First things first.. Well this was actually the third thing. First there was a gate...so I could actually get onto the land. Next there was the surveying... so I knew where the fence would go. And then this week there was the fencing to keep the feral goats and horses off the block so that the grass could grow and cover the bare dirt. Now I can begin to get ready for the spring planting of native trees, shrubs and grasses. It was hard work being a fencers 'off-sider'. There was 1500m of fence to erect - three sides of the 1/2 acre block. We used five strands of high tensile plain wire, seven strand goat mesh and about 1000 hog clips - one on each of 3 wires about 300mm apart....that was a lot of bobbing up and down and squeezing the pliers. No wonder my hands were swollen and sore. It drizzled the whole time making the grassless dirt (can't really call it soil yet) wet enough to fill the grooves in my boots and soak every coat, pair of boots and beanie I own. Eventually I remembered I had a raincoat rolled up in the cab. Doh! A couple of days before this Sandra and I went down to Bellingen to pick up some corrugated from Rah's place. It was bucketing down in Bello and there's only so much a Driazabone jacket can handle. We were saturated! Thank you so much Sandra for bringing the tin out to the block. It will be so useful for the camp shelter. As soon as my hands stop hurting i'll be over to your place to help with the weeding. Next thing to do on my little 1/2 acre is to build a 'camp shelter'. Somewhere I can stretch my legs a bit and hang up wet clothes if I need to.
I've really missed cooking so a bit more room will be fantastic. Might even have a bookcase, a couch even. I like the Mouse House, I really do, but after a year of 'super tiny living' I would like a wee bit more space. Marty (the fencer) and I are going to build a 5m x 4m shelter in the way they were most likely built in the late 1800's when this village was the pumping, thumping, gold rush town with four pubs, shops, schools and an oyster bar! Tomorrow I'm off to 'The Dorrigo Men's Shed' to build a door. I like to be involved in every aspect of this tiny space build so a front door it is. I figured once the door was made, the shelter can be erected around it. Last week, with Graeme, I made a 'humanure' compost toilet. Despite the fellas all telling me it wouldn't work it seems to work just fine. No smell at all and now, with the outhouse in place and a wooden floor in, my visitors can enjoy the view while contemplating and adding to (eventually) the fecundity of this poor old piece of land. One day it will be a little Paradise...just you wait and see. Until next time, all the very best, Clare 😊
10 Comments
susan o'leary
1/7/2019 03:43:58 pm
Well it’s coming along now clare. You have a fence and a funny. Looking good. Stay warm
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1/7/2019 03:48:38 pm
Absolutely delighted for you Clare! What an epic tale of the wild frontier. May your compost be sweet and your ferals contained.
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Helen V Proud
1/7/2019 04:16:57 pm
You are to be congratulated. YOU had the vision for that piece of dirt and you will make it a paradise. Love to try your loo one day.
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Anne Stanton
1/7/2019 04:27:12 pm
That was an entertaining 6 minutes! Made me want to fill a hotwater bottle, drink hot chocolate and relax too, by the end. Well done you wonderwoman :)
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Bronwyn Baker
1/7/2019 05:52:26 pm
I saw your video on Youtube this afternoon Clare and made a comment. For some reason I appear as my business name (Dogsbody Canine Massage) so won't double up here but I really enjoyed the progress report on your patch :) Cheers, Bron
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Trish Gray
2/7/2019 11:12:56 am
You are an amazing woman!! And I can relate to the sore hands. Mine ache after every pallet I pull apart. Couldn't imagine what they would be like after all those clips. Come on grass. If you need some buffalo runners just let me know. Great grass!!
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Jean Welsh
2/7/2019 06:27:36 pm
Enjoying your journey Clare! Goat's not bad eating you know!
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RaHzu
2/7/2019 07:46:31 pm
I've seen what you can create...so have no doubt about paradise...l can see the picture.
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14/10/2019 11:48:29 pm
Keep up the great work! Thank you so much for sharing a great posts.
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