Juice Is Awesome!

     It was juice time at the farm! I have not fired up the old juicer in quite sometime. We are in need now more than ever for some energy, vitality, and longevity. I know how to get it! And here it is!
     This green goodness consist of anything green I could get my hands on including big dark green local organic cabbage, lettuces, and other greens. We added sine zucchini and cucumbers. Then a few apples and a pear. Delicious and better than a red bull!
     And there you have it! Now if only we can keep at it. Will keep you updated with "juice progress reports". =)

~Onward, Forward!

Breaking Bread At The Farm

     Sunday dinner was excellent at the farm this pas weekend thanks to delicious homemade "french country bread" cooked in our fire burning cast iron stove.
     I an very impressed with this stove as it is very easy to maintain a good cooking temperature. It also has six "burners" on top of the stove which we put water in pots to release moisture back into the air.
     Welcome to the world of wood collecting, chopping, and hauling. A labor of love.

     We never fooled ourselves going into this. The hard work and dedication is something we knew was coming. You simply will not be successful in a situation that demands you take some responsibility for yourself,  the materials and energy you exhaust, and how your environment reacts to that.

      I think that is the greatest reward in the direction we have chose. Not to snub the society we left behind, but to find our selves and our connection to the everything that is around us. We can remind ourselves of the importance and advantages this brings to us as individuals and together as the human race. Ive spent plenty of time thinking and studying what I'm against. I know it well. Now it is time for the balance of knowing and becoming what I am for.

Starting our orchard!

      These pictures are challenging to make out, however.. Welcome to the beginings of our orchard. we now have five Asian Pear trees planted.
      The ground you see cleared was preciously covered in very thick weeds and vegetation. It took quite a few hours to get it looking like this. I am quite pleased with how well the grass below what was cut is looking!
      The picture was taken between the top two ponds from the driveway.

      This is a bit more close up. Uncle Bruce took a "tile" (the black thing along the base of the new tree) and applied it to the tree. The deer are nipping the buds and rubbing the bark. We hear this will detour them.
      We chose the Asian pear due to its heartiness and ability to survive Ohio climate. It also has a very long shelf life once harvested mid to end summer. Lasting into February. The fruits are crisp like an apple and sweet like a pear.
     The holes I prepared to plant the tree's in took another few hours of work. I dug them by hand to about four feet round and three to four feet down.
     I mixed the dirt I dug with four different soils and compost's I collected from around the farm in different areas. I look for well broken down organic materials, dirt consistency, and fertility. I suggest to smell the soils and feel them with your hands. You will remember where you collected and what its advantages and disadvantages were.
    From there I filled in my natural pots, added leaves and grass clippings as natural mulching and I believe we are going to be successful in growing these five delicious trees!

~ Onward, Forward!

Its Time!

     So the farm is coming together as the winter is threatening to set in. We are all becoming more comfortable with each other and the honesty that has become living in close quarters.
     Dynamics remain interesting with all of us settling in such different quarters and angles as we define and live what we call life. It only has one choice and that;s to find its own way. As we remain like water. Ever committed to the cause and the destination and the love for the travels and adventure that take us there.
     We cherish every moment we spend together. Another longer in our place of beauty and serenity which surrounds us because we are apart of it not because we told it to be. We have found home and our place where we are suppose to be. NOW WE MUST BE!

Stove Pipe!

     Burrrrrr!!! Its cold outside come 11/4/2012 at the farm! Here is one of the most essential pieces of survival equipment we own here at "The Grove". This is our wood burning stove that rests on the main level of our house in its own tailored extension of the house.
     Heat your house, fry an egg, and bake an apple pie all at the same time while baking some bread. This thing is amazing. We initially thought to sell it for farm essentials but now we are sure it is a necessity and not a luxury.  We do Heat with propane otherwise of course. We all know where that comes from. FRACK FRACKING!

~Onward Forward! With a killer stove =)

Welcome Uncle Bruce!

     The newest addition to the fall farm family! Uncle Bruce. Say hello everyone. From small town Greenfield, OH with experience and abilities to match the best woodsman. Here we go!
     1-2-3 Welcome to Sugar Grove!

Worms Make This Farm Happen!

      The corner stone of our operation! Red Wriggler Worms. Purchased from a farm which used all organic, NON-GMO, open pollination practices. Which means these guys are ready to go!
      I work at Red Lobster and the primary source for these guys' food is the scrap "conventinally farmed" veggies I collect while prepping the menu.  I learned plenty about conventional farming while working a Summer at Schatt Farm in Columbus, OH
      Our goal is to rejuvenate these guys come Spring just as we do ourselves. If we can take it our worms can too and we are not fully off "The Juice" yet either so to speak. But we are aware and honest about our situation which leads us to believe we are on " The Path "

      Once your worms arrive (ordered mine on e-bay not for fancy package but for fancy grower abilities.)  You must now build your "worm bin".
      What you see here is a basic 2x4 and wood assembly. If you want to build it... It will form. Then you line with plastic and set up juice collection. We also included a door on the front which will allow easy compost extraction.
     Then wet your newspaper shreds which will act as bedding.

      What you see here consist of layers. Newspaper bedding from the preivous step, then comes an 8" layer of freshly collected dirt.  Then food scrap to crate mold which your worms will eat. No raw meat, citrus, acidic or spicy foods.
      Then add a layer of leaves. do the layers again and presto. The white bag you see is what the worms came in. They are dumped out under it in a "worm ball"
      I have read it is bad for the colony to break them up. Leave them in the ball, wet the rag, bag, or just piece of news paper and let them disperse over 24 hours.
     After placement, water your worms. They are thirsty after their travels!

      We are going into winter here at Sugar Grove so I added an extra compost/leave layer to help add warmth.
       You will need a lid as well with Chickens as slick as mine, racoons and other critters on the prowl as well!


~Onward, Forward!

We Got A Tractor!

     What a wonderful day on the farm! We are the proud new owners of a Massy Ferguson 1949 To-30 Tractor. This thing means business!
      To start very impressed with its determination to run! You hit the start and it fires right up! Just have to feel out old engines. Love this TRACTOR she is a beaut and keeps on kicking no matter what!
    

      This thing has a 3 point hitch and PTO going for it. We have what you can kind of see in the pic is a plow. We also have a 6ft. grade blade. We are after a Bush Hog, Finish Mower, and Disk setup.
      What a time to be on the farm. And to think we thought this was only a dream that was so far away.  We thought we wouldn't be here before the end of 2012.
      With the way the political, mental, and meteorlogical weather is blowing these days, I'd say I have much more at work than just my own efforts.  I look to my ancestors for inspiration and guidance. I look to my present council. And I look to what is ahead that can guide me.

~Onward, Foreward!

Burn? Barrel? Eco?

     So look we aim to be a completely open honest eco village because we believe this angle or goal will bring us the most benefit as far as exposing our weaknesses and thus solving our most nagging problems.
     Here is one of them..
     This is our "Burn Barrel". We purchased a metal barrel (food grade). We cut the top off and hammered the rough edges making them somewhat smooth. And we added a few air holes as well as ignition door. And there you have it...
     We burn anything we can't recycle or compost. We are in our infancy and we know we do not want to commit to local government deciding  how best to deal with our trash. Our aim is waste reduction.

     This is an example of honesty. Has anyone out there found another way to deal with this issue? Please comment and interact with our blog!
~Onward, Forward. =)

Hey Its Moss Man!

      This is our friend moss pelt. We plan to do many things with moss pelt. Moss + Butter Milk = spreadable moss you can paint and will continue to grow! WONDERFUL! INCREDIBLE! NON-EDIBLE MOSS!

Ollie The Mountain Dog!

This is "Ollie". He was a puppy we fell in love with at a swap meet last December.  He is completely engineered by humans.  
     He is a bonafied back woods mountain dog believe it or not! This dog will go up and down any mountain to be beside you! He has traversed all 51 acres an astonishing three times! Give it up for Ollie. He farts (because he loves anything but his own food) and climbs mountains!

Catfish at "The Grove"

WHAMMMMMMMM!

     Big, Big, Catfish in "The Lake" as it is called for now (until I come up with some unique Indian name for it that will come to me in a dream).
     These catfish are on a stringer and out of the water for a reason. At this point walking them up here. Posing for a picture, keeping them on a line which they sat until I harvested to bring them up. .Fish #3 being the lucky one with less torture. Returning them at this point being a death sentence and also negative large mass additive to the pond taking a long time to decompose or be eaten.
     They were delicious I will report. And I am certain they would eat me and there young all in one fell swoop if I were small enough and they were big enough. Again, delicious! we used 100% of every fish harmed in the making of this blog!
     ~Onward, Forward!

Buckeye Chickens, Heritage Breed at "The Grove"

      Here is our gorgeous Buckeye Chickens that grace the presence of our Sugar Grove Eco Village in Sugar Grove, OH. We have one Rooster who is still an amazing presence despite his age! He will be around to brood the next round of Bird after these Hen's. Who... say it quietly... (are not laying at the time). You know what that means. Well new people for Mr. B to meet come spring! =)
     We have chosen this breed of chicken due to the fact it is a heritage breed native to Ohio. Breed by an early Ohioan who acclimated them to our climate and micro-climates which form Eco-systems that supply unique bugs which cause a natural herd grazing mentality that had them here there and everywhere then home to their comfort zone we have provided at night. ( as seen in previous blog ). 
    Seen here being naughty and getting into my organic open pollinated wheat grass seed I planted not long ago. Not happy and laying down thanks to the chickens.

Building A Green House for 100$ continued..

 So there it is. As seen before on our blog. We attempted, and were sucessful at bulding a greenhouse for 100$.
     Do not ask us for a parts list. Do not ask us for deminsions! The pictures are here. Make your inner genious work and build the damn thing.
     A gift to you, brought to you by: The loving and caring souls residing at "The Grove"

      Yes! Yes! Yes! There is an inside. Do not let this fool you. It dose not happen over night, Tho in the blink of an eye it was created! Be the master of your own destiny.
       You may only build with love if you have learned to love. And if you have learned to love than you have built it in your heart. And are ready to build anything. Show us your destiny!



                                                 =D

 

      This is the dirt. What is dirt? It is the life force for which feeds us. A bounty so powerful it may question your very desire to eat meat. I love meat. I love soil. I love live animals. I love live plants. Thoughts are powerful. And we must think. To Thrive.
      Art is in our soil. We have produced a soil comprised of four very different bio dynamic enviornments. Meaning each enviornment the four soils were collected from were very diffrent in their locations, altitude, built of diffrent bio degradable organic materials that were naturaly left in the mostly wooded enviornments.
      At first thought one would think... I go in the woods, I dig a hole, I put the contents in a movable devise, put it in my green house and blammmmoo!.
     Not so folks. You have a massive root system that is your forest floor you must penetrate. You have to first accomplish scouting your micro climates in your properties range and determine their fertility levels or what I call awesome black goldness boost factor. This can take days depending on your territory. Then you have to get there, labor it up, get the lawn mower unstuck because you don't have a real tractor yet. THEN! then then then. You have to unload and think about doing it again, again, again, in another location.
     I have news for you. The picture above, my health and ability to self sustain and produce, and reproduce, Has made me prouder than I think I ever could be. To show my kids, my family, and everything around me. That's where I want to be.

      And finally, after miles of reading. Here is the most exallent shelf Rick put up. This is for seeding what we havent already planted of the cold hearty fall/winter crop we are producing at this time.
      Tho it has been cold as can be and it is warm and humid in the green house. With the soil setting warmer than I describe the air. Plants that would other wise die are surviving.
       Finally take note of the natural beems we used from a harvest of the woods. Some 2x4's we had in stock already from old construction jobs proved handy and accounted for most the 100$ eexpense we discussed.

Thank you for reading and existing,
On-Ward, Fore-Ward!

Seasons Change

 All is going well I am happy to report! As fall is setting in here in "The Grove" The trees are beautiful and our mindsets are quickly shifting gears towards what lies ahead and preparation.     
     There are lots of ideas and directions afloat. We all have a constant drive in these early stages to define exactly what it is we are all doing here. A true artist know ambition. Aims and heads in that direction with no real guarantee as to how long this journey may be. When it will take shape or what will even form. All we know as each other is that we must create. Everything in us is calling to be free and live as we want to be. We are beginning to understand the responsibilities, the dynamics and changes in our ways of life and thinking, the abilities we have to adapt and understand more than what we presently know. This is the frontier. It will never go away no matter the shape of the future. It will always exist as we are witness to and experienced in today.

      A beautiful shot further examples the bareness we began to experience just one short week after the picture above was taken.
     Our major activities and expense of energy are now directed towards keeping warm. We have loads of wood sitting just beyond all tree lines thanks to the winter storms of '08. We are now appreciating the work that goes into extracting and making this burnable. With the limited equipment available at the present moment. one riding lawn mower and an old beat Craftsman chainsaw built to do half the work we ask of it. Its almost as if the mechanical limits of the equipment are challenged by our sheer will to over come the limits before us and succeed. Where ever that limit we set is. Genius Potential 101

     A picture here now shows one clear moment we received in a stint of 5 days of rain. The days were long and gloomy. Cabin fever staved off by each others company as in the moment is where we have decided to reside.
     A puzzle, good food, each others company with ideas tooling of the future and what is too be. That will do for now. And all I need in the ward off rainy day tea.
     Thank you all for reading,
     ~Onward Forward!

Working Hard!

     This has been the largest project yet. It started when we arrived on the property and will probably continue for years! Clearing and preparing the land for fall and next spring's projects.
     In addition to clearing the land we are also harvesting wood to burn, poles to build with, and items to craft with.
Pictured: Rick, PJ, and Joe "Doing Work"

 

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A great way to get rid of the unwanted sticker bushes and brush is a nice large controlled burn. In this way you are recycling the material back to the land for instant use come spring. As well as having a great time     building and enjoying one mondo fire!  

                

Building A Green House for 100$

     Money is not yet quite abundant just yet. Also keeping in mind that our attempt to achieve responsibility through self sustainability has us thinking natural, nature provided materials. We have begun construction on a greenhouse we intend to build for under 100$. Screws and Nails can be obtained almost anywhere cheep or next to nothing if you think a little out of the box. Yard sales, friends, family, neighbors, that old guy across the street.
     We happened upon ours which were overstock from other peoples projects we have collected. Our only other expenses have been 2x4's which ran 40$ and a roll of 6 mil plastic which ran 60$. Our poles are natural harvest. Which we found already downed hard woods which were standing off the ground and/or dried properly enough to be sturdy. A little hard work And wallah! Here it is.

Rick sizing up the middle pole for a level cut at the top.

Set the back poles to support the incoming roof.

Add a roof and a few supports to square it up.

Add some plastic. Snow out, Sun in!

    And there you have it! This now sits on the two acres in the back that we have been working very hard to clear of some major over growth consisting mostly of sticker bushes and velcro sticker plants. Stay tuned as this should be finished by Wednesday or so. Ill post our results as soon as we are complete! 

   ~ On-ward Fore-ward

Country State of Mind!

We have been busy at The Grove this week. Rick and I have cleared almost two acres of land in the back half which we are preparing for green house space, outdoor planting space, and animal pins. It is hard to appreciate the kind of work taking on a flat full of sticker bushes, thistles, small trees, and what ever else is in your way (downed trees) really is unless you have done it!
     It is a neat twist I am experiencing. A much needed change I would say. Im so exhausted after a hard days work by 9 o'clock or so I am ready for a Netflix and away I drift. The big city kept me on the move and a sleeping in. The country seems to be just the change I was looking for. Is that what the city is missing? always expecting little work for big payouts and never feeling the satisfaction of the burn and ability to stand back and say... I did that, goodnight, and still enjoy it come morning. By Saturday we had friends out and a wonderful fire and the 12 oz. curls almost too much, or losing their charm?
     Our lives are changing and we cant help but feel its for the better. The transition has been anything but easy. Lots of work and lots of attention. The amount of humility and honesty with ourselves it has taken is exhausting in its own. It seems to be a theme to life at the moment that even tho seems harder and at times can bring you to your end, why not just quit and go back to what we know. I have to stop and observe that what this is really bringing about is a peace that did not exist before, and a chance at living in balance with nature, tendencies, and ourselves that brings an easy state of mind. This brings an easier breath, an easier sleep at night, and a drive that easily go's. Work is harder, Life is easier, And I'm in love!

PJ's Eco Village Update!

Hello from The Grove! As you can see, Autumn is setting in. It is a cool 50 and below day here in The Grove. Sunday has brought a nice slow morning so I thought I would write an update.
     So far the majority of our settling in at the farm is in place. We still have loads of pictures and such to hang. It has been interesting as the four adults and two children living here permanatly learn to live together in cohesion. Cleaning and laundry are a major tribe effort and I am enjoying the group benefits. We have determined a good attitude going into this is there are no perfect people, there are no perfect relation ships. There is friends and family for those who we have found common bonds and the agreement to see each others imperfections in a perfect way. What fun it is to watch it all happen!
    The majority of the days this far have consisted of attempting to get everything in the house into position and in good repair. There has been alot of clearing wood and harvesting poles and building materials. With the minimal budget and the idea for the land to provide our imaginations are just teaming with ideas in natural materials, barter and trade, and finding other free or inexpensive resources for our start up projects. (See chickens below!)
     I keep myself busy at the moment watching documentaries on netflix, youtube, and else where to further my Eco Education and Awareness to issues we face. I as well love instructional videos and online resources in howto's and do it on your owns. My major fascinations going into fall at the moment is Building my own bee hive to hold my spring bees. Harvest and possibly mount poles for spring pens to house dairy goats, alpacas, and what ever else we become excited about! My most imidiate and favorite at the moment is Maple Syrup production. What a great easy way to make money and have fun in the fall time. Not to mention I believe I have found why our home is in a town called "Sugar Grove". I believe I have identified one major species of tree that pepers our property in large quanities and mature trees is the SUGAR MAPLE! I am quite excited!
     That's all for now. I do plan to make this blog a part of my day every day very soon! With the pace slowing here at The Grove as we settle in and the natural breaks winter applies to us all I may just find this time. On-Ward Fore-Ward!

Fracking Frackers

Our new homestead came with mineral rites and a pre-existing oil & gas lease which basically gives those rites to the oil company.  I received an illegible copy of it before we purchased.  We knew there was a Columbia Gas gas line running through the back 40.  It doesn't produce any gas for our use, only transports it.  We aren't even sure yet if it is still active.  All I could find out about the lease prior to purchase was that it did transfer owner to owner and would have to be dealt with at some sort of legal level later.  We decided it wasn't a show stopper.

I attended a meeting of Fairfield County landowners a couple weeks ago hosted by a local law firm.  They presented an overview of what the oil & gas companies were after, the fracking process, and how the oil & gas companies were misleading landowners into signing cheap leases.  The law firm was trying to form a consortium of land owners to provide collective bartering power and an educational forum so land owners would know how to deal with the lease negotiations.  Of course the law firm is making a chuck of change in the process.  Bottom line was that land owners are not in any position to negotiate these agreements without legal representation.  Agreed.  They also provide representation to those that, like us, who inherited crappy lease agreements from their previous owners.

There were about 40 landowners at the meeting.  The law firm has 10 members and 4 are totally dedicated to working the oil & gas leases.  They have been having these meetings for 4 months across 4 counties.  This was the 6th and final meeting in Fairfield County.  They had maps showing which landowners had already signed up for their program of representation in the event the oil & gas companies approached them.

I was a little amazed at the passive-deer-in-the-headlights expressions of the collective landowners at the meeting.  There were a few asking the right questions; what are the risks to health/environment?  What about all the 'accidental' spillage and 'earthquakes' we've heard about in the news due to fracking?  What chemicals do they use in the process?  However, the majority seemed to have $$$ in their eyes.  

We sit on the Utica Shale Shelf which runs through NY, PA, WV, OH, IN and on up into Canada.  It has been one of the oil companies interests for at least the past decade.  Instead of drilling for oil, they have determined that there is more money to be made in the liquid propane and natural gas they can extract from the massive shale shelves across the U.S.  In order to extract it, they drill several thousand feet to the shale shelf and blast it with tons of water and hundreds of various chemicals to release the propane for extraction.  This is fracking.  There have been hundreds of incidents of permanently polluted water supplies and families devasted by their early fracking processes.  They have been improving these processes and more and more state restrictions have been imposed.  They will never be SAFE. 

I see evidence of their drilling all around my rural community.  My property water suppy is spring fed.  Which means it could be polluted before it even reaches me and there's nothing I can do about it.  Wells aren't any safer.  There are many reports of wells being polluted by chemicals seeping into underground water supplies.  Just a matter of time before we hear of a village or a city water supply being polluted.  And of course the oil & gas companies NEVER admit their drilling was the cause of the pollution.  However, they have settled out of court in hundreds of cases.  Many of those effected can't afford the legal representation to even begin the battle of suing them.  And of course the gas companies know this.

These pics are of a Columbia Gas compressor station just 1 mile from my house.  You have to drive right through it to get to the  Wahkeena Nature Preserve entrance.  It links up all the fracked pipelines,  cleans & compresses the gas for transporting.  They are every 40-100 miles.

I am now in the process of getting a legible copy of our lease agreement so it can be evaluated and determine if our gas line is opertional.  Until then, I don't even know what our options are.

There is a very informative documentary on fracking on Netflix called GASLAND from 2009 (multiply the effects of this X 10 to see what is happening 2012).  It is a MUST see for every US citizen.  It does and will effect us all eventually.  We need to educate ourselves and our neighbors.

Buckeye Chickens!

Our first project complete! Welcome to our chicken coop. We are proud to have acquired the endangered Buckeye Chicken. A species native to Ohio and very well adapted to our winters. They are dual purpose chickens which lay large brown eggs and taste great in the broiler! We have all the necessary provisions and they have been with us three days. So far no signs and no worries of predators. We are officially farming! Would you look at us go! Below are a few more project pictures.

With Our Head In The Clouds!

We have made it! So here is the run down. We have been on the farm now for around three weeks. Kimberly (My Wife), the kids (Jude and Eden), and I all moved in the day we got the keys. That was a Friday. I woke up at 8AM and was in touch with Doug, a friend of the farm. We rented the largest U-Haul avilable and away we went. We moved until we could move now more! It was 1:30AM Saturday morning when we returned the U-Haul and from there we drove back to The Grove.

Along the first few weeks Rick and Tom had both come to help to break the place in. We had loads of fun with the initial burns, digging a foundation for the first pole barn (still to be raised), and enjoying the freedoms that come along with being in the country. Fishing, Hiking, and Target Practice!

After two weeks or so Ricks room is looking to be filling up with his things! Hes even got a bed! Tom has his comforts in the closet and has claimed his seat at the farm. Mom had Doug and I once again rent a U-Haul and do it all again on yet another Friday. Exhausted and Happy with no place Id rather be!

To date: Kimberly and I have both found Jobs in Lancaster. With hopes to be completly self sustainable and sourced off the farm, we must start somewhere and bills are a reality.

Jude is now in Kindergarten at the local school which is K-12 all in one building. (our population is 997 in Sugar Grove. A wonderful school this far!

Eden hangs at home with Mom, Dad, and Grandma.

Tina (Grandma, Ma, Mom) Has now fully transitioned her Brooks Brothers Glass & Mirror operations (Her Business) to the farm in a beautiful office that over looks the front yard, ponds, and gorgeous Appalachian foot hills. She now communicates with staff and customers via phone and fax. A great resource for the farm. The bills must be paid! She has as well moved all of her things to the farm and now enjoys waking up to paradise.

Rick has his room almost all the way moved out. He has been working his stuff our truck load by truck load as he still has to visit Columbus three times a week in order to complete a job that is currently sustaining his income needs for the time of transition and winter.

Tom and Gabe (his son) still have their closet comforts moved in. He has scored us a few nice amenities. He maintains motivation and the direction of making it to the farm full time, soon! Sorting everything out before you turn and move on is not always as easy as one would hope or think it would be initially. Sometimes it takes a jump with two feet in and deal.

And there you have it! That is our farm at the moment. We are quickly transitioning into fall here in the foot hills and will soon be experiencing winter. I will keep you all up to date on our preparation activities!

Thanks For READING!
On-Ward - Fore-Ward!

An Introduction! Presenting:

There is mom! (Tina Brooks) Our fearless leader who has given it all up to invest in one big adventure we've all been called to. She plans to eventually move out of her mother in law suite, located in the basement/ground level of the house, and into a hobbit like underground habitat. Using the earth for the majority of her heating and cooling needs. Interconnecting with nature as she blends serenity into her being.

There's RICK! exiting the unsustainable just 1 day ahead of me in his existence. We all will be giving up so much as we leave the comfort of what we have known. We all will gain a tremendous amount as we pursue what we know is right.

And here is Ricks TREE! He plans to move out of his second floor bedroom, with a nice bathroom i may add, and into this TREE! I cant wait to see what develops here. These ideas are about growth and empowerment of our individual selves. We realize we have the ability to exist without the permission of others. We see nature react positively to our presence and technique. When things seem to encourage rather than unwind and deplete you, I believe we have found OUR HOME! Welcome to Sugar Grove Eco Village. More to come!

A Walk About The Farm!

I wanted to create a post to show everyone around the property a bit. My goal is to share this experience with as many as possible to encourage good relationships which can teach and provide so much.

This is the front yard looking out from the house. A nice long driveway which passes all four ponds for great views on the way in and ultimate seclusion!

If you stand in the same spot and turn your head left you will see a nice clearing and a great deck already in place! (same pond as above)

A close up of the deck!

A short walk down the drive and your majesty, the weeping willow which shall be named, presents itself. (on this day asking for a drink!)

Turn your head in the opposite direction and this is what you will see when standing next to our willow. The biggest of four ponds. most of our 51 acres lies behind and surrounding this pond. This is exciting because I can keep animal operations away from the house a bit to add a nice separation that will be enjoyed on quiet relaxing days.

This is a walk around the same pond and looking some what back up towards the house (you can see the willow in the background)

A look at the beautiful deck! as you can see the ponds are currentlly down about three feet due to drought conditions. Still stunning!

A glimpse of the third pond. In this one we have spotted monster catfish!! If you were too turn your head around you would be looking at the first pond I showed you with a possible view of the house.

And here is the fourth pond! A little TLC and these things will be beautiful and ready for plenty of fish (possible fresh water shrimp) to feed a self sustaining community.

Behind the largest pond where most our property lies a creek presents itself. It has not rained in around three weeks and hot hot days here in Ohio leave it at a trickle but still flows. I'm thinking good potential sustainable animal habitats.

This is a look at the sort of clearings we have available to work with. These will be used in various ways. The cut at the moment is ruff compared to what it will be in a few short years. LET THE DREAM BEGIN!

I am short on time at the moment. Many many more posts and pics to come! Stay tuned, plug us into your RSS reader! And for goodness sakes, send us a comment and say hello! Thank you all for checking us out at Sugar Grove Eco Village.