On Narrow Pond in Ant Village

Mark Brunnr wrote:... I'd definitely suggest a page of instructions for using the cistern, similar to what is in the willow feeders if that's an option.

It's better I show you when you get here since it is a temporary setup for the summer season. I still may do it though. I'm glad more people are looking to live on Upper WL... it'll be  primitive at first and then  -most awesome.

Mark Brunnr wrote:
Do you know if any work was done yet on the well house for the new deep well, or if a well pump was ordered for that?

From what I know, the new deep well is in Fred's hands; you'd need to ask him what the status is on that. My immediate goal is to utilize a well without getting in Fred's way, hence my work on the old slow well.

Mark Brunnr wrote:
Do you have any plans for winter use of your tank, or will it be emptied to winterize it?

The tank is not mine and I will empty it should Fred or Paul tell me that the tank is needed. I will definitely empty the tank before I leave for the winter. The tank was not clean or else the water which was ran through the bio sand filter, would be pottable in a few more days.

When you are here, if you'd like I can show you the other water permanent winter (and summer), storage option which would require funds to do correctly. We can talk about this after you arrive.

Mark Brunnr wrote:
I had thought about integrating a cistern into my earth berm, with the water inlet/outlet accessible from within the structure. If it's just a foot or two above the sink faucet and you use a 1" line with no restrictions, you get a decent flow especially when full.

Nice! my design also includes a cistern: one small (140gallons) on the inside just under the height of the eave/building's edge, and a larger outside one for the over spill.

I love the fact that for every 10 square feet of roof, one inch of rain provides a little over 62 gallons. This area gets about 26 inches of precipitation per annum. So a 10' square roof will provide about (20x 62) gallons given that precipitation includes snow of which a percentage is lost via evaporation as it melts.

Excellent, I'm looking forward to meeting you and the others who have shown up since summer 2019 when I was last there and seeing all the new work that's been done. Do you have any plans for a hedge or junk pole fencing? I saw some pics of that on the lab and was impressed with the amount that appeared to be done, anything to limit deer browse on new plants! I hope to try planting maclura pomifera/osage orange as a hedge, if the deer don't eat the seedlings it would turn into a living fence in 3-4 years and by year 5 could be pollarded for RMH firewood or other small stock uses as well. Might require a junkpole fence be put up first to protect the seedlings, but I'd prefer to avoid that if possible, it's around 1000 feet for 2 acres which would be a massive project on top of building the house. If I could just tame a few coyotes to patrol the perimeter...

Orin Raichart wrote:Wow. quick turn around of karma I'd say! Complain about someone damaging property and then accidently did it myself....in the same day!  ...

Yes Orin, all humans make mistakes. I wouldn't call it 'karma', it's just the way it is. We are not perfect.

Mark Brunnr wrote:...Do you have any plans for a hedge or junk pole fencing?

This year, all I care about is shelter.

Later, I will probably use existing border trees to help create a fence of sorts.

Or continue to fence out small areas dense with perennials


ground squirrels are to be reckoned with too

My dad offered me a .22 rifle he has when I mentioned that any fence/hedge could keep out deer, hopefully a bear, but not chipmunks/squirrels. I thought that was a bit much, but we'll see if a catch and release system needs to be developed if they go to town on all the food growing! Or convincing one of the cats to start hanging around on patrol. Others have mentioned that they love to gather up freshly planted seeds.