian calender. That was made to facilitate man for their selling + buying

As for work on my farm i have spread out hay over my water lines. I helped a neighbor to salvage planks for his future shed. He is the same person / couple i helped to rebuild thier home last winter.

Mom is doing great + we are enjoying a easier going time now that fall is here and winter is closing in. I will be reporting much much less,

be well
FOLLOW YAHUWAH
AND BE PREPARED
FOR HIS SON YAHUSHUA
Comment from Danie on 11/2/2012 (Reader Rating: 10)
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SEE NEW PICS OF MY CREEK CLEANED ALL THE WAY TO THE TROUT STREAM.

I have just some minor work and planting to do along the creek.
Comment from Danie on 10/26/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Barn doors get hung tomorrow morning. Yeaaa (New pics will be available then.)

This week i cut down all the large trees along the creek that were too close to my fruit trees. I burned the brush too. (New pics available now!) Now the fruit trees will get some wonderful sun. The garden will also get more sun until the fruit trees get bigger but they will never be allowed to be 70 ft tall like the trees i cut down.

Today i placed a large beam behind the cross beams which will support my barn doors. They will get bolted together and those bolts will hold the supports for the sliding barn door rails. I hope to hang the upstairs balcony deck door too because of the large storm coming. I want the barn protected as much as possible.

I harvested some jerusalem artichokes too. I also picked some nice green onions. The garlic is growing great and will give me a nice harvest next june.

cya in 7 days
Comment from Danie on 10/20/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Harvesting self polinating organic grown corn at my amish neighbors this week. We had two horses pulling a wagon with kids in the wagon and us adults tossing corn into the wagon. Then it went off to a runin shed for later use to feed pigs and chickens and horse's. The best will be ground up for human consumption. Oh some of the ears were laying down and got wet and sprouted and wow so sweet those sprouts.

I am finishing taking down the barn and pulling nails and slowly finishing my barn. NEW PICS and one of the woodstove in action and MOM playing with her blanket and removing fuzzies.

The cats are getting bigger and love to follow me wherever i go.

I look forward to cutting down the black walnut trees along my garden to let the fruit trees get full light this next spring. I harvested the last of the butternut squash.. yummy stuff and you don't have to bake it. Just peel it and steam.

A mennonite neighbor gave me a nice deer liver which will feed mom and me some nice meal
Comment from Danie on 10/13/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Past week has been firewood. Lots of cutting + splitting by hand with maul + wedges. The barn got the loft deck screwed down finally with 4 large boards put down the center + extended out to make a small deck at the back end. SEE PICS. It will have a door to an area about 4 ft by 4ft. From there i can have a quiet spot to meditate or hunt deer. Actually i do not hunt. I do skin though very well. I hate to see dead animals go to waste. I finally finished the side walls at the tops with some help from a friend who runs a center in harrisburg for inner city kids. He may bring someone here to help with gardening to grow food to sell at his market for the kids. He helped me pull nails + finish the front doors to the barn for future hanging. They are sliders but i am waiting for the rest of the steel rails from the barn we took down. I also got a louvered vent for the upper loft front. I will build a wall to hang that next. The rear of the barn will soon be ready for up N down siding. cyaN7
Comment from Danie on 10/6/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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cold weather is coming. The garden is almost done except for my compost pile volunteers which are green as can be. I may build the greenhouse over top of it to keep it warm longer.
The barn looks good with the 22 inch wide walkways outside the main walls for the bird cages. The outer wall is 2x4 connected to the overhanging roof joices. They will then be covered with galvanized wire fence to keep varmits out. The main walls are covered with old floor boards 2x8 or 2x10's running horizontal + screwed to main beams. The same with the rear boards but they extend out 28 inches to pick up the bird cage area in the rear. The loft will have a backdoor + a small balcony/deck with room enough for a chair with a small roof for the elements. The barn i am taking down with a friend has supplied me much wood + a classic old door for my loghouse. Soon i will cut down the large walnut trees along my creek to give my fruit trees along the edge of my garden much needed sunlight for next yr. CYn7days
Comment from Danie on 9/29/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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RAMP TO BARN IS DONE = NEW PICS :)

Yes the barn is under roof and this means all i have yet to do is hang the doors and decide what to do with each side under the large overhang and the back end and top loft walls. I am thinking corn crib on one side and bird pen on the other to raise pheasents and quail and turkeys.

Well the garden is barely producing. I would be lucky to get 2 gallons of cherry tomatos and many would be green and have to ripen. The peppers though are still doing well especially the hot ones. The butternut squash is basically done but there is about a 5 gallon buckey yet to ripen. The jerusalem artichokes are about the only thing left to harvest in another couple weeks. The garlic is coming in nice.

I bought a small wood cookstove which could be used in a bedroom for someone wanting to cook there or maybe in the basement. It would probably fit in the fireplace its so small. $35.00 too

Mom is doing better after her bout with shingles. CYAn7Days
Comment from Danie on 9/22/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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NEW BARN PICS:
Tuesday i screw the metal roofing on the barn. Then i start taking apart the other old barn nearby + gain some siding + barn doors to cover my barn. Most of the beams are used now with just enough to eventually build an addition on the main house next spring.

I am still getting peppers + some cherry tomato's. The butternut squash is almost ripe + some late corn is coming in. The rhubarb is still coming in. The garlic has finally come up + will again be plentiful next june. Many onions i replanted are coming in nice as a scallion type now that it is cool. The celery is also starting to grow faster with the cooler weather. The jerusalem artichokes are almost ready with many yellow flowers.

I have fired up the wood heater which is so nice compared to the one i got rid of. It takes larger pieces + doesn't smoke at all. It burns longer so far which gives me a better sleep.

The pasture below the loghouse is growing so nicely. Many deer will love it.
cyaN7days

Comment from Danie on 9/15/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Barn is up, deck is down, walls are built along with the loft. Next all i have to do is build the roof + screw down the metal roofing. Its amazing how old beams, worked for, by helping to take down other old barns, can quickly be applied to create an old rustic style barn. Yes it will be finished before the first snows. Thats 3 buildings completed from last febuary to october. Wellhouse, loghouse + barn all made to look as if they were here over a 100 yrs.
The barn will need landscaping, which will use some of the old stone i have collected. It will cover the exposed concrete walls eventually. It will build retaining walls on either side of the barns entrance. The concrete walls will be covered with a rough mortar coat to make it look old. That can be done in my spare time. The pasture is also growing great. From the barn i could potentially shoot deer without any bullets coming anywhere near any neighbors homes because it is so high up + the angle is so great towards the ground. Cy
Comment from Danie on 9/7/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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NEW PICS :
Basement to barn and storage room is poured. Just have to pour the roof to storeage room and cover with dirt. Then i can start putting the beams on for the floor. Then build walls and loft and roof. We concreted in hinges for the door to storage room and the barn gate. There are also some hooks to tie a horse too. The meadow grass is coming in wonderfully. It should be very lush in another week. The garden has been weeded and mulched for winter. There will still be much corn and tomatos and peppers and butternut squash and rhubarb yet to be harvested. My sister and her husband came for a visit and were impressed with everything. Mom is doing so much better from her ase of shingles (from chicken pox). It didn't get into the nerve fibers so there is hardly any pain. That was a scary last week washing her down with apple cider vinegar which is acidic and doesn't let the virus live in that medium. Its been like an indian summer with such heat after labor day. cyaN7days
Comment from Danie on 9/3/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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The footers are poured for the barn. Now i just need to have the walls poured and then start laying the barn beams on top of the walls to support the floor beams and then cover that with decking. Then i can build walls with other beams i have and stand them up and top them with other beams i have for the loft and then i need to build the slanted roof with other beams i have. I then can cover it with the old metal roofing i have. I am not sure of this timeline but that is the order of construction. I mulched my garden and still getting many more veggies and some asparagus too. My sister visited and enjoyed her time here. The landing created is planted with seeds and covered with hay and will soon be a nice meadow for a horse. The rains today and this week will start that process now. Not much more to say so i'll cut off here cyaN7days

PS: Mom got a case of shingles and is on medication and pain meds. Apple cider vinegar seems to be helping to reduce the bumps intensity.
Comment from Danie on 8/25/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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This week i had 6 truck loads of soil unloaded below the lowest road below the loghouse to be used as perkable land for future septic system. Now i can have a gravity flow system from the house to the septic tank under loghouse then out to leachbed in newly laid down soil. It will also double as a place for animals to graze over top of the septic system.
I also mulched the garden with one round bale of mulch clover hay and will add one more before fall. Its real nice and will add many nutrients to the soil. I also finished the last of the chinking / mortar on the loghouse. I am Still picking many veggies and sharing them with neighbors. Today I am helping amish neighbor plant 2500 strawberrys. In between other work i am cutting firewood from the giant load of logs i got delivered from a different amish neighbor for 200.00. My corn is starting to come in in my garden as well as the butternut squash. My mennonite neighbor is taking over my beehives in a shared venture. CYaN7days
Comment from Danie on 8/19/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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The past week has just been simply gathering veggies and distributing them to some neighbors. I also have been volunteering with the amish and mennonites in constructing a event to raise money for building home in Haiti for those who suffered from that earthquake.

CYAn7days
Comment from Danie on 8/10/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I picked 5 gallons of peppers + tomato's. My corn provided 40 frozen quart bags. Half went to amish neighbors for cleaning + storing. They will give me fresh corn when theirs comes in. Mine is almost done but my new corn will be ready after theirs. NEW PIC shows basement storage area i will create under the bank to the barn i will build. A tank will be dropped in 12ftLX6ftWX5ftH without a top. Then i"ll make forms to pour concrete walls + a roof over it to make it 6 ft tall inside. Then i'll cut out the lower end for a door into basement of barn. It will be covered over as a bank/ramp to 1st fl of barn. Today i cut the trees behind loghouse for a trail to lower ground / acre which animals can use to enter + exit basement of barn. I got stung by 3 ground wasp. OUCH luckily i had benedryl to take so i can breathe ok. I moved the stacks of logs + oak shims so the tank can be delivered. Those logs will be used in eventual addition. Shims will be used to level barn fl beams + decking. cyaN7
Comment from Danie on 8/4/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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OUCH do not swat HORNETS + if you do make sure you have benadryl! Took me 4 hours to deal with that sting.
No Nepal helpers. They wanted to make $ i don't have! The loghouse is almost done with chinking. I used a different mixture inside consisting of white stucco + surface bonding cement. Both are white and make it very strong. Tomatos + peppers are coming in strong. About a 5 gallon bucket each week of each. Some late corn i planted is finally coming up in my garden. I harvested corn from the amish neighbors where i planted some earlier this spring. I finished hooking up wood stove. The trees that fell have fallen all the way down to the ground which made it easier to cut up. Tuesday i meet the attorney to get my new deed description with easement to the water i get from the creek along my garden. That will finalize the subdivision / 1/16th acre land trade. Then i can cut trees along creek allowing the fruit trees to explode larger next yr. I meet a new helper tuesday. cyaN7days
Comment from Danie on 7/28/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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NEW PICS :
This week i put the chinking on the exterior of the loghouse outhouse. It worked great by nailing in old rusty roofing nails along the top + bottom of each log for the mortar to stick to when it dried. I also got my new old cylinder woodstove for heating my house. It has 2 upper doors + 1 lower door for cleanouts. It will give off much heat + seals better than my previous stove. I also have corn that is ready for eating + my butternut squash is coming up as well as new corn here at my garden. My tomatos (roma + cherry), peppers (7 kinds), potatos (red + white) are plentiful. I actually got 10 big peaches from the trees i planted this yr. They are sooo sweet. I have some guys from Nepal living in NYC who want to come help now. They grew up in the natural way + don't like the cities. A clump of black walnut trees fell during a storm + that area will make a great place for my greenhouse between house + garden. The subdivison went thru thursday so the garden is all mine. CyaN7
Comment from Danie on 7/21/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well my roommate decided to go back to college + my overseas visitor found a place at the home / schoolhouse i rebuilt. Chamber pots were too much for them.

SO I NEED NEW HELPERS:

In the mean time i planted 200 garlic sets + onion sets in the shaded area down below + some more corn and butternut squash. My peaches are nearly ripe. I am surprised i have any at all since its their first yr. Blueberries are done. I harvested a bucket of romas and peppers which i gave to an amish neighbor for canning before the recent rains we finally got. Those rains have brightened up my garden and trees and berries etc etc.. New growth is all over the garden. I did buy a neat old cylinder stove with nickle trim for my livingroom. I am having a ash pan made + some nuts removed + replaced with stainless steel ones. The stove has a big firebox and lower cleanout. This coming week i will put the metal roofing on loghouse outhouse and mortar between the logs. The cooler weather is wonderful. CyaN7days
Comment from Danie on 7/13/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Tuesday a new volunteer arrives from belgium. This past week we planted corn, beans, (pole and bush) and harvested lettuce, herbs, onions, some potato's, tomato's, squash, peppers, rhubarb and blueberries. We also had to widen the window area for the loghouse which wasn't hard. We also cleaned and puttied the windows and today will install them in the loghouse. The heat from last week really helped to get the garden growing. I have one final monthly bill for the garden subdivision with the trade i made to the neighbor. That neighbor received land closer to the trout stream while i got more property along creek in my garden. Its approximately 1/16 acre. Next i plan to build steps to back door. I also got a short old bed for the basement which fits a cot mattress. Its behind the rootcellar wall next to the basement window where the steps will be built. I got a 3/4 sheet set from a mennonite store for 15.00 which fits an upstairs bedroom bed. CyaN7days
Comment from Danie on 7/6/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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HOT HOT HOT but the peppers and tomatos love it. The gravity flow water system i put in this spring goes almost up to the tall tree in my garden where the sidewalk use to be in front of where the old log house use to be. I am now filling a 55 gallon plastic drum + a 100 gallon poly water tank to then let it run downhill to water my upper garden. It works great considering i use to hand carry the water line from plant to plant and now i just open up a water line and let it flow down each gully of veggies. I planted some more beans which are doing great + today 5 rows of sweet corn. Those will be ready by the second week in sept.I am getting squash, tomatos, some beans , potatos, lots of peppers and onions right now. My asparagus did well and will give me a nice crop next spring. We did the chinking with wood on log house. I will mix a batch of my own homemade mortar next week when it cools down. My school taxes are paid which is like my biggest bill each yr. cyaN7days
Comment from Danie on 6/29/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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NEW PICs show the loghouse Outhouse is standing up with a rubber roof until i add steel. Rains last evening didn't get the logs wet. Next i will fill in the chinking boards + mortar. Then i can whitewash it. I haven't found the materials yet for the mortar but i haven't looked. I have the door + window. I am not sure if i want the loft to be outside storage or with a ladder inside. Its another good place to hang agricultural products to hang + dry. It can store at least 30 bales of hay. I cleaned up the sawdust between logs + got it ready for finishing. I am looking forward to the barn + the back steps + room to the main house. I may do a log structure for the composting toilet room since it too will be just a small room around 8 by 10. The fruit trees + blueberries have been fertilized just in time for the heat. I am very glad for the mulch which has saved the fruit transplants from shock by the heat. If i had too many veggies that might have taken too much of the moisture away.CYAn7
Comment from little white pines on 6/27/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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interesting listing and pictures. it might be helpful to put more comments and explanations under each picture. i have a listing in indiana, "little white pines". i hope you have more luck than i am having and that you find the right person! i am 71 and about ready to give up the community idea. you are near my hometown, lewisbug, so i know it is a beautiful area.
you should consider opening a blog website to organize your pictures and comments on in a more reader friendly way...good luck!
Comment from Danie on 6/24/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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NEW PICS. I have 3 layers of logs on the loghouse Outhouse. I should have the walls done soon + then start the roof. I did finish mortaring the basement floor stones where the drains are + the water line comes in for future use when i get a septic system.I now have a waterline from the wellhouse into the basement. Its been very hot too which has slowed me + my new helper down. He is a wise male + has a degree in biological life sciences. He plays the violin too which is sweet.We are picking a pint of blueberries every morning. We harvested the garlic + got 4 five gallon buckets full with stems + they are now drying in the shed above the wellhouse. The garden is still amazingly wet under the hay. Next yr i will have to make raised beds so i have enough drainage for the plants. All fruit is growing fine and so this yr has been a success so far with all this heat. I think the hay has been good for that to keep enough moisture in the ground for them not to dry out or to need watering.CYA
Comment from Danie on 6/16/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I finished the ceiling of the basement with a cloth material which is black and like a screen and so air can flow but not dirt or dust. I then did the whole first floor with a spring cleaning. I also organized everything. I disconnected the woodstove so when i can afford it i will get a new stove where i don't have to feed it every two hours all winter long. Yes a good nights rest this winter will be nice. My strawberrys are done and the blueberries are coming in. The rasberries are also coming in. The asparagus i planted is finally coming up. Roma tomato's are all over the vines. Peppers are starting to produce. The second bee nucleus is doing fine and the first had another level added. I got the forge and hand cranked air pump connected. I have a 27 yr old helper coming in tomorrow to help for a while maybe longer if he works out. Next month i have another coming from Belgium to examine the region and meet the amish and mennonites. They are a school teacher around 39. CyaN7days
Comment from Danie on 6/8/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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This week i devoted my time to finishing every detail in the basement in preparation for using it to stay cool this summer. The walls have been painted with drylock + the windows shelves are finished with nice wide boards. The one area by the back door has wood covering the wall that was rebuilt before i got here. The rest of the walls are stone covered with stucco. I wire brushed the ceiling joist + dusted between them. I finished the pump + door to springbox. I moved all tools out to the shed above the wellhouse. I cleaned the rootcellar + moved the water drums to the wellhouse, as i may not need to fill them this fall for the winter water. Next i have to dig down to the pipes i put in when i built the wellhouse. One is a drain pipe the other is a 2 inch hard pipe in which i will push a water line thru it to the wellhouse. That can be hooked up to the well in the future. The drain should stop the need for the sump pump to run. It doesn't when a storm takes the power out anyway cyaN7
Comment from Danie on 6/3/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I got another beehive nucleus + its in my garden. I planted more hot peppers. It was 50 plant tray. My tomato's are getting tomatos already as well as the peppers but we need more sun. My garden has millions of worms under all the mulch hay. The future will be great + i have learned i need to make mounds to plant stuff or else don't use mulch hay this early in the season because its so wet. I also helped my amish neighbor plant more sweet corn and then we got nice rains to water it. I am doing spring cleaning + started with the basement + rootcellar. It seems moisture coming through the walls is very very low this yr. Thats a good thing. There is still plenty of water going thru my drainage pipes i buried under the basement floor before i layed the concrete, stone + bricks down. My spring retaining box stays plenty full. Overflow is still going to sump pump but soon it will be diverted to my drian i buried outside last yr. going to wellhouse + then creek. That'll save electric. CyaN7
Comment from Danie on 5/27/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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My friend should be here sometime today. I got a call from him last wednesday evening and he was 67 miles away. I planted 3 rows of beans and a row of cherry tomato's. I also planted about 20 squash's and other vine plants in a raised are. I used a steel bar to dig a hole deep to the fertile soil below. I did this the same for the asparagus roots i decided to buy and plant. The corn is coming up at my neighbors. I had to add another level onto the bees yesterday. They really are working hard filling the combs. My soil is very rich but the hay is holding the water. There are millions of worms under the hay and the future will be brighter for the garden. Many but not all the beans are coming up thru the punched holes i made with the steel bar and planted. The rabbits are enjoying my lettuce yikes :0 The rain has also diluted the buckets of urine which doesn't help to keep deer away. The other tomato's i planted are flowering nicely as well as the peppers and eggplant. cyaN7days
Comment from Danie on 5/19/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I got my bees yesterday but about 30 got loose in the car. Luckily they stayed in the rear window + liked some cardboard i had there. I took them to my amish neighbors who needed polination real bad for his acre of strawberries. They got right to work + were buzzing away. I tried planting some beans in my garden by poking holes with a steel rod + dropping seeds in during a 24 hour rainy period. I'll know if they come up soon. My tomato's + peppers are getting flowers + my seedlings are all coming up except for the asparagus. My strawberries taste great and are very large. The birds like them too :0 We are finally getting some warm temperatures which is helping everything grow. Today i am planting some corn at my amish neighbors. Oh his name is John. Last week i drove 4 giant horses to turn over soil. That was something else. Its not as easy as it looks. You need to keep a strong pull to keep your balance. My friend walking from Calif should be here any day. mark creekwater peacemaker
Comment from Danie on 5/12/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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My potato's are finally coming thru the hay. The sun has been warmer and all my plants are showing it. We had tons of rain too so the creek etc are looking great. Today we removed rocks at an amish neighbors field and fertilized it and spread out a giant sheet of black plastic. Later today we will plant cucmbers and other vine plants in holes cut out in the plastic. That will keep the weeds gone. The drip lines will water them. My fruit trees got a nice prunning to make sure branches don't grow into each other by my amish neighbor. He told me what to spray for the trees which had a little leaf curl and some aphids. The rasberries are blossoming all over. The strawberries are giant but still green. My seeds i planted in planters for replanting are coming up nicely. My lettuce is also coming up nice. The radishes are edible too. I planted more peas + spinich. My persimmon trees are just starting to sprout buds. I got my bee hives ready for the bees coming this week. All is well cyaN7days
Comment from Danie on 5/4/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Ok i planted 2 flats of roma tomato's and two flats of peppers one are bell + the other are assorted Hot peppers. I also planted some eggplants + radichio lettuce + rosemary plants as well as 12 flats of seeds. They should be popping up in a day or two. All my onions are coming up + the potato's are starting to come thru the hay. Many fruit trees have fruit + tomorrow my amish neighbor will advise me what to do with them now. I got a bee hive set up + next week i will get the bees. I did lose 90% of my jerusalem artichokes to mice. I am getting another delivery for free from the seller. She just ask me to pay delivery. Next time i will plant them well away from the edge of the garden along the woods. My grapes are doing better after blossoming + then getting a freeze which killed some leaves. My strawberries are big but still green. My blueberries have many berries. I will have to fight with the birds who will desire many of my berries. The wild rasberries are also abundent. cyaN7days
Comment from Danie on 4/29/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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3 weeks + finally my chest congestion is 95% gone. 89 yr old Mom had it for 1 week. Then of course she had a flu shot. I have gotten to remove lots of little baby invasive species trying to come back in. The other plants are really looking great with no competition. Its great to see the natural plants coming back. I also have at least 50 baby wild pear trees coming in. I transplanted some to other locations + planters. I had covered up many pears with sawdust last fall + it worked. I'll continue doing this thru the yrs. Its great to have gravity flow water right to my front porch from the creek retaining pipe tank i installed last week. I'll be burying the pipes w/ a portable trencher. I may put in stronger hard white plastic pipe 20 ft long + glued together. It can also be used to pipe water back up from the well dring dryer times. Heck i may even bury eletric pipe which could bring solar electric down here in the future from the top of garden area which gets the best sun. cyaIN7days
Comment from Danie on 4/21/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I put in a intake verticle pipe in the creek right below the concrete culvert. The pipe is under the top i made that you can see in pics. Its 20inches across + 20inches deep. The top is 24inches across round. The verticle pipe has two drain pipes coming from it. One is 3/4 inch + 2 inch. One now goes down to the house for strawberries + for showers in summer time. The 3/4 goes to the garden. This is giving me some free gravity flow water. Now i have cleaner water instead of a can over the plastic pipe buried in the creek under rocks. This also has a sheet metal top that i will place on top every time it rains to prevent gravel or other dirt from entering the system. It was a good thing i piled rocks all around it to prevent it from shifting with strong downpours. Today we had a major downpour and it held up strong. All the steel and pipes are 3/8 inch thick so they are heavy and sturdy.
Note: I do have to figure out how to remove the old time stamp on some of my pictures cyaN7days
Comment from Danie on 4/13/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I HAVE BEEN TOTALLY SICK WITH SOME VIRUS BUT GETTING BETTER FINALLY. MOM NEVER GOT IT. SHE GOT THE FLU SHOT I NEVER DID. WE HAVE BEEN ON A STRICT DIET OF CHICKEN SOUP AND STOCK. CYAin7days
Comment from Danie on 4/8/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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The past week has been spent clearing more invasive species from across my little creek. I planted some grass seed to try and stop the vines from being able to take root after removing many of them. The areas where the grass is thick has no vines. I also spent some time at the amish neighbors helping him to plant and mulch. I am saving for some dentures too. Thanks to 3 of my siblings helping with that. I am going to see what i can find for an organic fruit tree spray. I replanted many seeds this time outside since the weather is warming. They are brocoli's etc and many lettuces. I used the soil the amish neighbor and me purchased last fall. Its not hot since it had all winter to cool down. It has many worms in it. From there we will thin them and transplant them. Well today is easter and so let me remember what god has done for us. cyaN7days
Comment from Danie on 4/1/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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This week i have been adding more mulch to my fruit trees. I also mulched along the border with my neighbors who own the old church / hunting camp. They are happy and like what i have done. Today i'll take some pictures. Many seeds are coming up in the garden like radish and brocoli and lettuce. The rains have been light but steady off and on thru out the past week. My strawberrys are blossoming. Most of my frit trees are putting out new leaves and blossoms. My rhubarb and horseradish plants are coming in great. My grapes are also blooming as well as blueberries. My onions are coming up thru the hay. My potatos are a little slow though. They might need more rain and then heat. I am hoping to put out tomatos seedlings this week. Everything is early. I mulched many of my wild rasberries. I had prunned them too. They have nice thick stalks now. No signs of animals or bugs with the urine and diatomateous earth. Well time will tell weather we have another frost or not. CYAN7days
Comment from Danie on 3/24/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well many of my seedlings didn't work out well. They grew too tall and spindly. I didn't have the proper lighting or conditions to raise them. Some tomatoes and peppers seem ok though. I did plant them in hopes they survive and lightly covered them with hay. I also planted some local mennonite nursery stock brocoli and coliflower. I cleaned up the balance of the invasive species stickers along my creek by my house on both sides too and burnt it from the bottom of the garden down to the house. I did plant some grass seeds to stop erosion and to try to prevent the invasive species from coming back. I am talking to a forestor friend about getting some evergreens to plant along the creek too. If we get a dangerous dry season i will be safe from fires around my house. I helped my amish neighbor do a lot of seed planting and mulching his strawberries. I finished mulching my fruit trees since the dirt settled with the last rains. Today its raining again which is needed. cyn7days
Comment from Danie on 3/17/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Ok all fruit trees are planted + 3 persimmon trees too. I did find some huckleberry bushes too and transplanted them along my creek. I found some concord grape vines but they are seedless, which is fine by me. I cleaned up really well along my creek and below garden + burned two large piles. Most of it was invasive species. I planted peas under the hay. I also have been watering my seeds at the amish neighbors house with fish emulsion. They are now outside under protection from the elements and seem to be doing well. I have been helping my amish neighbor with his garden. He does it the old fashioned way with horse to plow and disc. Then we make rows and seed by hoe and hand respectively. The weather has been extremely warm in mid 70's for late march still winter time. A woman i met online sent me some jerusalem artichokes. They are now planted in 5 locations throughout my county due to me :) I also got some nice rhubarb plants and roots to plant from a amish man. CyaN7days
Comment from Danie on 3/9/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Today i got 21 fruit trees for a good deal. These were older trees in pots + not bareroots. They were not rootbound so they will grow great. I got 3 plums, 8 cherries,(black,red + tart) + 6 nectarines + 4 peaches. They are all planted along the treeline so they will get good water from the creek yet not too much. They will not block my veggies + other things in the garden. I finished mulching along the road so if someone with a lit ciggarette throws one out it won't hit hay. I also got 15 blueberries which are 3 of 5 different types. They will get planted tomorrow. This early planting will really help them to get established. They will be on the west side since they don't get very tall. I got 2 red seedless grape vines + soon will get a few concord grape vines. Monday i will plant potatoes + onions with the moon wanning. When it starts to wax i will plant all my peas etc. An amish neighbor is starting my veggie seeds at his heated home. He gets 50% for their care. cyaN7 + C NEW PICS
Comment from Danie on 3/3/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Garden has been rototilled + mulched (i cut large round bales with a chainsaw to make large flakes for spreading around garden) + snow coming this week should help to lay it down flat. I plan to never rototill again.

I'm using the RUTH STOUT technique of growing with mulch

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/2004-02-01/Ruth-Stouts-System.aspx

except i will give seeds an early start.

I will be planting seeds in trays with potting soil with a thumb pushed down in middle then add some germinating soil + then the seed + some vermiculite. That way there is no need for transplanting tiny seedlings into separated trays later.

I am going to temporarily use the free windows i got + open my kitchen front door make a greenhouse on the porch connected to the house so the house heat keeps them warm at night but the sun keeps them warm during the day with lots of light. I'll start that after any potential hard frost.

it cost me 100.00 for 6 large round bales del
Comment from Danie on 2/25/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Fertilizer has been brought down + spread from the amish farm. The 12x30 ft wide area next to the old church building has been cleared + debris burnt. Tomorrow the stumps get ground down. This week the mulch hay will be delivered + i'll spread it over everything. The onions + garlic have been fertilized with fertrel 3 2 3 + look good. The pear trees in the garden have been pruned + reduced in height to make picking easier. they are hybrids done around a 100 yrs ago unlike the heritage pears. I ordered $500.00 in fruit trees, blueberry bushes + grape vines for bare root planting come april. They will come from an amish farmer. They are hardy + some are heirlom. I was given a digital camera from the couple whose school i converted. I had a whiskey barrel cut to make two cowboy bathtub frames. The top part still needs to be created for arms and neck areas. The bottom inside needs wood inside to make a comfortable seat. I may design a tin liner after i make a template of cardboard. cyaN7
Comment from Danie on 2/19/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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The ash trees i had milled up were cut into usable boards this week. Many are 15 and 16 inches wide. I am not sure what to use them for yet. We didn't use them for the kitchen as the family wanted a homedepot style kitchen. They are mostly moved in and will be done tomorrow. They seem very very happ. This week i hope to have my fertilizer moved down the hill to my garden area. I did thou miss a lot of the frozen ground days. I hope we get some more so the land isn't torn up in the move. I also plan to be starting my retaining wall + piers for the barn i will build. I may get some help from the man and the woman to watch my mother while working on the barn. I have been checking ot some cool masonary furnaces which retain heat for 12 hours and only need 2 fires a day to warm the house. I want to incorporate them into my basement fireplace. See following link http://mha-net.org/ + http://www.motherearthnews.com/the-happy-homesteader/living-off-grid-masonry-heaters.aspx
Comment from Danie on 2/12/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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The school house has been converted and we have just to hang the kitchen cabinets after the paint dries on monday. yeaa finally done.. soon i will get back to my farm..
Comment from Danie on 2/5/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I am almost finished with the old school house conversion for the couple in need. We just need to build the cabinets for the kitchen and bath and it will be done. They plan to move in at the end of this week. Some cabinet doors will be built later but it will be functional. Before and after pics will be posted later.


Now back to my farm. I hope to start building the stone wall and piers for the barn by the end of next week. I also have to start designing the green house for use soon. The weather has been well springlike.

Thats about it so cyaN7days














Comment from Danie on 1/28/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well today is day 6 volunteering on rebuilding the old schoolhouse + making it into a 2 bedroom home with kitchen, bathroom, laundry + livingroom. I started spackling w/ paint next. I have put in 12 hour days + its coming along great. We may see the family move in next weekend or the following week. We jacked up the floor + installed 2 beams and 3 lolly columns. The basement had a complete forced air heating system as well as plumbing installed. The electric was upgraded to a 200 amp service. The power company hooked it up yesterday. The attic is now insulated. The additions are insulated + covered on inside with plywood because exterior only has foam and vinyl siding. The rest of the main building is built with old fashioned chestnut lumber. Most of the ceilings are 11 ft tall with tongue + groove wood nailed up to it. It now has all new windows. The property cost 24k while the improvements also cost 24k. It will be worth every penny. The family will have a paid off home. CYAn7
Comment from Danie on 1/21/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I had a half of a logging truck load of loghouse logs delivered that i bought for 100.00 They are stored in the driveway below. But basically i have been helping a dear friend with their purchase of an old school house. They paid 22.5k and will spend another 26k and have a nice home. He lost his job when his company moved to mexico. His wife was laid off after 30 yrs on her job. They are starting a new life here and will soon be fine country folk. He even went to Milton Hershey school for kids who had a parent die. His ancestry is mennonite so its like a home coming in a way. His wife spent her whole life living in phila in a rowhome and now her closest neighbor is 1/2 mile away. The property is only 1/4acre but its surrounded by very very large dairy farms. Well another week and they should be moved in. Today they moved into a rental until its done. cya N 7 Days :)
Comment from Danie on 1/14/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I have shale bank in front of the tool shed above well house. It allows me to almost step right into the shed. All my tools from basement are now in there with much room in basement for a summer room. I had the beams shifted next to strawberries so i can build the barn. The shale bank will be extended down in front of it. That will allow a 7 ft basement ground level below. The bank will allow me to drive a buggy right into the barn above. Above that will be a hay loft. I have most of the wood for the barn. I just need to build a stone retaining wall and 2 piers to support major supporting beams below. The house basement is so empty now i can use it as it was designed. The pump allows me to get water for washing dishes daily. The barrels give me clean drinking water when needed. The fireplace can be lit if needed. Its so great to have that tool shed. The wellhouse just needs a door over the well. The pump + pressure tank + electric are all covered with rustic wood + large access door.
Comment from Danie on 1/7/2012 (Reader Rating: 0)
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The pump + pressure tank + well on top are covered with old rustic white oak wood. It is in an L shape since the pump sticks out and i had to cover the electric panel. Today i will line it with a bubblewrap insulation inside to keep the warmth around the pump etc in cold weather. Above it but under the covering boards i will use a rubber tarp to keep the moisture down. That way hopefully the moisture won't be freezing on the door or the rubber lined ceiling.
Now i need to build a trap door that will have hinges + a pully above it so when it opens, a bucket can also be lowered down to catch water manually. The electric has been connected yesterday to the box in the basement. An extra wire was run to eventually go to the barn i will build + the log outhouse. I added large 2 inch pipes thru the wall which will allow me to push a water line thru each spring til fall for watering gardens etc. They will be buried mostly under the dirt bank i will create leading to the shed above. CyaN7days
Comment from Danie on 12/30/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I Finally got the well reconnected to the pump. It goes through the side + just barely fit. It does stick out into the room on left about 1 foot. That leaves me another 2 feet behind it to be able to connect the pipe i push through from the basement. The well is all covered now with stone walls so its very well reinforced. I even think i have no leaks unlike before. I may not have to always prime the pump with no leaks. The room is warm enough so it will never freeze. I next will build a wooden wall around the pump + pressure tank with a roof equal with the top of the well. Then i can add some stones to the floor + it will be finished. Oh i still have a little bit more stucco to do on the walls. I also am using two holes through the walls behind the well where outside, there will be a earthen ramp leading to the storage shed above. That ramp will cover the piping coming from the well. Those pipes will feed the garden above and the barn + loghouse outhouse. Yr round water Yea CyaN7days
Comment from Danie on 12/24/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I removed the dirt on the 2 remaining walls covering the well. I had to be very careful or the stones might have fallen into the well. on the front wall as you enter the wellhouse i built a stone wall. It has some concrete connecting the well stones to the wall stones. I also found the pipe buried under the wall in the furthest corner. That is a 2 inch white pipe that i will push 3/4 inch black pipe through it to the spring box in my basement. That way i can pump water UNDER my house to the springbox + hand pump it up to cast iron trough. Then i am still legal. Next i will fill all my containers + removed the pump + pressure tank etc off the top of well. Then i can find a place between the stones to shove my pipe thru to pick up a down pipe to the well + the other end will connect to the jet pump. From there it goes to the pressure tank + to any source i direct it. Looking thru a small hole into well its looks so beautiful. Such quality when they dug that over a hundred yrs ago. cyaN7
Comment from Danie on 12/17/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I added many stones to each side of the doorway + added a old metal handrailing bolted to the stones between the mortar. Most of the stones are just piled mostly until next spring when the ground settles. Then i can mortar them in place.

Next i am thinking loghouse outhouse which i want to be a cross between these two pictures = http://www.loghome.com/images/Articles/6-log-cabin-outhouse.jpg small like this picture but rectangular

http://debimage.com/media/images/1524LogCabinDeer.jpg Not two stories like this one but an overhang in front of the long side of the rectangle. The logs will look like this style not like the one above.

I have some short 8ft long old metal roofing which matches the wellhouse roof. The front will have a 3ft overhang and free standing poles supporting it with 5ft over the outhouse on that side and 8ft at the same slope on the other side but covering most of the outhouse. Maybe just a 1-ft overhang.

My footer i poured is 8ftx10ft6"

cyaN7days
Comment from Danie on 12/13/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well i have half of the basement to wellhouse dug out and the end walls upstairs finished. One end has the lovered grill for ventilation while the other end has a nice old barn door and both have old wood siding which came from the old loghouse i took down. I did screw the rubber tarp to the ceiling in basement with screws and large washers. It all looks great. Now i can store tools above without moisture from well rusting them. I will be adding some inner glass or plastic to the basement door which had much water running off it today from the ice thawing from night to day. The basement with the well has lots of moisture coming from well, especially in winter time, as the cold wants to freeze it on the rubber or door or stone walls. I will finish the stone floor next with mortar. Then I will finish mortaring between the stones and cover the concrete walls to give it a rustic look and to seal walls. The room is very warm considering the freezing temperature outside. cyain7days
Comment from Danie on 12/9/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well the roof is done and i made the steps to the wellhouse. They have large stones on either side going down and concrete steps which look rustic. We got a good 36 hours of rain and there were no leaks. The grass seed is coming up now too thru the mulch i put down to stop erosion. The grading worked great as it runs past the entrance in front of the steps going down to wellhouse below. Yesterday i got a free door and today i will hang it. It has about 6 window panels in it with a long thin one in the middle. Its an old door. The heat coming from the well makes it pretty warm in there. I may hang some, either metal or rubber roofing material on the ceiling joices to keep the heat in the room. That will prevent moisture from traveling up thru the floor boards to the storage area above. That area will be great for hanging and drying plants after harvest. Well all is well cya in 7 days
Comment from Danie on 11/30/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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A miracle a miracle

My amish helper had some old metal roofing so i didn't have to spend the 700.00 i guessed (which turned out to be more like 1200.00 with all the extras and taxes) to cover my roof. Today we put up the roof joices and center beam and wow it looks great. Tomorrow we will start putting up the old metal roofing and its old so it will look rustic too :) yippee yeaaaaaaa ..

I will give him around 200.00 since he saved me so much. He only wanted 100.00 and at first offered it to me for free... He is also giving me enough to cover my log cabin outhouse which we will start next.

wow wow wow :)
Comment from Danie on 11/26/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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We finished stone walls in 3 days cost $460 Not $520. Today i bolted on the top plates + laid 2x8 oak joices across with 2x8 oak floor boards. They are just laying in place but next i will drill and screw or dowel them together. Then i can start to build the roof pitch with some fir boards i have. They too will be connected to the overhanging 2x8's on each side + then connected at the top with a short cross beam. Then i can nail on some cross slats to the pitch to hold the metal roofing which i need to order. The space above the wellhouse will be like a long triangle storage around 9ft wide X 5ft high X 16ft long. A good place to store hay etc. It was a good thing i broke into my oak decking under the tarps because some bugs were starting to destroy some of the oak 2x8's. I will have to get other decking for my covered bridge deck. I may have that milled + made thicker like 3x8's cut to length. Well my friend should be by soon so i will have updated pics in a day or so. cya N 7 days
Comment from Danie on 11/23/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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UPDATE:
my roommate left a few days ago.
He really wants to persue a life around being a taoist / martial artist and well i wasn't able to facilitate those needs and visa versa. He left with a smile though :)


I actually seek someone who is into gardening and farming and in the future raising animals..

Oh we have had lots of rain putting my stone masonry work on hold until friday. 2 more days should finish the stone work. i did put in a old cast iron drain at the bottom where the door will be to the wellhouse. I also put in 2x12 white oak door jambs imbeded in the concrete with the drain centered. They will be connected further up to the stone by anchor bolts. The rains went down the drain to the creek so it worked well with heavy rains.

Also i did debone a 15 lb turkey and stuffed it and cooked it in my old wood cookstove. Yummy.. its great.. I used a corn based flour milled fine to make the gravy verses corn starch.. cya on saturday eve
Comment from Danie on 11/19/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Me + Amishman built half stone walls to well house in 2 days. He is experienced + 1/3 the price of a mason. It may be 2 more days to finish stonework. Roughly $130 a day. I had estimates of $2500. I paid $230 for mortar. So at 230 + 260 + 260 i will be at $750 for finished masonry job verse $2500 just for mason work. I have the wood + now just need the metal roofing which this 56 yr old amishman said he can do too. My total for well house might be as much as 2512.00 total verse 5k to have a outside well drilled (they can't approve handdug well) plus a pump + pad at total 7k for winter water. I can use wellhouse to bathe in summer + sauna in winter. I can store food in winter time or tools etc. I will also have drain from house + water back to basement thru pipes from well. I can also bake food there in summer using wood.
$712 for concrete + $520 stone labor + $230 mortar + $450 metal roofing (guesstimate) + $250 labor on roof + pipes / drainage $350 = $2512
Pics soon + cya in 7days
Comment from Danie on 11/12/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Today i poured the wellhouse walls + the outhouse foundation which took almost 7 yards of concrete. In my newest pictures you can see the pipes for drainage, for electric + water have been buried + now are covered with concrete as they pass through or under the wellhouse walls. Next i will dig out the center of the wellhouse. Then i can connect the water + electric internally. I will also connect the drain at the bottom of the stairs. That will drain both water from the wellhouse + the basement of the main house into the small creek. That way the sump pump won't be needed anymore, saving me electric. It will also allow the watertable to be higher in the basement springbox. I can also push a pipe thru the 2 inch water pipe so i can handpump water from the well in the winter back into my springbox. I will build a 3 ft stone wall (on top of the 4ft concrete wall i poured today) with a 1 ft beam around top for building the roof over wellhouse. All i need now is the steel for the roof.
Comment from Danie on 11/6/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I have a helper yeaaa + he is a big guy 21 yrs old. A very spirital person dealing well with chamber pots etc. We got all the drums + jugs filled with fresh water for winter. We cleaned the whole house again. We started digging today the well house area to put in footers + walls + we got the total length of the drain part dug today. That is from the well to the creek + about 35 ft long from 5 inch deep to 4 ft deep by well. We'll finish around well on 3 sides + line trench with foam board. Then we will pour concrete + add stones + then have 3 walls around well + for well house. Then at the end we will dig out the well house to the well and pour stairs down to the floor of well house. Then i can start mortaring on the walls stone to make the room 4 ft above ground + 4 ft below with a rustic beam and metal roof. The drain in the floor will go to the creek. It will also eventually be a drain from main house so sump pump won't be needed. We also can hand pump water back to the house. cyaN7
Comment from Danie on 10/30/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well the past week was positive with a planting of 200 onion sets. The snow came the next day to cover them over + keep the rodents from digging them up. A young man of 21 who is a taoist is coming this week to help me and spend his free time with nature + studying his martial arts. I hope to get much work done with his help. My house is also staying warmer this winter since i finished the livingroom walls last spring. At an antique sports-persons auction i was able to pick up some nice old posters of Pennsylvania winter Pa birds, summer Pa Birds, Pa birds of prey and other posters of birds. The will be very helpful for identification purposes. I have burnt two rows of firewood so far. I have about 8 more rows in the one pile. That means 2 rows for each month ahead, which will take me to feb. That is not counting my other pile of wood much that isn't split yet which will become a larger pile when split. I did buy some honey for 23.00 a gallon which is a very good price. cya in 7 days
Comment from Danie on 10/22/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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NEW PICS IN BOTTOM ROW:
Yes the strawberrys are growing great and will prodce in springtime very well. I built a bench you can see on front porch which allows the cats to go under the foot stool into the box below seat. The seat lets them be seen by mom from inside thru window. The firewood pile seems to be enogh for this winter. The garden has sunflowers, corn, beans, sorgum for wild turkeys this winter. The basement is done and the well pump works well and the fireplace is done as is the floor with the giant stones in it. The few stones next to well are not mortared in place so i can dig and bury some pipes later. The root cellar pic didn't come out but i have it packed full. You can see my bee hives ready to put out next spring. Well thats it for now. cya in 7 days
Comment from Danie on 10/18/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Not much to report these days since the basement is now done and the crops are havested and canned. However, i took my mom to see her doctor and get a flue shot. Her vitals were 116/76. We met with a sister for dinner (where i broke my 12 day fast) and did some food shopping in the italian market. There i got some dried figs and dates and coconuts and a few other things that would last without refrigeration. I also stopped at an african food store and bought some bulk red beans and rice and spices. Today i hope to work on my front porch bench at the amish neighbors barn. Last weekend i had some friends from philadelphia visit who are seeking to purchase an old house near me for 34k with an acre. They fell in love with this area. Fall and winter sure will be slow with much progress here, so i may move to once a week reporting here. bye and pray to God for peace and love
Comment from Danie on 10/13/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I did cann another half case of heritage pear sauce from my trees. I also canned some green tomato salsa with my 4 types of hot peppers. I finished digging up potatos which i gave to an amish neighbor. I hung under front porch, sunflowers, corn, peppers, and beans to dry for seeds. I collected more black walnuts. I probably have 10 gallons of nuts collected to shell this winter. I finished the mortar between basement floor stones behind rootcellar. The area between springbox + exterior wall just has fine gravel between them so i can dig it up later to put in piping as i reported before. I am at day 8 of my fasting. Just coffee, apple cider + maybe at most a pint of green tomato salsa which is supper HOT ouch. I went to a local heritage festival + picked up a giant crock to make pickles next yr. I also got some of their fresh made apple butter canned. Both sweet and non sugared. I will call my neighbor to come take some pictures soon. cya in 4 days + stay healthy + read the word of God!
Comment from Danie on 10/9/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I bought a case of jalepino peppers + canned them with tomatos. They made 3 cases. I also bought 5 gallons of concord grapes to make jellie but it didn't harden so its thick syrupy juice i will use to make juice thru the winter. I got 12 pints + 3 quarts. I gathered lots of black walnuts + removed outer soft shell + have then drying to be opened later this winter. I got the balance of my banana + hot peppers from my garden + canned them with tomatos. I pull up the balance of hot peppers now hanging on my front porch to dry. I still have 3 rows of potatos to harvest. My corn is still producing but getting a little chewy. I started a 10 - 15 day liquid fast 4 days ago. I found + purchased some old strainers + a porcelin teapot with top container for teas to be placed to allow steam to drip thru. I gathered a giant box of heritage pears from my trees for use later this winter. They will stay good for months unlike hybrids. The weather warmed up + farmers here are harvesting. cya N 4 day
Comment from Danie on 10/5/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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*****ONE YEAR AGO TODAY I WENT TO SETTLEMENT ON THIS WONDERFUL LIL FARM*****

YEAAA SUCH PROGRESS... but oh so much more to do

ONE DAY I WILL HAVE THE WELL HOUSE AND SMOKE HOUSE AND BARN-BRIDGE-CARRIAGEHOUSE FINISHED TOO ..

I may even have a bathroom :)

Today i am making more pear sauce ... yummy ?:-)

Yesterday i got a nice old oak burbon wooden barrel that still holds water and has a plug that works

I also got some 55 gallon plastic barrels for water storage. they previously were used to hold syrup for lemonade and they are white so i can see the water level.

cya in 4 days
Comment from Danie on 10/3/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I canned another case of pear butter. I collected a 1/2 bucket of chinese chestnuts. I had to squeeze them all to find the bad ones, due to all the rain. I got about 3 quarts of good ones. I purchased some wood from a amish man + am designing a porch decon bench with a storage box under the seat. It will have sides made of 14" x 3" thick slab. The connecting beams will be protruding thru the slab with a wedge thru a hole to hold it in place. The boards i got are all old + 14" wide. It will sit in front of window but not block front window. The slab sides will be 4ft tall w/ a 28" high bench x 14" wide x 55" long between slabs which will have curls cut along the front to the back. I did buy a case of butternut squash for $8 + case of small pumpkins, which are on front porch until it nears 32 degrees outside. I got a case of onions for 5.00 which i have in dry sawdust in rootcellar. I found at auction a hand pumped washing machine with metal plunger cups that switch 1/4 after each pump.
Comment from Danie on 9/29/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well another case of pears + apples mixed, canned + into rootcellar. I will do more pears but no more apples for now. I got two farm tractor cow manure spreader loads delivered to the top of either side of my garden for 50.00 delivered. I then used the last 2 1/2 round bales to compost over the weeds all along the top of garden along road. I still need to get the 24 tons of manure with sawdust mixture brought down from neighbors + spread but that will be when it freezes. I did finish laying + leveling the stone in basement floor with fine gravel. Tomorrow i will mortar it in place. I worked on the creek some more to get ready to build a pond at the bottom in the future. The creek is running very very clean now. Its got mostly all rock sides + bottom. Under it is a thick clay layer. By trout stream it should have a nice clay layer to hold the water in summer with clean water from creek feeding it. Then i can raise fish in it. I am still getting corn + peppers + potato's. cya in 4 days
Comment from Danie on 9/25/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I picked 4 baskets of pears at a friends + have been canning them. I made pear + apple butter. Today i canned 7 more quarts of pears + apples mixed. The pears were hard but cooking them softened them up. I should end up with over 5 cases of fruit canned or made into fruit butter. The apples + pears go into canning jars still hard which is good for making pies this winter. I also cooked up some butternut squash with honey + nutmeg + made some juice, which taste like pumpkin juice. I am still getting fresh corn from the garden + have about 5 more 5 gallon buckets of potato's to dig up. yesterday at a consignment auction i got a nice oak picnic basket for 12.00. I also brought down 85 pieces of white oak slivers from 8" wide to 6" + all 8 ft long + from 1/2 to 1" thick. These came from a local amish sawmill for 25c each. I may use them to cover walls of my barn i build next spring. My strawberries are doing well with the recent rains + warmer temps. I may have lost 3 plants so far of 100
Comment from Danie on 9/21/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I picked 3 buckets of apples from a neighbors who didn't want them because they weren't sprayed, but i was happier they weren't sprayed. I clean + canned 14 quarts so far. I will make apple butter next. I picked the hot pepper plants + hung them in the basement to dry. I dug up 5 - 5 gallon buckets of potatos, which went into another galvanized tub w/ sawdust. I cleaned up around the house in preparation for winter. I cut up the old stack of wood from the old front porch deck for kindling + loaded it on the porch. I also picked up + outer shelled a 5 gallon bucket of hickory nuts. I dropped them in water to find out which ones were still good. The bad ones floated to the top. I then froze the balance to be opened later on a rainy/cold day. I got 2 old thin shelves for $10 for my rootcellar which fit on either side of freezer. I bought a old fashioned veggie slicer which cuts excellent potato chip slices + cooked some up. I got all the green roma tomatos + put them in rootcellar. cyaN4
Comment from Danie on 9/17/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I finished the walkway behind the rootcellar w/ giant flat stones. I just need to level + mortar them in place. I dug up the ground + put in 2 perforated drains with gravel leading to area in front of springbox. Later when i dig up between wall + springbox i can connect them to springbox. I won't mortar in the final stones between springbox + wall so i can later dig a drain from exterior wall to springbox. It will come from outside well eventually.
I also dug up 4 more buckets of potato's + put them in sawdust in a long galvanized tub. I hung about 200 bean plants in basement to get dried beans for making soup or replanting next spring. I also had 24 tons of fertilizer delivered to a neighbors because the truck was too big for my place. It cost 216.00
The weather got down to 40 degrees night before last. I started the fire to keep mom warm. The livingroom + kitchen / diningroom stay warm with a little fire, since i completed livingroom walls with plaster last spring. cya in 4
Comment from Danie on 9/13/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I canned 1/2 case of banana peppers + case of hot pepper tomato sauce + 1/2 case of hot pepper tomato sauce w/ meat. I planted 100 strawberry plants where the rocks were dumped behind my house. I made 2 raised beds covered with black plastic + 4-3-4 organic fertilizer + lime. I also packed 4 buckets with potato's + newspaper which went into rootcellar. I left them in the sun for 1/2 day to dry up before loading the buckets. I only froze 10 gallons of corn kernals. Thankfully its drying out so i can soon harvest the bulk of my potato's that haven't rotted due to the extreme rains we had. I may get another 5 gallons of corn kernals. Next I will hang the hot pepper plants to dry + the bean plants. Our last day of rain after huricaine LEE brought us 3 inches in 45 minutes. My basement survived with just barely 1/2 gallon of water wetting front walls + concrete walkway. Thankfully my ground gutters at base of front porch works great. Snow won't get caught in roof gutters since i have none.
Comment from Danie on 9/9/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Rain rain go away ..
My creeks on both sides of my house are flowing about 2ft by 1ft thick of water. I should have a waterwheel for power like my amish neighbor.
I mortared in the giant stones in front of fireplace + down to the front door, but not back behind the well or behind the rootcellar. They look great. I also got the hand pump working, which i had to rebuild. Next i will bury a pipe thru the outside wall to the springbox. That way later on in the future i can continue digging to the outside well. Overflow can go to the well or to the creek or i can pull water from the well back into the house. So it will work both directions. The basement has been very dry considering all the rain here in Pa. I also worked again in my creek from garden to house to get it cleaned out since so much water was running thru it. I finished canning my salsa + beans + today i will start harvesting corn + freezing it stripped off + raw + dig out more potato's to store in my root cellar. Cya in 4
Comment from Danie on 9/5/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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The springbox filled up from rains + is overflowing to the sump pump box thru the gravel. Tomorrow i will be installing the hand pump thru the oak door. The cast iron trough will over hang the edge of door + that overflow will go back thru the gravel into spring. Yesterday i canned some stringbeans. I also froze some after blanching them. I decided to start harvesting the rest + hanging them under my front porch to dry. Then i can later remove the hard beans from the pods. I gathered 3 buckets of potato's with straw layers between each layer. The dirt is drying like a hard crust on them which will keep them from sprouting later this winter. I probably have 30 more buckets to harvest. I will hang the buckets from the root cellar ceiling. Some of the sweet corn is ready to harvest. I will collect some soon + freeze it. I've been collecting hickory + walnuts. The slightly hybridized pears in the garden are almost ready to be picked + canned. They were probably hybridized in early 1900's.
Comment from Danie on 9/1/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I layed down the giant flat stones in front of fireplace. I just have to mortar them in place. They look great. I also finished the supporting rods for the other side of my front porch to keep it from ever pulling away from the main house. I then went on to dig out my springbox in my basement. I dug down around 50 inches deep. I added a fiberglass tank 26" deep X 44" long X 27" wide that fit great. I will add gravel around it today which will take the excess water + filter the dirt. The water will eventually overflow the tank + the excess with dirt will go into gravel area with a screen blocking any dirt from going into tank. The excess water will continue to flow thru the gravel outside spring box to sump pump springbox. Next i can add the oak cover door + place the hand pump over the tank with cast iron trough to outlet into gravel area to keep any dirt out of tank. I may put a redirect pipe from sump pump to go into spring box tank. That way i can gain some extra water after rains.
Comment from Danie on 8/28/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Due to Huricaine Irene (a local tree fell down + we are still out of power), i am now connected by 12 volt battery + 500 watt convertor, which is charging my laptop + DSL modem. Today, I got a deep cycle marine battery (w/ carry handle) which i will see how long it last until i need to charge it again. It will also provide electric light if needed. I will try to connect up to my car so when i drive i re-charge the battery. This will come in handy when i go solar.
The other day I finished mortaring the damper in fireplace, battons on side walls + tightened up all around the house.
I made + canned some more salsa here at home myself. I will continue to make more since it goes with everything. It's great being able to can my own food now. I learned the secret from a wise man.
I also bought a 5 cu-ft GE chest freezer since it was 10% off total at $179 counting tax. Soon i will start harvesting sweet corn + freeze it along with storing bulk meat. Eventually i will build an ice house.
Comment from Danie on 8/24/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Some aleve took care of my lower back inflamation. I picked 10 gallons of string beans from 4 rows of my most mature beans 2 days ago. That leaves about 14 more rows to pick. I gave them to a local amish family seeking them. He is a cabinet maker + helps me at times. I also pickled a case of cucumbers + some zuchini + yellow squash. Today i built a root cellar door with a sliding vent in it + picked up some locust lumber for my springbox. Yesterday i built more shelves in the root cellar. Tomorrow i make salsa with my neighbor + cann more veggies. I am getting some amish workers here next week to help me finish the chimney insulation that was never done + finish some battons at the triangle below roof line on driveway side of house. They may even help me cut the corners + build the loghouse outhouse. I will also mortar in my fireplace damper i had made months ago. I bought an old carved oak dresser needing only wheels for $30.00 yesterday morning. I have the wheels too. cya in 4 days
Comment from Danie on 8/20/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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When i reported last i had moved the last largest 300lb stone + hurt my lower back for the first time in my life OUCH. Hopefully a few weeks rest will heal me. The grass is growing great around the privy tank. Soon i can start building my loghouse outhouse. I found someone to guide me in making corner cuts on my logs. I did harvest two red potato plants of the 150 or more i have planted + they gave me like 20 nice potato's. I picked + canned with vinegar more banana peppers + onions. I have also strung up more hot peppers with thread to let them dry. My habenaro peppers are a bright orange color + will dry nicely. I am seriously contemplating purchasing a smaller chest freezer for corn kernels + string beans. My neighbor will help me can a case of salsa next thursday. My sorgum will also provide a lot of nice grain soon. I have arranged to get 24tons of composted cow manure delivered for 216.00 which will take care of my garden + help me expand below my house with a strawberry patch.
Comment from Danie on 8/16/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I am covering all my loghouse beams for winter with rubber tarps. My grass around privy came up. Gave away 3 kittens at the fundraiser for haiti. Kept a boy + girl. They seemed to always purr up to me. They are good at getting mice etc in the garden. My kittens are training to poo on sawdust from the mill. I hope to get some strawberry plants this evening to plant under black plastic like the amish do. It will be where my rocks were dumped because i can keep an eye on them next spring from the kitchen window. I will cover some windows on outside this fall with plastic to save on heat. Its been raining a lot so many tomatos have bottom rot. I will just pick them green + allow to ripe inside. Peppers are very abundant except the real hot ones which like lots of heat. The broccoli i picked sprouted on every branch so its increased 10 times. Next yr i will have to leave more space between some plants. Too many plants gets me all leaves + flowers with fewer fruit. Cya in 4 or 5 days :-)
Comment from Danie on 8/11/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Yikes we had some hard rains which knocked down about 100 corn stalks, but it also helped to clean my creek that runs from the top of the property down along garden + along house to the trout stream. I am hoping those stalks still produce. My 1 pack onions, 3 packs broccoli + 2 packs cauliflower seeds have sprouted + are growing great. The deer have stayed away with the buckets of urine. I had to get some topsoil dumped near privy tank to build up the land around it. That cost 75.00 plus 3.00 for grass seed. Later when it all settles i can build the logcabin outhouse overtop the privy tank. I got a logging truck here for 26.00 to stack my extra long log house logs (from house i took down) + sticker them. I am done with the stone from the basement of the old loghouse i took down, cleaning it + organizing it. The stone will be used for my outhouse foundation + my covered bridge carriage-house piers + my addition to my house or 1000 sq ft wellhouse if i go that route. see ya in 4 days.
Comment from Danie on 8/6/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Ok today we got more rain which watered our fall crop seeds. I want to learn to use nature to water my crops. Its suppose to rain off + on all week. That will fatten up my potato's + corn + finish helping all my beans to flower. Yesterday i got a load of firewood which is two bundles of rounds from the amish sawmill. These cut offs come from shaping the log into a square shape. They + delivery cost me 65.00. However, they are already split (cut) + just needed cut to size (length). They will be used as large kindling. I will get 2 more bundles of smaller kindling (made from cutting the sides of boards to width) to start fires. Today i got a around 30 - 9ft loghouse logs for 100.00 plus 50.00 delivery. They will be used for my loghouse outhouse along with the balance of short logs from the building i took down. I need some more soil to fill in around privy tank before i build. The rains has helped the other backfilled soil to settle down. Then some stones for a foundation + i can build.
Comment from Danie on 8/4/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Back to waiting to build. I have 3k saved + my brother offered to help me next spring. The stone is almost done being cleaned. I have quite a bit to use in building when i do build. Today i cleaned invasive sticker bushes + burnt them. I cleaned up along the creek by the giant locust tree. I still have to clean at top of creek by road + down by trout stream. I also planted (by seed) 3 rows of broccoli + 2 rows of cauliflower + 1 row of onions (scalions) for my fall crops. I am still waiting to see the garlic come up. I harvested some nice yellow squash. I am now using urine to keep the deer away. I fill buckets + put them near the garden so they can smell them. The beans are coming in wonderfully with no signs of animal or insect damage. the red potato's are also coming in nice as i dug some up. Half the corn is tassled + creating ears. The roma tomato's are over flowing with tomato's. The peppers have exploded to + doubled in size with recent rains. This first harvest will be great.
Comment from Danie on 8/1/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I'm in discussions with a builder who has seen my work + likes it. He thinks he can get me a permit + engineers approval + a basemet dug + footers with 12" walls backfilled with a door opening all about 12" above grade for under 3,000.00. That will allow me to get started + slowly go up with a 6" cinderblock inner wall + a stone outerwall against it. That means in 4 ft i will be up to the first floor level of my existing house. Basement will have a door on the lower side same as my house. It will then have beams sticking out 1ft on the lower side as a overhang + 4 ft on the upper side as a walk along deck with landing for stairs to the ground by drive. That will be covered with 2"X8" oak boards both inside + out. That will then allow me to continue up with a 6" cinderblock + stone covered first floor walls. That will reduce to a 4" block covered with stone for 2nd floor walls leaving me a 2" lip for 2nd floor joice. Then attic floor over top + then a metal roof coming in perpendicular.
Comment from Danie on 7/28/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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""WANTED = PARTNER TO FINISH THIS FARM""

Yesterday i got another load of nice hardwood firewood (1 + 1/2 cords). I am still cutting it up. I paid 70.00 for it delivered. I will probably wait to split it since its the kind of wood that splits better dry. I also have more stones to clean. I am finally getting close to being finished with that. The heat from last week put a damper on me. My garden did have some animal eat some zucchini leaves but i quickly sprinkled some diatomaceous earth on it + they stopped + it stopped the potato beetles too.

I am so glad my mother is a part of this property because i couldn't be here without her loans / investments / improvements, which will be paid back to her estate eventually, when i can refinance. At the same time i am so glad to be able to care for her + keep her from needing some eventual state aid, since she is physically healthy but mentally needs help. Ironically she is very capable when it comes to spelling words when i ask her.

Comment from Danie on 7/26/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well today my roommate left. The rains came down finally yesterday + it may rain some more tonight. The farmers are surely happy in some parts of our county. Yesterday i cleaned more rocks + mulched beans + picked peppers. Oh washed clothes by hand :) Today mom had two opps in her pants i had to clean up. She had gotten a little tight so i gave her some castor oil + wow it cleaned her out. I am hoping the government figures out the defict spending. If moms SS$ + my pension $ doesn't come i have enough to cover bills. Otherwise i will have 2500.00 saved up towards the addition or other building.

SEEKING A NEW PARTNER WHO WANTS THE COUNTRY LIFE.

GOOGLE ""CRASH COURSE"" TO GIVE YOU THE BOOST TO GET UP OFF YOUR BUTT + JOIN ME FOR A OFF-GRID LIFE.

If a partner had say 15k we could have a nice bathroom + laundry + composting toilets with the addition i really want to build. Oh it will happen + now i am not under pressure since my roommate left. I can just save for the addition.
Comment from Danie on 7/24/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I found a clean folding cot for my basement with double pads + mattress + sheets for 20.00, it's short but it works. I know now i will never have to worry about high heat with my basement so cool. My roommate will leave to go to NYC to seek work in the middle of the week. They are not cut out for a lonely country life.

""SO I WILL BE SEEKING A ''NEW PARTNER'' INTERESTED IN SIMPLE LIVING.""

My garden is just exploding with veggies in this heat. I have watered which has allowed it to prosper. I am also still running water from the side creek into the well between waterings. I am sure its overflowing in the well. I am hoping my beans are ready for picking for the haiti fundraiser on aug 12-13. I just need pickers to help pick the evening before.

""I ASK ALL WHO READ THIS TO ""PRAY FOR RAIN"" FOR OUR FARMERS.""

I am praying hard for our county farmers. Much of the corn is turning yellow. This morning we got a tiny drizzle which didn't even make a sound on my metal roof.
Comment from Danie on 7/22/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Today I got a clean plush double sided queen size mattress with split box springs for $150.00, that fits the old brass bed. Also, The garden is exploding as the squash, melons, tomato's + beans are bursting open with flowers. The heat sure has helped move the veggies along faster. However, I am slower getting work done besides watering for hours. My roommate is going to NY to do some computer repair work. They may be there a few weeks. The heat here sure is tough on them in the 2nd floor here. The basement though is wonderful. I am thinking of getting a cot for down there until summer ends for guest. The living room has only reached 84 degrees with the outside being 100 + feeling like 110 with humidity. Eventually the long hall in basement behind rootcellar (with windows) will become a summer bedroom. Right now it holds my many hand tools. The area in front of fireplace can be a summer livingroom with the springbox situated in it to keep it even cooler. Yes I just need time + funds.
Comment from Danie on 7/20/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Yesterday i watered for 7 hours maybe more. I actually ran the well dry. My forester friend told me that i was doing good for the well to run that long. Right before i had some guys here to see about digging footers with a backhoe around the old well to make the room. They sugested i just have a new well dug with a submersible pump buried with electric so i could have yr round water, that way verses a room around the old hand dug well. After the well ran dry i thought yea thats probably best. That will cost at least 2k depending on how deep they drill. That means no footer + no room built for a while until i can save up more. However, this will give me better water i hope. I just got off the phone with a well driller + he says i won't ever run dry with his well. Today the heat index is suppose to get to 100 + tomorrow 105. The gardens is growing great + i am thru 1/3 the stone pile which has had the most dirt covering it. The balance is mostly just stones piled high without any dirt.
Comment from Danie on 7/18/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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NEW PICS month 2 starting in garden. I'm still cleaning rocks + it will take me the rest of this week to finish the pile. Wednesday i will get my zoning permit for 35.00. Today i will get another load of firewood for 60.00 delivered. Many farmers need rain, however, i have water from my well so my garden is growing great as i keep it well watered. This morning i bought 10 antique sliding screens (to keep bugs out at nite) for 25.00 which will help my roommate keep cool upstairs at night. I managed to build the old 3/4 bed which we moved into eastern front room. The western front room will need a queen size mattress. It will be better for winter time warmth with floor register from livingroom below which always has the large heater wood stove going. The cat N kittens will be fixed in august N sept by PAWS. I may build an outside house for them connected to my house for warmth under the front porch. The heat from basement will keep them warm. I can feed them from there too through a hole
Comment from Danie on 7/16/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I started cleaning stone for the water well house. I decided it is the cheapest to build since i don't need an engineer nor a building permit below 1000 sq ft. A 35.00 zoning permit then dig down 4 feet in the ground next to the hand dug well and make a basement around it. That will be done with concrete + later covered with stone inside + outside it will be stone. That makes it just 6 ft above ground except for the entrance area. This won't have but one window and one door. It will allow me to remove the small pump house + expose the hand dug well which will stand 3 ft out of the ground in this basment room. That will bring me closer to the water which is 28 ft below. The well will have a bucket to lower down and get water + a electric pump. The room will double as a sauna and cold water shower area with a drain running out the back. No soaps will be used. In winter we will heat it up + splash cold water on the wood stove + let it steam like a sauna. Then cool off under cold water.
Comment from Danie on 7/14/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I hoed the rows that were previously the peas. Between them the sunflowers are coming in strong. After that plant life dries + dies i will plant broccoli + cauliflower between sunflowers. Yesterday i got about 1 + 3/4 cords of uncut + unsplit hardwood for 60.00 counting delivery. I have most cut up + half split N stacked. I am hoping to fit another load tomorrow. This winter i plan to keep the wood cook stove going since i have a roommate. We will want to use that room in dinning / kitchen as a useful room thru winter. I will also be opening the livingroom ceiling + installing a floor register to two upstairs rooms so the heat can enter those rooms. Today i spoke to the building inspector. He said the addition has to be built to code or given an exception as a historic building. He will ask his superiors and i will contact the historic society to see what they deem needed for me to be able to be approved as a historic building. Time will tell.
Comment from Danie on 7/12/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Its been HOT but thats ok because my garden loves it + we are in the shade in my house. Today i hope to take care of the cats + get them fixed. Yesterday i dug out more invasive sticker bushes. That pile is growing daily. Another pile along garden / creek is also growing. Many black cap rasberries will fill in as they were crowded out by sticker bushes, but they are there. Along garden removing stickers has exposed groundhog holes which i am filling as i go along. They are abandoning them + moving further away. The vines which were previously strangling good locust trees are now dead having been cut. Opening up the forest along the creek by removing the invasive species has helped the creek to run stronger. This fall when rains come again the creek won't have any obstructions + will clean itself out. Then i will eventually be able to build my bridge across the creek to enable me to utilize that area on the other side. The forest will be healthier. The whole creek is maybe 800 ft total.
Comment from Danie on 7/10/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Yesterday i helped out at an amish fundraiser and bought a few galvanized tubs i needed for laundry. Today i dug out giant invasive sticker bushes + vines that climbed trees. I made a nice clearing along the creek next to my house by the outhouse side. Next rain i will burn them. Its amazing how much room they took up. The soil under them is also quite fertile. However, there still is roots that need to be removed as they try to pop up later. Two days ago we got a good downpour after i finished watering the garden. I also planted the sunflowers between the peas. They should pop up soon. Today my roommate had to drive back to Indiana because their grandmom died yesterday. It was expected. They will be back in a few days. They left a lot of their belongings here. They have a storage unit to deal with also. We are getting along well because we both are spiritual + celibates. Its great having a roommate who just wants to live a peaceful life. Oh the corn is knee high by the 10th of july :)
Comment from Danie on 7/8/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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The potatoes are now mulched. I will plant sunflowers between the pea rows since they are doing so poorly this time of yr. We need rain but my garden is doing good due to mulching + the creek + the natural fog collecting each morning. I have also been cleaning the creek along garden + along house down to trout stream. I have been removing hundreds of invasive species sticker bush's. They grow right in the creek but the roots come out easily. Its going to give me a lot of places to plant blueberry bush's + some fruit trees along the banks where the stickers previously hung. My hands are getting all cut up so i have to break a few days before i continue again. The soil along creek is like a sandy loam. I will have to plant something soon to help with erosion for the fall rains. I have found lots of old bottles + things from the late 1800's + early 1900's which were dumped here by the people living here in both the log house and my house. I wish i had some machine to remove silt + sand.
Comment from Danie on 7/6/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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The corn is mulched + everything but the beans + potatoes are watered since we haven't had rain in 6 days. The beans are hardier like the potatoes. The creek is still running strong with at least a 5 inch solid pipe of water along the side of the garden. Next yr i hope to have summer water storage from the creek which can gravity flow water the garden. My mesculine mix is ready to trim. The squash + melons are getting large. The peas may have to be replanted with another crop since it was so late to plant them. My trail along garden is almost done as is my 18 tons of shale. I have had some offers of help + as soon as i get them i will be applying for a building permit for the addition. My school taxes are paid which came to 547.88 for an early payment. I finished my door to spring box in basement which weighs over 100lbs + made of oak beams bolted together to make a door 3ft wide by 4 ft long. It will support the trough + hand pump. That will have to wait to be installed in the fall.
Comment from Danie on 7/4/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well i hoe'd the rows between corn to remove any grass growing there + today I got a hold of a nice wash stand for my roommate so when they get up in the morning they can use the large dish + water pitcher to pour water into to wash their face. Hey we still don't have running water in here. Mom sure loves the kitties. She is always getting up + peeking out front door to make sure they are ok. My roommate is very happy to be able to relax here from the stress of their previous situation back in Indiana. They have a physical ailment which causes some shakes. Its a MS kinda thing. However, they seem to be able to get to a bed or chair or couch to lay down during a episode. Its not bad just a little quivering though. They have been a great help watching mom while i work the garden + trail. Mom seems to like them as she prays for them when they quiver. They get a disability pension so they are able to pitch in for food + cover their medical needs. They are also doing all my photography now
Comment from Danie on 7/2/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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My roommate took MORE PICTURES of the garden. The dew has been thick each morning on the veggies. This forested area helps to capture the moisture each night. It has gotten down to the mid 50's the last few nights which is lovely for this time of yr. I have covered my shale trail up to the giant locust tree. There i placed a round table + chair where you can see the garden in the shade or maybe even work veggies there. I also have been cleaning out the creek so when it rains it will wash the silt down to the trout stream once + for all. I have removed trees growing in center + giant rocks + some old bottles from logcabin residents. Under all the rocks are crawfish, which are giant. They will be good eating along with wild trout. The trout have really exploded since spring. They are everywhere in the stream. Their sizes are varied but there are hundreds in each small pool. The crawfish are also there all thru creek + stream. Soon we shall have a corn, red potatoe's crawfish gumbo meal.
Comment from Danie on 6/30/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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PICTURE from "bottom of garden" "looking up". It shows the pumpkins, then radishes then 6 rows of carrots then squash then melons while on right is the mesculine mix with sunflowers behind them. Then above all of that is about 8 rows of peas then 10 rows of potatoes then the dark green above that is the long string green beans (about 20 to 30 rows) + barely seen on upper left is the corn (about 20 to 30 rows). The garden was planted 15 days ago so it growing fast. The green grass looking stuff is the sorgum which has killed the grass + will get plowed in to add nitrogen. It will also feen wilds birds this winter. The kittens are all there. Two grey ones away from mom while the mixed ones are milking mom. The path is now going all the way to the garden and to along creek where i get gravity flow water but i need to finish the shale in the trail. But today i did cut the trail + its looking great. It passes the giant locust tree which is around 3 ft diameter. Largest locust i have seen.
Comment from Danie on 6/28/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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The potatoe plants are busting thru + all corn is up around 6 inches. I hoed the potatoe rows + between the peas. I bought some 3-2-3 futrell organic fertilizer to put on the corn, potatoes, peppers + other veggies at the bottom of garden. I found a groundhog hole + filled it with 5gallon bucket of smelly veggie compost. When it seems it will rain again i will add more carrot + radish seeds. I am thinking of planting something between the pea rows since they were put in late + may just produce vines. Sunflowers might be a good crop for storage + wild birds + bring shade between the peas. The pumpkins, squash, melons are all doing great. I have a lot of baby tomatoe plants which will get thinned + transplanted during the next rain. The yellow banana peppers are loaded + need to be picked :) The super hot peppers are also loading up nicely. The peppers were planted as plants so they had a head start. I got 3 flats for $3 each. All sorgum has sprouted making green field where its growing.
Comment from Danie on 6/26/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well yesterday went well. I went to an auction + purchased a double sided plush 3/4 mattress which originally cost $1139 for $15 My new roommate is using it now. It fit up the stairs easily. Its smaller than the brass bed frame but it will fit my other bedframe when i get the bolts to work. I also got a great strainer / deep fryer with large basket that allows dripping into deep pan which can be used for many things. I also got a corn boil pot which can hold 12 to 15 ears. I splurged + bought some cherries along the way, most went into the freezer. I found out just 25 miles south of me is the largest orchards in the world. I will be able to bring back many boxes of misfigured/smaller apples for storage for making cider with my press all winter. All i need is a chipper to make chips to press. I have blackcap rasberries growing wild at the bottom of my garden along my creek. There also will be regular blackberries later. All my plants are coming in great. Pics should be coming soon.
Comment from Danie on 6/24/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I finally got some help. A nice person has moved in with mom + me. They will help with caregiving too since they are into housekeeping. Today i just need to get a mattress for their bed. They came from an amish region of Indiana. They will fit in here well. I just hope they can stay a while because it gets lonely since mom isn't much of a talker.
The garden is also doing greatttt. Its amazing how planting late doesn't seem to hurt since things grow faster especially with all the rain. Radish + Cucumber Seeds i planted just two days ago already sprouted. Yesterday i planted some more peppers by seed.
I found out i can get on the homestead plan for taxes. My school bill is only 559.00 which will reduce to 449.00 next yr after filling out homestead application. Also if this property produces 2k worth of agriculture a yr i can go green belt which will greatly reduce taxes.
The backfill around privy tank is looking good + settling down just below top as needed with all the rain.
Comment from Danie on 6/21/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Ok the privy tank is backfilled. A neighbor has a machine to move the outhouse to on top of tank for around $80.00 so at beginning of month i will have that done. The garden is coming in great. Last nite we had an hour long hard rain with no bad erosion in garden due to my rows i made. The driveway is another thing :) I bought 4 round bales for $50.00 delivered to top of garden. One was very well composted so i spread it around. The other 3 still need to decompose some or else the seeds will get in garden. Maybe a few good rains with them sitting open will allow seeds to sprout + die with some heat + lack of water. Then i can spread them. So far i am organic + maybe be able to get an oregon tilth certification. That depends on my needs for selling produce. I think about 80% of beans + 60% of corn is sprouting already. The potato's are probably building roots before they show green leaves. The other veggies are coming in around 60%. Today is day 7 so i am doing great with germination.
Comment from Danie on 6/19/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well it was a good thing i watered the seedlings. They needed it. Today they are all sprouting. Even some of the corn kernals are already sprouting too. The sorgum i raked in is coming in like gangbusters. The sorgum seeds on top seems to have fed the mice etc so the other seeds were left alone. Soon i have to mulch it so it can come up between the mulch. I saw a great video last night by a Ruth Stout. She is a naturalist gardener. I think i will follow her lead now. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt-KHUITId8&feature=related She has it down to a lifestyle. many of the amish do the same except they don't seem to cover up their gardens in winter time like ruth does. I want to cover up my potatoes like she does so i can have them stored outside all winter. My mesculine mix is already like a blanket of green. The area at the bottom of garden is where everything erodes too so its super fertile with sandyloam type consistency. The carrots should do great there.
SO FAR I AM ALL ORGANIC :)
Comment from Danie on 6/17/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well it rained enough yesterday to germinate the seeds i planted. I was also able to get my well pump primed. It is a jet pump + it needed around 5 gallons + enough time for the pressure tank to build up where it turned itself off. I used my gravity flow water to prime it. Then when it was filled it wouldn't take anymore water + it shut off. I have left the water line to fill into the well all last night so it will act as a storage tank. I then will reverse the gravity flow + use the same line to pump water up to the garden during drier times to make sure i get a great harvest. Thats because the creek is next to my garden but it can't jump out into the garden without some push. It also is a too small amount for any pump to be used continuosly.
I am amazed at how few small birds are eating the sorgum seeds, however, i am sure turkeys this winter will love the seeds growing on the sorgum. The kittys are walking out of their box on front porch + following Mommy. My arms are getting rest.
Comment from Danie on 6/15/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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After plowing + due to how late it is to plant (rain needed to germinate) i decided to rototill the field which i did + i planted 90% yesterday. Tonight when it cools i will plant the rest. I basically planted white/yellow corn, red potatos, bush string beans + sorgum as a cover/smoother crop where the grasses were not totally tilled. The 5000 beans are where the loghouse use to be + 1000 kernals corn to the east + 150 lbs potatoes below. The sorgum is everywhere else grass couldn't get tilled properly. I still have some squashes, carrots, tomatoes, mesculine mix seeds + pepper plants to fill in a few fertile rows. I had hand hoed/made over 50 rows from top to bottom. The sorgum will get plowed under as a cover crop as well as the bean "plants". Now i am praying for a good rain to germinate my seeds etc. Its suppose to rain tomorrow + friday. I let my photographer plant some things he likes. He was the guy who also helped me hang drywall on my livingroom ceiling. All seeds cost $93.00
Comment from Danie on 6/13/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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The loghouse 1/4 acre has been deep plowed + ready in a day or two for tractor rototilling after the grass roots die. Then i will plant 4 types of corn, melons, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes + a few other things. The soil is rich with few rocks. The deep plowing removed the roots which were easily picked up. The privy tank was dropped in this morning. The amish neighbor will rent me his tractor w/ rototiller for 45.00 an hr. It should only take 2 hours total for driving there + useage. Next = to plan the transfer of outhouse to on top of privy tank which will get made rustic by applying old wood from loghouse shed to it. Then design + get a permit for the start of an addition. I am hoping an old friend of mine, who does masonary work, will want to share this property for hunting for his masonary work. Otherwise i'll be doing the masonary like i did with the front piers under front deck, Very rustic. :)
Well this has been a busy past week with everything being accomplished + finished.
Comment from Danie on 6/11/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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NEW PICS COMING LATER TODAY:
Stone has been moved + privy hole dug yesterday by a man working on a neighbors addition. he was digging footers with his backhoe. It cost $400.00 which was a deal. He even removed all the stumps, roots + graded the land. He even said when they deliver privy tank monday morning he would backfill it for free. I'm thinking i have so much stone i can build a 2 story stone addition w/ 17ft logs internally supporting each floor 12ft + cantelevered hanging out 5ft on 3 sides to support a walkaround deck on both floors. This would mean i would make 2nd fl center window at top of steps a doorway into new room. It could be a bathroom with pipes down to basement + showers + still another laundry + bathroom on 1st fl. All i need is the metal roof, drywall + concrete footers. I have the stone walls, beams, 2x8 oak flooring, roof framing, windows, outside upright beams, railings, interior framing + window frames. Today i ran a 400ft black plastic waterline for showers.
Comment from Danie on 6/9/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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It sure was hot yesterday. My arms got some much needed rest. I think friday a man doing excavating on a neighbors will dig my privy tank , dig footers for my deck / addition + haul rock down from above. It may be as little as $400.00 as he estimated last evening. I then will quickly get concrete poured in on credit + have tank delivered. Then all i need to do is try doing the stone work myself on loghouse addition. I figure it doesn't have to match the stone work on the house because then it would look like they were both built at same time. The stone work on addition will all match if i do it all. I will do a technique letting the mortar be hidden under stone while stone will hang down and out away from building. The concrete footer will be above ground to allow me to raise ground level so deck will be only 30 inches above ground. That way i won't need a permit. Then later i can get a permit to do walls and roof calling it a porch. Eventually i will add windows to close it up.
Comment from Danie on 6/7/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Ok Trail is 95% done so today was overcast so i raked up scrap woods at loghouse/shed site + burned it. I have to decide if i want to hire a machine to move the stones down to behind my house or do i try to get a truck + move them by hand! The sooner i get it done the sooner i can get a corn crop + fruit trees planted. Time to call the excavators to see prices. They can terace the hillside nicely as well as remove stumps which by hand can be tedious. The spring in basement is starting to go down so soon i will have to dig deeper + line it with a wood that won't rot like redwood or cyprus. I am still waiting for amish excavator to dig privy tank but his machine won't move rock as it just has a backhoe. The pear tree behind where the log house was is full of fruit and will provide a great harvest this fall.

TO THOSE WHO APPLY TO VOLUNTEER:
NOTE: For those seeking to come here to help please only apply for long term continuos help not using me as a stop over for your other interest.
Comment from Danie on 6/5/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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SHALE TRAIL BUCKETS AND BUCKETS OF SHALE UP THE TRAIL.. OH MY ACHING ARMS..


shale trail buckets and buckets of shale up the trail.. oh my aching arms..

but alas i am almost thru 3/4 of 18 tons of shale..

oh my aching arms..

helpppppp


i need arms to carry shale ...

up the trail
Comment from Danie on 6/3/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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::NEW PICS ABOVE::
I am working on a shale trail from house to upper garden area previously the loghouse location. I have to rake into a wide shovel each load + carry it to the end of the trail, then do it again + again. I'll be hauling shovel loads for days. Its very swampy with lots of roots exposed + hard to walk. Also i can't keep walking across the hunting camp property. They own the old white church. I think the corner cabinet fits like it has always been there. My sportsman collection is growing. I found an old Pa state gameland border marker + hunting knife in my diggings. I love my shelf next to my chair. It has room for all my stuff. My apple cider press makes a great table. You can see the large load of logs we brought down, as well as the lumber milled from the ash trees, as well as the pile of logs under the black tarp Today the floor of shed will be hauled away. The amish man will bring his digging machine to excavate privy tank. My firewood pile is growing all the time.
Comment from Danie on 6/1/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I had just enough bricks to cover the rootcellar floor. I used sand from the trout stream to fill cracks along cement walkway. The amish took away all the shed + made me a corner cabinet + a kitchen shelf. I just need to bring them over + hang them up. One has old faded light green paint + the other is rustic wood but sanded smooth. I traded the outhouse for an amish man to dig a hole for my privy tank. I will build a rustic outhouse with logs. Then i can dig out the illegal fiberglass tank. The back of house where i wanted to build a deck will eventually become another room 12ftx12ft centered between the 2 basement windows. It will have a crawl space around 6 ft tall. It will have stone walls to the height of existing stone on house. Above will be log walls with salvaged windows + sloped metal roof. Below will be chambers for 2 in room compost toilets used alternately every yr to allow time to compost. It will also have a drain for greywater to circulate thru compost from kitchen.
Comment from Danie on 5/30/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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::HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY VETERANS::

I removed the metal roof from shed which was rusted + went to a scrapper for junking. I found 200 linear ft of chestnut wood which was under it. All 1x6 and variable lengths. It went to amish cabinet maker to be used to make me a shelf + other half for his use. I bought a shopvac to keep dust down here. In the heat i will work in basement laying down bricks in rootcellar. The salvagable walls from shed will go to amish mans furniture store for rustic look. The balance will be salvaged for wood or kindling. We seem to be 10 degrees cooler in this house. Must be the basement door open as well as upstairs drawing heat up to attic + thru walls to outside. Tomorrow i order the privy tank for $720.00 (tank, delivery + tax)for delivery in a week or more. Time to pick the spot and start digging asap. My left forearm still has pulled tendons which hurts when i type or carry buckets of gravel etc.

"HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYONE AND THANK A VETERAN TODAY"
Comment from Danie on 5/28/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Yesterday my friend brought his machine here + we knocked down the side building. We also loaded all the beams + brought them down below my house to the parking space where i will clean the nails off them. We got 2 large trailer loads. This took 2 1/2 hrs. Considering windows + doors it will make a nice 17x17 cabin one story. With what i have stacked from other buildings taken down i can make another story or build my barn / bridge crossing the small side creek. Oh the soil is so black as that loghouse has been there over 200 yrs so the people have left much fertilization from those yrs. There were also many locust trees that use to surround the house that provide nitrogen to the soil. The stone will come down later after the ground dries. We were able to save the pear tree behind the loghouse. I would have burned down the side building but that tree is too nice to see hurt. It will be nice to see the gradual gardens that get built in that rich soil teraced with stone from basement.
Comment from Danie on 5/26/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Our cat had 5 kittens! She is doing well on front porch in box. I decided to stay with a 1000 gallon privy tank. My spring in basement came up CLEAN with no e-coli or coliform. Its drinkable yeaaa. I do not want any waste to get anywhere near the basement. The waste will be carried 100 feet below the house to a privy tank until i can afford a septic system. The 1000 gallon tank is deeper so it won't freeze in winter as septic man told me. The outside well did have some coliform but its over 100 yrs old + needs to be run so it will clean up for animals and gardening. Trail cleared to upper lot is done. Porch swing is repaired + works great. Again i am amazed the spring in basement i isolated to concrete pool came in clean. It just needs a wood box, gravel on bottom + dug deeper to be our drinking water source yr round. It also needs the lid on asap to keep out any potential bugs, etc. I need to also be careful what is used to scoop water out until hand pump gets installed.
WOW ?;-)
Comment from Danie on 5/24/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well the septic man casually mentions i can have a composting toilet. why didn't he tell me sooner. Luckily i didn't order concrete tanks etc. That would have been 700.00 or more plus the building + burying cost. I can get a composting one for 2700.00 + up but its inside for mom. The corner where her bed was is ready for a bathroom by the backdoor + the space in basement below is able to hold the system with 4 chambers. http://www.ecological-engineering.com/carousel.html which will work great for two people. That space is at end of tool room with the wall that has the pipe for stove pipe so it will run along that side and vent along roof. It even has a basement window next to it if needed. God was watching out for me on this one. I also got the last two cords of wood split + stacked. Our cat is somewhere have her babies today she came up missing but then she was born wild herself. I brought old raised door panels, old door + glass to amish neighbor to make a antique corner cabinet.
Comment from Danie on 5/21/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Moving loghouse by hand is tedious but it's cheap. I moved the bricks i saved from diggings. They will be used in the root cellar floor. I got all the chinks which are oak pieces wedged between the logs then covered with mud. I got all the short 2 + 4ft logs. I brought down the bee colony materials + wood structure hives. I also brought down all the windows. I am considering reusing the front of shack below. It has great shiplap siding. It would look great in front of my well. I would then need to build 3 more walls + a roof and floor. The shack when totally disembled would give me those supplies. The stone when brought down would give me a great foundation. Then i could fill in around it with dirt + raise that area. The well might be able to stay connected thru winter freezes. I decided to get 2 shallow 500 gallon privy tanks. One for poo, the other for showers/laundry. That building would be left of barn which would be left of well building. Water would be buried from well to shower.
Comment from Danie on 5/19/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Rain rain rain holds up some of the moving by hand + my neighbors truck. I called + cancelled the loan. He understood + told me i could re-apply later. I have everything cleaned up below the house to make room for the logs + stone. It will be nice to have that stone here to start mortaring piers to support my crossing the little creek on the side of my house. The forester told me its better i leave the stones in the creek + use other stones to direct creek + make my piers. I am back to building my bridge / barn with a potential logcabin on this side. The logcabin can also be used to cover privy tank + make shower room + laundry room. It won't be a livable cabin but it will have wood heat for winter time. It may even have a furnace in it to eventually pipe in hot water into the house for heat upstairs in rooms without floor registers. This will be something that evolves verses being designed from the beginning. I love to build things that way which allows me to alter my structures. :-)
Comment from Danie on 5/17/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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The privy tank will go to the parking location 50 ft below my hand dug well, below the house. Then i can run water to it to wash hands at an outside sink. I can also let a RV use it when a visitor parks in the parking location. The loan of 5k may be put on hold until i need that amount. I should be able to afford the 700.00 privy tank without a loan, because i have until the end of the year to have it installed. I may also be able to reduce cost of stone removal if i do much of it by hand. However, my wrist are still swelled up from too much heavy lifting. Rain could potentially be holding up work on friday. The machine can't enter to dig out basement stone until it dries up some. Oh well, Its about time i took a break. Well tomorrow i get my DSL thru phone line + dump paying AOL. I will break even + finally see video's i hope! I usually get tired of hard work after 7 months anyway. So i will be taking it easy until i heal, unless i get excited to do more work lol
Comment from Danie on 5/15/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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MAJOR CHANGE: The loghouse is being totally taken down + moved below to be used as a barn building + deck / porch behind my old house. This will leave the field open for gardening, fruit trees maybe animal grazing. I decided i have to totally rebuild the basement walls so i decided to move it away from noisy road. It will be much easier to build a barn with upstairs storage and a gambrel roof. That way my wood i have will work out perfect for this construction. I also won't have to get a permit since it will be used for animals. The stone from basement will also be loaded up + moved down below. This will allow me time to build this structure + not have to worry about materials far away from my visual sight. I am planning on more heritage pear trees along road with a field of corn for wild birds below with veggies below that. I still have to decide the privay tank location as i await the septic mans return call. cost = skid loader to relocate + level field = $500.00 privy tank = $700.00
Comment from Danie on 5/13/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I finished cleaning out the wreckage from removing upper fl logs. I got a 40% salvage of logs. That will allow me to make a nice high pitched roof with loft. That will give me a slanted roof 2nd floor. I am deciding if the septic tank should go down by previous camper parking spot for other visitors to be able to use. Or should it go up near where septic system is approved so it can be used when i finally get those funds. Today i get my 1st box of produce from amish CSA. A neighbor wants me to allow some people from historic society to do the diggings in basement + around logcabin. I will if i don't have to wait too long. Next week i get my loan to do privy tank, buy metal for loghouse roof + get shale for pathway between buildings. Tank cost 645.00, metal roof around 2k (guess), shale around 500.00, backhoe rental for week to dig tank, spread shale, grade around loghouse, lift center log to roof of loghouse, move old outhouse to new tank location. 1300.00. Total $4450.00 of 5k loan.
Comment from Danie on 5/11/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Oh the logs did come from the 2 front trees by loghouse. Yesterday we knocked down the 2nd floor logs. The rest looks pretty strong. We used a backhoe so it pulled on the building hard but the lower logs stood strong. The front crossing log did come down. NEW PICS OF IT CLEANED OUT. soon new pics will come after i clean up the 2nd fl logs. Then i can finish removing dirt from basement + start replacing missing logs. The septic man said the system would have to be real far at end of loghouse property + it was too expensive + a 1000 gallon tank (i can afford $1500.00 for tank) buried with a outhouse above was best, so that is what i got a $310.00 permit to do. I will just have to save for a few yrs to eventually put in a septic system. 12k is more than i can afford now. I just have to pick a location 50ft from any building or water supply. The outhouse i have will have to be moved on top of it. That fiberglass tank will have to be removed. Then i will be legal. I have till end of yr.
Comment from Danie on 5/9/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Saturday i had the logs moved for $30.00 + today i helped to mill them for $43.00 + made a pile of 5/4inX4inX12ft to nail metal roof to it, as they are nailed to rafters. The other fat log made nice 16in wide 5/4in slabs around 9ft long. They will make many things around loghouse from steps to counters to possible flooring on loft. I now have them moved + stacked with other materials. I had a junker haul away all the scrap rusted steel. The balance of firewood (2 cords)is now in front of my house for this winters heat. I found some neat skin stretchers for animals in the loghouse. They have wood shaped like little ironing boards with metal the same shape with skin locks. Tomorrow i meet with septic officer + backhoe driver / septic instalation man. We will also pull down the top floor of logs to see how the bottom floor logs hold up. It seems two walls are salvagable which are the same 2 basement salvagable stone walls. It will be tricky to remove other two walls yet keep the other 2.
Comment from Danie on 5/7/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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The two ash trees in front of loghouse are down. The wood is only good for this yrs firewood, so i cut them down to 1ft above ground. With what i have cut it makes a good 4 chords. I did find out from zoning officer that if a building has no water "under pressure" (hand pumps excluded) one can still build a legal outhouse (that can be pumped when full), however, i still need a way to deal with laundry + shower/bath water legally. I will find out may 10 when the septic officer comes here. The zoning guy says i can add rebuilding log house into my zoning permit for deck as one fee. I just need to talk to county to see about building permit fees + rules for loghouse. I am burning tree limbs inside of loghouse to kill or chase away any snakes etc. I may try to salvage the galvanized metal roof from side building connected to loghouse since it doesn't leak. I will have to rebuild loghouse + drag roof over the loghouse. It will cover total loghouse if i just have 1 sloped roof facing east.
Comment from Danie on 5/5/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I cleaned out all the burnable debris in the log house but the side house still needs taken down. I still have tons of soil, bricks, metal + etc to remove from loghouse basement. I had 3 burnings 2 which were right out front of the building. The rain had everything soaked so there was no fire danger. It was hard to get the fire going. I got 6 nice double raised panels from old doors i will use to make a corner cabinet in my house. I got lots of windows + glass. I did find that only 2 stone walls are salvageable, which actually allows me to scale down the log house foundation + house 17x17 which fits many of my logs i purchased. I saw how they used pegs to hold the window + door frames to the logs. I may be able to reuse 1/2 the logs for the construction of the new 1 story log house. I also got the kettle swing for the basement fireplace. It allows me to safely swing the kettle full of water after its heated out to the side of the fireplace all in one motion with a strong metal lever.
Comment from Danie on 5/3/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I painted all trim in livingroom + nailed on a few missing pieces. I worked on log house + removed many good windows + doors. I burned more debrise closer to building. I will need a machine to be able to lift out beams + stack the good ones + burn the bad ones. My sister's husband was impressed with what he saw. I used caulk to fill a few settlement cracks in plaster around the house due to my jacking up the basement beams when i installed the rootcellar walls. I installed door springs to two doors in our house so they close by themselves. Soon (due to weather) i will disconnect the livingroom parlor stove + fill in the cemented fireblock interior walls to give it a few more yrs of life. I still have pulled tendons in my left arm from when i moved the giant pile of lumber where rear deck will soon be. My sister says i should not cover deck with a roof + make it larger for enjoyment + not just firewood storage. Deck 9ft x 18ft w/ steps at driveside + 3ft wide deck over basement window.
Comment from Danie on 5/1/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I installed 2 handrails to basement so mom can access it during summer heat. I cut a 8 inch diameter black walnut tree down on path to log house. Forester says they kill other trees like my special heritage pear trees. He says i should plant some evergreens in the opening for the wild birds protection. I am thinking cedars for value. I split the chord of wood delivered + stacked it out front for next winters use. Thankfully it was cool yesterday. I had a neighbor help me align the damper flapper in place. Today my sister is coming to visit + my brother was here the day before easter. Its sunday + time for a day of rest my arm sure needs it. Mom still demands i leave up the old paneling behind the couch. Its buckling but she likes the fake wood look. Its on an interior wall so no bugs can get in house like exterior walls. This months funds are gone (except for food) but i have full credit + all bills paid. The curtains look great i hung. The watercress i transplanted to my creek took.
Comment from Danie on 4/29/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I was approved for a $4,000.00 loan towards my septic system from my mortgage bank due to me combining deeds + paying responsibly. My brother says after i get the perc test (which was moved to may 10 due to the backhoe diggers medical appointment) he will think about loaning me 1k. Hopefully i will then be around 2k away from total cost for septic. I need 2 tanks for a sand mound system which is what this region requires. Me doing all the dirty work will keep cost lower. The house only having one legal bedroom will reduce the size + cost of system. Yesterday i cut up a giant tree that fell on a local amish farm. The storm had brought it down. They were very happy due to being so busy this time of year. I rebuilt the back screendoor. That is allowing a nice cross ventilation. My curtains were finished by another amish woman for 60.00 total. (18 windows total) The damper to basement fireplace fits like a glove + now i will mortar in end supports. Swing arm for kettle will be done soon.
Comment from Danie on 4/27/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I started on the log home debris removal, which will take me at least 2 weeks or more. Yeaa O U C H i am sore + thankfully i have the cellar water to pour over myself to cool me down in the heat of work. I also started a fire at the bottom of the field behind it which had a giant pile of brush that needed burning for dry seasons later. I hauled down a lot of rotten debris to burn. I gathered lots of window panes + frames + two old doors to be used later when i rebuild. A neighbor will help cut down the top 2/3 of 2 ash trees with borer bugs in them. The bases will stand as long as possible to be blocks to keep stray cars that might run off the road + to give privacy. Later i will plant evergreens to add to privacy. I also cleaned a path to the my house from the burn pile where a water line will be buried to get water up to the septic system / log house.

OH IF I CAN'T GET A LOAN TO FINISH THE SEPTIC SYSTEM + METAL ROOFING FOR LOG HOUSE I WILL HAVE TO PUT THIS PROPERTY UP FOR SALE ;(
Comment from Danie on 4/25/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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The last corner in livingroom is painted. I cut 8 beams 3x5x55 inches long to be drilled + bolted together with 3 - 3ft long threaded rods. This will be the cover to the basement springbox + support the cast iron trough + hand pump which will sit on top of it. Later i will dig as deep as possible as i can to set the pump to the lowest level in spring. I used many of the very large boulders which came out of the basement diggings to secure the ground by the back door. Today i'll use some 2x8 oak boards to build 3 shelves against one interior wall in the rootcellar. I have to build a heavy rootcellar door + connect it with my giant hinges. The back deck will not be connected to the house. It will be used as a place to support firewood at a high level to be brought in thru 1st fl back door or to store firewood under it to be brought in thru basement window or door. uprights = 8x8 oak beams 5ft high, Cross members = oak beams 4x6 by 6 ft long each set 4ft apart, deck = 2x8 oak beams
Comment from Danie on 4/22/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well i did it. I moved the giant pile of lumber behind the back of house. S O R E, Yes i am sore. #120 2x8x13ft oak boards weigh almost 70lbs a piece plus another 180 assorted pieces. I now have the land teraced + ready for footers for a deck + stair landing. I may dig a ditch + bury a pipe into the well + go under the house wall right near the sump pump. Then i can continue it to the kitchen. Thats in case my interior water isn't as pure as i might hope. Or else i will have to drill down 26 ft and put in a well pipe. decisions decisions. I finished moms corner + today i will paint it, then i will shift my chair + table there + finish the last corner. I have 4 small pieces of paneling to remove + decide if i leave the makeshift corner shelf. when i removed the pile of lumber it exposed the last basement window + the light came in + wow its bright down there now. I have to design my deck to not stop too much light :-) I also took delivery of a chord of hardwood logs which cost $90.00
Comment from Danie on 4/20/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Front half of the livingroom is spackled + painted + mom is moved there after it was cleaned + mopped. The back half is half spackled + well it will need a few more days before its ready to paint. Its been raining here or otherwise i would be removing wood from log house or collecting rocks for the floor in front of fireplace. I also now have access to the back doors since her bed is moved. The pile of lumber (decking + roof joices) stacked behind the back of house does need to be moved next to the other pile of beams. Right now i have a 5ft drop out the back doors because the old deck was torn dorn yrs ago. It could make a nice firewood storage area under it with loading wood through the windows in basement. Then with a fireplace insert or stove in basement the heat will be lower in the belly of the house + drift up through some floor registers. That surely would make the kitchen a warmer spot in winter time. Then i would need or want more people living here to justify the added heat.
Comment from Danie on 4/18/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well the last two days have been removing old paneling + plastering the walls. I used maybe 5 buckets of joint compound. I have had to go back + forth over + over to get the walls smooth. I have also been doing the walls down the stairs + the continuation which is the back wall of the root cellar which i made even to the stairwell walls. That way it looks like one long smooth wall from the door on 1st fl to the bottom of steps. I think i should be painting the walls tomorrow + then i can move moms bed to the front + finish the last corner behind her bed. Thats where the back doors are so i can even open those doors + plan a back steps + deck. The amish boys will be done school in early may so they can help me take down the log cabin + i can finish the stone walls with mortar + start going up with the 1st fl + then build the walls etc etc. Geee i wonder if i will get help! Nah no one wants to help me, they all are waiting for all the work to be done. LOL It will be too late then LOL
Comment from Danie on 4/16/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Yesterday i had to take a drive back to phila and got back with some joint compound to finish livingroom. Before i build a deck off the back i have to move my giant pile of oak floorboards and roof timbers which were previously going to build a barn but now will be used for the log cabin restoration. I did have a septic guy at a neighbors who was talking to me about a system costing 8500.00 and up depending on my new perc test behind the log cabin which i need to get done and he would charge 300.00 to do. The drylock is drying fast in some areas and slow in other areas. Same for the joint compound going down the cellar steps along the cinderblock wall making up part of root cellar. It will though turn out to be cheaper to cover mortared walls with drylock verse covering them all with plaster / joint compound. The birds here are wonderful all day long as they come to this wooded area and sing their songs. The grasses and wild flowers are blooming and the buds on the trees are out. :-)
Comment from Danie on 4/14/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I finished the mortar work in between each floor joice by the exterior walls in the basement. This stops any mice from being able to burough thru + get in basement. I also did the same along the top of the root cellar walls i built. Today i coated the walls with drylock which doubles as a white paint + brightens everything up. I also started to remove some of the final paneling in the livingroom + filled in the lath with plaster / joint compound. It will take a few coats to finish. Its warmer now so removing the paneling won't let in much cold. My mom will be moved to the other finished corner as soon as i finish then i will do her corner. An amish kid helped me carry the ice freezer + ice box to the root cellar. That gave me more room in dining room + livingroom to work + clean. Spring cleaning is also going on as i finish the livingroom spackle + soon paint it. I may even build steps + deck landing out the back door. I am psychologically getting ready for log house rebuilding.
Comment from Danie on 4/12/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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NEW BASEMENT PICTURES: Well after mixing a little over 100 bags of concrete i may have just 10 more bags to do. Time will tell. The pictures show the walls mortared and the floors concreted in some areas and the rest covered with gravel. The spring is cemented + surrounded so as time goes by, by august i can watch the water go down + dig as deep as i can then put either bricks or cedar as a wall in the cemented area + then put gravel at bottom. Then i will have a water source for winter in basement. I also got the old gas stove running on propane + so i can cook without major heat from wood. I still have to plaster the basement walls to keep it historic. I also have shelves to build in rootcellar + make a door and hang it. I will also make a door for water to keep dust etc out. The fireplace will soon have an arm to swing the kettle in + out towards the window on right. The flu will be done too with a damper. Soon onto the log cabin. I sure do hope i get some help. hint hint ?;-)
Comment from Danie on 4/10/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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The day before yesterday i dug out along the beam closest to fireplace + made a wider + longer concrete abutment for the water trough. That took 10 bags of concrete. yesterday i did the sidewalk to finish along front of house over to cellar window by fireplace. that is 5ft wide + about 12ft long. that took 18 bags of concrete. now i have one thin 3 ft strip between that sidewalk + the front of water trough. One part of that by the stairs will be deeper to support a beam which supports the other side of the above floors along steps as the cinderblock wall did on the other side. However, this time it will only be one beam. I may do that today. That means i just have right in front of fireplace + near back door. The long run along the other cinderblock wall to front door + along water trough will be filled in with gravel. That will allow the heat or cold of the earth to come thru to the room. That section is like 4ft X 18 ft long. Which the dirt below it slopes towards the basement door.
Comment from Danie on 4/8/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I finished the surface bonding on cinderblocks. It looks natural like it was a stone wall underneath. I also made a sidewalk under the stairs which is next to the room wall + covers the drainage pipe from the rootcellar room. That took 6 bags of concrete. It also extended the wall around the pool of water / spring. I have one more wall to do at other end to make it narrower + then a final wall towards front of house to enclose it completely. Then i will have a pool of water fed by a spring with concrete walls coming up to the surface. Then I have to make a covering of some sort. It could be done with stone and narrowed to a raised point where a hand pump could be mounted or it could be a simple wooden trap door which may be better + give access later on if needed. It all depends on how the spring functions during the dry season. It also depends on how deep i can dig. Today i will make the sidewalk on side of stairs and along part of front wall below sidewalk leading to root cellar.
Comment from Danie on 4/6/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well i just got over a nasty two day fever. Today i started covering the cinderblock with mortar to give it a rough look and to fill in some gaps. later i will use plaster to give it the historic look. I spoke with a metal worker who is making me a support for an arm that will support my 32inch wide by 14inch deep cast iron kettle which will allow it to swing in and out of fireplace. He is also making a damper above it so i can keep out the cold winter winds when the basement is not burning a fire or using a wood stove which there is a hole above mantel for a stove to be connected if i want. As soon as i am done with the basement i head to the log house to start removing debrise + collect good wood + mortar basement walls in preparation for rebuilding a nice one story with basement log house bathroom / laundryroom. Oh i do have to remove some old paneling on a few sections in livingroom in the house + finish them like i did the rest of the house but that will be rainy day projects.
Comment from Danie on 4/4/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I finished both cinderblock walls. Luckily my footer + beam footing and sidewalk were all the same level as the footer under the upstairs walls so the first course made it easy to lay all the courses. The block also came out to half blocks which means i didn't have to make special blocks to finish a wall against the surface bonded stone wall. The 4 bolts are in the end at the bottom of stairs ready for a board and a door. One wall didn't have a footer for 2 ft so i used a 4inch block + cardboard to support the block while the concrete drys. Then i will pull it out and that will make a lower vent + a upper vent will be near 1st floor joices. The gravel above the underground drain is dry which shows it is a type of vent. The rest is wet which shows the slight amount of moisture in the ground needed to keep veggies moist. I poured the landing + bottom step at bottom of wooden stairs. The bottom step will have wood overtop of concrete with 2 boards to nail it down or remove it later.
Comment from Danie on 4/2/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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The cinderblock wall has been built by stacking them on the footer + filling every other chamber with concrete. I am not a bricklayer + its good i used the blocks. I used some boards to keep the wall straight while filling. Today i will finish the ends + put 4 anchor bolts in that will mount some end boards for the door jambs. Then i can take out the floor jack + let the walls supporting the 2 upper stairwells rest on my new block wall filled with concrete. My pool of water is growing towards the front wall of the house which is the last supporting concrete wall for me to build. The other three are the connecting wall i recently made + the two giant footers that were here. ""Today is first day of trout season by next year i want vets here fishing"" I joined an amish CSA yesterday, $220.00 for two people for the growing season will provide us nice veggies until next yr when i can grow my own. My arms are so stressed using the same muscles day after day pushing them to their limits OUCH!
Comment from Danie on 3/31/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Yesterday i had 7 beautiful 17ft oak hand hewn beams delivered here for 300.00 I decided to use the old cinder blocks i have here instead of buying 2000 bricks for 500.00 to finish the basement. I will just use stone gravel from the drive where the shed use to be to put on the floor in the root cellar. The cinder blocks will also be easier to build the walls verses the bricks. Cheaper too :-) Today i dug out the area between the two basement beams closest to the fireplace so the water would collect deeper. I also built a concrete connecting form to keep the two beams + their footings from shifting over time. I allowed a space for the water to be able to run out to the sump pump area next to the back door. I will build another form as soon as i decide how wide i want this water trough. The drain from the front wall / root cellar area leads to this trough. It seems the natural spring wants to come out here as well. I will build a stone wall around it + make it a seat with a hand pump.
Comment from Danie on 3/29/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Yesterday i dug out the footer for the brick wall. It straddles the drain from the front wall buried deep under it and goes into the pool area where i will make a stone and concrete pool from which to be able to pump water for simple use. The water for drinking will come later from drilling deep into the ground to connect a hand pump. Oh i traded the concrete mixer that was left here by the previous owner back in the fall. It went to an amish dairy farm which they use it to mix chemicals / powders for cows. It would have been hard to load the bags and then dump it into a wheelbarrow and then move that to where i needed it. It is easier to just hand mix in the wheelbarrow and dump. The footer is 14inches wide and 8ft long so far. It took 11 bags of concrete + i added band saw blades as rebar. I will reduce the root cellar to 9ft by 12ft. It will have no windows and will be in the eastern by southern corner which is deepest underground. That will help to maintain an average temperature.
Comment from Danie on 3/27/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Yesterday i dug out the east wall at the bottom of the stairs and loaded it with stone and dug out a trench and laid in perforated flexible pipe which leads to the big hole on the fireplace side. Thats where i will have the well almost underneath the stairs but out just a bit. Then today i put some more plastic down + some old fence for rebar. Then it took 16 1/2 bags of redimix concrete to fill in that sidewalk. I did make a cut in it where the door to the root cellar will be. That way any water or moisture will go down that crack towards the drainage ditch which again leads to the area under the steps. I also went to a auction today + found some great hinges to use for the two doors to the root cellar. I paid 45.00 for old champion blower for my forge. One day i will use coal to heat metal and make stuff for vets. I also got a great horse drawn plow for 25.00 which will be used when i get a horse. I also got some great old sledges for stone which are very irregular shaped sledges.
Comment from Danie on 3/25/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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The concrete dried enough for me to load the things on it. Now i can dig out the other two walls and lay stone in for two more sidewalks. My friend will deliver me 2000 bricks which i will use to make a dividing wall and lay bricks on the stone for the root cellar. Then i can build two solid doors for the root cellar side. One at the bottom of the steps and the other behind the steps. The fireplace heat will then go up the stairs and won't be able to penetrate the double brick wall. I will make a 12 inch thick wall with a 4inch space between either side. The wall will also support the one side of the floor above next to the stairs. It presently has a temporary support which i will remove as i lay the bricks close to it. So right now i have to prepare the root cellar side with drainage into the fireplace side with stone and brick on top of that drainage. Making this root cellar with one window to the north, will have the back steps covering that window will keep it cool yet add light.
Comment from Danie on 3/23/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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well it took 22 80lb bags of concrete mix to do those two sidewalks along those two walls. I did add some plastic as a moisture barior and some old fence as rebar to make it strong so it won't crack in the future. Right now i am waiting for the concrete to dry so i can start stacking things on it and then dig the rest of the basement and prepare it for concrete and stone walls and troughs. 22 bags only took me about 4 hours to mix and pour and smooth out by myself which surprised me. I then brushed the concrete to make fine scratches on the surface. This way any water that might get on the sidewalk will run down the scratches to the stone area. I think the other two walls will take at least 30 bags of concrete to finish them towards the back door and around the chimney but not in it. The east wall is where the steps begin going upstairs and it will have the footer for bottom steps and support for floor above. Good thing mixing only takes about 3 minutes for each bag with 3/4 gallon H2O
Comment from Danie on 3/20/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Yesterday i dug out the dirt along the west and north walls to make a gradual slope towards the rear door in the basement. Then i hauled in over 30 buckets of stone and tamped it to make it ready for concrete i will hand mix and pour and smooth out today. This will give me a nice walkway with the ability of the ground water to easily flow through the stones into the center of the room and then gradually flow into the troughs i will make which will flow to the sump pump region. I really do have to give a "high five" to the "previous owner" who dug out the ground and made piers for the columns that support the floor above. He must have dug down very deep and really prepared the sump pump region to work in such a way that i am now able to do these things with ease. I am sure this previous owner will be so happy to see his work finished properly. He had a heart condition so he had to stop. I am fortunate to be able to have purchased this home with his initial restoration. God Bless him.
Comment from Danie on 3/18/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well tomorrow i start mixing concrete in the basement. I just had to make a long drive to pick up personal belongings from my friend who died last month. The last few days have been trying as i have burnt many needless items from my past and reduced in size my collection of history from over 30 boxes to one box. However, i was able to find things i haven't seen in yrs and forgot i had. I found a ID card showing i was a volunteer at a VA hospital in 1980. I also found things i was glad to forget but now are long gone and good riddence since they were bad memories and my life has changed much in the last 14 yrs. Well today the weather was 74 and so we had the front door open and still do at 8:46pm. Yes spring is near and summer will be an experience to remember since we have no air conditioning but we do have the coolness of the basement to rely on as they did many many years ago. This old house has had some interesting people living in it since it was built in 1820 plus us now :-)
Comment from Danie on 3/15/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Ok i finished the last wall in the basement. Next to mix by hand some concrete and make my walkway around the edge. After i do the walkway and the water direction with stone i can finish the walls as originally done with the 4 bags of old fashion plaster i had bought last fall. This will keep it historic with strength underneath. I spoke with an amishman who said he could walk my roof and squeeze some epoxy into any areas that may be present or future leaks. I would do it but those heights scare me especially on the side towards the rear where the fall is 3 stories. Soon another amishman will deliver a truckload of manure to start my first garden here. With spring coming i will have to start finishing the old log house stone basement and get it ready to be rebuilt. It will become my future bathroom and laundryroom as well as a sauna and hot water facility. Well time to sign off there is much to do.
Comment from Danie on 3/13/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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well its been a yr since i started writing about this venture that i dreamed up a little bit before then in feb 2010. Progress has been good. Its tough thou when one is doing everything themselves as well as having to be a caregiver to their mom. However, i proceed in hopes others will join me one day. On a side note i lost my best friend and spiritual guide to cancer. I had a dream about googling her name online and in the dream she said she was ok but she actually passed away feb 25th. Julie you were my only true friend who helped me when i was down many times. Also last night i came down with a bad flu etc and sweated all night long and well this morning i am sore all over. I do not know if it was food posioning or a flu but i survived even though i prayed to God to take me. I know God is keeping me around to care for my mother who didn't have any flu and seems to never get sick. I took her to her DR last week and they reported she is very healthy. Well God Bless everyone
Comment from Danie on 3/11/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I have one more wall to finish in the basement. Then i will dig the footing for the cellar stairs and pour some concrete and place some large stones in it as the bottom steps. Then i can alter the water drainage and lay in ditches small stone to act as drains and then pour some concrete around the base of the walls to support them + add a place along each wall for storing things on a concrete walkway around the walls. This walkway will be only 3ft wide if that and will not be very thick. Then i will have control of the water and plan for the well i will dig for water to pump up to the kitchen. Then i can build that dividing wall separating the root cellar from the fireplace side. That will give me a cool side and a potential warm side if i light a fire or connect a wood stove insert. A amish kid was able to reach way up in chimeny to add bonding cement to connect the stone chimney to stainless steel flu in a sealed connection. Next when it gets warmer i will pour insulation around flu
Comment from Danie on 3/9/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well the VA decided i am not covered to get dentures. I had one tooth pulled so now my broken bridge has even less support. On the other hand neighbors in my county had a fire and lost 7 children so my life isn't bad. I also found out i can go to a dental school and get some dentures for free. Oh well time will tell. The basement is functioning well after the heavy rains. I found the sump pump was positioned not to work but let water gradually seep thru the floor or ground. Now it pumps and so i can get back to finishing the last two walls. I did find i have a few small leaks in my roof but it seems to be driping down the roof beams and running out over the edge of the house. I will need to get on the roof sometime in the future and squeeze some epoxy in them. I also will be getting another cord of unsplit wood for 90.00 delivered. Today i had to break down and buy a cheap frig which is like 4 ft tall and 18 by 18 wide and deep for 219.00 with 2 doors to make it thru the summer heat.
Comment from Danie on 3/6/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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The parking spot is done and the rains fall. The basement walls are a little more than half done. The two hardest walls and fireplace are done. After i finish the other two walls i will do a concrete step at the bottom of the stairs with some giant stones to look rustic. Then its dig out an area for a water storage box which when it rains will over flow and travel to the outlet by the door where its presently going as it travels thru the rocky ground. Then it will travel into a cement / stone box and then overflow into a trough and travel to the outlet by the door. Then i can control the rest of the basement flooor with gravel and some stone mortared in place to make it look nice and accessable. Today its raining all day so i will get a good testing in basement and parking spot. Oh and i got an old oak desk delivered that i put in the kitchen. It has a nice surface top and lots of drawers. Now i just need more ice for the ice box. Maybe a small freezer to make it and freeze food.
Comment from Danie on 3/2/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Ok the basement is looking great. The fireplace has been very tedious. I still have way up high where the new stainless steal liner meets the chimney as it turns on an angle to become a fireplace. the fireplace took at least 8 bags of surface bonding cement. It also used another 8 bags of regular mortar. Its gonna be nice and soon i will be able to actually hook up another stove in the basement. I also had 17 tons of shale dropped off today to cover the area next to the deck and where i park the car while my 88 yr old mom is here. It looks natural and well i still have another 5 tons to level off tomorrow.I am sore using a shovel and rake to separate the stones from the smaller stuff. Its going good so we won't have any mud when we get out of the car. I also had a forester come by and mark trees i should cut down and he told me trees i should plant to help wildlife. Well time for a long sleep.. ouch my arms are sore
Comment from Danie on 2/27/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well i spoke with the VA dental clinic and they said they can fix me. It will mean spending some time there and letting my mother stay with family.

I also am still resurfacing the basement walls which is coming in nice. I am working around the old stone fireplace. Luckily the cracks were wide enough for me to get my hands in there and remove loose stones and rinse well with water to wash out any dirt. This allowed me to refill it with strong bonding cement which will hold it together for eons. The face is still nice and the interior of the fireplace area but it needs recovering unlike the outside walls that had cracked open. I may go up to 350.00 or 400.00 in total mortar supplies but i want to make sure its super strong then i can cover it with a light coating of plaster to give it the aged look.
I hope to sometime soon drill into the basement ground and make a place where i can have an interior well which to hand pump to the 1st floor kitchen. That will resolve freezing.


Comment from Danie on 2/25/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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::ALERT::

Keep me in your prayers. My upper jaw porcelin caps on teeth cracked 2 days ago and the dentist fixed it temporarily but it won't last. This is a long one piece cap that covers the whole upper jaw on teeth ground down. He also said i need to have a rear tooth removed which supports the cap which is broken now. The dentist suggest i get the tooth pulled before it further infects the upper jaw bone and get dentures above. My jaw was relocated in 1985 by veterans hospital to fix a overbite and the dentist says i may lose some upper jaw bone as the steel connector is near the bad tooths root. That won't allow me to have working dentures. I then would have to eat pureed food. If that happens i will let others take over this place and go back to the city. Please keep me in your prayers.
Comment from Danie on 2/20/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Wow what a warm up. It got to almost 66 degrees the other day. That got me into the basement to work on the walls. I have been using surface bonding cement to redo the walls. That has fiberglass particles in it which makes for a strong wall. Then i can do some plaster with those original 4 bags i never used upstairs. The basement walls needed it bad but now are looking great. The bonding cemnet also has a white color to it. It won't clash with the plaster. I am cutting it with 50% strong mortar which makes it go further since the surface bonding cement cost like 14.00 for a 50lb bag. The other mortar cost just 5.00 for a 80lb bag. At this rate it may cost a total of 300.00 to finish the mortar work in the basement. That entails the fireplace which needs a lot of work and stone mortared in place. It also entails the building of the separation wall for the root cellar. Anyway i love doing mortar work it feels so good to fill in the spaces between the stones and making the walls look new.
Comment from Danie on 2/13/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well the deep freeze has left us so no more freezing ice for the ice box but the snow may melt and allow me to do some outside ground preparation work. I still have a good cord of wood left. I never touched any of the wood on my property too. I'll get an early start for next yr while i clean up all the fallen trees on this land. The birds are even outside singing sweetly. The trout stream behind the house may melt soon as the ice covering fades away with the heat. Its suppose to be in the 40's and 50's this coming week. Oh i did speak to another person from Colorado who sounds like a very nice person. They would fit in well in this community. People around here do have some good morals. Well its sunday and today i will bake another chicken in the wood stove and then it will go into the pot and make a nice pot of chicken soup. I'll have to put it on ice to keep it cool over night. The cold weather sure has been great for keeping for fresh. Be well until the next report Daniel
Comment from Danie on 2/7/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Today i loaded 30 - 5 gallon buckets to the basement door and they are 3/4 frozen and with the next 3 days they should finish freezing. Then i will stack them in the basement on boards and straw and bury them to keep them from thawing. Hopefully they will stay frozen for the next 30 weeks. If it works i will have good ice for the ice box. If not i will be seeking a freezer. Oh well time will tell. I did get a nice call from a kind person in alabama and i am hoping he comes here. The firewood should last until mid march so 3 chords lasted from dec 23rd till around mid march. Not bad for such an uninsulated old home with many air leaks around windows and doors. We are loving the local raw milk and have felt so healthy and the thick cream is so dreamy. the cheese is also great and the yogurt too. I can't wait until i can be producing some of my own food etc. My cupboards are stocked up and so we have enough to last 6 months if needed. all is well..
Comment from Danie on 2/5/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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i found a double galvanized laundry wash system and got down to hand washing everything. I do need to connect my wringer to some boards to lay on top of the two tubs so it is in the middle and the excess flows into the wash tub and not the rinse tub. I did a months worth of laundry in 4 hours. I also got some strong galvanized trash cans (20.00 each) for kindling for each stove to keep any sparks from hitting the kindling. I also got some nice old kermans for the upstairs hallway one is like 15 ft and the other two are around 4 ft and all for 105.00. They are thick too. The hall runner fits like within 1 inch on either side. I also got a cute set of 4 canisters for sugar coffee flour and cookies made from porcelin for 15.00 with lids. I was shocked at that price. The drive though is slippery with the rain frozen over snow packed like ice. I am using sawdust from cutting wood and wood ash which really works. The electric bill was 13.75 but 10.00 is for the service. Time for solar !
Comment from Danie on 2/2/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well i rewrote my introduction and all of a sudden i started getting many responses. I guess all had thought i demanded they buy property which i didn't. However, not many want to move here without a shower or functioning bathroom. Thats ok it will happen and some people are just wimps and can't do what they did in the past and what we do now, like hand wash ourselves and use a chamber pot. I have had some couples contact me but i do not think i can or want to deal with two people at once. I much rather deal with a individual. I hope someone who might be interested in learning and who is alturistic might come here. However, if someone came with investment money i am open to a partner. Well time will tell and fate will be the future.
Comment from Danie on 1/29/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well the two elderly bankers only gave me a 8k increase in value while the realtor told me 20 to 25k. So i have to save and find a partner to help me be able to afford to do the old log house restoration. It isn't worth borrowing and refinacing just to get a percentage of the increase. However, on a positive note the taxes are low and the 10 yr mortgage is already showing a 500.00 decrease in principle whereas with a 20 or 30 yr mortgage you don't see any reduction in the first 3 yrs or 7 yrs respectively.
I did get some great porcelin pans for washing clothes and bathing and rinsing which is a real plus. Its been snowing every day since my last post but not enough to stop movement here. Its suppose to be freezing for a cople days next week and so i have over 20 buckets ready to be filled with water and set out to freeze to store ice for the future in my basement. The wood pile is still lasting quite a long time as i have only used maybe one cord in the last 36 days. Well later :-)
Comment from Danie on 1/25/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well if they make it through the snow that is supose to fall the bankers will be here tomorrow to reappraise this house and my work. If all goes well i should have access to building funds to fix the old log home and put in a septic system there and make the log house into a bathroom sauna and wash room for clothes and maybe a summer kitchen.
Today we went and found some great porcelin pans for washing and rinsing our dishes and some galvanized buckets and coal buckets made like they did over 30 yrs ago. The stuff they make today and sell is cheap and falls apart too fast.
So next tomorrow will direct the future and give me direction. I will be doing more even if its just one week at a time using the simple materials this land gives me. It does have the stone and the logs here in the ground as trees and rocks waiting for industrious people to make progress here like what others did many many years ago. Rebuild and do it right and with quality the old fashioned way with hard work.
Comment from Danie on 1/23/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Hello its sunday and its been a great month since we moved in last dec 23rd. Its been very cold here but of course we are toasty warm :-) I am seeking rock now to build my dividing wall in the basement to keep it as original as possible. I have tons of it in the creek bed outside but its all frozen in brrr. I also have access to some from a house that is torn down but i need to load it and truck it here about 5 miles away. The wall will need to be at least a foot thick and about 18 ft long with some supporting side walls. Behind it will be the root cellar and vegetable bins. I do need to paint the livingroom ceiling but i may get some more drywall and cover the old paneling that was put up in the early 80's or remove it and plaster it like i did the rest of the house. Well time will tell. I am hoping the bank comes by soon to reappraise and decide if i am worthy of a refi to finish the log home / bathroom / laundry / sauna and septic system.
Comment from Danie on 1/21/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Ok dinning room painted and now we can eat at the old oak table i bought for 1.00 that needs refinishing. Its amazing how everything looks yeaa.. Next the basement. Make a wall that runs from floor to ceiling with 3 ft openings at each end for circulation and entrances. then build table with shelves and bins with dirt to store roots. The many plastic buckets will be used for bulk food storage. The otherside will have the old fireplace which needs extra tone on the floor mortared in and then replaster the walls. Oh the weather is like 12 degrees but we are toasty warm. the cook stove really gives off a lot of heat for such a small amount of wood. I made another baked chicken last night and then used the rest for chicken soup. Life is simple here and people in the olden days had a easy life if they had everything functioning. I can't wait until everything here is functioning. Well time to get ready to freeze some more ice for the freezer and frig, its gonna get real cold this weekend.
Comment from Danie on 1/19/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Ok the dinning room will be ready to be painted tomorrow yeaaa finally and it looks so nice. Now we can walk around and around in a circle from kitchen to dinning room to livingroom and back to kitchen. Great exercise for mom. She loves looking at all my work and keeps saying how nice it is here. I did get the realtor to give me a nice appraisal and told the bank and they will send out their team of people to reappraise and hopefully give me a loan so i can finish the old log house. She did take some great pics too which are so much clearer than mine here taken with my laptop. I may load some of them in time.

All these plastic joint compound buckets will be great for storing food in them. I have like 20 something of them. Well back to filling in with the lightweight joint compound which dries so much faster. However the heavy spackle does fill in real smoothhhh but its so wet it takes twice as long to dry grrr
Comment from Danie on 1/17/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well the person interested can't get out of their lease and so i am still open to a roommate to come here and live a simple life and get this farm going. They need to be an alturistic type of person and be glad to help and know that we are only stewards of the land we live on.
I removed the wallpaper on two walls in dinningroom and spackled them and then tomorrow i will fill in the spaces and then do the other two walls.

About living here this is a very rural county and many people live very simple lives. Many people have old homes or cabins and well they are doing well and living longer than many elders living in cities. We have pride here in taking care of our own around here. We are not like city people who put their parents in homes run by strangers. e take care of our own and give them 24/7 care. Thats the amish, mennonite and country farmer way of life. I sure am glad i live here and will stay strong and be able to live a long life here.
Comment from Danie on 1/15/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Yesterday i had a woman 58 yrs old contact me and we talked and she may be moving here to help make this farm function better. With her help i can be able to get the loghouse rebuilt and a bathroom and wash ready fr visitors. So if anyone is lurking and waiting you may be out of luck until i get the next building done sometime by next fall. Even then i won't have room for a steady roommate and only part time visitors that i bring here from local VA hospitals.
As for work i had to drive friday and do some business so the dinningroom will have to wait until next week but hey thats ok i have done great this week.
There is other properties for sale around here if you want to join me but thats your call. get to me and let me know your finances and i will try to help guide you. I had 2 other couples contact me but they barely had enough to buy and i wasn't ready or able for a couple here and i really can't nor want to deal with two against one Me :-)
You should have at least 50k down
Comment from Danie on 1/13/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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OK the Kitchen is done and painted and the cook stove is making us meals and heating extra water to use to wash ourselves and keep this place clean from dust. Today i am buying a mop and will be using it daily. The firebox was very easy to fix. I just had one brick cut at a local steel shop and put it in with the other and it stays in place well and the stove heats up the who other half of the downstairs with 1/4 the wood as the parlor stove in livingroom. Next remove the heavy painted wallpaper in dinigroom and finish walls and paint yeaaaaaaaaaa

Oh and the ice box is still working great even with the stove going. One block has lasted 3 days now and still have maybe 3 days to go. It was about the size of 2 gallon jugs. I may even freeze plastic gallon jugs of water and see how well that works too.
Comment from Danie on 1/11/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Ok very productive day. The kitchen is finished spackled and tomorrow i paint it. Yeaaaa the kitchen will be done and then all i have is the dinningroom. It does have some heavy painted wallpaper on it but it also peels off kinda easy where its lose. It will soon be so nice to have all spackled and painted walls from second floor to first floor. Then i can start venturing into attic and basement. Today i had to plaster the whole ceiling by doing a trowels space and then leave a trowles space and then come back after 1/2 day and fill in the empty space. that makes smoothing the ceiling out very easy whereas i would have had to sand all the peeling paint off which is hard and time consuming. Now all i have to do is fill in and fill in and fill in with joint compound and then paint. the peeling paint gets spackled and filled in with joint compound and so it becomes smooth and paintable. the walls had some peeling paint but mostly just big holes with exposed lath strips. i am so smart :-)
Comment from Danie on 1/9/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Ok second floor is done painted and kitchen and dinningroom will be done this week. Its kinda hard taking care of an 88 yr old and cooking and cleaning and doing improvements etc but its working slowly but surely. I was able to get some hardware for the doors from a house being torn down. I also have to carve some firebox stones to fit into my kitchen wood cook stove. I'll be doing that this week too. If i am lucky i may try to hook up the old gas stove to a propane tank to see if i can get it started. Monday i get another cord of wood to make sure i get some before the amish man sells all his great two yr old dried firewood pile. In the future i may sand the floors and give them some oil etc but thats way down the road. Right now they work fine. i also spoke with the man who helped paint two rooms here and hang drywall and asked him if he would go pick up veterans at the local VA hospital to bring here. He is a forester in a nationa forest and seems interested. :-)
Comment from Danie on 1/7/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Okay the second floor hallway and stairwell are done and just need some paint. Then comes the kitchen paint and dinningroom spackled which will be fast since it has the best walls prior to buying here. The snow was no issue since i am near the main road and the 5 people in log cabins behind me all wanted out to work etc and they have trucks and plows :-) Okay so what will i do next? Yes there will be that deck out the back door and move the ice freezer out there. So far i still have around 1 1/2 cords of wood left considering i got 1 3/4 cords on christmas eve. i had gotten another 1/4 cord the previous days. The wood burns real hot and has no sap in it. Oh i found a nice cabinet for the dinningroom real cheap considering its quality. Well time to hit the hay and finish that painting tomorrow. see ya lurkers :-p
Comment from Danie on 1/4/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I was able to mortar in the bottom of the last basement window which was previously hidden with a pile of old timbers but is now open and lets cross light into the basement. The basement will be my next direction for improvements since its low cost factor. I also have gathered some blocks of ice 1ft by 1ft by 2ft for storing food. I will also finish removing wallpaper on the second floor hallway with warm water and get it ready to be painted. I have been waiting for the insurance man to reinspect before i spackle and paint cement boards near a few stoves. I have also been considering a small temp deck out the back door without steps and use it for my freezer box storage location where food can be kept frozen easy and away from the sun with stored ice unlike the inside ice box. Well time to get to work. Daniel
Comment from Danie on 1/2/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Happy New Yrs all.
Last evening we got an old gas stove delivered and made around 1920 which will be used during warmer days so we don't have to light a fire in the wood stoves to cook. I also parged the chimney in the attic with a fiber mortar which will reinforce it for eons. It didn't freeze here last night so it will cure well.
I look forward to finishing the attic with some old worn wool rugs so it can be a place to store things and help to keep heat in the house. The basement will also be fun making it into a root cellar food storage area in the northwestern half which is totally buried underground unlike the southeastern half which has the ground level door entrance. I will gather stones and build a wall separating the area for storage in basement. It will be about 11ft by 20 ft in size with two entrances for any ventilation needs. I will also store ice from winter there in straw.
May God be with all who read this and may God bring me a caring partner to help !
Comment from Danie on 12/31/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I sold the camper today but the buyer did find some rot holes underneath the couch in the front. I had to reduce it to a total of 300.00 plus delivery of the couch and wing back chair which cost him 225.00. I was happy to see it gone. Its looking more like it did many years ago. I also have the pretty practically new but yet very old classic ball feet couch and chair. they match pretty well and they are in great shape structurally speaking. I also opened up the rear door to get them in and this allowed me to see i need to build some steps out the rear. Well Jan 5th will be 3 months since we bought this place and we are living here and it was called unvaluable but with lots of hard work its looking pretty valuable and useful and thats what simple americans need is a simple place to be able to throw a board or some putty or caulk here or there and keep moving forward unlike the unfixable mobil home age. Dolly parton ruined hill people by getting them to buy mobil homes. Happy New Yrs :)
Comment from Danie on 12/28/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well so far it takes about 2 galvanized square buckets filled level to heat the house each day. Thats about 1.5ft by 1.5ft by 3ft high. That is about 19 days worth for a chord of wood. So my next goal is to start sealing the many leaks and lay down some old carpets in the attic and hang some heavy curtains on the windows which should cut it down to say 24 days from a chord and thats with 10 degree temperatures outside and very warm inside since one of us is very old and that isn't me. I have one more room to paint and then finish the diningroom. I hope to get a couch soon for the livingroom. I found a couple very old feather stuffed ones. I also am selling the 1987 - 25 ft fleetwood Terry camper this saturday for $800.00 which will pay for the couch and balance of the stove work and buy some food. Yes inside is wrapping up and soon i'll be in the basement digging the well and making a wall for the cold storage area. Then i can start storing ice for the icebox. I'll bury it in straw.
Comment from Danie on 12/25/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Merry Christmas everyone Yesterday we got a delivery of two cords of seasoned firewood from the local amish hardwood sawmill that has been cutting and drying wood for yrs. The last two days have been days of rest and relaxation for me since my muscles are so sore. I'll start painting tomorrow the two up stairs bedrooms and then tackle the kitchen. Last night we went to the local Breathren in Christ candle light church and had a wonderful time. I had candles buring in the windows and a fire in the "warm morning" parlor stove in livingroom. Oh its good to drink plenty of fluids before bed to help awake you and keep the fire buring or else you have to use more coal. I may borrow a truck and drive over the the local anthracite mine and load up. I also found that urine + wood ash makes the best fertilizer. Go ahead and google it. We burn our poo and save our urine in a 55 gallon drum and i have a pile of ashes safely allowed to cool out by the heritage fruit trees. Well back to my rest :-)
Comment from Danie on 12/23/2010 (Reader Rating: 10)
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Wow last night i had 5 volunteers help me install 8 sheets of drywall on the ceiling in the livingroom. It looks great. Today i will tape the joints and in two days paint it. The basic house is done except for the gutters which i have a friend making wooden ones. The heat from the parlor stove makes the house like a sauna except in the kitchen but thats just warm. The upstairs are also very warm and this house has no insulation. I did buy some coal and it is big chunks and also is great. It will allow me to sleep all night for $1.00 which is great. So let me say Merry Christmas and God Bless everyone and i worked so hard i lost enough weight to fit back into my size 34 jeans yeaaaa :-)


TODAY WE MOVED IN YEAAAAAAA

i'll finish the painting as time goes by

no more electric heaters :-)
Comment from Danie on 12/21/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Stoves are all in and the kitchen is ready to be painted. Tomorrow the man who helped me is coming back to drive me to get drywall and with another friend of his he offered to help install it on the livingroom ceiling. Wensday i will finish that by taping it and thursday i will paint it. We will also move in thursday and relax for christmas. Oh tomorrow i get a cord of wood for heat and will paint the last two bedrooms. I wasl also told i could use the water heating on stove to remove the wallpaper in upstairs hallway. yeaaa almost done but livable and today we were sweating on second floor from the heat from parlor stove :-)
Comment from Danie on 12/19/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well the man and his son from church came and painted two upstairs bedrooms. I continued to spackle the kitchen and kept the fire going and cleaned all the floors for the painters who worked hard. They will also come back tuesday and deliver drywall for the livingroom ceiling. It will take 3 - 12 ft sheets and 5 10 ft sheets. That will be connected to 1x3's so it will finish the major work in that room and then i just have some small spots to plaster. Its been a long hard road but it will feel great to be living in the house by christmas eve. Tuesday i get some nice firewood which will be stacked beteeen the front porch post ready to carry in to keep warm. The cats are enjoying the heat and sleep by the wood stove each night. Well i am tired and going to relax and thank God for this progress and help.
Comment from Danie on 12/17/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Ok the kitchen cookstove is done. However, i would like to do some improvements on it because one wall in firebox needs to be replaced eventually. The upstairs bedroom chimney is working out well and will be done when the stove guy comes back on monday. Tomorrow a mennonite man and sons will help paint the upstairs bedrooms. The nice dry wood i got from an amish man is making the livingroom very toasty. The house has been cleaned and organized and looks like a home. Everything should be done by next thursday. Yea living in a warm house with wood heat verses using a ceramic heater in a tiny camper. The cold nights down to 15 degrees but the ceramic heater kept us warm but one ran so long it burnt out. I do have 3 so two are working ok. The insurance man will be resending his inspectr back out and he will surely be impressed. Oh i made very very large platforms under each stove which is important to me due to stray ashes. The galvanized buckets hold the wood very nicely. bye Daniel :-)
Comment from Danie on 12/14/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Yesterday we worked on the base of the chimney and fixed that brickwork and connected the steel brace i made which worked out great. We also cut a hole thru the wall for the livingroom parlor stove. Today we connected up the parlor stove and by 4pm we had a fire going. Its a coal stove but wood can be burned in it. We added a 5ft by 6ft metal base underneath w/ 2 sheets of concrete board under it and used 2 more concrete boards on the wall behind it. It has double insulated stainless steel pipe outside. This morning i gave the kitchen another coat of joint compound. I do have to connect the concrete board to the wall behind the cookstove and assemble the stove. I have steel+ concrete board for under it 4ft by 4ft and same for upstairs potbelly stove. Tomorrow we have to fill in the chimney with pour in insulation around the 7 by 21 inch liner i had made. Then we add the cover on top and hook up the stove thru the brick and liner i made. It may take 2 more days. 1 stove is connected :-)
Comment from Danie on 12/12/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well i am finished with the upstairs bedrooms and most of the hallway and the stairwell. It took almost 20 buckets of joint compound but at around 13.50 a bucket thats less than 300.00 and the plaster guy wanted 800.00 for two days work and didn't guarentee how much he would get done. Tomorrow i help the stove guy a nice mennonite man who will hook up three stoves asap. Then i can finish the kitchen and the walls around the chimney and get it ready for painting. It will have concrete board all around the stove so to keep the old rustic stoves 36 inches from any wood. The cats are doing a great job and well they are going to stay since i need company anyway. :-) Its great using the 3 different joint compounds mixed with more, less and even less less water so i get a smooth finish with the wetter compound and a better fill with the dryer compound. The 4 bags of plaster i bought will eventually be used more than likely in the basement It sure makes me feel good reporting progress updates
Comment from Danie on 12/10/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well the last room is almosttt ready to be painted. Oh that is the upstairs and i do still need to get the wallpaper removed off the hall walls. The stairwell going down is also alomst done. Now you have to understand that squirrels ran wild for 10 yrs here and these walls had giant holes in them as big as 5ft by 6ft and many walls had cracks and the ceilings were falling in and well now its all almosttt new :-) But the place will look pretty good soon. Tomorrow i will work on the stairwell to the front door and kitchen trying to get it mostly filled in and ready to paint. Then i have to strip down all the cardboard paneling in the livingroom and replaster those walls grrrr will it ever end.. yesss its more than half done thats what i keep saying to myself.. helpppppppp
Comment from Danie on 12/8/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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ok today i removed half the wall between the kitchen and dining room. Now the woodcookstove will heat both rooms and be far enough from the wood / windows so as not to potentially combust. I had a steel frame which is an Upside down L with tabs at each end to support the floors above. It fit like a glove yeaa and so now the stove will fit right up against the old chimney and between both rooms and connect to my new chimney liner very well. I also exposed a flaw from the chimney from the basement when i removed a baseboard. Yes God is watching over and the second floor rooms are drying up nice and soon will be painted. I also am having one mennonite man connecting up two stoves on monday and another company hooking up the parlor stove on dec 23rd afternoon. So yes christmas will be warm and bright and we'll be in the new house yeaaaa God bless you. I also drilled holes thru the 2nd floor baseboard to pull in the front porch that was slowly pulling away now with threaded rod. yeaa Daniel
Comment from Danie on 12/6/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well i had two chimney contractors come here today to give me offers on connecting the stoves up with some sort of certification. I want this due to the insurance agency seeking some sort of profesional input in my restoration of this old house and wood heat seemed the most important. One made an offer around 4k and the other is less and maybe as little as 2k. Thats all the stove pipe and chimney covers and connections etc to make these stoves legal and safe. I also have been speaking to a nice couple from Minn who want to come here and help me help vets. They too are very much guided from God in all they do. Today was our second day of long talks. They may be here in a week or so. They say they want to live this simple life with all the trappings of living in the 1800's. Well i have two rooms ready for paint and another two rooms will be ready in two more days. I broke down and bought a propane heater to dry the spackle faster which is going well. bye Danielle
Comment from Danie on 12/4/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well i may not be the best at mixing plaster but spreading lightweight joint compound over cracks and 1/4 inch wire i am doing pretty good. At this rate the whole up stairs is costing me only 120.00 in joint compound used as plaster. Its working well too even in the cold because it has so little water in it and so it doesn't droop from the ceilings or stay wet longer than a day on the walls. The paint i got i will cut with some water to make it go further. I may be able to get away with a total of 250.00 for the upstairs. Then its downstairs and the kitchen next so when the man comes to guide me in the chimney instalation to stoves (for legality purposes) i will have the walls ready except at the location of the stove pipe which will be done to his approval. Keep sending those emails and we will work something out for your time to donate. thanks Daniel
Comment from Danie on 12/2/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Ok i had some issues with the back wall and some squirrels but i sealed up the back wall today and got soem cats to live in my home until the stove guy gets here the middle of next week. I also yesterday removed a lot of the old wallpaper and so two upstairs room are now ready to be wallpapered. The kitchen will be ready soon too. It seems no one will help but me and so i jumped full force into the home and am busting butt to get the home ready for christmas. I want to be able to invite a homeless veteran by then. Can you help will you help if not it will get done by me as today i knocked out that one wall i didn't finish and is now done. The cats are in house now so no more damage to interior windows which the squirrels did trying to get out because they forgot how they got in. Gooooo kittys keep em out until i can git in .. yeaa haaa
Comment from Danie on 11/26/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well i am hoping to work on the interior soon with some help of course so i can bring in my stuff and finally get it out of my moms and furnish this house and be able to live there finally. The electric bill for october was 48.00 as i used ceramic heater in the RV and they say Nov will be around 90.00 and its not even freezing outside continuously. So yes i need to get the interior finished so i can move in and use the wood stoves. I also need helpers to haul wood from a house i am taking down.

NOTE: TO THE PERSON WHO EMAILED ME YOUR EMAIL BOUNCED SO PLEASE RESEND.
Comment from Danie on 11/22/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well i was able to get some cellar stairs from a building i am taking down and installed them in mine. They look great and orginal. I also installed the other and last final window in the cellar. Next i need to work inside and finish the up stairs walls, but the weather is changing now so all the exterior stuff is down and all i have is interior stuff. If i get the second floor finished soon i can actually move into the house. Oh i do need to hook up the kitchen stove and living room stove as those areas also need the walls finished inside but thats gonna happen next month when i get some more funds or some help !! Is that you ??? yes all is going well and it seems like the little red hen is about ready to eat the bread and will need some hungry mouths. :-)'
Comment from Danie on 11/19/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Ok today i installed one of the last two rebuilt cellar windows. I used mortar to hold in some new oak for the bottom and i pointed the wall on that side of the building. All went great. I am not a great mason but doing it all myself keeps it all symetrical and ancient looking ;-)

The insurance agent told me he would see me in 6 months.

My friend has an old cellar stairs from a building he is taking down so that solves that issue. I will also get some more beams for my log house for free yeaaaaa

I found some porch post hardware at a antique architechtural store. All is going great. Tomorrow one last cellar window to install and mortar in place since the oak boards at the bottom along ground were rotted.
Comment from Danie on 11/15/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well today i finished the front deck. It looks so much better with rustic oak 1 inch boards / wood and stone not rotten pine and cinder blocks. Tomorrow the insurance agent will come by to see the home for the first time. I hope he gives me a thumbs up because the place has improved so much in the last month but then of course he never saw the place before i applied to Fair Plan of Pa. They give insurance for fire and that got me the mortgage. Most homes need to have a furnace of some sort to get insurance but fair plan didn't require one. I also met with another vet today who has used lumber for me for my barn i'll build. Well time to hit the hay and get some shut eye.
Comment from Danie on 11/13/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well yesterday i had a miracle here when the chimney liner went into the chimney with the crane truck without any problems. It even has the holes in it which were used to lift it which will be used to make a flap to close it when not in use or to dampen the chimney with a cable. Yeaaaa and then today i had 3 amish people help me build the 8 stone pillars for the front porch and steps and now i can add the beams with some mortar and then lay the decking back down.. Yeaaa everything has been going so wonderful. I will then be cutting the holes into the chimney liner and connecting the wood stoves.. yeaaa i can be inside the house soon. Well i sure wonder who is reading and who wants to move here and help me do more.. i do need your helpppppp
Comment from Danie on 11/11/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Today i get the final piece / stainless steel chimney liner and hopefully it goes easily into the old chimney so i can hook up the woood stove and get out of the trailer and live in the house. The three parts i got yesterday only two parts went together correctly. the manufacturer's worker made one end 5 1/2 by 22 inch and it was supose to be 6 1/2 by 21 inchs and well stainless steel doesn't bend as easy as galvanized steel. When the liner goes in then i can connect the stoves at each floor. I will also poor mortar around the liner to make a solid rebuilt chimney.
I also got the two basement windows rebuild for 20.00 each by an amish friend. He used the old wood from the barn i helped take down. He is a blessing. Thanks Samual Lapp from nickle mines pa. I also took apart the front porch and today will start motaring the stones in place to make a proper front porch rebuilt. Wish me well because i never did mortar work before. Hey it will all look the same anyway (smile)
Comment from Danie on 11/5/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Hey i go to settlement on a .23 acre piece connected to mine on monday which has a old log home on it that is grandfathered in and will be where the bathroom will be and will have the septic on it so yeaaa the heritage pear trees don't have to be cut down to make room for a stupid 20k sand mound system..

I also got some more logs from a barn i have been helping to take down and will build a new barn in the spring. i will need helpppppp :-0
Comment from Danie on 10/23/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well i got the battons on the west side and the pile of wood i have i got for free from a barn being torn down. I will soon have enough to build a nice barn for me and my horse and chickens goats etc etc.. I have 6 more windows to caulk and two basement windows are being totally rebuild new because the wood was rotted. The stainless steel fireplace liner will be made this week and lowered in by crane next week then i can light the stoves. Its 7inches by 22 inches and 30 feet long made of 20 guage stainless steel. Its 3 sections and weighs around 300 lbs and thats why i need the cane for 200.00 to lower it in. Then i can cut holes for each floor and then fill in around it with motar and so it will be a new chimney. :) for around 800.00
Comment from Danie on 10/16/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well i have been working hard with the local amish and rebuilt the chimneys and have gotten over 150 window panes recaulked and bought some rustic oak for building a new barn and soon will sell the new shed and build the barn. i hope others will get involved but if not i will slowly but surely help my veteran brothers and sisters. Everything is looking great. The house will be restored real soon.

danie
Comment from Danie on 10/4/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well tomorrows the big day. I sign the papers at settlement. I spoke with the settlement office today and they said all is great. I also found an old copper lined bath tub which is encased by a old wood frame for $200. yes this will be a rustic appalchian house. I also have 2 pot belly stoves for two bedrooms and an old wood cook stove for the kitchen area. I need 3 more stove for all the remaining rooms and basement. I have some old hoosier cabinets and other stuff which will make for a rustic lifestyle. Oh on saturday me an a amish man fixed the chimney and the area around them both so no more leaks. Next we will put duct work in both to hook up to all the stoves on each floor and on each side of the house.
Hoping for others to reach out now and get involved.
Danie
Comment from Danie on 9/26/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Ok friday i got the papers for the loan as the bank approved me. I have to pay 506.00 a month mortgage for 10 yrs at 5.8% interest. I also found a group called "fair Plan" who offers insurance in some states for poor people so i am getting insurnace for the house for 20k for around 220.00 a yr. wow i was so glad to find them. No one else wanted to insure the house since its so old and has no plumbing. I also found a nice amish man who will help me fix the chiminey and the plastering of the walls as many inside are falling off the lathe strips of wood. There are only 4 outlets in the whole house which is ok by me. It also has phone connection. I'll eventually build a outside bathroom in a building so i can keep the house originial. Well thats about it and settlement is oct 5th.
Comment from Danie on 9/11/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I put money down on a property in Central Pa appalchia after a long drive and careful consideration i decided to go where the people are kind and the banks are local and the waters are clean for fishing and i found a cute 1800's home that was never painted but still stands it has no plumbing or electric and today others nearby are also building home such as this because they are the amish who don't use electricity. Yes if all goes well by mid october i should have a small quaint farm next to a pretty mountain with a 10 ft wide stream that was running strong just yesterday in sept 2010.

Keep you all posted as time goes by byeeeeeeee
Comment from Danie on 9/5/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well i drove down and found out on the way that the bank told me the area was outside their geographic area so i had to turn back. I am frustrated grrr

If i had another to join me we could get a nice farm with lots of acres to be able to have cabins for vets to come visit and get away from the stress of cities.

bye Danie

PS: I am keep on saving and it did only cost me 60.00 for the drive as i have a hybrid and brought my own food and slept in the car.
Comment from Danie on 8/31/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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WISH ME WELL tomorrow i go to see 55 acres just north of the tenn border in SW Virgina near the lonesome pine trail. It has a neat old cabin which was built in 1910 so its rustic and cool. It has a creek which is around 10 ft wide. I have the down payment and i am approved all we need is for it to appraise but the owner is a realtor so he has some knowledge of that and he is also a vietnam veteran. If all goes well october 1st will be settlement day. Then all who wanted to donate rustic stuff can. This place will be like living in the late 1800's abd all primitive things for a great experience and rustic life living the simple life with Iraq and Afghanistan veterans enjoying the simple life rocking on a rocker on the porch. pictures coming soon :)

hugs Danie
Comment from Danie on 8/14/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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I am still saving and seeking partners so we get the right farm. get back if your interested. I am also expanding my search to eastern Kentucky and Virginia and Southern Indian and Ohio and west virginia
thanks Danie
Comment from hue on 3/15/2010 (Reader Rating: 10)
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people often say they 'support the troops' but they usually know little if anything about what troops actually have to go through, either in the service,or especially after they can get out of there !

God bless people who are making a difference helping vets to find peace in their lives after what they have been subjected to (and programmed ).

it's no easy task, to be sure, to deprogram from that. i hope many people will give support to THIS cause in it's most useful aspects, where it will heal lives broken by systemic lack.

Thanks to all of you for your good work(s).

aloha ! = (literally : exchange , life energy)
Comment from Danie on 3/13/2010 (Reader Rating: 0)
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Well so far i have had 2 women (non veterans wiching to help) and 1 man contact me. I am hoping more email me so we can get this farm going. I will report more as time goes by. Danie

PS: We are open to Non Veterans helping to create this project. You can live there or just support us from a distance.

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