Gabi LeBlanc Log

6.19.12

Lots to do! Zip zip zip!

6.18.12

Woke up earlier than expected. It's a gorgeous day, I've got computer things to do so I think I'll post up out of doors for the work.

Going to KS City today to pick up electric fence polytape. New place for me, we'll see what food I can forage while I'm there.

Got a lead on sweet potato slips from the East Coast at Scott Farms. We'll see what they've got.

Writing Garden Plan, finished up Survey Tools List. Next up: concise shopping list encompassing everything I haven't bought yet.

Feeling pretty well adjusted, it's a bit like I've been here for weeks instead of 4 days. Still feeling out the rhythm of the week, but I'm very comfortable here. Unexpected, but encouraging. It means that I made the right decision coming here and there's not a lot of jarring changes that I need to adapt to. There are some small ones and I'm excited to learn and grow and change as I have the same effects on my environment. Good people, good plants, good weather, soon to be good soil, and I am empowered by all of it. Happy Monday!

To do:

• google map to Dwayne's house - done, thanks whoever sent me the link!
• garden plan - in progress
• survey sourcing - done, next step: order tools
• os cartography software/sourcing - in progress
• review awesome books that chris lent me on surveying etc - in progress
• video log on my first few days here, so far I've only been doing videos based on outside initiation (Marcin, etc) and I should be doing them independently - will be made easier when Marcin gives me that Samsung phone to use. - just did that! we'll find out how long it takes to upload..**
  • well, I guess I'm not uploading the right file type. I'll get that videophone asap.

Extended To-Do:

• Turn scrap Satellite Dish into Roof for Dog House
• Put more screws in my walls for hanging things
• Think about regular habits to start:
  • morning routine (yoga, meditation, dog exercise, animal husbandry, breakfast and coffee)
  • evening routine (community building, vlogging and documentation of daily projects)
• GET MORE SLEEP. Never expected that to be a problem here, but there you go.=6.15.12=

6.17.12

Lots to do at once, I think I'll be working on my day off, since my energy is undiminished after only 2 days of being here.

Leaving to find our cow in about an hour, really excited to meet her for the first time. Teddy, too.

Emailed MFA to see if they have rods, because my usual source, Livewire, is in California. They're probably closed on Sunday, so I'll hear from them on Monday. Just set up buying our first piece of the fence, the polytape. Dwayne is selling it through craigslist, I'll be picking it up at 2:00 tomorrow. These were his directions:

8294 W 335TH 69 TO FORT SCOTT 7 MILE SOUTH OF LEWISBERG 69 AND 335TH

Moved into the solar cube, because the hab lab is a bit too comfortable. I prefer a place that is only used for sleeping, and doesn't have the space or accommodation for much else. Also I wanted to live in the box, from the beginning my instincts told me that I wanted to live there.

In charge of the chicks while Briana is in Texas. She'll be back in a week.

Paid deposit on cow, I am in love with her. She's number 17, is a Jersey Holstein cross with Brown Swiss and Shorthorn genetics as well. Teddy's dropping her off two weeks from Monday, so that's the 2nd of July. Need to figure out what kind of grain to feed her so the transition to being grass fed doesn't do her harm. Also it'll be her incentive treat every morning for milking. She's docile, has a great udder, isn't too big, clear eyes, good feet, everything I would want in a cow. Contemplating names. Thank you to Teddy, for being such a friendly dairyman. He truly loves his herd.

Set up my hammock in the wooded area over the creek bed. Also found a berry patch in the ravine. Gooseberries, mystery berries (look like black rasberries?), and picked some mulberries off the tree, too. Blackberries are coming in, not near ripe yet but I'll be ready when they are! Same story with the grapes.

6.16.12

Woke up early, did some sourcework for the cow, went to the Saint Joseph Farmer's Market with Aidan. Found it pretty limited in terms of organic produce, only one farmer there sold organic food and it was mostly greens. Also, more processed/canned foods than I was accustomed to seeing.

Met a guy named Joel who raises lamb, asked him what he does with his bummers, I'll probably be looking for some lambs to diversify our grazing polyculture in a couple seasons.

Found a couple more berries that I'd like to propagate here: aronia berry and gooseberry. Pretty sure I can find some gooseberries if I just rummage around in the native trees. Aronia berries we'd probably have to buy seed for, but it would be so worth it.

Came back, and after a quick meeting we started stuccoing one of the outer bedrooms at the HabLab.

Took a dip in Pony Express Lake and washed the stucco off my clothes. Found a roadkill deer coming back, brought a couple bones with me for the dog to chomp on later.

Had a meeting with Marcin about the cow, talked to a guy in King City who can sell us a first calf heifer, jersey-holstein cross, for $1100. He sounds personable, I can't wait to meet him.

6.15.12

Rolling down towards Factor E, I got an overwhelming sense of affection towards the native plants, the smells in the air, the moisture and lush green surrounding the creeks and ponds, and overall felt like I was heading to a rightful place.

Pulled up to Factor E, gave myself a tour of the property, focused on not feeling daunted and instead inspired at all the potential here. Moved into the HabLab, meaning I took a couple egg crates out of my car and put them in a convenient corner.

Met my team mates, had a meeting with Marcin outlining a concrete work plan. Looks like the first focuses will be getting a dairy cow out here, surveying, getting the garden going, and

Did laundry in town, picked up mattress shells for straw stuffing. Attempted straw stuffing, realized we were not using the correct tool. Decided that a lawn mower is a better strategy. Tried to borrow one from a neighbor, but he didn't have one. Fortunately we didn't come back empty-handed, he gave us a bunch of beets, carrots, and onions. We'll be using Tim Gravlin's lawn mower when he comes in later this week.

Engaged in some community-building card games! I had to duck out eventually because I was nearly falling asleep at the table.

Slept the best sleep I've had in a while. Excited and rushing into many projects at once, but I've got excellent folks around to help me keep my head on straight.