Elizabeth Stan

Hi there!

Fellow newbie here, we've just moved to the south western area of Virginia and are attempting to do something similar to you!

I don't have a lot of advice but I thought maybe you'd like to know you're not the only one in the newbie boat.

We've just been observing and learning what we have around us for the last six months so far, and I've started a small hugelkulture herb spiral, as well as a small no till/no dig kitchen garden (I've yet to plant anything in it yet because I'm scared that there will still be another frost here soon). We've planted a few fruit trees to start my tree guilds and are slowly but surely planning out exactly where we want to build our various farm structures and what not.

I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors! Maybe we'll be able to learn from each other along the way, too!

Hiyo! We just moved about an hour south of you! I'm excited to connect with other people in the area as well, to make new friends and also share information and experiences. We honestly have no idea what we're doing but we're just trying things out and seeing what happens. I often find myself reading about others' awesome set ups and dreaming of doing something similar. We're trying to grow a food forest and build a campground around/through it so we can share what we've got. I'd love to see how your adventure goes, too!

Hi, I'm a newbie so I'm glad I found this forum. I've been lurking a bit and reading others' posts to try to glean some information from what others are asking and sharing.

My husband and I have just moved with our 5-year-old daughter to this area (southwest Virginia, in the appalachian area, zone 6..b? or 6a? not really exactly sure, but it's mountainous and lots of clay) from the swamp (Jacksonville, FL, zone.. uh.. I think it was 8b, and all sand) just about 6 months ago. Now that we've thawed from the winter snows that we are definitely not yet used to, we're working on doing as much as we can to get things going. I had set up a no dig/no till garden right after we moved in, so hopefully that'll be good and ready to plant now that we are nearing our average last frost date (with a keen eye on the weather); we've planted some apple and peach trees and are setting up various hugelkulture sites as well. I also plan to build several cold frames and perhaps a greenhouse (but we're not set on that yet as there are many very strong winds in the winter when the leaves are gone from the trees). I've also already begun building compost when we first got here, so hopefully the first pile will be ready to use soon - I do plan on getting started with some vermiculture as well to help speed that process, but it's baby steps for now!

While we didn't have to start from raw land - there was already a small house, a large workshop, two cellars, and a tractor shed, a well and a septic set up when we purchased - there are still many pieces we have to build to get to where we want to be - bridges to easily cross the creek that runs through the area, animal shelters, etc.

I'd like to eventually grow a food forest here (we have just shy of 13 acres, with a creek throughout) and my husband is trying to set up a fun camping experience type place among the farm (we will be getting some animals - we are thinking to start with goats, rabbits, and quail or chickens - or both). I've been studying the information in Gaia's Garden and several other books, but I know most of what I need to learn will come from practicing and failing, so I look forward to being able to do that now that I'm not a human icicle.

I don't have any specific questions just yet, but will gladly take any and all tips and advice from you more experienced people. I know I have a lot to learn and look forward to learning it. Thanks in advance to everyone here providing such great advice and help to those of us who are still learning!