Spring is finally here!

Boy did I have some big expectations when I last updated this blog in January! I've been up at least once each calendar month since then and learned a few things along the way... for one, you can't install a septic system until it stops snowing. Also, getting a building permit in California is no small task. And, for some reason, friends mostly want to visit when the roads aren't icy anymore.

On the other hand, I've had a lot of enjoyable time getting to know the plants and wildlife that live near Owl Creek, like the truly beautiful flicker (species of woodpecker) that left me this gift when it tried to move into the shed.

How 'bout this fake owl I brought in to protect my poor little shed while I'm away?
















I've learned how to disassemble dead sagebrushes so I can dispose of them safely without having a giant burn on my property. This brush pile looked like it had been growing for years. I snapped the picture about halfway through disassembling it. What most people up there would do is just throw some diesel fuel around the edges and torch it. I couldn't do that because (a) I'm terrified of starting such a big fire, and (b) I'd rather turn the old brush into something useful if I can, like mulch, chips, compost or campfire.

The half pile I did was only this big once it was stacked. Stacked piles are safer from a wildfire point of view. They would make a great start to a Winter Solstice bonfire!

Another way to use dead wood and brush is to make a hugel... a decomposing pile with plants already growing in it. The layer of bark on top is to help keep moisture in while we're away.

I've found the natural hot springs down the road... very nice after a long day's work! I've had some fun weekends up there with Joel, and I've started learning a lot about design and construction, which I find very interesting.

More photos below. You'll see by the end that we are securely into spring at this point and it's a great time to come for a visit if you feel the need to get away. We will be there in July and August as noted below and you are welcome to come out to explore, meditate, help or just hang out - whatever feels motivating to you:

July 5-8
The night sky will be relatively moonless so should be a good time to see the Milky Way.
Projects: We will be building a prototype automated rain barrel watering system for our peach trees. We will also build a deck.

July 25-29
Eagleville BBQ is Saturday, July 27
Projects: Continued abatement of dead vegetation without large burns - e.g. making hugels (google hugelkultur), disassembly, mulching, chipping, long evening campfires in the gravel pit.

August 7 - 13 or 18
Projects: We will be borrowing our neighbor's back hoe on this trip to start preparing the build site. We will also use the equipment to build large hugelkultur beds if these are needed. We hope to start the process of turning a 2-acre patch of invasive thistles back into its natural state, which is more like a seasonal wetland. This will be a big job but the migratory birds will be so happy!

Perseid Meteor Shower
We will have a deck built in time to enjoy the Perseids in comfort.
Peaking August 12-13 but happening for several nights before

This would be a great time to visit!

We timed a late-January visit perfectly to experience a rare freezing fog weather event! This picture taken during daylight.

Joel hand-dug a 6' hole and make this comfy potty for us to hide down a sagebrush trail.

Cold but happy potty model!

Our next visit, in late February / early March, brought clear skies and... more snow. It was a good year for snow in California in general.

 

We didn't let the snow stop us from enjoying our Spring Break holiday.

April brought green back to the apple trees...

... and blue back to the skies. This is the Hays Range in Nevada, where the stars roll into the night sky in a magical way.

And it brought more cool campfire weather.

I spent some time hanging out at our proposed home build site and contemplating the panoramic views...

too bad my camera skills aren't up to showing you panoramic views

May brought my friend Tom out for a fantastic lightning storm and several trips out to the gravel pit while we built the "Asteroid Belt" around the fire pit - you'll have to come out to visit to see why we called it the Asteroid Belt. May also brought more green to the apple trees - I missed the flowers completely this year!

And finally, this past weekend, Joel finally got to spend some non-snowbound time up there. Wildflowers blooming around the property, including this mystery plant -

Owl Creek spilled over into the flood ditch...

And we enjoyed a spectacular Modoc sunset while nursing a campfire in the gravel pit.

And thus ends the June chapter of my Owl Creek blog. One day, I'll learn how to use these barbed wire Modoc farm gates. Til then, bungee cords will have to do. Come out and visit soon!








WISH LIST
If you have any of the following items to sell or donate, please let us know. Full wish list is here with currently-most-needed items summarized below:
* APPLE PRESS
* ELBOW LENGTH GARDENING GLOVES
* WHEELBARROW
* TRIMMER / WEED-EATER STRING
* SAWDUST
* SOLAR PATH LIGHTS
*TARPS
* RAIN BARRELS
* GARDEN HOSES
* CHIPPER (WOULD BE AMAZING TO FIND A GOOD DEAL ON A CHIPPER)
* PISSOIRS
* RUBBER BOOTS
* FRESH BEAR SPRAY

Thanks to Barb, Robert, Alyce, Mike, Faria, Sunny, Gisela, Peter, Don and Greenwave for all the helpful donations so far, and also to my students Audrey, Alyce, Mike, Beth, Steve and Stoo for the Amazon gift card a while back... there was enough left over after the headset to get a few needed items for Owl Creek as well!