The Plans

Here is a list of plans for things we have agreed that we want to be a part of the home and the stead when we have the land. This list is always under review and being updated, but if it's listed below then it's been agreed to and we intend to utilize or at least explore it after the full-scale dream comes to fruition.

The Land

• Minimum 25 acres, preferably around 40 or 50
• Reliable rural water (pond or creek)
• Good soil
• Good, naturally occurring grazing meadows
• Outside of small-medium sized town yet close enough to have kids attend a good school

The House

• Made of hand-crafted (not factory milled) logs
• Single story
• Walk-in pantry
• Composting toilets
• Rain barrels
• Solar panels for energy
• If feasible, wind and/or hydroelectric generators for energy
• Backup diesel generator for energy
• Wood burning stoves and/or rocket mass heater for heat/cooking

 The Gardens

• Compost containers
• Worm bin (currently owned)
• Outdoor organic garden (currently owned)
• Organic greenhouse garden w/ indoor pond
• Some type of small grain field for feeding animals

The Animals/Livestock

• Bison. That's right. Not cattle. We want to ranch American Buffalo. The meat is healthier and is a much smaller and faster-expanding market should we decide to commercialize it at any point. Not to mention they produce more by-products besides meat than cattle. Indians thrived by bison alone, and we enthuse about having many of our needs met by a single livestock. We love and respect the species and its role in American history.
• Rabbits (currently owned, recent addition)
• Chickens
• Ducks
• Turkeys
• Goats (possibly sheep as well)
• Horses
• We're considering oxen (for plowing and work purposes)
• Dogs. Don't worry, we won't be eating them. We just love them as pets and want to train them to guard the farm and help out with some of the tasks. We are interested in Akitas and Irish Wolfhounds.