Numerous projects are in various stages of completion from "thinking about it" to researching options, buying the stuff and some projects actually get executed as weather permits. so here's a little run down on the projects and purchases.
garden planning
our now proven method of terracing hillsides with log walls cardboard, compost and fill dirt (instead of digging into the hillside) is being expanded this year in both the creek gardens and the upper hillside with an additional 9 log terraces. we are also installing a 20x36ft greenhouse in order to get a jump on spring and to expand our garden space and growing season. Based on this years winter thriving kale and brussels sprouts; we will definitely be able to grow some food year round in a structure this size. we estimate that these additional growing spaces will almost double our food production in the 2015 season.
we are in process of mapping out the new terracing beds and collecting enough dirt, cardboard & fallen logs to fill them. we have taken inventory or our seed stock and have begun considering what to grow for the next season & what seeds need to be ordered. we now have 3 restaurants that are interested in produce from us and it's up to us how much we focus on that angle while keeping our long term goals for the garden in mind. trying to harvest 60 heads of lettuce a week is a lot of work for little money and will take up all our space; so, we're trying to find a balance. there are 2 farmers markets we hope to frequent this summer. we are also studying herbal medicine to find the right mix of natural, local medicine plants to foster, harvest and learn to use.
market quantities of basil, cilantro, baby spinach, kale, lettuce, chamomile, roma tomato
more than befor cucumber, garlic chive, hot pepper varieties, milk thistle, parcell, stevia, eggplant
returning perennials 2 pear trees, nectarine, 2 peach, 2 apple, lavender, rosemary, strawberry, strawberry spinach, ground nut, valerian, asparagus, sage, oregano, milk thistle, parcell, garlic chive, blueberry, raspberry, black raspberry, nasturtium, a mixed bag of mint, hyssop
others TBD
the photo below is the outline of a 20x36 foot greenhouse with the ability to also shelter the bus next to it. the more narrow outline to the right side of the photo is the space for the bus. by connecting the greenhouse on the south side it can heat & cool the bus and supply us with needed additional live/work space to grow.
report back from the purchasing dept.
items that have been X or are being purchased
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
X organic pond cleaning treatment
X water filters
Greenhouse Construction
390 ft 2 inch schedule 40 pvc
4 - T's
6 - 5 ways
14 - 4 ways
8 - caps
2 - 3 ways
X 8 - couplers
26 10ft rebar
a buncha snap clamps
40x60 greenhouse plastic
X Plastic Mulch for Tomatoes
(twice the yield and triple the poundage )
Seeds/Plants Needed
grapes,
kale,
lettuce,
chocolate peppers,
poblano,
roma's,
X milk thistle,
onion,
saffron,
skulcap
BusGrades
~ ELECTRIC ~
1000w pure sine Inverter
2-12v Sealed AGM Deep Cycle Battery
X 12v DC charger for wifi
12v DC Fan
X 12v DC terminal & PowerStrip
X Solar "Device" Charger battery pack
X back up wifi 3g w/extra batteries
~ OTHER ~
X veg oil tank heater
propane stove / oven
rope lights
bubble wrap
~~~~~~~ Alt Phase 2 ~~~~~~~
fencing
~ wire
~ posts / insulators
~ charger ?
(we'd like to use a battery and a small solar panel that we already own,
don't know how to hook that up yet)
woodstove
12v DC fridge
chickens
chicken tractor
bees / hives
fish