Starting Out

Here are a few photos of our place and what we have to work with. You will notice that we do not have any trees. This used to be a crop field. It still has the rows in it. You should try riding a tractor over it.

Front yard from the road. We live in the trailer and the trees outline our land. We have just about 2 1/3 acres.

This is the left side of the property. The deep grass is where our garden will be. Believe it or not that deep grass is full of watermelons. The building in the back is our 1500 square foot workshop.

This was a storage building that I had turned into a dog kennel. Now it will be the new home for our laying birds. Notice the five exterior nest boxes. The interior is unfinished. I refuse to spend money on it so construction goes as material is found. I will post videos of Krysta and me building it later.

You can see the cement run left over from the kennel. No predators digging into there. I will be adding a roof also.

Four Muskadine grapevines in the back corner. I plan to add a variety later.

Some used tires I got free. These will make compost bins and I will post how I prepare them and how they work later. I found this on another homesteaders website and thought it was better, faster, and cheaper to start than wood construction.

It looks like a storm is on the way. So I better batten down the hatches.

Trip to hidden haven homestead

Yesterday I decide on a whim to take a short road trip. I got my wife and daughter into the car and headed to Fayetteville, NC. A short 100 miles later we pulled up to Hidden Haven Homestead, the home of Peggy & William Lineberry. The first thing I see is a big iguana in a cage. Due to my late decision to take the trip we arrived just as William and Peggy were sitting down to lunch. I told them I would come back later but they would not have it. Being as gracious as they are they postponed their lunch to show us around.

Hidden Haven is about the size of my place which is why it appealed to me and prompted the trip. The Homestead is inconspicuous and tucked back off the road about 150 yards. I was surprised at the diversity of the livestock. Peggy and William walked us around their place telling us about their different animals and activities. They had various chickens both layers and meat as well as turkeys, pigs (some of which they were watching for a friend in the military), and rabbits of both the meat and pet variety. They had ducks as well swimming in little kiddie pools. They had goats as well. It was hot outside but they did not seem to mind. Peggy was so kind to give my 9 year old daughter a tiny rabbit. She toted it around until it got thirsty then was given another to carry. I told my daughter to her dismay that we could not take it home because we had no hutch for it. Peggy told my daughter (Krysta) that when she was ready for it, it would be there for her. Peggy even got my wife Carla to go inside the coops with the chickens, turkeys, and goats which was surprising and great as far as I am concerned.

Carla asked a lot of questions and seemed genuinely interested. Peggy told us about the herb garden she was starting and gave us two pretty eggplants (dinner to me). She also gave us a book on homesteading. We tried the grapes off the vine as William told us his plans for an arbor like structure for his grapes he wants to build.

We really enjoyed meeting William and Peggy. They are very kind and gracious people, willing to help and give guidance. We look forward to returning to Hidden Haven again in the near future. By the way, on the way back home Carla suggested that I let them (William & Peggy) talk more. I think she means I should talk less and listen more. I will work on that. She said she would love to sit down and talk to them and ask more questions. I think this idea appeals to her. I am not surprised. We have always meshed together well.

Peggy & William will be having a get together soon with some like minded homesteaders and we look forward to attending. If you would like to know more about Hidden Haven Homestead check out their Blog at hiddenhavenhomestead.blogspot.com.

William & Peggy,

Thank you so much for your time and all the information. We look forward to visiting again and hope that soon we will be able to have you come visit our new homestead.