ReWilding OffGrid

06/10/2024

A work in progress but it’s so cool to see that we are generating some of our own power from the sun.

We definitely need better batteries. We plan to upgrade to LifePo4 as soon as we are financially able but as of now, we’ve just got a couple of 100aH lead acids. Luckily, the price of batteries continues to go down but I still think it’s going to be in the $1000-$2000 range, even going with cheap Chinese products.

06/10/2024

Sharing from another homestead where they said they’ve had people show up announced and beg for free animals/food….

Like woah. 🤯 I’m all about helping and sharing with others but just coming on somebody’s land without permission is a level of crazy I hope we never have to deal with.

We do have plans to put a solar gate down at the bottom of the property but I do need to put a sign or something down there for now.

All I need to come home to is someone ripping their bumper off trying to get up here 🤣

Smyth Co, VA - trespassers, police contacted

“All of my Smyth county friends, specifically Marion and Chilhowie!! Be on the watch out for two [humans]* who just made themselves at home and walked right into my barn and started petting my horses. They first stopped at my house and sat there. Super sketchy [humans]*. Below is a picture of the [humans]* and their car.”

*Assumed Pronouns and nationalities have been removed per feedback and an email from a foreign consulate.

06/06/2024

Walmart is a parasite and should be treated as such.

Twenty years of your life slaving away for Walmart and a you get a measly $1,000 bonus? That don’t even pay most people’s rent for 1 month.

From a multi-billion dollar corporation.

From a corporation who employs the most welfare recipients of ANY other business.

A corporation that cost the US tax payers over 6 billion dollars because they don’t pay their workers above poverty level.

A business that is notorious for running mom and pops stores out of business and is one of the main reasons why we have become so independent on Chinese-made products.

I am doing my ABSOLUTE best to stay out Walmart and urge you to do the same.

06/05/2024

Gilgal Farmstead my first thought was ooooh root cellar 😂

06/05/2024

Not me reading this post like

1. Yep
2. Yep.
3. Need some of that.
4. Yep.

Like I’m gonna be getting a calf 😂😂

🆘️🆘️We've been seeing alot of posts asking for emergency help with their calves. 🐮🐂

When you purchase a calf be sure to have the following in order:
**1. Vet (and not just their name and number) call the vet, ask if they travel to your area, ask if they travel after hours for emergencies, ask if theyll treat 1 or 2 cows/calves.
**2. Prior to purchasing a calf, learn how to tube a calf, learn how to give a shot. Calves are known to bloat (for so many crazy reasons), they're known to get scours, just for traveling, change of milk replacer, stress, etc. Basically they're very very very delicate. Did I mention, they're delicate. Learning how to Tube a calf to feed, and or release bloat, can equal life or death.
**3. Have Banamine, Draxxin, bottles, needles, Syringes, tubing (2 types of tubing, feeding & bloat), mineral oil, baking soda, Vitamin B Complex (injectable) & scour tabs, on hand. (Both Banamine & Draxxin are by RX, meaning a vet will have to prescribe it).
❤️Added #4 after posting. ❤️
**4. Know what is normal calf temp. 100 to 102.5 is normal, under 100 calf is cold, needs warming up stat, over 102.5 means fever.

Above all be prepared, calves are cute, and raising them is very rewarding. However, being unprepared is absolutely unacceptable when a life is at stake.🫶





#911

06/01/2024

I made goat cheese! 🧀 That is all. Carry on with your day! 💚

05/23/2024

We need more of this way of doing business 💚

Respect 🫡

05/13/2024

Grapes!! 😍😍 We may not get to harvest any before we sell this house but hopefully the next steward of this land will enjoy them!

04/23/2024

People in the comments here are taking this poem at surface level and it shows a great deal about our education system. Critical thinking is not being taught.

I just imagine someone reading:

MY river runs to thee:
Blue sea, wilt welcome me?
My river waits reply.
Oh sea, look graciously !
I'll fetch thee brooks
From spotted nooks, -
Say, sea, take me!

And being like “No fu***ng way! The river can’t reply!!! That’s not REALITY!!”

😂😂😂

As much as I bi***ed about all the work my high school English teachers made us do, I am forever grateful that I was taught critical thinking skills and how to decipher an author’s meaning behind their words.

Language is an art and it is slowly dying.

04/21/2024

Goals! 🙌🙌🙌

04/20/2024

Accidentally tripped over a blade of grass and ended up with a buggy full of native plants to add to the off grid property 🫣🫣🫣

Spring Opening Sale was amazing as always!!!

I’m looking forward to the Paw Paw festival come fall!

04/17/2024

Blue Ridge Acres, Native trees for the Upstate of South Carolina. Taylors, SC. Developed by the SC Forestry Commission. Container trees includes Oak, Maple, Magnolia, Redbud, Dogwood, Tulip Poplar, Persimmon, Chickasaw Plum, Green Ash, Sycamore, Bald Cypress, Catalpa -- native, container trees, Gree...

04/17/2024

Picking up our IBC water tanks today! The off grid property will soon be able to collect & store rainwater. Another step closer to moving there full time!

04/17/2024

04/16/2024

While I think this is a great idea and everyone should participate year round, the majority of light pollution doesn’t come from our homes.

Light pollution is a corporation issue, from car dealerships to golf courses to the gazillion damn Dollar Generals.

How about we shut them off and maybe if people really saw the beauty of the night sky, they’d wake up and see the damage these corporations are causing.

04/15/2024

HELL YEAH YALL!!! I pre-ordered these back in February for the new property and they are finally heading my way!!

I am so excited to get these native plants in the ground and watch them grow over the next few years!

Chickasaw plums: These have been SO hard to track down at a reasonable price. I’ve been looking for YEARS.

Paw paws: to add to the genetic diversity on the property

Witch Hazel: Medicinal AND gorgeous!

Nannyberries: A new one for me! An edible viburnum that should do well along our shady driveway!

04/14/2024

💯. It never hurts to ask.

04/14/2024

Or how about DONT spray for w**ds at all???

Your lawn does not need to be a monoculture. It’s ugly, outdated, and is feeding the pockets of companies like Monsanto and Bayer.

(Side Note: Don’t you find it odd that dandelions have been found to help with the heart and a company that sells Aspirin also sells Roundup? 🤔🤔)

This is a honey bee. The pollen on her legs is from dandelions. Her tongue is sticking out due to what killed her that was on the dandelions.
It’s spring, dandelions are the bees first food. This bee is dead from w**d killer spread on what we see as w**ds, but what nature sees as food. Please don’t spray for w**ds until you see the blackberries blooming.
In this area, w**ds, flowers and fruit trees are bees only source of food until middle of June. There are FAR more w**ds than flowers or fruit trees, so it's their only food source. No bees, no food crops for us and we all starve?!
VidaHacks

04/10/2024

30% horticultural vinegar does work!! I’ve found it best to use first thing in the morning, when the sun is going to be hot and bright. It helps to burn up the plant. I’ve tried it on nandina, wisteria and English ivy with pretty good results.

(The reason why it’s $18 is because it’s 30%, not the 5% found in the baking isle…definitely wear gloves bc this stuff BURNS)

I saw this at Walmart today and it made me so happy! Selling vinegar next to the w**d killers because more people are now using vinegar and dish soap to kill w**ds! We have had great success in killing off Poision Oak, Ivy and Hemlock. A little of the Poison Hemlock did grow back in our pasture this year but not as much and we hope a good spray this year will kill it for good!