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/
