Monarch caterpillar
When I was in the fifth grade I became fascinated with insects. I would go out in a nearby field and spend hours watching and collecting insects. It was during this time that I took a special interest in monarch butterflies. I think it was a combination of their appearance and the fact that they have few predators due to being distasteful. This is the result of milkweed poison being stored in their bodies from when they were caterpillars. I get to relive some of those childhood memories because we have a stand of milkweed plants that have monarch caterpillars. I now get to monitor their growth, pupation, and subsequent emergence from their chrysalis. I was never able to experience any of that as a kid. This is just too cool.
Two of a kind
A few weeks ago, Christy, Nancy and I went to a local vineyard and participated in a wine tasting. As we entered the building I noticed two wine barrels sitting on a dock out back. I inquired as to what the owner does with unused barrels. Suffice it to say I ended up purchasing them. Christy and I have been wanting to get rain barrels and well... this opportunity was too good to pass up at $40 a piece. Considering that they're American Oak and not blue plastic it was an easy decision. We'll capture rain from a roof structure that we're getting from David and Annie, who are tearing down an old house on their property. I'll attach faucets and cut holes for the inlet and overflow. I'm thinking that I'll make the inlet opening the same size as the downspout. Typically the inlet is over-sized and covered with a screen. Making the opening smaller will minimize particulates and mosquitoes from entering. Even with screening material, unwanted material still seems to get in.
Ain't she a beaut?
In order for us to get temporary electricity we had to install our own temporary electric pole. Included with pole are the circuit breaker and ground rod. The pole has to be 14' tall and be buried 48" below grade. The 8' ground rod has to be completely buried 6" beneath grade. Neither requirement was easy as there's shale/schist only 24" down. Lots and lots of digging. My poor wrists were begging for a reprieve.
Everything is in place and ........ we've got water!
After attaching a 4-position 120/250V plug to the well wiring we were ready to power up the well pump. D & A, always generous, lent us their generator. Another homesteading friend who lent us his 150 gallon tank. We'll use this as a resevoir for watering the garden.
The tank, coupled with the ~100 gallon reserve in the well, should provide adequate storage capacity. Once the cabin is built we'll of course have a compression tank and eventually a cistern for catching rain water.
Christy has single-handledly dug most of the post holes for the cabin. We probably have another day of digging to do and then we'll be ready for the holes to be inspected. The building inspector has to verify that the holes comply with county requirements to be 24" x 24" x 24". Once that's done we'll pour an 8" concrete pad into each hole and then mount 6" x 6" posts. We'll be using borate pressure treated wood as this is less toxic than the standard treated material. See here for why this method is preferred.
We're off to our friend Starroot's party. Speaking of parties, when we first moved here I asked our neighbor, Ed, about parties in Floyd, he responded with "Man, there's a party every weekend." And it sure seems that way. It's always nice to have that option. The parties are always potluck and they're a lot of fun. So many new people to meet.
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