Having cleared and stacked all the trees, we prepared the cabin site. Since then, we've meticulously strung the guidelines for the main cabin structure. Cat hadn't realized how painstaking it would be to repeatedly measure and re-measure to ensure everything was perfectly square – though Rick certainly did! He was a licensed contractor in past years. We marked each pier location with a painted dot, then took a well-deserved weekend off. We purchased tickets long ago for The Self Reliance Festival in Camden, Tennessee.
The festival was just over an hour away, but we didn't mind the drive, enjoying the new scenery and scouting potential future destinations. We had a fantastic time! While we primarily went to see a few YouTubers we follow, we thoroughly enjoyed all the speakers and browsing the vendor sections, where we picked up a few items. Our first must-see speaker was Brooke Whipple from Girl in the Woods, also known for her two seasons on Alone. The second was Sean from Off Grid and Growing. They were the ones that turned us on to Landstruck. Both delivered excellent talks. Afterward, we chatted with them and even got some photos. I might have acquired a few fruit bushes! We also bought some hot sauce for Rick and salted caramel sauce for Cat. We also met another YouTuber, Brenda from Pop Up Homestead, who had a booth selling seeds, homemade remedies, and other unique items. We truly enjoyed her and her husband, Shawn; they've definitely have become friends. They've invited us to visit their homestead for dinner, offering valuable insights and inviting us to their local homesteaders' Facebook page. We're so excited to attend more events and connect with new people.
We were eager to start on our cabin, but then two days of rain arrived. One day was spent running errands, and the next, we tackled small projects between showers. We assembled and began filling our raised beds, but we've run out of filler dirt and don't want to use all our good compost for just one bed, so those are on hold for now. This project served a dual purpose: I used up all the cardboard from our pile and spread mulch around the beds as much as possible. I'll need to get the chipper out when things slow down. To get more fill dirt, Cat dug the hole for our small pond and installed the liner. We've been collecting rocks from our land and around the community, and lined the edges of the pond. Now we just need to add water and the fountain that arrived today. Rick finished the final cleaning of the IBC totes, so we can now officially collect bulk water.
We placed our supply order for the last exterior cabin components. Our friend Chad filled our IBC tote, along with some neighbors' totes, ensuring we were ready for 'go time.' We then picked up rocks for the bottom of the pier holes. On Thursday, we dug the pier holes, thrilled to be making progress. Rick made and placed the forms on top of the holes, and yes, we measured and re-measured again to prevent any shifting. On Friday, Rick further excavated the holes and added the rocks, which was an all-day task. Cat focused on the pond rocks and clearing the food forest area so our plants can finally leave their pots. The poor things have been in there for a long time, but we had no choice. That evening, we met M & M for a very yummy dinner at the local Mexican restaurant; we definitely need to go back.
Today was concrete day! Another long day, but all the concrete and anchors are now in place. Unfortunately, we have to wait five days for them to cure, but we can work on other projects in the meantime. After we finished, we helped M & M install their mailbox. We have an auger, and it makes quick work. Needless to say, we came home, had an easy dinner, and relaxed. We feel a great sense of accomplishment now that the two most challenging homestead tasks—clearing trees and foundation work—are done. It should be smooth sailing from here on out, or so we'll tell ourselves! Took a little time to decorate for Halloween.
Remember Small Steps Get You Miles
Rick & Cat
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