There’s nothing more delicious than
inspiration leading to action
Welcome to the art/life trail and to the third Wednesday installment where BD and I take turns sharing our tree farm adventure…today we go inside to see the space that welcomes us once we dream of moving from this to the next step…
After 2.5 years we had become adept at tent camping. We could haul gear over creek and up hill, set the tents and everything else needed, (food, clothing, water, etc.) for each long weekend.
Becoming more familiar with the landscape and its regrowth we felt it was time to stake out the location for a small cabin. With marker flags pounded into the ground we could visualize the size, setting and orientation.
BD has a well developed gift for research having been an Information Specialist for the city before she turned her attention to tree farming. She considered the variables for what would serve as our off-the-grid get-away. By mid-summer 2012 she hired a carpenter to build the shell from her cabin design sketch.
A few trips to the Renew Store and she had a collection of windows and 2 nine light steel doors.
In September the basic structure was up and we quickly graduated from tent camping to a 16 x 24′ unfinished but basically weather tight cabin. It was beyond exciting to have a door to open! It was a simple thrill to lie on the cot gazing into the high open rafters listening to rain patter on the metal roof.
Before the insulation and interior walls went up we moved our basic camp furniture into the space. Rugs went down, the antique jelly cabinet from the Michigan farm went up giving us a place to stow dry food.
The East porch and the sleeping loft above offer sky gazing and moon rising.
With no walls, no insulation and no caulking in place the cabin gave us shelter but warmth was another issue. The first winter those long weekends were a testament to our commitment. For heat we had a small propane heater which even after hours only warmed the area close by. The unit could not be safely run indoors through the night. Backpacking sleeping bags and the right attitude to the rescue and we were prepared for that part of the adventure.
When the Piedmont temps dove into the low teens the interior of the cabin would be the same turning the vase of flowers on the table into a block of ice.
Since all aspects of the tree farm experience unfold in steps and stages it would be another year before we had stuffed all the insulation between the studs and up into the pitch of the rafters.
It would then be many months before the walls were up…and painted. More finishing work remains to be done in the cabin, however it’s the cozy oasis that we had talked about and dreamed of back in the tent camping days.
Now there is a vent-less propane fireplace as well as the luxury of a propane refrigerator, these appliances have great stories…helping us constantly remember that…dream it…it will come.
While interior steps continued BD built the bath house where the Nature’s Head composting toilet and sun shower live.
She also built the West porch making this little cabin space … with each action … more ‘home away home’.
Missed a Tree Farm chapter? Here they are:
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
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This is just lovely—from inspiration to inception to reality. And there it is—how to create a change that allows for exactly what you want.
May you spend many, many lovely hours there. Enjoy!
Thanks so much Stephanie … we so appreciate your well-wishes sprinkled over our endeavor…each step is a step into the unknown…each curve in each newly cleared pathway creates a whole new vista. Pretty cool so far ‘-)
Pretty cool indeed! 🙂
And what a cozy home you’ve created for humans and for all the creatures that now inhabit your farm. It’s an inspiration and joy to see the evolution from the raw cold elements into the wonderful, inviting cabin in the teenage woods.
Thank you both so much for sharing this story.
Thank you Linda ~
Your comment mirrors the feelings that I have each time we arrive at the farm.
Following our 3.5 hour drive from the beach to the Virginia Piedmont, we drive off-road about 1500 feet.
I unlock the front gate, and get back into the car. We slowly make our way winding down and then up the 1/4 mile gravel driveway.
The path up to the cabin literally goes ‘over the river (creek bed) and through the woods’…to a different way of being.
I’m experiencing, first hand, a simplified relationship with what I call Natural/Circadian time…I’m inspired by an elemental joy that infuses the hours and days.
This is just fantabulous. You gals are amazing! The inspiration is so wonderful and the hard work of manifesting has not prevented you from realizing your dream. An inspiration for all of us!
Hello Kristy … Your word covers it ‘-)
Fantabulous, indeed!!
It is some of THE hardest physical work with THE most amazing results coming to meet us.
I often view the land as BD’s canvas. She had the dream and the vision. She did the initial research and took the action. Now, we each make our marks. We each are getting familiar with all the layers of growth and regeneration as they appear, season by season, year by year.
Fantabulous ‘-)
I love these posts showcasing the development of the Dream Come True. Kudos for your perseverance and love of the land.
Thanks Sunny … I hope this monthly installment offers inspiration.
BD and I are watching our Blue Bird Gulch adventure unfold one step atta time.
We love the idea of our short Tree Farm reports encouraging others to research the next step in their dream.