What are your prep projects this year?

GardenGirl · Tar Sands Joined: Oct 28, 2007 Posts: 43

This years Prep Projects:

I am devoting a huge chunk to Aquaponics. I will be doing several projects, including one this weekend.

I will be learning about solar power and getting as much of my task lighting solarized.

I hope to work out a new watercollection and pressurizing system for a irrigation project.

I hope to learn a lot more about making clothing and fiber work.

I hope to work out my food storage systems as well.

Hopefully I can get at least half of that accomplished.

Besos,

Patti
www.gardengirltv.com
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Patti Moreno
The Garden Girl

Pops

A great topic.

I hope we will all note our efforts – successful or not, in the appropriate threads.
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Make a plan and work it:

RedStateGreen

strider3700

Pops

PeakOiler

WisJim

This year, I hope to re-roof our barn, as the current roof on the 100 year old building is starting to shed a few shingles, and will be getting worse fast. Then we will try to build a roof over the small deck at the house entry, to make it easier to keep the entry snow-free in winter, and so we can keep the screen door in use when it rains, without water getting into the entryway. I need to finish up some rain gutters and the rest of the big part of my rainwater collection system--the 1500 gallon tank and distribution for drip irrigating the orchard and garden. Then I am also thinking of installing more PVs and maybe another wind generator, if I can find a tall enough tough, cheap enough. The generator that I will probably use is in the shed and just needs new bearings and paint, and maybe new blades.

Started preparing a spot for another row of blueberries last fall, so need to order them, more grapes, more pie cherries, some peaches and apricots, maybe more apples and pears and plums, too.

And one son and I are working out some business possibilities to take care of any spare time that may appear between eating and sleeping and our "regular" jobs.

Heineken

Revi · Fusion Joined: Apr 25, 2005 Posts: 3252 Location: Maine

We're going to put up more tubing in a part of the sugarbush we had logged last winter. I think it will take a few weekends. We are getting ready for the maple sugaring season which starts next month.

We're making a portable bean cooker. We are going to have a bean cooking contest next month, and it will be outdoors in the snow, so we are cutting open a water heater and cutting the tank lengthwise, welding on legs and using that as the fire-pit. It should work well. We are using cast iron pots to cook the beans.

We might be getting one of these solar electric pickups:

www.sunnev.com

That's all I've got this year, so far.
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sdcoyote · Tar Sands Joined: May 24, 2005 Posts: 56

1. Last fall I purchased a barn (40 X 40, 36 ft high) for $100.00 at an auction (unbelievable!!!!). It was built in 1910, but has a new metal roof and has recently been painted.

It is my goal to get the barn moved about 15 miles to my property (about 30 acres) where my house, also built at the turn of the century, sits.

I will pour the foundation myself.

I have contracted a building mover and he is asking 7000.00. So for 7100 dollars I am getting a very nice looking barn with a loft. I have no idea how much it would cost new - but would guess over 50 grand.

I have until May 1 to get it moved.

2. Buy a Jersey cow to milk and raise a calf.

3. Expand the garden even more.

4. Build a small greenhouse.

spear

That barn is a serious score.
Youve got some very expensive old growth timber there.Probably oak and pine.
Do some searching and see what kind of prices they get for that old timber.
Wouldnt surprise me if its knot free because back then the trees used were big.
Might be worth 50k as a barn with a roof, but it might be worth 50k or more as old growth furniture grade lumber PLUS the roof.
Maybe its worth it to dismantle it sell it and build a new barn for 30k,use the old barn roof and put 20-or30k from the profits toward something else,like some shiney coins or something.

Just a thought.
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Iaato

Good thread. It's good to explicitly state New Year's resolutions.

Last year we finished out our basement and got renters in. Now our previously heated but unfinished space is providing us with income and someone to feed the cat and watch the house when we go away. Rolling Eyes

We also made our first raised bed gardens, with lots of trial and error (zone 2-3).

This year?

That's it for 2008. My husband calls the summer of 2007 the lost summer because we built out the basement ourselves, so we'll do some playing, too. And summers are precious up here.
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"When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross." --Sinclair Lewis

threadbear · Expert Joined: Jan 22, 2005 Posts: 7502

Kick back and have a good time. Nothing more to do and I have to lighten up.

JBinKC · Heavy Crude Joined: Aug 14, 2004 Posts: 251

Other than off grid power which is still very cost prohibitive all of my major projects have been pretty much completed. I bought this place in 2000 on the waterfront for $38K.

My open carport garage is now fully enclosed. I added fences. I enlarged the junky metal storage building to encompass the entire concrete slab. I added a boat dock, storage building with electrical and the 192 step stairway down to get there and wood stove in my house. I may add another plot to to square foot garden or add a deck and build a woodshed on the flatter portion of my cliff.

I have planted two dwarf fruit trees, berry bushes and 3 raised beds on my very small yard and woodchipped the pathways so I only have to perform minor nonproductive yardwork. I have canning supplies but you can never have enough especially if they can be had for the right price. 63 mm lids if you can find them would definitely add to my jar inventory.

Purchasing a used fleet vehicle or conversion of my vehicle to run on my abandoned propane tank would likely be my next larger scale project. It would give me more flexibility in seasonal buying.

I need to make a solar cooker for the summer months. I have the cast iron camp dutch ovens which I frequently use on cold days in the winter months for cooking when my wood stove has excess coaling.

I have other minor projects in mind but I don't see them necessary.

CarlinsDarlin · Moderator Joined: Jul 02, 2004 Posts: 1395

Check off number four on my list Smile

The chicken run is down after 3 days of work... yay.
K