[cindilu]

Okay, it is FINALLY happening and I mean FINALLY. I was really starting to get discouraged and today it happened...

This process has taken forever it seems. Last August one year ago I put a offer on the property which was accepted then. But it took until this May to actually close. The first time I walked on my property I was so excited but I also knew the real work began. My plan was while I was down for restoration pow wow I would have the land tilled up and worked on. It needed a TON of work because the ground had huge lumps and bumps, buried garbage and who knows what else under piles of dirt. And while I was there for restoration and walked over the land I knew then that it was going to take a lot of work and my rake was not going to cut it. I am also a person that when I decide to do something I flat move on it and in this time in my life nothing was moving which drove me crazy. I am already starting to get calls for daycare over there and so I felt like something NEEDED to get done NOW. So I called the guy with the back hoe to ask if we could get it started and he told me it was DONE. I am like huh??? Sure enough friends went over and took pictures for me and this is what I found out. It looks Dang Good. Now, lets get this homesteading adventure started.

 

[cindilu]

These pictures are from the back of the lot looking out unto the street. And the guy with the backhoe only charged me $250.00 to clean it up which is way cheap because it took a ton of work to level it all and clean it up. Who knows what garbage was buried under all of the mounds. I know I found a fishing pole and nice reel and the joke at the time was would it be attached to a dead person. And I know that seems like a joke but I am finding out real fast there could have been truth to that. My rose colored glasses have been taken off. It is rough and hard land over there seeped in poverty, drugs and alcohol. But I am also learning, it is what you make of it and I am working on making it a good experience. My neighbor and I have become friends and I am excited because she is talking my name up at the tribal casino there for childcare. I have been told my issue with childcare is I wont have a big enough place for all the kids I am going to end up having.

So my next homesteading steps are to have Trees Inc come and dump truck load after truck load of chips on the ground, spread them all out, put a fence on the front yard and start to plant trees and shrubs. Next year will be the foundation etc. The best part is the sewer main line is on the back of the property about 15 feet from my property line. Lucky because it won't cost to much money to tie in the lines.

 

[elkhound]

atta woman !

 

[Echoesechos]

Looks good. Great that you are getting it all going.

 

[calliemoonbeam]

That is so great Cindilu! I'm so excited for you, lol!

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

Looks like a nice level lot to work with for sure.

 

[cindilu]

The good part is I am allowed chickens, and I can garden here and I am thinking about sneaking in a couple of goats and maybe some ducks even. So finally it is getting started. It took long enough.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

No nosing into your business mind you, but somewhere along the way you need a place to live in...and definitely before the goats get a house!!! :yuck:

Good luck, and have fun with it.

 

[cindilu]

Yeah about that house business. I am thinking of putting in the foundation in spring giving me through the summer to get the house framed up etc.


Heading over there in a couple of weeks to do some work on the property. I have already put in a order for Trees Inc to come and dump chips which I plan to spread all over the entire property for ground cover to keep the weed grass from coming back up. That dirt is smooth and really nice, not hard packed clay like we have here.

Looking at building a pallet fence in the front to go across the property because it would be so cheap. What are your thoughts on this idea???

 

[viggie]

I've seen some progress pics of people putting in pallet fencing. The tradeoff is a whole lot more work because the panels are so short and you are putting in so many posts for it. But they do look good

 

[tambo]

Looks great Cindilu!! One thing owning property will do for you is teach you patients!! Proud for you!!

 

[Raeven]

Really exciting, cindilu!! They did a fantastic job. I was just wondering recently how you were getting on with the new patch. Thanks for the update!

 

[cindilu]

Looks good. Great that you are getting it all going.

Oh, my rose colored glasses are off now, just thought I would tell you and share that. You are right, it can be a rough area. I had some doubts when I visited last but I think some of that came from not being able to do any thing with the lot. Also a stabbing during pow wow but at night time while I was safe at home with my father. It happens every where I guess.

 

[calliemoonbeam]

Boy, those are some good looking pallets, lol! The only ones I ever see around here are splintered, broken, etc. But it looks like they'd make a good strong fence because of all the posts needed.

I don't have goats myself, but I don't think that would be a good fence for them though...they might get their legs caught and sprained or broken in those narrow openings, or maybe even be able to climb them, the little devils, lol! Some of the goat owners can answer that. Plus I don't think they'd be tall enough.

But for the kids or small dogs or just to establish a border...I think they'd be great, and the way they stained those looks very nice!

 

[tambo]

Now I'm worried!!

 

[cindilu]

My sister is looking into some good pallets for me to use. They would just be for the front fence to act as a border. The animals and daycare kids would have another fence making double sure both are safe and in this area safe is the key word.

Chiloquin and Roseburg are competing in crime. Stabbing at the pow wow and in Roseburg this week we have a child that was raped at the local jr high school and in a market the store clerk was stabbed and then hammered to death. Yeah, for the fence right BEFORE you get to the actual house, I am going for something a little bit taller and more sturdy.

 

[cindilu]

And this, I am planning on using this for a walkway.

 

[Echoesechos]

You're right it does happen everywhere. In a small community you just feel it more. Chiloquin has come a long way, trust me. I think also that because it's a tribal town there are prejudices, and sometimes it's easier to live up to those expectations. Low job offerings etc. But they have been working hard to change perceptions and increase jobs, building houses etc.

The problem there as everywhere is that people's own perceptions become their reality. Whether it's based on fact or not. I think you will bring a needed service to that area. But I do worry that you are a single woman living there.

Roseburg is in the same boat except it's not a tribal town. I remember when it was a wonderful farming and logging area. Times change.

 

[cindilu]

Exactly and I am going to do my best to help bring change to the town and change in a good way. I have already been hinted that I need to run for city council and someone already voted me unto the Chiloquin Visions in Progress team. The town has come a LONG ways and there are good people there working hard to make that happen. It has just been a matter of finding out who the good people are and making friends and work relationships. They have already been talking my name up in the casino and the tribal office for daycare and so I know that when I get there for real I will be full with kiddos. I called the state today and found out the hard numbers of how many I can have without having to hire another person. That number is 10 and I am pretty sure I can make that happen.

Yeah, about that single part, I am not sure I can convince someone to move in with me, run a daycare, live in a tribal town and well that is a lot to put on someones plate. I am finding out it is hard to find someone over with there with a drivers licence and also with a clean record, lol. Pretty sure I will be single for life. lol.

 

[Echoesechos]

Exactly and I am going to do my best to help bring change to the town and change in a good way. I have already been hinted that I need to run for city council and someone already voted me unto the Chiloquin Visions in Progress team. The town has come a LONG ways and there are good people there working hard to make that happen. It has just been a matter of finding out who the good people are and making friends and work relationships. They have already been talking my name up in the casino and the tribal office for daycare and so I know that when I get there for real I will be full with kiddos. I called the state today and found out the hard numbers of how many I can have without having to hire another person. That number is 10 and I am pretty sure I can make that happen.

Yeah, about that single part, I am not sure I can convince someone to move in with me, run a daycare, live in a tribal town and well that is a lot to put on someones plate. I am finding out it is hard to find someone over with there with a drivers licence and also with a clean record, lol. Pretty sure I will be single for life. lol.

License, clean record and not 20 baby mommas. I would say the forest service but not sure if that office will continue there if the lands are given back to the tribe again. I'm sure they are thrilled to have a volunteer with enthusiasm. Those are hard to come by and even harder to keep without burning them out.