The Adventure Begins
OK, so the website is up. Now what? If you are reading this, you want to know more...what is next? So, here is the skinny. The goal of ModernHomesteadingSkills.org is to be a conduit to the world that is a place, a special place, online and in the real world, the physical world were you can learn a variety of life skills, homesteading skills, permaculture skills. Many of the terms used on this site may be new to you or perhaps old hat. I will make a list of terms and definitions at some point. That is number 345 on my list of things to do. Back to my main point, what are the goals of the website/ business that I am embarking upon.
First: Create a working, modern homestead to show people how it works. Have a family of 4 live on the property and produce 75%+ of all the food they consume from the property. The property is in north Georgia in USDA zone 7ab. It is a hilly with lots of clay, rock and trees. Not the best site to start a homestead, but it was the only site in my price range. So far, about an acre has been leveled and one building, a garage completed...no permanent power - yet. The cottage is nearing completion; once finished, then someone will live onsite 24/7. Soon we start growing things. Ah, but wait. Did we not have some forethought to think of items other than annuals that may take time to get established and plant them ahead of time. Why yes we did. As I type this, January 2020, there already is planted, black berries, apples, pears, figs, peaches, bamboo, and other plants.
Second: Create a website to tell the world what is happening on the homestead. Hmm...seems that would be this site that I am creating now.
Third: Create content that people will be interested in enough to come to the website by creating videos on YouTube with a weekly update, a weekly how to video with a detailed how-to that can be purchased for a small fee (a dollar or two.)
Fourth: With exposure in various formats, get the word out that I am offering some free classes to the first people that show interest and don't mind showing up and getting a little dirty.
Fifth: As the website becomes more popular, increase the content and organize it so that people can see, hear and even participate in various forms of training/ learning.
Sixth: As time goes by and I retire from the military reserves, [UPDATE: Retired fall of 2021] dedicate a least one weekend a month to training in a more formal setting on the property offering "hands on" and "learning by doing", which is the best way to retain information.
There you have it, the near future goals for the website. As I get this website organized and off the ground, I will welcome feedback and input on improvement and desires from the public. At this time an email is all I have to offer on the contact page. Hopefully more soon.
First: Create a working, modern homestead to show people how it works. Have a family of 4 live on the property and produce 75%+ of all the food they consume from the property. The property is in north Georgia in USDA zone 7ab. It is a hilly with lots of clay, rock and trees. Not the best site to start a homestead, but it was the only site in my price range. So far, about an acre has been leveled and one building, a garage completed...no permanent power - yet. The cottage is nearing completion; once finished, then someone will live onsite 24/7. Soon we start growing things. Ah, but wait. Did we not have some forethought to think of items other than annuals that may take time to get established and plant them ahead of time. Why yes we did. As I type this, January 2020, there already is planted, black berries, apples, pears, figs, peaches, bamboo, and other plants.
Second: Create a website to tell the world what is happening on the homestead. Hmm...seems that would be this site that I am creating now.
Third: Create content that people will be interested in enough to come to the website by creating videos on YouTube with a weekly update, a weekly how to video with a detailed how-to that can be purchased for a small fee (a dollar or two.)
Fourth: With exposure in various formats, get the word out that I am offering some free classes to the first people that show interest and don't mind showing up and getting a little dirty.
Fifth: As the website becomes more popular, increase the content and organize it so that people can see, hear and even participate in various forms of training/ learning.
Sixth: As time goes by and I retire from the military reserves, [UPDATE: Retired fall of 2021] dedicate a least one weekend a month to training in a more formal setting on the property offering "hands on" and "learning by doing", which is the best way to retain information.
There you have it, the near future goals for the website. As I get this website organized and off the ground, I will welcome feedback and input on improvement and desires from the public. At this time an email is all I have to offer on the contact page. Hopefully more soon.
HOW ABOUT SOME PICTURES:
Cottage construction:
TIME LINE SUMMARY:
2015 purchased property
spring - Clearing, Building permit for house
summer - started cottage construction
fall - second permit for garage, started construction
2016 summer - cottage construction continues
finished garage
fall - deployed for 10 months, construction halted
2017 spring - returned, continued construction on cottage
2021 winter - occupancy permit for cottage
2022 spring - final details of construction
April 22nd / Earth Day / Open house
2015 purchased property
spring - Clearing, Building permit for house
summer - started cottage construction
fall - second permit for garage, started construction
2016 summer - cottage construction continues
finished garage
fall - deployed for 10 months, construction halted
2017 spring - returned, continued construction on cottage
2021 winter - occupancy permit for cottage
2022 spring - final details of construction
April 22nd / Earth Day / Open house
Homestead Goals:
1. Complete metal garage = 95% (some electrical, 3rd garage door and 2 human door to install - but already in use. At some point add solar and wind power to make it the first structure off grid power. 2. Complete phase 1 of house = the straw bale cottage...95% (finish pallet wood upper cabinets, so wall covering, treat cob floor and a few other small details. 3.Plant first annual garden using 4' raised beds. 4. Install fence/ gates around property...pending. It is several acres and will take time and money. (start summer 2022) 5. Install fence around retaining pond, summer 2022. 6. Start phase 2 of house ( adjoins phase 1 ), what I call the straw bale cabin, in fall of 2022. 7. Continue landscaping property, summer 2022. 8. Continue working toward other projects, planning, research, pricing, etc a. straw bale A frame structure ( phase 3 of house) b. tree house classroom c. timber frame shed for drying hard wood that has been milled on site / later same site will be a geodesic dome for classes d. hobbit house in back of property to use a storm cellar / root cellar e. more cross fencing and property development, i.e. trails, driveway, landscaping, etc. So many goals and the list grows. Each goals comes with minor goals attached. Sometimes I seem to go off on tangents as priorities change or something else is learned and causes me to pause and reconsider various aspects of construction or development. So much to learn. What I have learned over the last few years, it is difficult to work on construction by yourself and goes so much faster if you have assistance. I am always willing to share my knowledge to anyone will to lend a hand. Always learning by doing. It is best to plan and research before you spend lots of money. Work things out in your head, walk the area, talk to professional, get lots of input before you break ground. I have learned much and continue to do so. |
