A couple of times every year, I like to set some intentions for what I'm trying to do here at our farm. It helps me keep the big picture. I usually do it in the fall when I'm cleaning up and updating my farm journals, and then again when the seed catalogs hit my mailbox. It's a way to reflect (in the fall) and control the seed crazy (in January).

There's the usual list of farm must haves (build a new storage shed, build a new chicken coop, finally build my seed starting stationary beautiful glass greenhouse since our old dilapidated shed has finally been torn down! Wheee!!!)

But then there's the slightly more larger picture, holistic, web based intentions.

This year? I want to capture more water.

Just .... More.

Like, so much more.

Improving soil, installing MORE water cisterns to collect water and feed certain areas, mulching, irrigating wisely (drip hoses, anyone??), choosing drought and heat tolerant plants, sinking resources into improving our food forest, more chop and drop biomass....Just adding and adding and adding systems to collect and extend the life of our precious water.

I'm curious what other people are thinking about for the next year of their food and farm life in terms of systems you would like to put in place? What is on your radar in terms of projects or ideas that you would like to see spin out in the near future?

(And let me know if I've posted this in the wrong forum!)

2,000 more gallons of rainwater storage.

Use stove less, cook more with rocket griddle.

Use ash from stove to make lye, use the lye with rendered fat to make bar soap.

Extend swales to redirect overflow a different direction (away from my shop). Will use a culvert to overflow it under a road to my adjoining property that feeds into a seasonal creek and pond.