“Hoolyloop house”

It only lasted a few days.  Almost three year olds have an annoying habit of loosing some of the cure ‘ism’s far too soon.  When two, our little one called hula-hoops ‘hoolyloops’ and would correct you if you said it right.  I mean, she’s a kid, she knows what they are really called, right?  Well as we finished the hoop house this spring, she did manage to mispronounce ‘hoop house’ enough to take the name on.  For a while.  She now corrects us “no daddy, da hOOp houtse”  ”Dilly Daddy”….  Ah kids.

So here it is, in pictorial story.  I’ll narrate (just in case you can’t tell plastic from grass, and a pipe from a board).

Site selection

Starting the sleeve, finished with the 2×4 for a coushin

Neighbors helping out.. I love our neighbors.

The added benefit of the screw into the ledger through the PVC, it kept the hoop from digging into the ground.

The helpful little farmer.

These people are the three reasons I farm. Growing our own (eggs, chicken, veggies, honey, milk etc) lets us feel like we are giving them the best we possibly can. We started with cold frames in the hoop house for two reasons, 1- chickens 2- they are that much warmer, and 3- the ground is still too wet to work (oops, I suppose that’s three)

The legs are from an old picnic table, it would be in here, but the wood finally gave up the fight against the PNW’s wood killing weather. The legs are GREAT though!

Here we have the clean out crew at work. So far I have hauled out a big load of ‘thatch’ and they are getting into bare dirt in places now… And as soon as the ground drys out I’ll kick them out and direct seed.
There it is so far! I am sure you’ll see more of this summer!

Edit: It was brought to my attention that this pile of photos needed some hard metrics and explanations…

The size of this house was 11.5′ by 30′, dictated by the size of the 6 mil plastic that I could get pre-cut (at 24′ by 50′).  My logic was to have two feet on either side to secure, and 10′ hanging down at each end to tuck in and secure in the door way.  The PVC is 1″ schedule 40 and as my day job is as an electrical PM and estimator, I was able to coerce a supply house to deliver 20′ conduits (so I don’t have a joint at the peak) to the farm.  It cost me an additional $6 total.  The peak of the roof is at about 7′ 6″ (depending on how deep the low spot  you are in is), and if I had made the house a full 12 or even 13′ wide, I would probably still be able to walk around in it no problem.  The pipes that we drove into the ground were 1 1/4″ cut down to 2′ 6″ and pounded about a foot and a half into the ground.  As there is so much of them above ground, I think they help keep the 1″ ribs running vertically a little further from the ground (and that helps with the headroom).  The ridge pipe (a 3/4″ pvc pipe) is there to keep the ribs at the same distance apart, and to give me a place to hang plants, or tie up tomatoes.  The two side ones are for the same purpose.  They ridge poles are screwed to the ribs (careful to have the screw not be long enough to reach all the way to the plastic.

The 2×4 on the bottom probably could have been 2×6′s, but I was trying to stay under a $300 budget.  The support pipes have a 3″ wood screw through them, into the 2×4, and this acts as a stop for the 1″ ribs.  The plastic is rolled around the second 2×4 and they are screwed together, sandwiching the plastic between them.  The main purposes for the 2×4′s at the bottom are for 1-weight, to hold the entire thing down, 2- give a place to secure the plastic 3- provide an anchor for the support pipes.

I could have done the entire thing solo, but it was really nice to have a couple of extra hands to keep moving with assembly as I head scratched my way through some ‘engineering issues”.  I was able to get the plastic over on my own, but took my time with it.

If I was to do one thing differently next time, it would be to have the perimeter prepped, so that the 2×4 sits in better contact wit the soil.  There is a bit of an air gap, ad I can feel the cold air coming in with the wind.  I assume this gap will be filled by soil as I bring manure into the hoolyloop house.

Soul Sister…

So.  The hoop house isn’t done.  Not even close.  I think she felt left out, and I suppose that’s not all her fault.  Last April we spent some quality time at Skagit Valley Hospital.  So she decided to give their spa services a shot.  Twice.  For a total of over three weeks (and counting).

I am in truth making light of what’s been a rather gnarly few weeks.  I’ll spare you all the details, as they involve gastric issues similar to what my dear sweet wife has gone through.  And it’s her sister, so there is that stress, added to it their three kids (all home schooled as well), and the crazy work schedule that my brother in law has.  It’s been kind of  ’all hands on deck’ and with the support of the community around us we are making it all work.

She seems to be on the upswing now, thank goodness, after having things done to her that I though they stopped after the Spanish Inquisition.  In some ways it’s been really great, I’ve had loads of time with my nephews, had practice cooking for a family of 7 or 8, trying to pick up the loose ends (read: wow my wife does a lot when I am at work!) and enjoying some truly entertaining texts with a highly medicated individual.  For her sake I am hoping she’s home soon.  For my sake I hope she’s home soon too.  She really is the big sister I always wanted when I was growing up.  She came as a bonus when I got married, lucky guy that I am.

Come home soon!

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Our Turn!! Hooping it up at Adalyn Farm.

I got the coolest Christmas present from my wife this year.  The box was about 6×6 and an inch thick.  Inside were 12 flexible drinking straws and a chunk of plastic wrap, and a note.  ”your own hoop house, just add water”.  I’ve been sinning thinking of the hoop house over at my folks farm.  Sin is bad, and with my wife’s help, I will overcome it  I’ll try to remember to take some photos, but so you can see what we are in for, here’s the post from a couple years ago at my folks place…

August 2009
It was really fun last weekend!  My folks had some milestone birthdays and a whole pile of folks showed up for food fun and hoop housing!  Lots of people I didn’t know (that doesn’t surprise me) and lots of folks I did!  It was a great success!  I’ve managed a work party or two, and unless you are used to coordinating tasks and materials for 15-20 people it can be a bit overwhelming.  It really did go well, with all but the front door done and the plastic over the top!  Here are a few shots….

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You have the power to do something about food labeling.

Would you want to know if peanuts were in the meal you were about to enjoy?  Probably if you were allergic.  Otherwise, maybe not.  But what if it was something else.  A man-made ‘something’ that could do you and your future children great harm?  Something that most of the other developed countries (Canada,  most of Europe, and Japan too I think) don’t allow, and in fact are thinking of banning US imports of food stuffs due to its prevalent, unlabeled presence in the US food supply.

I’m talking about GMO’s.  Plants that have had the DNA from other plants and animals spliced into their code to some ‘greater purpose’.  Currently there is little to no labeling requirements for GMO foods.  By definition ”Organic” food cannot contain GMO’s, but other than that, all bets are off.  Up until now the government has not required companies to label their food when it contains GMO products or by-products.  Fruits, vegetables, sweeteners, fiber additives, anything with corn or soy, (and as these last two are fed to cattle) meats and dairy are all allowed to contain GMO’s without labeling.

There is a Bill due to be voted on that will require labeling of GMO foods.  There is more information here: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e5hef8bfd71360f1&llr=h4hsqkiab.  If you want this bill to be passed so that we know what is in our food, write to your state representatives.

If your knowledge of GMO’s doesn’t scare you enough, take a look at the following article.  Especially if you or anyone you know has any type of intestinal issues (Crones, IBS, Diverticulitis…), auto-immune diseases (Crohn’s, Rheumatoid Arthritis…) or allergies.  Oh, and for what it’s worth, farmer J started having her lower GI issues in late 1996….  Read to the end of the article to see why this is a big deal…  http://www.responsibletechnology.org/blog/1412.

Snow Day!

Most of you in the PNW will get that today was a big day.  Big snow day that is!  We normally get a little dusting once or twice each year, but with a touch over a foot on the ground at our place now, and more supposedly on it’s way, we have been loving it.  Not to say it’s without hardship.  My lunch hour today was spent pushing snow around.  Our loafing sheds were not built with the intent of supporting more than a foot or so of snow, and so, as I wrapped up with some of the day job work, and had a quick bite, I had to commit the next hour to snow clearing.  The last time I had to do this was several years ago, at about 11pm, with my wife in the hospital (20 weeks pregnant with our second child) and our first, at 4 years old, tucked into bed.  I had the baby monitor on my hip and as I struggled to the top of the step ladder with the push broom, I though to myself “please Lord, just don’t let the power go out” cue the drums, and snap lights out.  3, 2, 1…  and back on again.  I didn’t know if I should laugh or cry…

Today was much better.  I didn’t drag the SLR around with me, but snapped a few quick shots with the cell phone…

Chickens don’t mind the snow, if cracked corn is involved.  Ducks don’t seem to mind either way.  Unless large globs of snow are falling off the trees, then it’s every duck for herself!

That would be the pygora (with the high end thick warm coat) coming out of the loafing shed.  The Nubians? no thank you.

I managed to break the handle off the broom (I supposed they are not meant to push 14″ of snow around), and while in the new tool shed replacing it (can you believe I actually had a spare?) a House Wren managed to fly in the open door…  Very confused about getting out, but he finally figured it out.

Paths were cleared for the turkeys to get to the water as well.  Apparently they don’t have the ground clearance for deep snow…

The two edged sword of working from home?  I ended up working till right before dinner, cause well, I was almost done, right?

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‘Tis the winter of our discontent’

Probably better to say ‘we hope the winter of our discontent is behind us’.  I know it’s still winter, in fact we had our first snow yesterday, and they say more is on it’s way, and frankly I have a lot of hope for this winter (or what’s left of if) and for the rest of 2012.  That’s not to say 2012 has gotten off to an auspicious start.  I am cautiously optimistic that the five plus days of influenza that completely leveled the oldest and youngest members of the family are behind us.  The past week has not been without excitement, a 105 fever in our youngest was her first chance to go to a hospital as the patient (my girls do love to go to the hospital!).  Her stay was brief (less than two hours on site), and I was grateful to see them home, as I had my own 103 fever.  The only one to emerge unscathed was Mommy (Mom’s never get a break do they?)

We are as always hopeful about what the future may hold.  Our goat Pollyanna is back from her boyfriends, and although she doesn’t look pregnant, our little weather is about as disinterested in her as he could be.  She brought a friend with her as well.  Eloise has come to live with us.  And heavy with child is probably an understatement.  I’ll get some photos for her own post, but she is now the largest goat in out herd, and Polly looks small next to her…  We are looking forward to late spring, and fresh milk from our own goats again!

We have also made some feed changes at the farm.  Although we will not be getting ‘Organic Certified’ (probably worth it’s own post) we will be feeding an all organic diet to the food animals on the farm.  The chickens went Organic around Christmas, and the goats are down to the last 8-12# of 100% natural but non-organic feed.  My goal is to source as much raw organic feed locally as we can (grains and such) for all the animals.  A hoop house and more gardening are also in the plans, along with cutting out some things that we have deemed ‘time sucks’ for us.  More on that later as well…

For now, it’s a warm fire, food and waiting till things start growing outside again.

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It’s good to be two.

And have a little friend.  Who’s too polite to leave…

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The Gift…

It’s that time.  With all the hoopla over Santa, and the ‘culture war’ that seems to pit the ‘keep Christ in Christmas’ with folks who don’t care where Bethlehem is, it seems like some quite would be in order.  It’s my favorite part of the candle light service.  The hush, and the light.  If you want to admit it or not, it’s the season to give, for we have all received so much…

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Up a tree…

This is from the farm of one of the friends who I got to help getting into beekeeping this year.  I’ve been meaning to share it for some time now, but finally here it is.  Our friend is great, she’s our on call goat expert, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen her without a smile on her face.  Her kids are great too, quick to help with our girls and always polite and friendly.  They have a great place, with lots of the same kinds of critters, I can’t remember the cat’s name, but it’s got to be good.  The dog’s name is Guess.

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Gobbled up!

Gone again.  The leftovers didn’t hold over as long as I had hoped.  Oh well.  The carcase, along with some chicken parts, are waiting in the freezer to be made into stock.  I hope to post the process we use here (as it will be our first time making chicken stock).  For some reason we have always made soup out of the old hens and turkeys….  This year we still have left overs from last year (with turkeys in the freezer still).

Here’s what we did for the rest of the weekend.  Big trip to the city to watch them light up down town Seattle.  Christmas tree hunting, and a baptism!  Full weekend!

 

It’s all a accelerating downhill run from here!

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