Farm is coming together

[ashleigh11]

here is a thread from another forum i am part of. the poster, kvr, has an dryblock, earth-sheltered home in maine. the first thread is a step-by-step construction of the house.

http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/mma.cfm?go=forum_framed.posts&forum=199&thread=1770413&page=1&pc=86

his dry block construction is actually reinforced vertically by rebar every 4 feet or so, horizontally 2 or 3 times with a double course of rebar laid into the top of a course of blocks, then filled with concrete.


http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/mma.cfm?go=forum_framed.posts&forum=199&thread=1659666&page=1&pc=404

[colelkhunter]

I like his idea of building the house and mounding the dirt on the sides. I have a natural southern facing hill on my farm that is pretty much useless for anything else. I also like the boulders stacked up on the sides. Nice touch for sure. I may steal that one. My design will have more windows on the southern side however. One side of the house will be completely glass.

[KnightoftheRoc]

If you're going to go with a lot of glass in your design, take a look at the stuff that Pella coats their windows with (as an optional extra). I don't recall the name of it, but they were offering it when I started working at Lowe's in the millwork dept. It's not a huge jump in price to include it, and the long term energy savings can easily make it worthwhile.

[ashleigh11]

check out this link of cody lundin's home....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWpSVNrt0LU

i forget where i saw the formula, but there's a way to figure out the amount of window you can incorporate until there's some diminishing returns with heat loss. it figured in average sunlight, latitude, efficiency of the materials in your house as heat sinks, etc.

keep us updated with what's going on. this is exciting stuff.

[colelkhunter]

had a slight problem today that really pissed me off. I have had a deposit on my goat herd for the last two months. Couple days ago the lady that I am buying the herd from emailed me and told me that the buck I had selected and sent a deposit for was not going to work for my herd. She told me how he was not a good candidate for a herd sire because of his poor bone structure and body not being thick enough. So she tells me that she will make another selection on my behalf. I went to her website to see what she had available and she has the buck that I have a deposit on listed as retained. Then!, goes on to say her son will be showing him! If he is such a bad selection for me, then why is her son showing the goat? I promptly emailed her and voiced my opinion of this and asked for my deposit back. I thought by using a (supposedly) reputable breeder you would get better service. From now on I will make all my livestock purchases in person at the time they are ready.

[DarkandShiny]

I've had a similar experience with a horse purchase. I think this is why livestock auctions are so prevalent.
Great thread!

[Resolute]

I've had the opposite experience... Today I'm going to pick up 3 sheep, and they've held them for me for 2 weeks without me paying for them. I was actually pretty surprised they did that for me, but they suggested it.

[colelkhunter]

havn't been on in a while. Just got new internet service on the farm. We are here fulltime now, living in a restored 115 year old farm house. Took most of the weekend to get everything either moved or in storage from our previous 4200 sq. ft house. We are now living in 1100. It is going to take some getting used to, but we are adjusting to it well. We thre out about 4 pickup truck loads of crap that we didn't want or need to make the move work. Amazing how much crap you can acquire. i am still not done with the farmhouse. Kitchen countertops need installed and sink put in and we have no vanities in the bathrooms. well we have them, but they are not installed. only so many hours in a day and i have had my mind on making the house livable first, comfortable second. My wife is vaccuming the floor now as I type this. we have just cleared enough boxes out of the way to be able to walk around without using a pigtrail...LOL It is coming together, but takes time.

[shriefie]

Construction should begin this summer and we are looking for volunteers interested in learning this construction method, no charge. .

When and where

[colelkhunter]

clarksburg, tn. 38324. sometime this summer is all i can tell you. we still have preperations to make before starting the build. Namely getting a backhoe to excavate the site. I want to have 50 percent of the materials on site before starting work. That way there is plenty on hand and no lull in building. when we start, I don't plan to stop until the roof is on it an dried in. Figure it should take about 3 months by myself, or less time the more hands I have.

[colelkhunter]

has been storming here for the last few days so I have been inside conspiring. got some chickens started the other day, so I thought I would post on that. Picked up some barred rock chicks from a local supplier, made them a cardboard brooder to put in the house for a while. got all pullets so I am on the lookout for a rooster as I want to raise a few chickens as well. started with 12 and plan to add some other meat production breeds later. I want a dual production chicken herd.(lol). I was lucky in that the farm I bought has a large chicken enclosure already on it. built with scrounged materials, it is kinda ragged, but will get the job done I think. I plan to designate some nest boxes as eggs and some as brooders so I can keep it straight in my mind which ones I will steal eggs from. Then allow the other hens to go broody and produce next years layers for me. I have also been giving thought to getting my rabbits going. I will most likely raise some on wire and some on the ground and judge the differences for myself. I have heard good and bad about both. I want to find out on my own. Garden is coming along well. Seed corn is already about 2 inches high and looking good. Plants that were set out are going well, growing good with all the rain we are having. still tons of work to do and only me to do it so I hope it stops raining soon and gets sunny so I can get it done.

[Resolute]

Congratulations on the chickens. I decided to wait until next year for them... we just got sheep and we're sticking to one new species this year.

The biggest problem with chickens is predators. Make sure wherever you keep them, a raccoon can't come in and grab one. They'll tear them apart.

Any problems with tornadoes from this weather? Hope you and yours are alright.

[colelkhunter]

It got pretty hairy for a bit, but all is well now. Some near me had a hard time of it though. I have raised all the animals that I am getting started before so it is kinda old hat for me. Everything except the goats I have had an earlier experience with. The knowledge is priceless.

[colelkhunter]

well my chicks are growing like weeds. Eating a hell of a lot as well. all are healthy and doing well so far. Got started the other day on my new rabbit enclosures. I am going to do a hybrid setup. breeder rabbits and bucks will stay on wire for the majority of the time, but the weened babies will be finished out on the ground. I am building the cages kind of low to the ground so that I can access all the cages from the top. The area around the cages will also be fenced with a low fence to retain the weened rabbits. They will have about a 30 x 30 area to roam on grass and eat. I have dogs that will protect them should anything get out or come around. I have built cages for all the rabbits and will have room to lock them up should I need to. Bought 14 total rabbits to start. 12 does and 2 unrelated bucks

[bugoutvehicles.net]

i dont know why your bothering now.... osama is dead all our problems are over

anyway i want to come over and see whats up with the chicks and rabbits. might do that today actually nothing else going on with the rain.

[colelkhunter]

I am here......obviously. Come on.

[colelkhunter]

despite the rain I got all my cages built today. fence around them will have to wait until it dries out a little. ground is too wet to set posts in the ground right now. I am pretty happy with the design. I will get busy next week building some nest boxes as some of the does that I am getting are already bred. Most are too young to breed for a couple weeks. I will be rotating their breeding so that I have babies all the time, but not too many to handle.

[hapa773]

Colekhunter, do you mind posting some pics when you get a chance? I'm intrigued by what you are doing and enjoy reading the descriptions of some of the things you've managed to build, but I think pictures would be icing on the cake. Thanks for all of your updates!

[colelkhunter]

I will try to get some pics posted of the upgrades thus far. I have been meaning to do it and have not gotten around to it. I seem to build things, admire them and go on to something else. I am most proud of my cardboard chicken brooder. It has worked out great and zero cost. I love that.

[colelkhunter]

well me and bugout got the rabbits in their new homes today. Looking forward to a rabbit dinner very soon. Maybe this week? Everyone settled down well and after feeding them took a nap. I think I may do the same.