Mark Stair

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since Aug 12, 2015
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Montesano, WA
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Recent posts by Mark Stair

Make Brooms!
Utilize Biden's latest make in america campaign to help fund a natural broom company in the US.
Gather the French Brooms and make natural french brooms.

...at least it's a positive idea.....
4 years ago
Beautiful farmland with everything you dreamed of having.
* 67 acres on 4 separate tax lots. (Note that craigslist won't let me enter 2.9M sq ft but this is 67 acres).
* Zoned A2 for long term agriculture use (see below)
* New water well producing 45 gal/min
* Electric is installed and running from Gray's Harbor power company
* Beautiful, rich pasture land with grasses that grew 7 feet high last year. Rough estimates of about 75% pasture, 10% trees, 15% water (river, streams, ponds, wetlands).
* River frontage from Chehalis River spanning the entire property, one section is like sandy beach for recreation. Property spans both sides of river in some spots. River moves up and down with the tides but salt water ends before the farm. Salmon, trout, seals, beavers, and many other aquatic animals share the river.
* Streams and ponds coming from nearby forest and hills. Some wetlands provide diversity.
* Adjacent to Weyerhauser land that stretches for 100's of miles. Permits are available for access to vast forest from Weyerhauser. The forest, hill and river arrangement creates amazing acoustics for your events.
* Almost to end of dead-end street for great privacy
* In unincorporated Gray's Harbor county only, not any city for lower costs and greater privacy.
* Salmon fishing when salmon come up the river in October and other times
* Abundant duck and geese hunting in season. Neighbor used farm for duck hunting and said he reached his limit ever time.
* Natural or organic ready
* Property is in a farming flood area that gets rich nutrients from Olympic mountains
* Structures include paddock, entrance gate, some fencing (would need repairs for livestock), water well, gravel driveway, and platform/stage for bands or events.

Property would be perfect for homesteading, permaculture, farming, ranching, livestock, recreation, or all of the above.
Listed for $195,000

Note: This property will be offered for a limited time only. We are also considering a permaculture community or long term lease of the land or this sale. Whichever approach comes first or best will be pursued.

Zoned A2: source: https://www.municode.com/library/wa/grays_harbor_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT17ZO_CH17.16LOTEAGUSDI
Chapter 17.16 - A-2 LONG TERM AGRICULTURAL USE DISTRICT
Sections:
17.16.010 - Purpose.
The primary purpose of this district is to encourage the conservation and protection of agricultural lands and to reserve areas for use by large commercial farms. The establishment of this district recognizes the importance of the agricultural industry in Grays Harbor County and provides protection for those soils and areas most suitable for commercial agriculture.

(Ord. 333 (part), 2005:Ord. 241 ยง show contact info
17.16.020 - Permitted uses and structures.
The following uses or activities are permitted in the district:
A. Commercial agriculture, horticulture and aquaculture;
B. Farm buildings;
C. Farm drainage and irrigation systems;
D. The growing and harvesting of forest products;
E. The sale of agricultural and horticultural products on the premises where such products are grown;
F. Marijuana processing and production;
G. Single-family dwellings;
H. Home occupations pursuant to the provisions of Section 17.60.050;
I. Riding academies;
J. Emergency medical and emergency fire equipment storage facilities;
K. Home day cares.
9 years ago
Ranch flipping....
I was thinking you could buy a ranch in desert, brittle environments for a low price since its depleted. Then use Allan Savory, holistic mob grazing strategies to restore the grass and pasture. Some permies might even help or pay rent.
Then sell the ranch after its been restored.

The returns are immense:
First you improve earth because you convert depleted desert in to grass thus improving soil and carbon sequestration.
Second you get a return when ranch is flipped.
Third, you can make some money from livestock or renting property.
Fourth, I believe there could be great tax benefits especially if you live there for 2 years while converting.

As mentioned above this would not be liquid investment but some of best investment right now are illiquid such as rental property.
Any thoughts or anyone tried this?
9 years ago
The previous owner dumped hay string EVERYWHERE! It's embedded in the ground and even stops the dingo trencher and tractor plow.
Wondering about best way to remove it from the farm. I have a large 110hp tractor so have the horsepower but wonder what implement would best best to remove this nasty nylon string.
9 years ago
Hello, We have a new farm in Montesano, WA near the pacific coast that we plan to create as a permaculture farm but just getting going as this is the first year.
You are welcome to come by and share your thoughts and adventures. Also, we are having a "Harvest Fest" Oct 3 and 4, see http://realstep2015.eventbrite.com/
9 years ago
Farm is in Montesano, WA in Pacific Northwest.
I live in Seattle, so it's possible to transport goods from farm to Seattle (less than 2 hours away) and also have connections in Seattle and Tacoma for sales opportunities.
9 years ago
One important aspect of permaculture is sustainability and that should include financial sustainability.
We have a new farm and are close to completing the infrastructure (water, electric, and buildings) and are 9 months into one year of observation of the land.
Our next step is to determine the the best courses of action for the second year. What I love about permaculture is that there are so many options but we need to focus on the most important ones first.
With all the other online resources and books, we can figure out how to do the various parts, now just trying to figure out what do do and in which order.

What I'm looking for is to analyze the financial models for the various options (or others anyone can suggest!).
So, just looking for any resources on figuring out financial model such as investment, gross income, expenses, net income, and/or return on investment for various ideas.
Looking for info just on the growing/production portion, not yet the processing which would come later.

Options:
1) Nut and berry trees. (would expect higher initial investment with no income for several years and then income only after 5 or more years).
2) Christmas trees. (similar to 1)
3) Annual crops: veggies, hay, hemp, etc. (would expect investment every year for seeding, maintenance, harvest and selling).
4) Livestock for meat
5) Livestock for dairy or eggs.
6) Leasing out portions of land to other permies rather than doing everything ourselves. (We have 67 acres so we could lease out 4 or 5 10 acre portions for example).

Would appreciate any specific financial details you have experienced with any of the above or resources for this info.
9 years ago
RealStep Farms Harvest Festival
RealStep Farms
Saturday, October 3, 2015 at 2:00 PM - Sunday, October 4, 2015 at 2:00 PM (PDT)
Montesano, WA

This is a new permaculture farm in Montesano, WA where we will be having a music festival and farm events. See the beginning of a permaculture farm and contribute ideas as this is being created. Price is very low compared to other permaculture events for people who sign up early.
We are also looking for any bands and permaculture experts who want to speak or run demonstrations.


RealStep Farms 1st Annual Harvest Festival

67 acre permaculture farm in beautiful Montesano, WA right on the Chehalis river. Acoustics are amazing due to the valley, mountains, and river. We like to think of it as an intimate "Gorge". Since this is the first year of the farm for us, we really do not have anything to "harvest" this year, however we still want to get fun loving people together for a great time.

Activities include music, farm tour, salmon fishing (bring your own fishing license), forest hike, rafting, swimming, beach volleyball, and optional farm work.

We are currently seeking bands or individual musicians for the event, if you want to play contact the organizer. Confirmed bands will show here later.

Sponsored by High 5 Software, GreenSpace Software, and RealStep Farms.


Signup on Eventbrite
My unconventional answer for pacific northwest region:
Get a bowl and fill with beer and place near your garden.
Come back the next day and harvest the snails.
Follow proper procedures from cleaning and cooking.
Escargot in one day!
..technically not a correct answer since you asked for non-animal and these are invertebrate animals, but I like this answer.

My other answer would be grow nothing, just walk in the woods and get blackberries, other berries, nuts, wild edibles, and mushrooms. Or just pick dandelion weeds from yours and neighbors yards....I'm sure they won't mind at all.