We dug a well!

We still haven't found the original well head, and were felling uncertain that we ever would while we walked through the land yesterday observing the many deep gullies that form in the wet season by the rainwater moving down the mountain. Following the gullies, led us to one of the low lying areas and to the stream that runs the width of the land. Drew walk down further and stood in a dry area of the river and, using a shovel, dug into the river bed about a foot until water surfaced and filled the hole. Realizing this, we then walked up the hill and down the road about 60 feet and came to a spot that had always perplexed us, as we knew it had a special use. Years ago the land underneath several oak trees had been removed and used to create a land bridge over the stream. We walked into this large excavated area under the trees and realized we were standing about 6 feet beneath the soil surface and topsoil. We only needed to dig a little further to possibly reach the ground water. And that is exactly what happened, within about two hours we had dug approximately 5 feet down and water was slowing seeping in and filling the hole. Nearby we found an abandoned 3ft x 7ft cement pipe that we hope to move, with the help of a tractor, to the well opening and placed upright so that it will permanently secure the sides of the well. We will then place a submersible pump into the well to pump water up to water tank or reservoir. This water will be used primarily for irrigating the adjacent pasture.
We are very, very happy about this!

We also hung and locked our first of three gates to prevent the kids in the area from driving up the sides of the dams, using them like ramps, and off roading with their trucks, four wheelers, and motorcycles!
To see more pictures visit this site: http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/slideshow/578523781KrcQMY

Aug. 21 The Ranch Project

Drew and I have still not found the well. The owner and several neighbors all tell us it's on one particular hill. Though we have pulled up many sheets of old metal siding, boards, pipes and a baby stroller we haven't actually found what we are looking for, which is a 3 or 4 foot square cement platform with a securely embedded wide-mouthed pipe. Being that the land has been uninhabited for 40 years, it may have been intentionally covered up or hidden. We'll go back tomorrow with shovels and a friends metal detector and dig. Our fingers are crossed, because without a well, the whole deal maybe off. To put a well in would likely cost 10 to 20 thousand dollars. But a well is a must.
There have been other exciting discoveries; exciting and frightening, all of which have the potential to seriously harm us! We have many, many bees that keep us company as we move about the the land. They are busy collecting nectar from the lovely white buckwheat flowers which cover the hillsides and pastures. These bees, we've discovered, are ALL members of one happy gigantic hive that looks just like a classic Winney-the-Pooh style honey hole tree hive. Picture a large oak, about 20 feet up a large hole dripping with honey. This hive has surely been active for a very long time. A friend gave us a community newspapers and one article told of a few deaths in the area from Africanized bees. But this hive we found is high in a tree, uncharacteristic of Africanized bees which build closer to the ground, so I'm hoping they are not going to be a problem for us. Later that evening we also discovered we have a thriving tarantula community. Drew and I laid down to star gaze on a hillside dominated by an outcropping of flat granite rock. The hillside looked and felt like frosting dripping off a cake, and was still warm from the days sun. It seemed like a great spot for star gazing. After completely enjoying the view of the pastures and night sky, I sat up having flet a suspicious touch near my ankle. I looked down, then moved further in until, just a foot from my face I said, "It looks like a spider!" Drew identified it quickly and since it was nearly two inches long, we ran quickly down from the rock.
Oh, and then there's the mountain lioness and her cub. The dirt roads and the pond banks are all littered with their foot prints. Mountain lions, or pumas, are commonly called the ghost cat, since they are rarely ever seen. As we explored a less used road at the top of the land we stopped a few times to pause and listen as Drew suspected something was us. We continued walking and rounded a bend in the road when I heard a cup meow and the Drew saw an adult cat leap into a tree. They were far enough down the hill that all we thought to do was leave and we did quickly. Ususally you are not to run from a preditor, but we did. We are always sure to look up in trees when we are walking and to always be aware of everything around us. As long as we don't surprise or frighten them, we are sure they will not harm us.
On a more pleasant note, we enjoyed ended the evening by watching the solo night flight of a owl as he/she flew back and forth along the dirt road. That was sweet.

Aug. 13 The Ranch Project

Drew and I, or really Drew has found an amazing amount, 220 acres to be exact, of beautiful, water-rich land for us to...well, someday hopefully own. We are in a lease-to-own agreement with a year and a half to raise money for a down-payment. That's the lowdown, folks. I thought it would be fun to record the many dreams, dramas, frustrations and elations we go through during the initial start-up and nurture of this crazy adventure, which, to clarify, is to develop a sucessful, sustainable homestead, farm and ranch. I thought of naming the place The Farm Ranch, Green Mountain Ranch, or Mountainside Ranch - or maybe Hidden Potrero Ranch. We are taking suggestions, if you got any!

We have 200 acres, 4 ponds, an amazing stream, a stone dam, multiply natural waterfalls, fields of barley and buckwheat, manzanita bushes, oak and sycamore trees, wild ducks, a huge bee hive, a mountain lion family, and a half mile of black berries that we hope will be ripe in a few weeks. We are surrounded to the north and east by the Cleveland National Forest and other land preserves. Wow!

We are interested, initially, in setting up a homestead type situation, which will include using natural building materials, and following ecological, sustainable, permaculture principials. We are only interested in independent, off-grid energy systems, such as solar and wind power. We will rely entirely on well water for drinking, and spring water and rainwater catchment systems for irrigation and raising the ponds.

I hope to put pictures up soon. To learn more about the area and town of Protrero, Ca., check out this cool link http://www.potreroplanninggroup.com/

Rudolf Steiner and Biodynamic Agriculture

Rudolf Steiner and Biodynamic Agriculture site to visit: http://www.biodynamics.com/biodynamics.html

City Farmers Nursery

Super yummy recipes taught by Jessica of Yum! Superfoods

Carrot-Walnut Dip: Combine 3-4 cups of Cooked Carrots, approx. 1 cup of ground toasted Walnuts, 1 bunch of dried Thyme, small hand-full of Garlic (crushed or shredded), approx. 1 cup Olive oil, approx. 1 tsp hot chili powder, sea salt, and water from carrots to thin. Combined at your descretion. Mix together in food processor, or blender. Makes excellent dip or spread for cooked or raw veggies or to put in collard wraps or ravioli.

Pesto: Fresh Basil (chopped), macadamian nuts (ground), toasted walnuts (ground), 1 zest of lemon, approx. half cup of almond butter (if it's on hand), olive oil (approx. half cup or more), garlic (shredded), sea salt. Combine at your descretion. Mix together in food processor or blender. Makes excellent dip or spread for cooked or raw veggies or to put in collard wraps or ravioli.

Sweet Beet Dressing: 1 boiled skinned Beet, Fresh Dill and Parsely, Dried Coliander & Paprika, Almond Butter, Olive Oil, 1 Lemon Zest, Garlic, Onion, Tomato, Honey, Sea Salt. Combined at your descretion. Mix together in food processor, or blender. Makes excellent dip or spread for cooked or raw veggies or to put in collard wraps.