Brian Michael

I like it. Did you end up trying it? I would say do something small and see how it goes. I am interested in some log style building, both horizontal and vertical, and have been wondering about goid chink/daub materials without having to purchase much.

Hey Tim!  For a minute I thought I logged into the wrong site - nope, Jack Mtn came to Permies.  Just bought the book to start your weather class with the kids.  

I've got a nice Catherina going here in NH.  Should work for you there.

everything can heave freely together...

fantastic phrase

Hey neighbors!

Susan - as Josephine said, building codes are locally controlled in NH.  They are here though, and unless you are an unincorporated area, you will have to jump through most of the same hoops as everywhere else (following pretty standard codes, or doing a lot of explaining/convincing).  I think this is especially true in the southern 1/3rd of the state (Northern Massachusetts).  That being said - the more like minded folks we have around, the easier it will be to do these types of things in the future.  Come on up!  

Scott and Ed - Is that the property across from the windmills?  I want to say it was on a road that started with an "F" - Farther or Farber?  I have also been looking for land up in Maine on and off, and recently had come across a property with a similar size blueberry barren.  

It's common, but in my view unwise, to have these conversations without acknowledging that the answers vary enormously with one's wealth, social class, and income.  Your search for a cutoff is missing a variable.  How rich (or broke) do you expect to be over those 25 years.  And how sure are you?  (aka "How much economic confidence do you have?")

This is a real factor, and personally "How sure are you" is a real question.  10 years ago I was single with plenty of time and no money. I did pretty much everything myself (or at least tried).  I didn't have the money anyway, but also enjoy the feeling of independence.  I now am married with two children and a corporate job that I never thought I would have.  I am not wealthy by any means, but these days there are plenty of jobs that would be more economical to pay someone else.  I still try to do much on my own, but have begun to start hiring out some of the "businesses I don't want to be in."  However, the #1 business I do not want to be in is my day job.  This brings me to a point of confliction when it comes saving/hoarding.  I do not want to work this job (or anything like it) forever.  Although I have purged more/saved less lately, there is a certain part of me that thinks about it in the "make hay while the sun shines" type of mentality.  Should I buy an extra one now while I can afford it?  Now I have a stash instead of cash.  But there is only a difference if it is something I am not sure I will need/use, right?  Otherwise, essentially, I am buying "stuff" futures at a reduced price compared to the cost at the time I will need it later on.  This is probably just me trying to justify my saving desires.  

The flip side of "opportunity cost" is the space lost to your stashes of "handy even if I never use it" and "round-to-it" stuff. It can turn into: a workbench that is now only a shelf, scraping ice of your car parked out in front of the garage, and time lost moving things in and out of your own way just to find other things that you were sure you had... going to the store to buy a duplicate of a lost thing.

Then the reminder of reality. The "space lost" thing is no joke either.  It was great all summer with easy access to outbuildings, outside storage, etc.  Winter has hit in NH and I am completely snowed in, piled on top or myself, and in my own way.  I would be embarrassed to count the number of things I have an "extra" of because I went and bought one because I could not find/get to the one I already had.  

I'm sure honeysuckle has its time and place, but for the life of me I have not figured out what it is.  

State Radio - Mr Larkin.  Get's me every single time

My office job

The top of a goats head is a battering ram, so especially thick.  As mentioned, small target so the shot would need to be placed well.  

One of the things not often considered when looking for "the most humane way", is the comfort of the person doing the slaughter.

Ex.  I have seen people slaughter chickens in a cone with a few swift slices to the neck, and been told this is the most humane way to do it.  I have also seen folks behead them with a hatchet, and been told that is not so humane.  However, I have seen people who are not comfortable doing with it the cone and slice method who end up not making good cuts, prolonging the process, and putting the chicken through a decidedly less than humane slaughter (not to mention really rattling the person doing the work).  If they were more comfortable swinging the hatchet, it would have gone much better for both the person and the chicken.

I would think about your goats similarly.  I don't know what your experience is with slaughter in general.  If limited, start by doing it the way you can get it done.  Over time you will learn what works best for you and the animals.