Yesterday marked the third phase in our attempt to create a homestead at the Martin Hollow. We now have a gravel driveway. Does this mean wild bacchanalia there? In a word: no. It simply saves me about 400 feet in walking when I'm carrying various tools designed to destroy decontextualized organisms, e.g. autumn olive and garlic mustard. It is also the beginning of our footprint on the land and it helps us to visualize where the house and garage will eventually be placed.
The above are two views of the approach from our road which ends in a cul-de-sac (and a large pond just beyond that) to my right (north).
Here's a closer view after the gravel has been added (above).
This view is from the road facing south. Notice the culvert next the shovel? I told you this wouldn't be sexy.
Just below is another view from the road looking northwest. You can see the bobcat tractor in the distance.
This (to the left) is further up the hill, heading west. Our boundary is through those trees. The space is compressed in the photo, you have, I don't know, at least a thousand feet to go straight ahead before you are off Martin territory. The shot just below is just a few feet further ahead. Both are pre-construction shots.
It's not sexy yet, is it? It doesn't have to be. It's real for us, it's the first (third actually after purchasing and hiring an architect and excavator) step toward building something we want to inhabit for the rest of our natural lives.
Above is the turn, now facing north again at the top of the hill, where the garage and studio will be.
Cai is there to help with a sense of size, distance, and proportion. He's standing approximately in the garage now.
The view in the photo below is located perhaps from our front porch looking east. The green in the middle is where the drive will be in just two days.
Here, now with the drive in place is the beginning of the footprint. The garage (detached, of course--we hate that "Welcome to our garage" look so many builders have foisted on neighborhoods) will be to the right, the house, left of center.
You didn't realize we had neighbors, did you? There to the south of us. Again, this view is from the garage. If you look you can make out the monstrosities that are pole barns on the lot past our neighbors'. We hope to plant a screen of trees here.
Facing south, again, perhaps from the porch.
(Above) If we do this right, there will be a line of trees--varying species--on both sides of the drive.
All in a days work!
Hmmm...there's something missing.
Oh yeah, a car.
Hey, Anessa, where are you going? There's work for you to do...Anessa?
So, there it is. We plan to pay this off--under $3,000--and then move on to the next exciting project. Perhaps...(insert drum roll) a septic field! We aren't going for sexy, we're going for frugality, sustainability, and beauty. By healing this patch of land--extirpating exotics, creating habitat, and asking for God's blessing--we hope to inaugurate a tiny welcome mat for the rider on his white horse when he returns.
Just below is another view from the road looking northwest. You can see the bobcat tractor in the distance.
It's not sexy yet, is it? It doesn't have to be. It's real for us, it's the first (third actually after purchasing and hiring an architect and excavator) step toward building something we want to inhabit for the rest of our natural lives.
Hey, Anessa, where are you going? There's work for you to do...Anessa?
So, there it is. We plan to pay this off--under $3,000--and then move on to the next exciting project. Perhaps...(insert drum roll) a septic field! We aren't going for sexy, we're going for frugality, sustainability, and beauty. By healing this patch of land--extirpating exotics, creating habitat, and asking for God's blessing--we hope to inaugurate a tiny welcome mat for the rider on his white horse when he returns.
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