Bre Quigley

We have a Non-GMO feed here that has a better rating for actual no gmos then the organic, and it is 30% less in terms of cost, its not certified organic and not allowed under organic certifications if that is something you do.
My friend has been fermenting her feed for the last year, and has estimated a reduction in consumption at about 50-60% which is HUGE to me.
I am receiving my first batch of chicks for laying in a couple weeks (exciting much?)
What she did was ferment the first batch in 50/50 feed to water with a little assistance from her lacto-fermentation station (say that outloud..it sounds so great) basically a teaspoon from her kraut or pickles.
After that, she keeps 10% back to ferment the next batch overnight and feeds in the morning. She adds whatever scraps to the bin then as well.
Really sweet short and simple, a lot like having a sourdough baby kicking around.
I will be doing this and experimenting with larger sized pails as I will be having more birds then her - I will post pictures of my set up once it is complete.
I see lots of different ways to do it, I like my friends best because I have seen (and ate) the results. She has a very healthy flock of birds.

Has anyone fermented chick feed? Is it too messy for babies? I don't see much information on fermenting feed for chicks and poults - just adult laying hens.

I also want to get a meal worm farm going to add extra protein for the meat birds in the summer... I love the dyi on vela creations for this. I see this as an added value to the farm in terms of the poop and ease of low protein input to the meal worms resulting in a high protein meal worm to the chickens, ducks, geese and pigs.

Cheers

Drainage is super important.
We live at the base of a mountain, water moves down and through the farm to the river that is on it. I am higher in elevation from the river, and water does move through this area.
We are doing rubble trench, and a french drain extending out beyond the roof overhang around the building an We might even add a trench/weeping tile 25 ft to the embankment.

Thanks! I like the shape too! 30 degree angles are a bit easier then 90 degrees to work within. This is still a TINY space!

Do you remember what the Mud girls had suggested to do to prevent this problem? We are looking at moisture barriers now.

We drew up an idea. We staked it out. We walked it. We stared at it.

Here is what were thinking
Still feeling partial to the Slip Straw/Light Clay Staw for walls. Still discussing post and beam or timber frame.
The roof will have room for insulation....apparently you can use the slip straw as insulation with a couple inch gap between that and metal roofing. The clay deters rodents. Neat.

The foundation is going to be a rubble trench, concrete ground beam with moisture barrier.. but should the ground beam have a lip on either side so the plaster as something to rest on?

We want to have earthen floors. We want to incorporate a rocket stove. We are trying to find creative solutions to the small footprint inside the space. Partial cob wall with the rocket stove inside? In a small bench? (Partially)Submerged into the floor? We will be running pipe and using the floor as thermal mass and the bench as well. Lots of questions about rocket stove burn rate efficiency and how far you can pipe for heat through a mass, how much heat is lost per foot? , better to post in the rocket stove forum I imagine and link back to here for context.
I love the idea of a warmed bed in the winter. Living in a trailer in the winter - everything that is warm is all kinds of sexy.

I dig Mike Oehler's place - but alas I am alone in that one. Not his cup of tea.

Thanks for following the progress thus far... it is nice to have a place to bounce ideas through out the planning process.
Heres a little sketch:

Doesn't make sense to me to try for a cob structure as most codes care about outside dimensions, so the wall thickness comes out of your living space... Plus, wrong season to be building one anyhow.

Actually Dillon, it is interior sq footage... your walls can be however thick you want them. Checked with the D. of North Cow already. Looks like some natural builders have already paved the way for us (Thank you!)

Loft is pretty much essential... there is no way I could cram a bed and a rocket stove below. Good idea on the cantilevered windows!

Log cabin was discussed, but neither of us wanted to be chasing drafts if our chinking was shit.

My farm partner and I have started drawing up plans for the cabin on sketchup, we are looking at a combo of timber frame and slip straw for ease of doing.

No we will not be starting building in the wet season. We may start on the timber frame and have that going before spring however.
Dillon, feel free to message me your contact info. I will keep you posted on our work party. We will be roasting a pig (hope you are not vegetarian)
- PS we worked at the same farm.... but that is not where I am now.

Thank you for the suggestion of appeasing the spirits.. I do not feel any malcontent vibes from this place at all, but I will make an offering of peace!

Permanent.
This residence can be utilized for farm stays, long term interns etc. after me
I see myself living in this place for 5 or more years

Bradley Dillinger wrote:I'm not sure where you live, but I have heard that in the US if you build a tiny house on wheels there are no regulations. Just wanted to make sure you explored that possibility.

Still a possibility. We were hoping to build something natural... I could build a more conventional tiny house with a loft as well, lots of wood for that...put it on a trailer bed... but if we are trying to get some mass to the walls to retain and radiate heat I feel as though the weight would be a limiting factor.
Why more natural? To utilize less resources, and maximize on thermal mass for retaining heat. I know I am on Vancouver Island, which is not a very tough winter. But I am a wimp. I want to be warm.
Rocket stoves are high on the list to make and play with.

First off : Let me state that I am a complete Green Horn

Secondly: I have found myself in the very blessed position to be working in partnership on an existing homestead. I live in a trailer at the moment, but have been given the assist and push to branch out and create my own tiny home on the property. We are at the base of a mountain on Vancouver Island. It is apparently haunted. Ghost prevention should be a high priority.

Limitations:
- Time. This is going to be a small space, the quicker it goes up, the quicker I can get back to work on other projects needing my attention
- Code. Has to have a foot print of 10x10 square or 12 ft diameter round to avoid pesky make you sad pencil pushers
- Location. Out of site. In the woods. Lack of sunlight. Passive solar design is not something that I feel will be beneficial....thermal inertia though....


Advantages:
- Lots of good wood on the property. Maple, Alder, Fir, Cedar
- AND A MILL! And not an alaska mill (not hating on alaska mills...but..)
- Clay in abundance, Sand is easily accessible
- A great community of supportive individuals (read: free labour...), and assistance from people with timber framing experience

I have been looking at the multitude of possibilities and find myself wanting more information, feedback before we jump into a specific style to build here.

What do YOU see being appropriate?

Looking forward to reading any responses from you wonderful amazing individuals

- Keener Bre