The start
My new adventure in life started in October 2016. At 50 years of age, I became an empty nester and a divorced woman after 21 years of marriage. I was on a new path in life. I bought a small 1962 brick ranch home on 0.6 acres of land in the city limits of the small town that I had resided in since 2007.
I was working part time at my dream job of teaching biology as an adjunct instructor at a private christian college. This job and making the new house a home helped me get through the first few months of adjustment. I ripped up carpet, had hardwoods installed, built book shelves, had asphalt driveway torn up for a nice concrete one, had a fence installed, built a chicken coop/run area, rescued a 8 month old dog, took in a feral cat to rehabilitate, accepted a 6 week old puppy foundling and ordered 10 baby chickens that came via the US Postal system. I joined a motorcycle riding club and a church too--I figured I needed to get out there as well and knitting group or swimming were not really enough. I kept myself busy to say the least. And this got me to May of 2017.
I am an outdoor person and I wanted to create the ultimate backyard. I had ordered 5 cubes of brick pavers to pave over the old concrete patio and to make brick paths in the yard. During this time, I thought how cool it would be to have a greenhouse and so I thought about building one from scratch. I was thinking that besides fresh eggs, maybe I could do more with my yard.
I could not raise chickens for food as I live in the city limits and can only have hens, 4 to be precise. I actually owned 10 for a year, but lost 2. So, I was thinking of what I could raise in the city limits. I thought about rabbits but I had never eaten rabbit so I needed to see if I could eat one. I had a friend catch me a wild rabbit and I cooked/ate it. It was a bit gamey and I had difficulty eating it. Another friend helped me obtain a farm raised rabbit and that was quite tasty. However, I realized that I could never kill a rabbit so, i scrapped that idea. The greenhouse idea was still there for growing plants. However, I mentioned to a friend that I wished I could put in a big pond and raise fish for food. She suggested doing aquaponics. I had never heard of aquaponics so off I went to research this idea. I fixated on it and decided I had to do.
I spent the summer reading about and watching the sun's travels across my yard. I worked in yard cleaning more up as the yard was really overgrown/neglected. The house had been vacant a year before I bought it. I was not renewed to teach again so for the first time in like forever, I was unemployed. What a weird situation. I do receive alimony so I can live off of that as long as I am frugal. So, frugal I became.
I paved over the old concrete patio--a 24x24 plus shaped design. The patio had the small pebbles glued onto it, a popular idea in the 70's I think but certainly not now. The patio was dated IMO. So, I paved over it. I mulched it the dirt areas and planted fruiting bushes and trees. I was creating an area where I hoped the dogs would leave alone so I could have fruit. I am still working on teaching the pups not to eat my trees/shrubs. I redid the rock pathway to my swing. And around Christmas time, my mom came into some money and bequeathed some to her children and grandchildren. She told me to have fun with it and dream. So, I did--I decided to buy a greenhouse kit instead of building one from scratch. I had built a tree fort for my girls years ago so I knew I could do a greenhouse, but I figured a kit would be SO MUCH easier. I dreamed big and ordered a Cedar Built Greenhouse--this is a Canadian company that reclaims cedar instead of chopping trees down, and makes the wood into greenhouses. I ordered a 10x12 foot greenhouse. It would take a few months to be made/arrive so I had time to finish figuring out location of greenhouse and do the foundation.
I used cedar 4x4's for the foundation edge and layed the brick pavers in a basket weave pattern on sand for the foundation. I wished I had learned about squaring before I did that. I learned about that when I had to start greenhouse. Needless to say, foundation not squared but it looks okay so I am fine with it.
The kit arrived in 7 wooden crates, weighing about 1500 pounds. I had to have the delivery man help me move crates into my garage. What a chore. It took me one night to open crates--the staples were an inch long I think. It took me another few days to open crates and get pieces out and figured out what was what. Some parts of crates were screwed down too--that took me a bit to figure why I could not beat the wood off. Needless to say, I was exhausted every day.
I had planned on hiring a friend who was a handyman and his assistant to help me build the greenhouse as I figured it would be too much for me. However, my friend bailed on me--still don't know why. I started the greenhouse building by myself and have continued to do all by myself. I did have help with the ridge beam installation as that sucker was too heavy for me to lift by myself.
I am finishing up with the window installation, so I am about 75% done with the greenhouse construction. I got an estimate for electrical wiring and connecting to house power and so, that should be done soon and then I can get the greenhouse inspected by county. Then I am in business.
The main reason I started this blog is because I figured this might be a good site for someone to get info regarding making a mini farm on a small plot of land. Maybe from my mistakes--which I had made quite a few and will probably continue to do--someone might learn and not repeat.
I have pictures of my progress and will post them as well. I have named my mini farm, "Laughing Frog's Pad". I like frogs--I have a frog tattoo. Although the name sounds more like a hippy commune, and I must admit I am slightly hippy, it is the name of my minifarm and my craft company--I make items and sell them at times. For 20+ years I was a housewife/stay at home mom, working part time. Now I am semi retired and a mini farmer. I already sell my surplus eggs and home made soap. Soon I hope to sell fresh veggies and fish.
Welcome to my blog.
I was working part time at my dream job of teaching biology as an adjunct instructor at a private christian college. This job and making the new house a home helped me get through the first few months of adjustment. I ripped up carpet, had hardwoods installed, built book shelves, had asphalt driveway torn up for a nice concrete one, had a fence installed, built a chicken coop/run area, rescued a 8 month old dog, took in a feral cat to rehabilitate, accepted a 6 week old puppy foundling and ordered 10 baby chickens that came via the US Postal system. I joined a motorcycle riding club and a church too--I figured I needed to get out there as well and knitting group or swimming were not really enough. I kept myself busy to say the least. And this got me to May of 2017.
I am an outdoor person and I wanted to create the ultimate backyard. I had ordered 5 cubes of brick pavers to pave over the old concrete patio and to make brick paths in the yard. During this time, I thought how cool it would be to have a greenhouse and so I thought about building one from scratch. I was thinking that besides fresh eggs, maybe I could do more with my yard.
I could not raise chickens for food as I live in the city limits and can only have hens, 4 to be precise. I actually owned 10 for a year, but lost 2. So, I was thinking of what I could raise in the city limits. I thought about rabbits but I had never eaten rabbit so I needed to see if I could eat one. I had a friend catch me a wild rabbit and I cooked/ate it. It was a bit gamey and I had difficulty eating it. Another friend helped me obtain a farm raised rabbit and that was quite tasty. However, I realized that I could never kill a rabbit so, i scrapped that idea. The greenhouse idea was still there for growing plants. However, I mentioned to a friend that I wished I could put in a big pond and raise fish for food. She suggested doing aquaponics. I had never heard of aquaponics so off I went to research this idea. I fixated on it and decided I had to do.
I spent the summer reading about and watching the sun's travels across my yard. I worked in yard cleaning more up as the yard was really overgrown/neglected. The house had been vacant a year before I bought it. I was not renewed to teach again so for the first time in like forever, I was unemployed. What a weird situation. I do receive alimony so I can live off of that as long as I am frugal. So, frugal I became.
I paved over the old concrete patio--a 24x24 plus shaped design. The patio had the small pebbles glued onto it, a popular idea in the 70's I think but certainly not now. The patio was dated IMO. So, I paved over it. I mulched it the dirt areas and planted fruiting bushes and trees. I was creating an area where I hoped the dogs would leave alone so I could have fruit. I am still working on teaching the pups not to eat my trees/shrubs. I redid the rock pathway to my swing. And around Christmas time, my mom came into some money and bequeathed some to her children and grandchildren. She told me to have fun with it and dream. So, I did--I decided to buy a greenhouse kit instead of building one from scratch. I had built a tree fort for my girls years ago so I knew I could do a greenhouse, but I figured a kit would be SO MUCH easier. I dreamed big and ordered a Cedar Built Greenhouse--this is a Canadian company that reclaims cedar instead of chopping trees down, and makes the wood into greenhouses. I ordered a 10x12 foot greenhouse. It would take a few months to be made/arrive so I had time to finish figuring out location of greenhouse and do the foundation.
I used cedar 4x4's for the foundation edge and layed the brick pavers in a basket weave pattern on sand for the foundation. I wished I had learned about squaring before I did that. I learned about that when I had to start greenhouse. Needless to say, foundation not squared but it looks okay so I am fine with it.
The kit arrived in 7 wooden crates, weighing about 1500 pounds. I had to have the delivery man help me move crates into my garage. What a chore. It took me one night to open crates--the staples were an inch long I think. It took me another few days to open crates and get pieces out and figured out what was what. Some parts of crates were screwed down too--that took me a bit to figure why I could not beat the wood off. Needless to say, I was exhausted every day.
I had planned on hiring a friend who was a handyman and his assistant to help me build the greenhouse as I figured it would be too much for me. However, my friend bailed on me--still don't know why. I started the greenhouse building by myself and have continued to do all by myself. I did have help with the ridge beam installation as that sucker was too heavy for me to lift by myself.
I am finishing up with the window installation, so I am about 75% done with the greenhouse construction. I got an estimate for electrical wiring and connecting to house power and so, that should be done soon and then I can get the greenhouse inspected by county. Then I am in business.
The main reason I started this blog is because I figured this might be a good site for someone to get info regarding making a mini farm on a small plot of land. Maybe from my mistakes--which I had made quite a few and will probably continue to do--someone might learn and not repeat.
I have pictures of my progress and will post them as well. I have named my mini farm, "Laughing Frog's Pad". I like frogs--I have a frog tattoo. Although the name sounds more like a hippy commune, and I must admit I am slightly hippy, it is the name of my minifarm and my craft company--I make items and sell them at times. For 20+ years I was a housewife/stay at home mom, working part time. Now I am semi retired and a mini farmer. I already sell my surplus eggs and home made soap. Soon I hope to sell fresh veggies and fish.
Welcome to my blog.
Hey old friend. Looks you're building something special in your life, and I both applaud and cherish your creation...Peace out...
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