B-Green Acres

Chicken nipples are DONE!

2011-05-10T22:43:00.000-04:00

So I finally received my chicken nipples, and put together a watering system for them today!! They caught on REAL fast and were lapping up the water like it was nobody's business!!! LOVE that I don't have to worry about crappy water dishes anymore!!!

Darn this rain!

2011-04-19T16:01:00.000-04:00

So...I've made VERY little progress on my pallet building projects! We keep getting more and more rain...and quite frankly, I'm a little tired of it! LOL I keep telling myself it could be worse! My heart goes out to all those lost in tornados this past week!

The chickies are all growing super fast...and stinking super much! It's only been 11 days, and I seriously do not remember them stinking THIS bad! I've changed out the litter, but I still smell poo!!! I'll have to do SOMETHING real soon, as we're having Easter dinner here, and my super "clean freak" sister will have a conniption if there's even a faint sniff of chicken!! I'm hoping that this next weekend, I can move the chicks (at least the meaties) out to the run outside!

I did score a used shed for $100!!! I'd planned on making it into the new chicken coop, but some friends of mine are selling me a milking goat and a new kid whether, so I'm thinking that the shed will have to be shelter for the goats! I'm going to meet the goats tomorrow and watch my friend Susan milk her! Apparently she's a great milker, and I'm looking forward to having my own goat milk! (...cheese...yogurt...cream...soaps...lotions...) My hubby doesn't know it yet, so I'm sure I'll face some big argument with him...but I'll win! ;)

Well...that's all that's pretty much been happening here...the rain has really put a damper on my plans!
So till then...toodles!

Let the pallet building begin!

2011-04-10T19:14:00.001-04:00

Began work on the garden shed today...and I gotta tell ya, building with pallets is NOT as easy as it looks!!! Maybe it wouldn't have been so bad if we didn't have gale force winds out here!!! Hopefully we'll be able to work a little everyday between our sons baseball games! Not sure what I'm going to side it with? I suppose it'll be whatever I can find for free or cheap on Craigslist! Lol but it WAS a beautiful day outside! Went from chilly and rainy to over 80, so yea...I'm a little sunburnt! Heres pictures of what we accomplished today! Mostly it was me and one son at different times, (whoever was home to help!) and then when my hubby got home, we finally had a third set of hands!

The Chickies have arrived!!!

2011-04-08T06:04:00.000-04:00

My first batch of chickies arrived on Tuesday! 35 Meaties and 7 Rhode Island Reds (5 hens-2 cockerels) They're just the cutest little things!!! I spent the day preparing by building and modifying 2 broody boxes since you can't broody the two breed together. Yes...I'm SURE it's been done before by someone...but I chose not to!!! I've already lost 1 meatie chick on the 3rd day. Not really sure why?? I figured I'd lose about 5 total based on the mortality rate of the Cornish crosses, so I didn't get too upset this time! lol

Here are the two broody boxes. The smaller one on the left is for the RIR's, and the larger one for the meaties! I built hinged lids covered with chicken fence to keep out my cat Cutie, and Rockey. I had to invest in a second heat lamp, feeder and waterer...but they're items that'll come in handy again I'm sure!

and here's Rockey, babysitting all the little chicks! He's so sweet!!! He paces back and forth crying, like he's so worried about them!!! I've found Cutie sitting on top of the smaller one just watching them! I'm SURE out of appetite more than concern! LOL I'll continue to post more pics as they grow! Toodles!

Pallets!!!

2011-04-08T05:48:00.000-04:00

Here's the first load of pallets me, Deb and Tammy loaded up!!! All FREE!!!

and here's the awesome 12 footers Deb scored from Craigslist!! I kept 6 (for a 12x12 yard shed) and she'll use the rest! Unfortunately, our weather up here hasn't afforded me the luxury of trying out my pallet building skills...but hopefully this weekend we'll have better weather! The place we got the 12 footers is suppose to call us when/if they get any more!!! Can't wait to finally have some outbuildings!!! I'll post some pics as the structures go up!! ;)

Going "Pallet Collecting" tomorrow!!!

2011-03-17T20:08:00.000-04:00

So me and my friends Deb and Tammy are hooking up the trailer tomorrow and headed out to pick up a boatload of pallets! We're well on our way to building some structures on the homestead! Deb's really taken to the idea for her homestead too! We swap ideas like it's going out of style! Love it! So stay tuned for some pictures of our motherload tomorrow! ;)

So when we were clearing the trailer of all the wood, my daughter found this and fondly named him "Smiley Face Freddy" Not sure what we're going to do with him yet though??? Enjoy!

I'm IN LOVE!!!!

2011-03-11T21:14:00.000-05:00

Ok..so...doing some research on pallet building, and I'm blow away at the creativity of people and how they've taken pallets that would otherwise be disposed of...and build something amazing! I KNOW I might have set my sites high with this first one, but I SOOOOOOOOOOOO want to build this! Time to start scouring Craigslist for free pallets and castoffs!!! Take a look at these babies!

Amazing huh? You can find more pictures here:
Pallet Houses

I'll probably start with something easy like this...

I can just see these springing up all over my beloved acres! I LOVE IT! The guy that built this one has a whole page of descriptions and such....Here's his link:
Butch Bridges

Ordered my Chickens today!

2011-03-11T17:58:00.000-05:00

Just got off the phone with our feed center and have placed my order for my spring batch of meaties! I ordered 70 this time of the Cornish Cross meaties, (yes...I know...they're not freedom rangers!) The first 35 will arrive on April 5th, and the last 35 will arrive on May 24th. Nicely spaced apart, but close enough to have them finished by fall!

I also ordered 5 Rhode Island Red little lady chickies, and 2 RRI cockerels. I'm hoping to establish my own breeding flock so I won't have to keep buying chicks! I love my ISA's but the fact they never go broody is a downer for me!

I'm also planning my new chicken coop and wood shed! After a lot of research, I THINK I'm going to be building them out of free pallets! Wowzers...this should be interesting! ;)

Also received my meal replacement powders today! Can't wait to get my GREENS too...hopefully tomorrow! Gotta run for now! Peace!

Amazing GRASS...No...REALLY!

2011-03-08T23:12:00.000-05:00

So I've decided that I'm going to try powdered Wheat Grass and see if it has the same benefits as growing my own! Even though I loved growing my own...I encountered issues with mold, no matter how hard I tried, and did everything right! So I just placed an order through Amazing Grass for their COMBO pack of Wheat Grass and Green Super Food! I can't wait to get back on the "Green" wagon and get my nutrients! Here's their link:

Amazing Grass

Along with that, I also placed an order for some "meal replacement" whey protein. I spent my evening devouring every bit of information about meal replacement powders. I'm happy with my choice, as here's what they say...

"Our whey protein comes from grass-fed cows who are disease free, pesticide free, chemical free, hormone-treatment free and GMO free"

I ordered a container of the Vanilla and a container of the Chocolate. Not only was the price per serving lower than others, I liked that they are more "organic" than the others.

Lifesource Nutrition

Check it out! I'll keep a update to how I'm feeling/looking and report back here!

Now for some daily HUMOR...The most amazing thing happened today! I was getting around in my bathroom, and my kitty "Cutie" (yes..that's her name) jumped up to the toilet, where I THOUGHT she was going to try to drink (I know...GROSS) ...then she positioned herself and actually went #1 into the toilet! I even heard it and saw it for myself! So yes..with absolutely NO training, I now have a kitty who uses the toilet! Now I just need to teach her how to flush! TOODLES!

And now for some PICTURES!

2011-03-04T14:16:00.000-05:00

These are the square foot gardens that I built last spring! I filled them with 1/3 Vermiculite, 1/3 composted manure, and 1/3 professional garden soil. They did SOOOO well!!! But, were still not big enough for my family or for me to have anything left to can or freeze. I planted several different lettuces, onions, cantelope, beans, peas (fail), tomatoes, green peppers and cucumbers. I'll be expanding them this next growing season!

This is the living quarters kitchen and den. I stained the concrete a beautiful "terra cotta" and absolutely LOVE not having carpet out here! With the amount of dirt we track in, I can't imagine all of it just settling to the bottom of carpet!

This is my daughters room! I built her loft bed from reclaimed 2x4 from a wall I took out of my storefront when I had my business up town! didn't cost me a penny!

This is "Rockey", our wonderful Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie) The ONLY breed I will ever have!! (unless I get a BIG outside dog for protection! lol) Best chicken herder ever!

And HERE's my sweet ISA's!!! I let them free range...but in the next couple pictures, you'll see why I'm going to be fencing them in this next summer! LOL

But...here comes my rewards!

Yes...that's 2 back to back double yolkers!

These are my meatie chicks in the first "tote" broody box.

second broody box. I later took them outside into their covered chicken run where they lived out the rest of their lives grazing fresh grasses as I moved the chicken tractor around the yard!

and here's what they looked like after! Yum!!! I pieced out most of the chickens and bagged the breasts and legs in separate bags for easy access! Boiled the rest for shredded chicken and stock!

And just for FUN...here's a pic of my gorgeous foot. sorry for the distortion...but I was on pain meds! LOL The second one is of my daughter (on the left) and her Amish friend Rose. Rose's Mom dressed up my daughter as "Amish" for trick or treating! I think she fit the part pretty good!!!

These last ones are of my recently finished bathroom! Well..ALMOST finished! I still have to put in the toilet and hook up the sink plumbing...but I'm getting there! That's it for now folks! Hope you enjoyed!~ Like I said, I'll be keeping up a lot better in the future! Have a great day!

HEY STRANGERS!! lol

2011-03-04T11:50:00.000-05:00

First and foremost, I'd like to apologize for not updating this blog in quite some time...ok, so maybe it's been a LONG time, BUT...I DO have a lot of GREAT reasons why! LOL

Shortly after my last post, I ended up having major surgery (of the female kind!) that came with some pretty serious complications. That set me back for quite a few months. After that, when I started to feel better, I DID get my beloved chickens that I've wanted for soooo long! AND...one beautiful fall morning, I was headed out to hang a corn cob from a string to the chicken coop, and was more concerned with the corn cob than I was about WHERE I was going! A few steps before the chicken coop, I found myself laying on the ground after falling into a hole. And yes...I broke my ankle in 2 places! So that set me back another 2 months! It's still not quite right, but I'm getting around. The Dr. suggested surgery, but I really didn't want to have another one! LOL So I'll deal with it until I can't stand it anymore!

BUT, I'm back..and ready to completely tackle my ongoing homesteading project! We've come pretty far since I updated last time. I'll give a quick summary:

We moved into our living quarters the first of September, and quickly found out that 800 sq. ft. was a TAD bit too small for 5 of us! LOL And when I have a 2400 sq ft building, built entirely with the intention of housing my photography business just sitting there, well...it became obvious that expanding our living area was the wise choice. I haven't been shooting much, considering that MY income depends on the disposable income of others (since I'm a "WANT" based business and not a "NEEDS" based business) and our community has been hit very hard by the DEPRESSION (yes...you heard me right!) it just didn't make sense to have this huge building and not use 3/4's of it! Don't get me wrong, I still shoot and have stayed busy enough to keep going, but it's just more like when I first started many years ago and worked out of my home!

The HUGE camera room is now our main FAMILY room! Still big enough for me to set up my equipment and shoot when needed! The Lobby is now the master bedroom, (which makes the boys happy that they get their own room!) I still need to build a wall in the master bedroom that makes a hallway that will enter into the living room, but yea...for now...when you come here, you enter into our bedroom! LOL too funny!

And as for my chickens...well...I love them! They're my babies! I chose the "ISA" egg layers, and they have been so wonderful! I'll even yell for them, and they just come running to me! I hand feed them, and actually have been known to "fork feed" them (yes...with a plastic fork!) lol They really are such great girls! My friend gave me a little black Banty Rooster, who we affectionately named, *hithead...lol and he's a great little rooster and takes care of the girls quite well! Rockey, our beloved little Sheltie is very fond of our little hens too! He's been the BEST little farmhand and watchdog I could have ever hoped for! When he's outside...he's with the chickens! I'll post some pics of the little ladies in a bit!

I also successfully raised 21 Meat Birds last fall which have been so wonderful on our dinner plates! I got them as day old chicks, and me, my hubby and a couple friends butchered them ourselves! Wish I would have gotten more pictures of THAT, but I'm placing an order for some more shortly, so I'll track that progress a little better this time! I'd already placed my order before breaking my ankle, so it was all I could do to get by!

The last update, is that we installed a wood burner in the camera room/living room. Even though we have the piping in the slab for the heated floors, the LP costs were killing us! We didn't have enough money to put in an outside wood boiler, so I got to looking through Craigslist, and was able to score and AWESOME fairly large woodburner with built in blowers for only $200! Granted...we did have to install the chimney and all that pipe, which cost us around $600...BUT, it's been the BEST decision we've made so far! LP was literally DRAINING our finances to the tune of $400-$600 a MONTH, (because we were trying to use a normal LP gas water heater to heat 2400 sq ft of floor!) and we've successfully been heating this whole place with that one woodburner for almost $65-$75 a month...yes...you heard right!!!! under $100 IN OHIO! We get our wood from an Amish neighbor in long log form, and we all take turns cutting and splitting! We'll definitely be continuing that throughout the spring and summer to gather us a large amount to season. Yes...it's a LOT of work, and I'm very fortunate to be here all day to stoke it, clean it, feed it...but it's been the BEST thing!

Well, I think that's enough for now...and if you made it through the entire update, then congrats!~ :) I'll post some images that I have been able to take throughout last year, and promise to keep better tabs on the blog!

Whoa...Where the green grass grows!!!

2010-03-01T14:30:00.000-05:00

WHEATGRASS...I'm not going to lie...It's the most nastiest, yacky tasting yuck I've ever had to gulp down and swallow!!! BUT I can honestly say I CAN feel the difference and I'm SOLD on juicing wheatgrass!!! So forget that my front living room has been turned into a grass growing greenhouse and the stuff is NASTY, I'm in this 100% and completely endorse wheatgrass!

I start by rinsing and soaking my berries, and have quite the system worked out. I'm planting about every 3 days to keep an ongoing supply...BUT I am having great luck with the grass growing a second time (second cutting) so far...so I'm taking a few days off from starting new flats to make sure I dont' have too much.

Here are a few shots of my wheatgrass in different stages. Sorry for the bad quality...cell phone again! LOL

Growing...Growing...Growing!!!

2010-02-13T12:29:00.001-05:00

Hey all!!! Well, my first flat of wheatgrass is growing very well!!! I would say it'll be done in about 3-4 days! BUT, I may have to borrow my friend's wheatgrass juicer till mine get's here! I purchased the Healthy Juicer from Amazon.com. I REALLY wanted the stainless steel one, but money played a huge part, so the Healthy Juicer it is!

I also purchased some hydrogen peroxide and a spray bottle. Apparently you can help not get mold by misting the grass with peroxide! We'll see if it works! So far, I see no signs of mold on the grass!

The next thing I need to purchase when I go to town, is a few black trays without holes in the bottom! I want to create a little "hydroponic" watering system so the roots are watered from the bottom up. I'd also heard that this helps with the mold issue also. Oh, and another thing I've been doing, is having a fan blow on the grass about half the day! I'm getting excited to finally try my grass!!! It looks so beautiful and green...and alive!! YEA!!! My second flat is still in it's "sprouting stage" and just starting to grow...it's about at 1/2 inch. And my third batch is soaking. I have them spaced about 3-4 days apart! We'll see how that goes!!!

I've also been juicing regular vegy's everyday! I bought a Juiceman centrifugal juicer. We juice carrots, apples, celery, kiwi, etc... and I haven't juiced a juice I don't like!

Now for the BAD news! Had quite the spat with the Hubby the other day! He bought WHITE BREAD, SUGAR CEREALS, AND FROZEN PIZZAS! Gasp!!!! OH NO HE DIDN'T!!!! I had to show him all the horrible stuff on the labels!!! I mean...COME ON!!! I also purged the cabinets of taco seasonings with MSG in them! I told him to take them to work and give them to one of his employee's that he doesn't like! HEHEHE!!! Ok...I know..that was BAD! LOL

The Grass is here!!! The Grass here!!!!!

2010-02-04T13:36:00.000-05:00

Well...I received my package from wheatgrasskits.com yesterday!!! I'd also ordered 5 pounds of flaxseed (as directed by the The Gabriel Method). It also bought the book ""Wheatgrass Nature's Finest Medicine" by Steve Meyerowitz" so that came with it too! There were five trays and 15 pounds of wheatgrass berries!

I spent all evening and morning reading that book! It WAS a good book...as far as information on the discoveries of wheatgrass juicing, but I don't think it'd be a book I'd read again! It's basically a synopsis of people/scientists/dr's etc... who have discovered the benefits of wheatgrass throughout the past 100 years. There was a lot of information about the benefits of grass being included in several passages of the dead sea scrolls which were interesting. The biological make up and nutrient makeup of grass and a lot of information like that...but quite frankly...a real hard read, and nothing that I wouldn't (or haven't) found on the internet in my searches anyhow! So sadly, I'd have to say...save your money and put it towards your wheatgrass juicer!! hehehe

Tonight I will start the seeds soaking, which will take approx. 8-12 hours, and plant my first batch tomorrow! I'll try to take pics of it as it grows! I THINK that I'll have to start new flats every two days or so, so that I have a continuous stock of wheatgrass! I'm soooooooo excited!!! I can't wait! One thing that I DID get from that book, is that I might want to get some powdered wheatgrass concentrate to supplement with. It won't contain the "live force" that my homegrown wheatgrass does...but according to that book, it DOES contain the majority of the nutrients and benefits as homegrown! We'll see!

Here comes the GRASS

2010-01-29T10:11:00.000-05:00

Ok...so I finally got the internet hooked up at the new studio, so I'm trying to get caught up on everything! I've ordered my wheatgrass stuff and I did get a shipping notice, so I'm expecting it any time! I'll try to take some pics as I grow it over the next week or so! I'm not sure how many pallets of grass to grow...or if I'm suppose to plant a new one every two days so I have a continual supply?? Not sure? So I guess we'll find out! :)

The only thing I haven't ordered yet is my wheatgrass juicer. I THOUGHT I was sold on which one I was going to use...but now I'm rethinking my choice! I'll have to get back to you on that!

Anyways...here's the website I ordered my wheat grass stuff from. At this point, I'm not necessarily endorsing this website...but it's just where I bought mine from. I'll review the website later, and after I've had a chance to use their product. I also ordered 5 pounds of whole flax seed too! (John Gabriel et al. The Gabriel Method). I'm very excited to get started on all of it!!! YEA!!! Keep on checking back for updates!

This video makes it REAL easy to eat healthy foods!

2010-01-18T19:59:00.000-05:00

WARNING- GRAPHIC VIDEO...

It's knowledge like this...that makes it easy for me to adopt a healthier lifestyle of eating. Now...I'm not going vegetarian or vegan, but growing/raising my own food and livestock, at least I KNOW that my animals are treated in a humane manner! You'd have to be heartless to purchase pork from a supermarket after watching this!

Another GREAT book to read!!!!

2010-01-18T09:23:00.001-05:00

Last year...I read a book that completely blew me away....It's called Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingslover. This book, is not only a diary, but a cookbook, research book, and information on local eating....it provides a lot of facts concerning the America Food Industry and issues surrounding Monsanto Seed and GMO's. It's an easy read, and her style of writing is humorous and enjoyable!!! Not only did it have QUALITY VALID information, she wrote with a great deal of realism and entertainment!!! I loved this so much that I sent copies of it to several people in my family for gifts!!!! I highly suggest sitting down with a few cups of coffee (fair trade...of course!) and enjoying this jem of a book!!!

FYI Out of Office Notice... hehehe

2010-01-16T09:30:00.002-05:00

Hey Everyone!!! I just wanted to let ya'll know that I will be OFFLINE for approximately ONE WEEK while I'm moving my office out to the new studio!! YEA!!! I'm so excited to finally see this day come!!! I think I'll go nuts without the internet...but hey...it's worth it!

Food Inc.

2010-01-15T14:02:00.001-05:00

Hey Dude...pass the grass...CONTINUED!

2010-01-15T11:15:00.003-05:00

I thought that I should post some BENEFITS of juicing wheatgrass. I'll also be posting information on how to purchase these kits and where I'm getting them from! So keep an eye out for that information! For now...here's some benefits of wheatgrass!

What's so great about wheatgrass?
40 Points about Wheatgrass and its Nutritional Values

1 Wheatgrass Juice is one of the best sources of living chlorophyll available.

2 Chlorophyll is the first product of light and, therefore, contains more light energy than any other element.

3 Wheatgrass juice is a crude chlorophyll and can be taken orally and as a colon implant without toxic side effects.

4 Chlorophyll is the basis of all plant life.

5 Wheatgrass is high in oxygen like all green plants that contain chlorophyll. The brain and all body tissues function at an optimal level in a highly-oxygenated environment.

6 Chlorophyll is anti-bacterial and can be used inside and outside the body as a healer.

7 Dr. Bernard Jensen says that it only takes minutes to digest wheatgrass juice and uses up very little body energy.

8 Science has proven that chlorophyll arrests growth and development of unfriendly bacteria.

9 Chlorophyll (wheatgrass) rebuilds the bloodstream. Studies of various animals have shown chlorophyll to be free of any toxic reaction. The red cell count was returned to normal within 4 to 5 days of the administration of chlorophyll, even in those animals which were known to be extremely anemic or low in red cell count.

10 Farmers in the Midwest who have sterile cows and bulls put them on wheatgrass to restore fertility. (The high magnesium content in chlorophyll builds enzymes that restore the sex hormones.)

11 Chlorophyll can be extracted from many plants, but wheatgrass is superior because it has been found to have over 100 elements needed by man. If grown in organic soil, it absorbs 92 of the known 102 minerals from the soil.

12 Wheatgrass has what is called the grass-juice factor, which has been shown to keep herbivorous animals alive indefinitely.

13 Dr. Ann Wigmore and institutes based on her teachings has been helping people get well from chronic disorders for 30 years using wheatgrass.

14 Liquid chlorophyll gets into the tissues, refines them and makes them over.

15 Wheatgrass Juice is a superior detoxification agent compared to carrot juice and other fruits and vegetables. Dr Earp-Thomas, associate of Ann Wigmore, says that 15 pounds of Wheatgrass is the equivalent of 350 pounds of carrot, lettuce, celery, and so forth.

16 Liquid chlorophyll washes drug deposits from the body.

17 Chlorophyll neutralizes toxins in the body.

18 Chlorophyll helps purify the liver.

19 Chlorophyll improves blood sugar problems.

20 In the American Journal of Surgery (1940), Benjamin Gruskin, M.D. recommends chlorophyll for its antiseptic benefits. The article suggests the following clinical uses for chlorophyll: to clear up foul smelling odors, neutralize Strep infections, heal wounds, hasten skin grafting, cure chronic sinusitis, overcome chronic inner-ear inflammation and infection, reduce varicose veins and heal leg ulcers, eliminate impetigo and other scabby eruptions, heal rectal sores, successfully treat inflammation of the uterine cervix, get rid of parasitic vaginal infections, reduce typhoid fever, and cure advanced pyorrhea in many cases.21 Wheatgrass Juice cures acne and even help to remove scars after it has been ingested for seven to eight months. The diet must be improved at the same time.

22 Wheatgrass juice acts as a detergent in the body and is used as a body deodorant.

23 A small amount of wheatgrass juice in the human diet helps prevents tooth decay.

24 Wheatgrass juice held in the mouth for 5 minutes will help eliminate toothaches. It pulls poisons from the gums.

25 Gargle Wheatgrass Juice for a sore throat.

26 Drink Wheatgrass Juice for skin problems such as eczema or psoriasis.

27 Wheatgrass Juice keeps the hair from graying.

28 Pyorrhea of the mouth: lay pulp of wheatgrass soaked in juice on diseased area in mouth or chew wheatgrass, spitting out the pulp.

29 By taking Wheatgrass Juice, one may feel a difference in strength, endurance, health, and spirituality, and experience a sense of well-being.

30 Wheatgrass juice improves the digestion.

31 Wheatgrass juice is high in enzymes.

32 Wheatgrass juice is an excellent skin cleanser and can be absorbed through the skin for nutrition. Pour green juice over your body in a tub of warm water and soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse off with cold water.

33 Wheatgrass implants (enemas) are great for healing and detoxifying the colon walls. The implants also heal and cleanse the internal organs. After an enema, wait 20 minutes, then implant 4 ounces of wheatgrass juice. Retain for 20 minutes.

34 Wheatgrass juice is great for constipation and keeping the bowels open. It is high in magnesium.

35 Dr. Birscher, a research scientist, called chlorophyll "concentrated sun power." He said, "chlorophyll increases the function of the heart, affects the vascular system, the intestines, the uterus, and the lungs."

36 According to Dr. Birscher, nature uses chlorophyll (wheatgrass) as a body cleanser, rebuilder, and neutralizer of toxins.

37 Wheatgrass juice can dissolve the scars that are formed in the lungs from breathing acid gasses. The effect of carbon monoxide is minimized since chlorophyll increases hemoglobin production.

38 Wheatgrass Juice reduces high blood pressure and enhances the capillaries.

39 Wheatgrass Juice can remove heavy metals from the body.

40 Wheatgrass juice is great for blood disorders of all kinds

(TO GET THE FULL BENEFIT OF CHLOROPHYLL IT MUST BE FROM A LIVING PLANT)

Medical References

Hey Dude...pass the grass!

2010-01-15T06:41:00.002-05:00

LOL hehehehehehe Ok, so today I'm going to talk about the benefits of wheatgrass juicing. Well...at least the benefits as I have researched. I haven't started wheatgrass juicing YET, but will start my crop of wheatgrass in about two weeks.

I'd actually never really thought much about wheatgrass, or it's benefits...but ran across a reference to it when searching out "smoothie" recipes! Well...several hours of googling and reading research, video testimonials, etc...I decided that even if wheatgrass provided only HALF of what it claims, it's still VERY good for you! So once I decided I would try my hand at wheatgrass, I started searching for information on HOW to grow it, what kind of juicers, (cause not every juicer will juice wheatgrass) etc... So next Friday (payday) I'll be ordering my wheatgrass berries (seeds) and my wheatgrass juicer. So stay tuned for pictures/posts of me growing my wheatgrass...my first juicing (I hope I won't gag!) And the links to the places where I'm going to purchase my supplies from.

Here is "The Grassman" video! This guy looks AWESOME for his age...and has a great testimony. Oh...and by the way...I'm still SMOKE FREE! Day 10 today! Not even a puff! Yea me! BUT...I found out yesterday that I need to find SOMETHING as a substitute for "destressing" or when something goes wrong! I found out I wasn't getting paid for a HUGE job I did last week until next Friday...when I was told, and was looking forward to that money yesterday...ANYWAYS... Instead of lighting up to "deal with it", I called a friend and literally SOBBED...not just "teared up", but whole heartedly SOBBED. I can't tell you the last time I CRIED~ GEESH~ I totally lost it! Cried like a baby! I pride myself on being a strong person...able to handle ANYTHING, persevere through problems, keep on plowing through...well, not yesterday! Sooooooooooooooooo, I need an outlet for my frustrations now! Any advice? LOL

The Gabriel Method

2010-01-13T05:56:00.004-05:00

Today I'm going to talk about an AWESOME book/website that I found late last year! This book has literally changed my life! Yes...initially, you'd think it was a diet book...but it's SOOOOOO much more than that!

Jon Gabriel used to weigh over 400 pounds! Now he's under 200 and RIPPED like a body builder with no signs of ever being obese! He did it all using the "mind-body" connection, and with his understanding of body chemistry and HOW the body listens to the mind...etc... And ALL THROUGH VISUALIZATION! There's SOOOO much information in this book that you'll have to check it out for yourself! It's life altering! It's not a diet, it's a mind transformation!! You DEAL with the emotion/mental/physical reason that are burried way deep! Ahhhh....you just have to read it!!! HONESTLY! And he has a meditative CD that you can download FOR FREE on his website, that you listen to right before you go to bed! I bought the book on Amazon for $10! But I'm also going to order his other CD's...I particularly want the "Living Goddess" one that you listen to first thing in the morning!

Right away I started noticing certain things...my thoughts were changing... I thought differently about WHAT I was putting in my body, etc... I'm pretty careful anyway, and since beginning homesteading, have tried to eat locally, organic, or grow my own. I'm not perfect...but I'm getting better! But anyways...the changes started happening almost without me even consciously thinking about it!

OK...so HERE'S THE BIGGEST THING TO CHANGE WITHIN ONE WEEK OF READING THE BOOK...DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

I just QUIT smoking...just like that! I hadn't planned on it...I hadn't particularly WANTED to quit, I actually ENJOYED smoking! Smoking was my "constant companion". Quitting smoking was the furthest thing from my mind! (Or so I thought!) I mean...I'd alwasy said that I wanted to quit, and KNEW that I should quit...but I never wanted it BAD enough to make any effort in quiting. Well..today is "DAY 7" of not smoking. JUST LIKE THAT! Cold turkey! I spent a whole day trying to smoke just ONE cigarette...LITERALLY...I'd light it and try to smoke it..and I couldn't. So I'd put it out. I'd try again...same thing. I did this actually TRYING to smoke!!!! And I couldn't! (It's actually WEIRD in a way?) So then I thought to myself...well..."I guess that's all for smoking! It's been a good run of 20 years, dear Misty Light 120's...you've been a good friend, and helped me through the good and the bad. Thank you...but I can take it from here on my own!"

So...I'm working on gathering all my supplements that Jon suggests, as well as adding all the "natural" "nearly RAW" foods that I'm finding myself leaning towards. So my next few posts will be about all the things I'm ADDING to my diet...NOT restricting my diet. Pretty much all the things I'm adding, I've wanted to/have been adding over this past year. I'll specifically list the things that I add that Jon Gabriel has in his book! Again, I HIGHLY recommend checking out his book, but for now..here's one of his videos as a teaser! Don't forget to check back and see all my follies with all my "HEALTHY FOOD STUFF". It's going to be a FUN RIDE! If you'd like to order the Gabriel Method. YOu can follow this link to order!!! I do get credit for you ordering through me!!! This is the first time I've ever endorsed a website...that's HOW MUCH I believe in this!!! CLICK HEERE TO ORDER!!!

MSG's...what they're labeled as, and what they cause!

2010-01-12T05:40:00.002-05:00

These ALWAYS contain MSG:
Glutamate, Monosodium glutamate, Monopotassium glutamate, Glutamic acid, Calcium caseinate, Gelatin, Textured protein, Hydrolyzed protein (any protein that is hydrolyzed), Yeast extract, Yeast food, Autolyzed yeast, Yeast nutrient

These OFTEN contain MSG or create MSG during processing:
Flavor(s) & Flavoring(s), Natural flavor(s) & flavoring(s), Natural pork flavoring, Bouillon, Natural beef flavoring, Stock, Natural chicken flavoring, Broth, Malt flavoring, Barley malt, Malt extract, Seasonings (the word "seasonings"), Carrageenan, Soy sauce, Soy sauce extract, Soy protein, Soy protein concentrate, Soy protein isolate, Pectin, Maltodextrin, Whey protein, Whey protein isolate, Whey protein concentrate, anything Protein fortified, Protease, Protease enzymes, anything Enzyme modified, Enzymes, anything Ultra-pasteurized, anything Fermented (WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE IS AN AWESOME SUPPLIMENT WHEN TAKEN IN IT'S NATURAL FORM...NOT IN PROCESSED FOODS!)

CAUSES

Cardiac

Arrhythmias
Extreme rise or drop in blood pressure
Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
Angina

Circulatory

Swelling Muscular
Flu-like achiness
Joint pain
Stiffness

Neurological

Depression
Dizziness, Light-headedness, Loss of balance
Disorientation, Mental confusion
Anxiety, Panic attacks
Hyperactivity, Behavioral problems in children
Lethargy, Sleepiness, Insomnia
Migraine headache
Numbness or paralysis
Seizures
Sciatica
Slurred speech

Gastrointestinal

Diarrhea
Nausea/vomiting
Stomach cramps
Irritable bowel
Bloating

Respiratory

Asthma, Shortness of breath
Chest pain, Tightness
Runny nose, Sneezing

Skin

Hives or rash
Mouth lesions
Temporary tightness or partial paralysis (numbness or tingling) of the skin Flushing Extreme dryness of the mouth

Urological

Swelling of prostate Nocturia
Visual Blurred vision Difficulty focusing

Part ONE, and more to come!!! MSG and ASPARTAME

2010-01-11T10:54:00.003-05:00

I'll be posting several posts/articles/links etc... in the coming months. I've been sharing all this information with my sister lately, and I thought to myself...why keep it between us... PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THIS STUFF!!! I'll try to keep the posts separate with the title being the content. So check back often! I'll be posting a lot of "food warnings" and information, but will then post information about way's I'm implementing changes, and what I'm doing.

So the first issue I want to discuss is MSG! It would benefit you GREATLY to do a little research on MSG. Here's a great video which touches on all of MSG stuff...but please do your research and consider making changes yourself!

Off Subject Post...but with value!

2009-12-23T13:03:00.003-05:00

So...thinking about NATURE...obviously it's what I love...it's probably WHY you're reading this blog...it's probably WHY a lot of us are passionate about sustainability. Now mind you...I'm not an "off grider"...YET, for me (us) it's a process, and a desire...but remember, this is a blog about my JOURNEY, not my "finished Product"! With that being said...I begin this post!

Very soon, we'll be ready to move into our new homestead...(can you say GLORIOUS!) And I think about how my "everyday tasks" of being a Mom, wife, etc.. will change the way I have to do some things. It won't be "imaging HOW" I'll do it...it'll be a forced matter of DOING IT! So, I felt no better time than the present to start experimenting with different products/tools/etc....and reporting my reviews as I go! You'll find a LOT of different things I'll try...some useful, some...well..maybe not so much!

One thing I think a lot about it HOW I look. Ok..ok...so I don't need anyone to tell me that "it doesn't matter how you look!" or "You're suppose to be a homesteader...throw on your overalls, put your hair in a ponytail, and get to work growing your greens and shoveling poo!" I'm sorry...I'm a GIRL, (Mature lady!) and I FEEL better when I look good! Sure..I don't mind lounging around in my pj's or oversized T-shirts, or even wearing my crocks to town!! But for ME...I LIKE TO LOOK NICE! So fooey on those of you that think those things don't matter! I like to look good because it makes me happy! So...there! Trust me...I can get just as diry/sweaty/nasty as any guy could...and love it! But there's still something to be said about cleaning myself up real fine! So...with that being said, I'm going to start my review of my first product!

Why I wanted to try it:
1. Because I want more natural products, and less GUNK in my hair!
2. Going from city water/city sewer to a well and septic...I'm concerned about all the SOAP products going into the ground.
3. If it's healthier for my hair, and will help me grow it back out (so I CAN do a nice ponytail) I'm all for it!

So here it is: HAIR ONE
Check out the link, and get the details so as to save time putting the information of it on here. For those that don't want to click on the link...basically, it's cleansing conditioner made with all natural products, contains NO sulfates, and no detergents. IT WILL NOT SUDS! It's just like WEN, but at a fraction of the cost! You can buy it at Sally's Beauty Supply for $10.99. They claim that the longer/more you use it...the better condition your hair will be! So...I'll begin on Day ONE, and maybe...so as not to appear redundant, will only post updates to the review on a monthly basis!

I bought the Jojoba for color treated hair...(oh COME ON!!! REALLY???) I may be a natural blonde...but geesh...show me a blonde that doesn't improve on her color??? Anyways...I tried it for the first time today! I followed the directions to a T! It wasn't long before the natural elixirs started tingling my head!!!! Kinda like when you put VICKS up your nose! hehehe BUT without the "nasty" smell! Very Sweet smelling! Left it on for the suggested time and longer, rinsed REAL well, towel dried, then blew it out with a large round brush!

Results? Wow...I am amazed! Hair has more shine, more body, and even the color looks BETTER! Very soft too! I'm loving this! BUT...as I always say...the proof is in the pudding...so ongoing testing will need to be done! So...with that being said. My first "product review" is complete! Short...sweet...and to the point! I'll put up some videos of products I'm trying...or want to try. Well...off I go!!! (as I exit the room swishing my "FULL OF BODY" hair from side to side and whip it to the side for a little "exit wink"! ;)

Hello Hello!

2009-12-14T11:15:00.002-05:00

Winter is in the air...unfortunately! For those that don't know me...I HATE WINTER! hehehe But on the positive side, the cold weather does slow me down to the point that I have a little more time to devote to my blog! I'm promising that I'll do a better job at keeping up!

The past two months have been pretty uneventful for the most part...as far as "homesteading" goes. Due to all the country restrictions, (see earlier posts) we did have the well drilled and now have WATER! I don't feel too bad about it though, as it isn't city water/etc...so I don't have water bills! YEA!

Late October, we also fired up the in floor radiant heating... which led us to having to hurry up and insulate the building since we were losing a lot of heat. Within a week or two, we were able to drywall the ceilings in the living quarters, insulate the outside walls, and blow in insulation up in the attic space. (and yes...I used eco friendly GREEN insulation) This was a huge expense we hadn't budgeted for...so things were slim for a few weeks. You can imagine how many bags of insulation it took to blow a 40x60 building! So now that it's nice a cozy in there...it's heated up real nice.

NOW FOR THE BAD NEWS: My DH underestimated the load the water heater was going to take to heat up the water for the in floor radiant heating. It's working...for now... but at a huge expense of LP, something I'm not proud of..live and learn. Soooooo...I have plans to add a solor hot water collector and tank to preheat the water before entering the water heater. It's not something I'll get to soon though, so look for that spring project in posts to come!
NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS: My carefully designed floorplan for the living quarters is REALLY paying off! I researched and studied "passive solar heating" and utilized what I'd learned when designing the living quarters...and boy OH BOY has it worked! Knowledge is POWER...and pun is intended! The living quarters boasts a remarkable temperature over the rest of the building! I'm soooooooo thankful that I paid attention!

Another good thing about winter, (I'm trying to be positive here...) is that I really start getting the "homesteading and sustainable" bug... I have more time to research out ideas...etc... (and catch up on Wretha's Blog!) Start planning my gardens etc...When talking with a friend last night, I decided that I could incorporate my "soon to have" livestock into my photography marketing. So for my "spring set" and Easter pics, I'm going to have LIVE chicks and bunnies! The chickens will then be moved out to the coop. My daughter wants bunnies, I want fertilizer...so that works too! Killing 2 birds with one stone...so to speak! (no pun intended there!) hehe

Another thing I want to mention here...that I haven't touched on yet, is TRASH! One of my concerns when we set out to build was "construction trash". Typically, you see a construction dumpster next to every construction site. This was disconcerting to me, and I had real issues with adding MY trash to the landfill. This set about my thoughts that I would be a frugal as possible in WHAT I was throwing away during the construction phase. I'm proud to say that I did not get a dumpster, and only have a very small garden trailer full of trash....real trash...nothing I could find purpose for! I salvaged every piece of scrap lumber that I thought I could use for another project...every piece of metal siding/roofing over a sq. ft. was saved! (I figure I could piece enough together to cover the roof of a shed or something!)

So what's the GAME PLAN?? So glad you asked!!!
1. This next week, I'm starting on drywalling the walls in the living quarters. My goal in the next two months, is to be moved in...or at least VERY close to moving into the living quarters. Then begins the arduous task of preparing and getting this home ready for the market!

2. I'll also be planning my garden for this next spring. This year I'm going to try something different (for me). I am going to do "square foot gardening", and leave the huge plot to just CORN! I love love love to watch The Garden Girl! She has so many great and wonderful tips and tricks and knowledge..I urge you all to check out her website!
http://www.gardengirltv.com/
As time allows...I'll start building some raised beds to get ready for spring!

3. well...I can't think of number 3 right now! LOL Actually, I can't generalize ALL the things that still need done down to just one thing...so I'll just have to post as I come up with things!

Well, that's it for now! Till next time!

I know it's been awhile!

2009-11-03T10:59:00.001-05:00

2009-08-02T22:39:00.000-04:00

2009-08-02T22:18:00.002-04:00

Ok...so I know it's been awhile since I updated last...but as you can imagine I've been crazy busy! So here are some updated shots...we're into the drywalling right now, and will get some shots posted of that shortly! We're getting there!

My New Studio Front Door!

2009-06-08T06:07:00.002-04:00

I negotiated a deal with the Manager of Menards on this wonderful door! $850 door for $250~ YEA! The other 2- Six panel ext. doors I got for $100 combined! All Brand new!

Under Roof!

2009-06-08T06:06:00.000-04:00

going...going...

2009-06-08T06:05:00.000-04:00

Post being set!

2009-06-08T06:03:00.000-04:00

Building being delivered!

2009-06-08T06:01:00.000-04:00

Whew! Crazy whirlwind!

2009-06-08T05:56:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone! Sorry it's been awhile since my last posting! The construction of the new building/living quarters, has REALLY eaten up most of my time these past three weeks! I'm sore/tired/exhausted/bruised and battered..BUT I LOVE IT! It's so awesome to see this dream come to fruition! I have tons of pictures to post...so I'll keep this short!

All in all...the building is coming along really well! Slower and more expensive than I had expected, but isn't it always? HA! Most pictures are self explainatory, so enjoy! We're actually quite a bit further along than these pics show...but these will get this blog back up and going!

Forgot to mention my "Good Find!"

2009-05-14T09:13:00.003-04:00

I totally scored big time yesterday~! But before I get tons of questions like: "Those aren't sustainable!" "Why do you need a dishwasher?" "HOW are those "Green"?". For starters..REMEMBER...I said we were a traditionally SUPER busy family of five, and it's my desire to show the normal family of five ways to be sustainable and more environmentally friendly, while still living la vida loca! hehe The appliances are Energy Star, (which was a bonus!) and studies have shown that LESS water is used in a dishwasher than in hand washing your dishes. And with the amount of dishes my family produces..(AND trying to stay away from plastic/styrofoam etc... disposables) a dishwasher makes perfect sense! And for the price...for those most interested in budgets, I got a great deal! Yes...I could have found even MORE used ones, for pennies...BUT they would have been energy suckers, and low life left. I'm getting QUALITY appliances for a great price!

Here we go! was able to find ALL of my appliances for the new living quarters! I found an ad on Craigslist for a full set of matching appliances...a side by side w/water and ice in the door (Elite version), matching range, microwave, and dishwasher! They're coming out of an upper crust housing addition about an hour away! The wife want's all stainless steel, so they're replacing them! Anyways...I got them ALL for only $700! I went there yesterday to look and pay for them! The timeframe works out great too! They don't have their new one's yet, and we don't have a place to put them yet...he asked if they could have two weeks! SURE...WHY OF COURSE YOU CAN! Considering I don't have a place to store them yet~! Appliances....CHECK! Thank God for his Blessings!

The excavation begins!

2009-05-14T09:02:00.003-04:00

Monday, we started the excavation on the building site! Brought in several loads of beautiful fill, and got everything leveled out and ready to receive the building and the slab! YEA~! So exciting!

And I'm even MORE EXCITED to announce that TODAY is the BIG DAY!!! Our building is scheduled to arrive between 12 and 1:00! YIPPEE~ Tobey took the day off work to be here too! BUT we got a LOT of rain last night, and he said the land is really wet...so I'm not sure how the "offloading" of the building is going to go?

As of right now...we are scheduled to start erecting the building on Monday. So be ready for a lot of pics~! Things are moving pretty fast now! Exciting but stressful at the same time! But I just can't wait! wooohooooo

Mother's Day (a little late...I know!)

2009-05-14T08:55:00.003-04:00

Hello everyone, and Happy Belated Mother's Day! I would have posted sooner, but couldn't find my usb cord for my phone! I also apologize for the images...seems my camera on my phone isn't producing as good as it was...so I guess I'll have to switch to one of my son's point and shoots!

We spent a wonderful Mother's Day out on the land with our close friends, Bruce and Tammy and their kids. (And both Mother in Laws) The kids played on the dune buggy, sharing rides, and also got in on splitting wood! Who'd ever had thunk it that kids would argue about WHO get's to split wood? HA! Even the littlest of kids were splitting!

We had to dodge some rain...but what's a good camp out without rain? Good food, Good friends...Good times! And we were blessed with a gorgeous rainbow!! MY cup runeth over!

It's been a BUSY and long 2 weeks!

2009-05-09T19:37:00.004-04:00

Sorry it's been a little while since posting...but since I'm working as our General Contractor, I've had tons of things to take care of! I'll highlight some of the more exciting things!

We got our building permit! YEA! We're legal! $35.00 and we're good to go! Easy process, and nothing to worry about! (That's the GOOD news!)

Next I hit the Health Department. uhhhh...not so much fun! I spent 3 hours at the Health Dept. with all the architect's drawings of the graywater disposal system, the codes for New Mexico and Arizona, research and studies to back it up etc... (I had called ahead several days prior to my actual visit)

And for the sake of the readers...I will not go into all the details...just the "meat" of it! Long Story Short (ha) Not only will they NOT allow the composting toilets...Ohio has actually made them ILLEGAL! Same with Graywater systems. They took pity on me and WERE very nice people...one of them literally sat there and told me that it's all political, and all about money..and that what I was proposing was better for the environment, but that the state wouldn't make any money off of it. Which means we will have to have a septic system. THEN...(get this) it's also illegal to have a cistern without having a fully working well drilled! DOH! WHAT'S THE POINT? There again...he said it was political, and that when people were "bootlegging" water...the state wasn't making money...you see...the reason they were bootlegging water, was because the state made a rule that you had to be a "Certified Water Handler" and Licensed to transport water in the state of Ohio, (which costs money) so people were bootlegging the water! HA! So ok...now we're back at square one...and we certainly didn't allot money in our loan for a septic ($15,000 - $20,000) and a well ($4500) But...like I said...they were REALLY helpful, (and sounded to me like they were tired of the political crap themselves) There's this new system called the "Presby Environmental" septic system that's about half the cost...BUT they are only manufactured by ONE company, and you have to be a certified Presby installer in order to purchase one. (Figures!)

Sooooooooooooo they proposed that I file a variance ($100 to apply) to allow us to only place the actual septic TANK in the ground, and have it pumped as needed, for up to ONE YEAR. During that year, we would attend a Presby certification class, and be able to do it ourselves for about half of the half of the other system...(so around $4000) We go to the variance meeting on the 18th...so it all hinders on that. Then we have a friend who will drill a well at a fairly decent price. So we're still spending out of pocket...but just not as much!

We also had the test holes dug for the perc test ($75) for the dig ($140 for them to come out) BUT the guy said that he was really surprised, and that we have some of the best dirt he's seen in our county! YEA!!!! Some GOOD NEWS!

I also spent all the week getting my garden in. (will post pics) It's pretty big, and contains,
8 rows of sweetcorn
4 rows of bush beans
4 rows of peas
2 rows of lettuce
2 rows of romaine
2 rows of radishes
2 rows of carrots
2 rows of jalapeno, and banana peppers
36 tomato plants
2 rows of broccoli
2 row of cauliflower
2 rows of spinach
4 rows of onions

I still have to plant my green peppers, but the Amish family that runs the greenhouse were out of them, so I'll have to go into the larger Amish community about 30 min. away for green peppers. Mind you...I got all the above for $55.00 YIPEE!

My buddy Dan loaded our truck with a skid steer bucket of turkey poo compost and cow poo compost..I was on my own that day...so I shoveled it out one shovel at a time, then used the bobcat to spread it around.

NOW HERE'S THE FUNNY STORY! So I get done with the compost, and decide that I'd better take the truck to the car wash or my Hubby will be ticked if his truck smells like poo! I wasn't even thinking when I put that high pressure washer in the bed of the truck...one pull of the trigger, and I created a shower of sweet smelling poo~ HA! I covered myself with POO~ Oh how I stunk! But I persevered and kept cleaning, only to accidentally do it a couple more times! It's amazing how those little crevices in a truck bed can shoot poo! Needless to say, I came home and took a REAL shower! (smelled LOTS better!)

So early next week, the excavator is coming to start the bed of the slab and grade everything, we have to take a trip to Menards to get all the plumbing stuff for the plumbing...(and a normal toilet) (Bummer!) THEN, there's potentially a chance the building will be here late this week or early next! So check back often, as I'll post pics of the whole thing going up! I've hired Dan as my construction manager, and three other guys and myself will put this thing up three days! (and yes...I'm BELIEVING THAT IT WILL BE DONE!) :) Well...that's all for now! Toodles!

We're on a roll!

2009-04-27T14:50:00.002-04:00

Well, Jacob got his first lesson in driving the bobcat after his double header (baseball game)! As figured, he was a quick learner and handled it like a pro! After Jacob learned how to run everything (and yes...my hubby DID give him a long lesson, saftety instructions and practice session!) we just sat back and watched, as Jacob made quick work of the two big piles of earth that were created from digging the driveway! He was quite content to go back and forth all day long! I think he enjoyed himself a little too much, cause as the piles of earth got smaller...his loads were barely filling the buckets! HA! Here he is doing his thing!

IT'S BUILDING TIME!

2009-04-25T07:17:00.002-04:00

Hey all! Sorry it's been a couple weeks since my last post, but after several birthdays, musicals, and a lot of other "busy"....I will try to cram a couple weeks into a few short paragraphs. I'm sooooooooooooooo excited to say that we've closed on our commercial loan for the studio and living quarters yesterday, (FINALLY... after an appraiser that took an enormous amount of time)! WOOOHOOO! I'm soooo excited! And the crazy thing is....our payment for the land and the building is LESS than I was paying in rent for my storefront studio location. Crazy huh? AND...our project appraised for $7000 MORE than what we're borrowing! And with that being said, our plan...and once we unload our current home... we'll have this paid off in 2 years, with completely no mortgage, and be in a great position to start the straw bale home. I'm just feeling soooooooooooo blessed right now...(my cup runeth over)

My hubby and his buddy also drove down to Tennessee to my Dad's, to bring back the bobcat, free sliding glass doors, the cement mixer, and several other things. (Thank You Dad!)

So...here's the low down on how the next couple weeks are going to work. Mike over at DIY Polebarns has been sooooooo great through this whole process, and extremely patient with our long process. I gotta tell ya...if you need a pole barn at a great price, you HAVE to check out DIY Polebarns. DIY is HANDS DOWN the company who gave us the most with top quality. And...get this...when the prices for steel and wood went down, Mike offered to requote the SAME DAY we were closing at a new reduced price. He was HAPPY to do it... and our lead time is about 2-3 weeks. Where else could I deal with the president of the company on a one to one basis? (and NO....I'm not getting any *specials* to plug his business, I just believe in passing on information for good people who believe and practice the way I try to practice in my business.)

So we have 2-3 weeks to prep the site, and get everything ready! Whew... I'm meeting the electric co-op out on the land on Wed. to get electric to the site. "WHAT? I thought you were going green Tara?" Hold up! Let me explain! hehehe We started this project with the intention of showing people that a normal family of five CAN live sustainably in a REASONABLE fashion over a resonable amount of time. Remember folks...it's not about the "I want it now" mentality. We need electric for the building process, and since we're doing this for very little money, we will add solar and wind power AS WE GO, AS WE EARN, (remember...we don't like debt) and eventually ween ourselves off the grid, or at least lessen our dependancy. Practicality people! LOL

Then we'll have to get the site prepped, and if I remember right, the county is still requiring us to have a perk test/soil sample for a septic system BEFORE any construction is done on the site...even though we're NOT going to have a septic system and will be using composting toilets. So I'm going to have to get that just please the "powers that be" at the county level. (remember...everyone want's their piece of the pie!) And we also need to have another load of gravel delivered for the driveway, so we can get our final permit for the driveway, since we need THAT in order to apply for our building permit at the township level. (remember...the pie!) And we'll also need to schedule the cement delivery to coincide with the framing of the pole barn.

These next couple weeks are going to be very busy! It's ball season for the boys too, so when I'm not at the site, I'll be at the ball diamond! I think I better just pitch a tent! hehe! OH YEA...the first project I want to get done is a solar shower stall! That's something that I REALLY want on site during the building process. What better way to cool off and be refreshed after getting all sweaty, grimy, dirty, and covered in drywall dust that a soothing solar shower on site! I noticed some used privacy panels behind our local Napa store, and they've been there awhile...there's only about 3-4, and I know the owner, so I think I'll see if they want to get rid of them. I can easily convert those panels into a shower stall. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh

Oh...and I'm also happy to report that the one gutter on the chicken coop filled up the first rain barrel! I'm sure we would have filled another had I had time to convert the second garbage pail into a rainbarrel. So it works! YEA!

Well...that's all for now! I could keep going, but this is getting pretty long! Get ready for some construction pictures! Peace and blessings everyone!

Driveway YEA!

2009-03-25T16:31:00.003-04:00

What a productive day! I can't believe that we have a DRIVEWAY!!!! ....well...sort of! It's a start! We still have some grading to do, and another load of rock next week! I was a little dissapointed in the SIZE of the rock though. I thought we were getting the big stuff! Even Dan questioned what they actually brought us...but it'll work! I'm just thrilled to have a way onto the land instead of taking the truck through the ditch! Here a few pics from the day, and I'll post the rest in the gallery. (link on right!) Whew...we're getting there!

Driveway Time!

2009-03-25T16:23:00.002-04:00

SPRING BREAK!

2009-03-23T09:03:00.004-04:00

Ok...so it's MONDAY! YEA! (jk) BUT, in my eyes...it's the first day of spring break! I was so excited to post last night, because we had such a great day building our first rain barrel! We had gone to Menards real early, (limping as I may have been) and bought some gutters for the chicken coop, and stuff to transform a large garbage can into a rainbarrel! I even took pictures of each step! Cutting the holes for the spigot, Zach winding it in...the component for the downspout...everything. And low and behold, SOMEHOW...the usb cord for my phone was NOWHERE to be found! I searched high and low, and just don't understand HOW it could have dissapeared? SOOOOO, I don't have any pictures to post! :( But I will keep looking and post them as soon as I find it! I also bought THREE NEW SHOVELS, a cultivating hoe, and a small hoe (for Jenna) to make the rows. I got my onion sets, spinache, and radishes.
But anyways...we did get the gutter up on the Chicken coop! The reason? Well, we have no source of water on the land as of now, and since I want to get my garden in real soon, we'll need some H20 for watering! Since the coop is the only structure on the land...well...that had to be it! But what we thought was going to be easy, didn't end up being easy at all! hehehe The roof of the chicken coop is metal, but they built it with the ribs of the metal going horizontal to the slant of the roof...which meant that the rain would not flow down, but to the sides, and the overhangs were WAY too far out to drop any rain into the gutters. SOOOO, we hammered the metal down to drop into the gutters. So now...all we need is a little rain to see if it'll work!
We also flagged where the building is going to sit, and how far the driveway will go! Then we sat around the fire relaxing as I tended to my bum leg which was really swollen and very sore!
After we got home, I once again began my search for a rototiller! I did find one in a town about an hour and 1/2 away. It's rear tined, looks pretty new and fairly large...and a good deal at $160. We've exchanged emails, but I'm second in line to a guy who's going today at 1:00, so if THAT guy doesn't want it, and if it all works out...we'll be heading to go get it HOPEFULLY tonight! I also found some Hosta plants on Craigslist for free...just "you dig up" in the town over. So I'll be heading over there in about an hour or so to get those. I really didn't need too many, as I still have more to divide at home, but Missy needs some, and unfortunately...I don't have many to spare this year for her. So since they're free, and only about 15 minutes away, I'll go dig them up! Well...I'll attempt to anyhow...with my foot...who knows! I'm wondering if I didn't hurt it worse than I thought! It was really swollen and turning black and blue? Oh well, I'm still walking...so that's not going to stop me! :) Have a blessed day!

Another long day finished!

2009-03-21T17:19:00.006-04:00

My...oh my...what a day! (and it's not even close to being over yet!) Woke up early this morning, and drove to the BMV to get plates for the trailer that my Dad sent from Tennessee. Met Tobey, Dale and Diana, and cousin John back at the High School to finish loading up all the cabinets!

I'm extremely relieved to say that we are ALL done removing the cupboards and lockers! YEA~ So after lunch, Tobey went home to take a nap, and me and Jacob set out to dig up more shrubs and landscaping! After the other day's fiasco, and breaking one shovel, I THOUGHT I was being careful...BUT low and behold, as I'm trying to break free my matching shrub, SNAP...yep...broke another shovel! I called home to ask Tobey if we had another at home...and he say's.."you broke another shovel didn't you?" hehehe! I guess I'm just THAT strong! lol Well, a friend of our was there getting his stuff out of the school, and said he was running home, and that he'd grab me some more shovels! So at first...we were happy for the break..THEN...I get this AWESOME idea when I spotted a nice sized chain in the bed of Tobey's truck! So Jacob secured it around the shrub, and hooked it to the truck! A little tug and pull...and Woosh...it breaks free, and we're good to go! Feeling pretty excited and a little proud of our accomplishments, we thought we'd hook it to another "rounder" shrub that I just KNEW would really compliment our other shrubs...so I had him latch on and hook up the chain. A little tug and pull...and Woosh...it also breaks free! I cheered with delight! This was SOOOOOO easy! LOL Feeling pretty confident, we hook it up to a third bush...just as we did with the other ones! A little tug...nothing...a little more tug...nothing. So I'm thinking...OK, I'll just gun it. So I put the pedal to the metal and...SNAP! ...You've got to be kidding me? I broke the chain! (and we're not talking a little swingset chain! This puppy was industrial! Well...CRAP! Once again, I called Tobey..."what did you break this time?" he says! LOL Well, needless to say...We had to do it the hard way when we finally got some shovels!

Ended up pulling a total of those 2 larger skinny pines, and 4 round shrubs, 5 more rafia grass thingy's and a boat load more tulips!

So Jacob, Dakota (my "4th child") and myself drove out the land to get everything planted! The boys were a great help and really saved a lot of time digging by myself! We got one side planted, and were heading over to the other plot, and BAM...I'm on the ground! hehehehe I sooooooo totally twisted my ankle! OUCH! Took everything in my power to keep my lips sealed! hehehe BUT the good part was that Jacob and Dakota had to finished the last two shrubs on their own, while I sat there in the dirt tending to my bum leg! LOL

For the most part, it's been a very productive week! The room's finally cleaned out, several shrubs have been saved from demolishion, and we're ahead some great cabinets, and tons of other things! ...albeit...we're down 2-shovels, a chain, and an ankle! :) Oh...I almost forgot! Dale, Diana and I also removed the 4 windows that were in my room! Just the glass though! They're a perfect size for a solar cooker, and my solar hot water project! At least the "trial" ones! The bigger solar hot water collector will need glass from a sliding glass door or something big like that!

So now we're sitting here at the park! Jacob and his friends are playing basketball, and Jenna and her cousin are playing on the toys! (and I was able to find a connection from somewhere!) As soon as Zach is done with play practice, we're headed back out to the land to have a bon fire and eat pudgie pies and hot dogs! YEA! I don't think we're going to stay out there tonight, as I think I really want a hot shower and warm bed! Besides...I have a bum leg! hehe Toodles!

I'm going to be sore tomorrow!

2009-03-19T21:52:00.002-04:00

Wow..I got a lot done today! I spent the day cleaning up our backyard and going "kung foo" on my overgrown Wisteria trees! Last fall they had invaded our gutters, and started their travels up our roof! I'd heard that a strong pruning would help wisteria bloom. It's been 5 years, and they haven't bloomed yet...sadly...I HOPE we're not here to finally see them bloom! I cut them back to the extreme...whew, it was a lot of work though untangling that mess!

After that, I went about dividing all of my hostas and sedums here at the current house, and packing them in a tub to plant at the homestead. Then I went up to the High School to start digging up all the shrubs I could find. So me, Zach and Jenna started diggin! We started with the ornamental grasses. These were a lot harder to get out of the ground than I'd thought they'd be! But I think it was from all the rocks and stones and not being able to slam that shovel in! Then we tackled a bunch of tulips...my goodness did I get a lot of tulips! And there are still more! The HARDEST one to get was the evergreen bush. It's not a normal "Christmas tree" looking tree, but tall and thin! One shovel broke when we were trying to get it out! But we finally got it out! I'll have to go back tomorrow though and dig up the other one. I just didn't have it in me to tackle another tree! LOL Lastly, I dug up several smaller "plume like rafia looking grass! Even though they weren't growing right now...I'd remembered what they looked like from shooting several seniors in that locatin!

THEN came the FUN part! (total sarcasm) I begged Tobey to drive out to the land and help me plant all this stuff! He was quite the "unwilling" partner, and didn't find digging holes very appealing for his afternoon activites! hehe But as the good hubby he is...he finally conceeded to helping me out! And BOY was I happy to have the help, cause that wind was something CRAZY out to the land! (We're DEFINATELY getting a windmill!) And BRRRRRRRRRRRRR was it cold!

So here was are trying to QUICKLY locate/plot/dig/and plant everything in a "made up on the fly" design! I knew I wanted landscaping on both sides of the driveway, so that's where we settled. I actually think that it'll look just great where they are! YEA! BUT...I didn't get everything planted! It was just toooo windy! So my hostas and sedum will have to wait till tomorrow!

So anyways...here are a few pics of all my free landscaping! I'm going back for seconds tomorrow! Sorry if this post is kinda "blah"...but I'm just plain tuckered out! :)

2009-03-19T21:51:00.001-04:00

What an exhausting afternoon!

2009-03-18T21:01:00.003-04:00

Well, we didn't get ALL the cabinets moved tonight, but we did get a good majority of them moved! Getting them apart, and free from the floor and walls was the hardest part. That took the majority of the time! We had a lot of helpers...Dale and Diana (they were our baby sitters since Jenna was a baby, and have become very good friends to us!)(you'll probably hear their names alot!) Cousin John, Stacy who's a childhood friend of hubby's, and our son Jake and his buddy Andrew (who'd NEVER even swung a hammer before! (Now THAT was hilarious!) I'll post a few pics of how the upper cabinets came out, and then I'll post the rest of them in my photo albums (link on the right!)

We really had a blast tearing everything out! Unfortunately, due to the SOLID construction (they just DONT make them like they used to!) ...we did lose the "bump outs" from the L-shaped cabinets. It was a hard sacrifice...but it was necessary to salvage the straight runs. I still feel fortunate to have as many as we do! We enjoyed pizza and rootbeer together during one of our breaks!

We'll move the rest of the room on Saturday, since they're not open on Thur or Fri. Oh yea...(and this is awesome...) with a little "schmoozing" I was able to get permission from the Superintendant to dig up all the landscaping I wanted from both the High School and Elementary school! YEA! So, tomorrow afternoon, me and one of my best friends, Missy, (also a school teacher here) are going DIGGING! There's ornamental grasses, hostas, iris's, shrubs (I'll only take the small ones) and tons of other plants and shrubs. Even though I don't know EXACTLY where everything will go, I'm just going to plant them on the land, then I can always transplant them later! But GOOD GOLLY, FREE LANDSCAPING! I'd be a NUT to pass that up! See...it never hurts to ask! The only thing better than cheap...is FREE!

So here are some of the pics from this afternoon's work!

Just in case...hehehe

2009-03-18T06:55:00.001-04:00

Just in case you're wondering...Most pictures will be taken with my cell phone. Occasionally, I'll shoot with either son's cameras...but rarely will I use my "work horse" pro camera, because it's so big and bulky for everyday shots. SOOOO...the pictures contained herein, are not representative of my work! hehehehe

GREAT FINDS!

2009-03-17T15:34:00.000-04:00

We recently attended the Auction for our old High School, since we moved into our new school! I bought the entire Home Economics Room (minus appliances) for $130.00.

There were 5 kitchen stations FULLY stocked...with EVERYTHING you would need! Pots, Pans, dishes, bakeware, utensils, etc... We're salvaging all the cabinets for our living quarters, and I LOVE the old farmhouse sink! (That'll go in my kitchen) I'll use another sink for my "outside summer kitchen" to wash vegy's, and for the kids to clean up before coming in. I've already blessed two young adults going off to college with all their kitchen supplies, the Youth For Christ Cabins got some stuff, and another Christian Summer Camp got some stuff...and I still have 7-8 BIG boxes of stuff!

I work real hard at finding good deals, and recycling/repurposing items I find free or cheap! What I can't use...I find someone to bless!

Our B Green Acres

2009-03-17T15:30:00.000-04:00

WELCOME to B-Green Acres!

2009-03-17T13:43:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the first installment of B-Green Acres Blog. I thought that "B-Green" was a very fun play on words! The "B" stands for our last name...as well as "BE"! Ha! How fun!

I knew I wanted to blog our sustainable homesteading process, and what better time to start than TODAY! I'm happy to announce...that as of TODAY, we now have our new address and driveway permit! But before I get ahead of myself too much, I assume that a little background information is in order! So read at your leisure, as I'm sure it will be long! Enjoy!

We'll go back to 1991. I'm a junior in High School, taking a "home decorating" class for an elective! My teacher was the first to expose me to sustainable living and environmental issues. She was the first one to tell me about STRAWBALE homes! I was immediately intrigued by the idea, as well as the environmental benefits that it offered. I KNEW in my heart that I was going to have a strawbale home someday! Of course...my hubby thought I was crazy, and since there was so little information available, I had nothing to base my ideas on...much less research processes and building specs. So the idea was shelved for several years as we went about delivering three beautiful children, and striving for what we THOUGHT was the "Great American Dream"

We were crazy in debt, and struggling to attain that "appearance of the Jones'" And doing quite well at it, as our financial situation kept improving! But were we any happier? Nope...always stressed over finances! ENTER...the advent of the INTERNET! YEA! In desperation to find ways to cut back, I stumbled upon STRAWBALE building again, and found the idea of Christian Homesteading! (which I didn't know it HAD a name, till my Mama Bear told me!) Through all my research, and collecting enough info to fill a 3 ring binder...I had all the argument I needed to take my case to my hubby! It wasn't tooooooo long before he was on board with my ideas...and quite frankly...he was just plum tired of the rat race.

So we set out to become as DEBT free as possible. We worked hard at cutting back...getting away from consumerism, and not giving in to the "I WANT IT NOW" mentality of many of our peers. It really wasn't THAT hard...at least not on us...can't really say that the kids were jumping on the "live without" bandwagon as easily. BUT amazingly, they WERE in favor of our plans and ideas! Kid's are smarter than a lot of people give them credit for. When they KNOW and can UNDERSTAND the reasons behind it, they're much more willing and enthusiastic to help work towards our goals.

Jump ahead to last summer, (summer of 2008) We happen upon some land that came available...4 beautiful acres! Financially we were in a great position to buy. So we bought it! YEA! Then shortly after, we finally paid off 2 of our vehicles, giving us 3 vehicles free and clear...(we kept my buick regal for our son who'll be driving in 2 years!) Now we're just down to our current mortgage, and our land payment. I ONLY tell you this, so that you'll KNOW and understand that this wasn't a "fly by night" idea...and that "debt free" isn't just a smart financial decision, it takes time...but it is also deeply rooted in my relationship with God. When we borrow money, we become a slave to the person who lended. God will provide our needs, not a credit card or second mortgage, or personal loan. It doesn't mean we shouldn't work hard for our stuff...but just that it's God who is ultimately our provider. That being said...if you're following this blog because you desire a more simpler life...more sustainable...more HEALTHY...more enjoyment...it DOES help to become as debt free as possible before starting the process.

So here's the gameplan! We'll be building our homestead in stages, through blood, sweat, and tears! hehehe

We'll be putting in the driveway early next week...(as we're camping out for spring break!) Which we're getting help from a wonderful friend with a bobcat! So our driveway will be somewhat complete (with the exception of the top layer of smaller stone after settling) for $300 worth of rock, delivered. (I'll try to keep a running total, so people have an idea of costs should they want to follow our lead!)

The first structure going up is a 40x60 pole barn. The polebarn serves two purposes. The first 40 feet will hold my Photography studio, (yes...I'm a photographer...moved out of my commercial location in Jan.) And the last 20 feet are small living quarter for us, (5 of us...Me, Hubby, son 14, son 12, daughter soon to be 7)

So you're probably wondering....20x40 living space???? "You've got to be KIDDING ME?" LOL...I know...I know... Not quite the "McMansion" you were expecting huh? BUT...there's LOGIC in the madness! (really...there is!) I mean...just HOW MUCH room do you need to sleep anyhow? You'll see from the floor plan that it's very much adequate. (scroll down to the end of the page to see the design.) Our great grandparents may have had less room with more kids! The way that I have it designed, it actually has 3 bedrooms, and and open space for living and kitchen. Then there's a "family" walk in closet, and a small bathroom. This will be our living quarters for UP TO 2 years, while we pay off the land and building...sell our current home...and get ready to start the strawbale home.

So...what GREEN features will be in the building? SO GLAD YOU ASKED! Here's a quick rundown:
Composing toilet
Greywater disposal system
Rain water harvesting
cistern
solar hot water (homemade)
(*Eventually we'll be adding solar panels one at a time)

So...what SUSTAINABLE homesteading features will be on the homestead? So glad you asked!
Chickens! We LOVE eggs! And a good friend already gave us a great coop!
locavore eating! (well...as close to it as we can!)
Large Garden and canning our own food!
I'd LOVE a billy goat for the milk and soap! (My hubby put his foot down when I wanted a cow!)

So...this blog will follow all the steps, trials and errors, ups and downs, pictures, etc... of our lives as we chronicle our goal of sustainable living. This blog will also follow our processes up to and during the building of our strawbale home. So please bookmark this blog, and we'll take this journey together~ God Bless! (OH...and please be advised that I've never blogged before...so it may take me some time to grasp the "learning curve" of how to do everything!)(and I promise that not all of my posts will be so long!)