Road base and fence posts

To alleviate our problem of getting the van and big trailer stuck in the sand, we had a couple of loads of road base delivered out to the land. While I tried to spread a little around with a shovel, I realized the job was too big for my out of shape body, and we are waiting to spread it out when we rent the skid steer on Saturday.

Road base delivery

We are still working on the culvert, adding rocks to keep the sand from filling it, and to keep big trucks from driving over the edges.

We also put in some fence posts to get ready to string up the field fence and make a few pens for the critters. Richard did a wonderful job on the H braces on either side of the driveway.

H braces at driveway

We are still packing and moving stuff a little at a time. Fairy Dust still has not dropped her kid, but every day we are convinced it will be today. Coco is doing well, hopping and jumping about like a baby goat should. His disbudding took well and it looks like we won't have to do it again. He's a nice looking buckling.

Coco

Our 1650 gallon cistern was delivered to the rental farm today.  Now, we have to figure out how to get it to the land near Alamosa. I am hoping it will fit in the big stock trailer.

Cistern delivery - one of those is ours

Richard finally found a well pump he thinks will work with our one solar panel we have been dragging around with us. It's ordered and on its way.

We are cleaning and prepping the camper and getting ready to move little stuff in. It's time. In fact, time is running fast now and we have 30 days to pull this altogether and get ourselves and our entire farm moved.

Time is running on the Indiegogo campaign too (31 days left), and it seems like there isn't enough interest there, but thanks again to those who have contributed. Maybe people are financially strapped. Maybe people are simply afraid (of what? It's all legal. It's not marijuana.). Or maybe people just don't know that Hemp has the potential to save our ailing planet and endangered humanity. In any case, the Hemp Project marches forward. We will carry on, no matter how much funding we get, although every little bit helps.

Pet rocks and new dreams in new places

This week we are making pet rocks. Why not? For two little kids who make pets out of paper, this seemed like a good project.






We are also learning about insects and pollinators. I am eager to finally land and really begin to build a flower garden. And bees...I have wanted to get bees for about four years now.

7 yr old daughter's pollinators

5 yr old son's pollinator

On Tuesday we are going to close on a piece of land near Alamosa. 37 acres of sand, salt bush, rabbit brush and cactus. Plus wide open blue skies, the towering protection of Mt Blanca, mountains in every direction you look, and pure silence. Until we get there with the kids anyway.

Mt Blanca

Land near Alamosa

Let the plan be reborn in a new place. We are planning on building an Earthbag house. The benefits of this location are the shallow water table under our feet, the close proximity to town, passable roads, and the affordability of such a large piece of land. Plus, we can grow hemp here, if we figure it out. Hemp is supposed to help marginal soils, which is definitely what we have on this new piece of property. Hemp, in my opinion, has the potential to save the planet. Hemp can replace petroleum in every way, and then some. It will replenish the soils, can be used in building materials, can be used as medicine (hemp seed is powerfully nutritious) and grows fast. Cannabis is good too and has its benefits as well, but industrial grade hemp is the answer to a lot of the problems facing the planet and humanity right now.

I have been scouting out rvs, trying to decide between a trailer and a motor home. Some of the trailers are really big and will be hard to tow, even with our old van. But, depending on what we choose, I'd like to be able to use it in the future to travel around a bit. I still want to go to Mexico, even if only for a visit. We are debating the rv as a potential living space as we build. As we have learned, it is too hard to build if you are not living there too. There just isn't the time, and so much energy is lost in commuting. Plus, it's just easier to stay home if the motivation is waning.

We will hold onto our Taos land for a while and perhaps we will build there too in the future. I can collect sage there and maybe the energy of the NM mountains. It is a beautiful place, but so hard to get too. I think maybe the road is seasonal, and not passable in the Taos mud seasons. Or maybe we will sell it and let someone else carry on the dream. It is a nice, peaceful place.

The wind is back. It is spring, isn't it? Everything not tied down or inside is blowing away. Wind season has just begun. I need to make my peace with the wind. Still, there is excitement in the air and so much potential blowing around. I welcome change and new opportunities.