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Message started by vetryan15 on May 10th, 2018 at 8:17am

Title: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on May 10th, 2018 at 8:17am
I just spent a week in northern maine,  looking at land for sale. I wasn't going back to NJ, without buying any land.  So I ended up buying 20 acres.  Mostly wooded, has a 4 acre area cleared out for a home site. The guy I am buying from owns 200 acres on the same street,  and the neighbor owns  500 acres,  which I have permission to hunt/ trap/ and harvest logs to build my log cabin with.  I won't moving till the end of the month, and the build will take a while before I start.  But I will definitely try to remember to update here.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Drakolith on May 10th, 2018 at 8:33am
Nice! Best of luck to you!

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on May 10th, 2018 at 8:43am
Thanks,  I am super excited.  We got a 30 foot camper and a 15x18 foot canvas tent to work with. Haha. The town population is 202.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Morphy on May 10th, 2018 at 8:46am
Sounds ideal Vetryan! Can't wait to see your progress. I've always dreamed of building my own log cabin.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on May 10th, 2018 at 8:51am
Thanks Morphy,  I always had the same dream. And in that town. NO building codes. So I don't have to worry about dealing with inspection and get to do what I want. One if tge first things is get a well drilled, and solar power to stsrt off to get some kind of cell phone signal booster up abd running. I only can get bars for calls and texts,  no 4g at all. So I can update as I go.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by perpetualstudent on May 10th, 2018 at 8:58am
that sounds awesome.

Do you have any guides or plans you're following?

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on May 10th, 2018 at 9:09am

perpetualstudent wrote on May 10th, 2018 at 8:58am:
that sounds awesome.

Do you have any guides or plans you're following?


I have my own cabin design I drew out myself.  Possibly going dto do a 2 story build.  But I have been researching on cabin building forums, I do have a few books that I can recommend that I own and we're recommended to me. For a beginner at least, which that is my skil level.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on May 10th, 2018 at 10:47am
take pics - fascinated to see how this goes.
:thumb:

What you planning to do about plumbing ?
Waste etc ?

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on May 10th, 2018 at 11:02am

Curious Aardvark wrote on May 10th, 2018 at 10:47am:
take pics - fascinated to see how this goes.
:thumb:

What you planning to do about plumbing ?
Waste etc ?

I will be taking a ton of pictures.  I am gonna start out with an outhouse, but will be putting in  a small septic tank/leech field in within.a year.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by kicktheotter on May 10th, 2018 at 12:30pm

vetryan15 wrote on May 10th, 2018 at 11:02am:
I will be taking a ton of pictures.


I'll definitely be wanting to see how this progresses. Good luck! :D

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on May 10th, 2018 at 4:27pm
I definitely will. I have a lot if people interested.  So we shall see what I can produce

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Mersa on May 10th, 2018 at 5:11pm
You may be living out a few members dreams right now , good luck can't wait to see it , I'll give you free arboricultural advice it you are building by trees ;)

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on May 10th, 2018 at 8:02pm

Mersa wrote on May 10th, 2018 at 5:11pm:
You may be living out a few members dreams right now , good luck can't wait to see it , I'll give you free arboricultural advice it you are building by trees ;)


Oh I know. Lol. Been mine for a long time, that's why I had to share the news. I will be building with trees. Looking at spruce,  or cedar.  Scribed logs. I look forward to your advice,  if you could post here, would be great. I think a lot of other members will enjoy the information as well.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Mersa on May 11th, 2018 at 4:44am
I'm all yours , just make sure you ask the question before you perform the task . Unlike engineering tasks trees don't recover from the wrong planning very well. Basically what I'm saying is if there are any trees that your concerned about but want to retain make sure you plan before you build. Not after

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on May 11th, 2018 at 7:46am

Mersa wrote on May 11th, 2018 at 4:44am:
I'm all yours , just make sure you ask the question before you perform the task . Unlike engineering tasks trees don't recover from the wrong planning very well. Basically what I'm saying is if there are any trees that your concerned about but want to retain make sure you plan before you build. Not after

Gotcha,  I understand.  Now what should I be on the look out when I do start? I have done my research,  and mostly would like to use dead standing trees if I can. But  I need a better look at the trees once I get back up there.  The cabin is gonna be simple.  Once I down the trees,  let dry for a bit. But also had been researching on using green trees ( not letting em dry) as I have seen people going that route abd being successful with it, and then later on compensate the drying later on with chinking material. Then using a scribe for the logs, to fit almost like old school lincoln logs.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jul 11th, 2018 at 9:45am
So today it is official.  We closed on the land yesterday.  I now have the deed to my land. I am doing owners financing, which is $110. A month. I found out that I am totally exempt  to pay property taxes. I am eligible for the homestead and military exemptions. Another reason i love this state.  Also since being from NJ, with the worst firearm laws. Up here I can constitutionally carry. So that's been nice.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by kicktheotter on Jul 11th, 2018 at 1:54pm
Congratulations! I'm really looking forward to seeing your progress with the cabin :D

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Morphy on Jul 11th, 2018 at 2:41pm
As am I, congrats Vetryan.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Mersa on Jul 11th, 2018 at 4:24pm
Yeah well done man , sounds like a dream

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jul 11th, 2018 at 6:12pm
Thanks, we actuall jjust moved our 30ft camper. Onto the lot.cabin won't start till spring, but we have plenty of wood cut on the d.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Mersa on Jul 12th, 2018 at 4:58am
Don't be afraid to post lots of pics

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jul 12th, 2018 at 6:09am
We got a few now, I will start posting a few everyday.  Still exploring the land. Found some junk not even known to be there. And 2 cars from the 40s, I would like to try to salvage. Wet lands on the property.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jul 12th, 2018 at 7:10am
Here are a few pics of my land. It was thinned out before I purchased it, but I have access to 200 acres to pull logs and to build my cabin. The state of Maine is a constitutional carry state. Which,means I can carry whenever, where ever.  Which because of the bears and moose, i have to. Moose are very aggressive, due to poor eyesight. My dad gave me a military issue semi automatic 45 cal hand gun. Plus one of my knives I forged myself, I carry everyday. 
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by NooneOfConsequence on Jul 12th, 2018 at 8:01am
Very nice!  It looks like you’ll have plenty of raw materials to work with :)

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Drakolith on Jul 12th, 2018 at 8:52am
Very exciting! I wish you the best of luck and look forward to seeing future updates!

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by kicktheotter on Jul 12th, 2018 at 10:06am
I can't wait to see more of this even though I'll have to fight through waves of jealousy :D

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Morphy on Jul 12th, 2018 at 10:43am
I imagine it smells amazing there. If that was my land I would go rogue within the first year. By year five I would wear nothing but bear skins and only speak in grunts.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jul 12th, 2018 at 10:44am
Thanks everyone,  I am so excited, and due to the interest, I will be doing a video blog of our journey. I have plenty of pics to come

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Mersa on Jul 12th, 2018 at 4:35pm
Being pine/spruce you should try get some patches of mushrooms growing , slippery jacks , flys , subs , gyms the list goes on

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jul 12th, 2018 at 8:35pm

Morphy wrote on Jul 12th, 2018 at 10:43am:
I imagine it smells amazing there. If that was my land I would go rogue within the first year. By year five I would wear nothing but bear skins and only speak in grunts.

That is my dream, but my gf wouldn't allow it


Mersa wrote on Jul 12th, 2018 at 4:35pm:
Being pine/spruce you should try get some patches of mushrooms growing , slippery jacks , flys , subs , gyms the list goes on

I have seen a few mushrooms , but I know NOTHING of them. So I won't attempt to try them this year

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Jul 13th, 2018 at 7:18am
can you please resize the pics before posting. 8mb an image is way way way too large for the forum.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simplemobilephotoresizer&hl=en_GB
this is a great android app. easy to use and lets you resize and crop fast and do multiple files at the same time - all on your phone.
around 800x600 is ideal for the forum. 

My internet is just too slow to see the pics as they are.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jul 13th, 2018 at 8:02am
I will try

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Jul 13th, 2018 at 8:11am
cheers - it's appreciated :-)

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Jul 21st, 2018 at 4:21pm
God, vetryan, it looks like you've landed in heaven.  Is there any fishable water nearby? I fixed your pictures for you.
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Jul 21st, 2018 at 4:22pm
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Jul 21st, 2018 at 4:22pm
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Jul 21st, 2018 at 4:23pm
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 5th, 2018 at 5:45am
Thanks Ratman, greatly appreciated. There actually is some good fishing from what I have been told, but I haven't tried. I might next year.  We do have landlocked salmon up here, so that should be interesting.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Aug 6th, 2018 at 1:07pm
Yes, I guess you'll be much too busy building and preparing for winter to do much fishing. 

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 7th, 2018 at 5:27am
I might be able to do some winter fishing,  I won't be starting on my build until spring time,  we closed on our lot too late in the season unfortunately

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Aug 7th, 2018 at 7:07am
well you're not short of logs :-)

so on a power front, you going for solar, wind or have you got a stream on the land you could use for a mini hydro plant ?

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 7th, 2018 at 8:23am
Well I have my 20 acres to use for logs, then the guy I purchased the land from. He gave me permission to cut logs on his 200 acres. I definitely have access to the logs. Lol. I do have a small bit of wet lands on the property. With a bog on it as well. But that only has some runoff onto the next property.. Not enough to use for power. I have been looking at some wind/solar hybrid systems for power. But looks like that won't be for a couple of years.  I do plan on getting my camper hooked up to the grid, for the time being. But that's gonna cost some good money.  Reason for wanting power to the camper is, I want to pick up a pressure cooker and start canning,food once we start our garden in spring, and hunting this winter. Plus once the cabin is built, I have some family that wants to move here so they can stay  in the camper while looking at houses., and they need some power and wifi so they can work remotely.  Currently we don't have power. We cook on propane, and use oil lanterns, flashlights,  and head lamps. I have a small hiking solar panel set up to charge our tablet and other small items. We opted for the tablet and got rid of the phones. There is an app that gave us a free phone number

I will be downloading  the app to resize pics. I have some more pics to show off

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Aug 8th, 2018 at 11:59am
   I suppose with access to all of that wood that's what you'll be heating your cabin with when it's built?  I would put in a nice woodstove and maybe a fireplace too. It's a little more work but you'll save a fortune. Plus cutting wood is great exercise.  You'd look like Tarzan in a year.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 8th, 2018 at 2:05pm
Yes, strictly with wood. What I have always wanted, and in a few years. I will be purchasing more land. I don't mind the work, plus I need to lose some weight anyway

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Aug 9th, 2018 at 12:39pm
     I think I can speak for most of us because you're living a fantasy many of us have.  We very much look forward to your future posts on this adventure.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 9th, 2018 at 4:52pm
O I know, lol.  I will definitely be posting more pics, and at some point making videos

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 9th, 2018 at 5:04pm
Here  are a few pids of whats been going on. I had to put in a mailbox. I used my "silky big boy saw" to cut a log.  Used a draw knife to shave the bark. I dug down 2 1/2feet and placed it in. I gotta carry the firearm, for moose and bear. Plus for people. Since some can be pretty stupid, and try dumb things. The camper is where we are staying, that's 300 ft from the road. The canvas tent is from "Davis tent and awning". It's 15x18ft, with a 6 ft awning. I DO have a special woodstove for it as well.  It's mostly for storage right now. Then I made a nice fire pit, got it ready for some cooking when it stops raining and if we have guests. I have a nice cast. Iron cooking set. Dutch ovens, skillets.  A coffee percolator. The roasting spit we will be trying soon, one pic of me doing some early morning squirrel hunting at the neighbors. Damn red squirrel is get into everything. I apologize for somer of the pics, my gf doesn't take good pics, I did take the non blurry ones. Lol.
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Morphy on Aug 9th, 2018 at 5:39pm
That looks great Vetryan. Are you using those logs for your house? Are you cutting all your own logs for it?

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 9th, 2018 at 7:37pm
Thanks Morphy, yes I will be using most of those logs, and cutting down more to build.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by NooneOfConsequence on Aug 20th, 2018 at 1:37am
Ok... I’m confused. That looks like a suppressor on your hunting rifle there, but it doesn’t look like a big enough suppressor to effectively suppress any caliber that can take down a moose.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 20th, 2018 at 5:14am
It is a suppressor, but it's for a 22 cal. I was hunting squirrel

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by NooneOfConsequence on Aug 20th, 2018 at 8:24am
That makes a lot more sense! You mentioned firearms for moose and bear defense right before talking about squirrels, but I can’t think of any gun that would do both except a shotgun, and that’s definitely not a shotgun ;D

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Bill Skinner on Aug 20th, 2018 at 10:04am
I suppose a .45 is better than nothing for moose but I usually carry a .357 Magnum with hard cast bullets in hand loads when I'm pig trapping.  I wanted something that would hit a 300 pound pig between the eyes and come out under his tail.   ;D

I've never hunted for moose, my father grew up in Alaska in the '20's and '30's, way before it was all that settled, he carried a .357 for moose and blackies.  Oddly enough, he didn't worry all that much about grizzlies.  He considered black bears as dangerous vermin that had some good meat and fat.  He worried about us kids running into a moose.

I can remember going for family outings at the Matanuska Glacier Park and everybody we met were carrying firearms.  It didn't raise an eyebrow at the time.  Most were carrying rifles, there were a lot of envious looks at my father's pistol. 

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 20th, 2018 at 9:47pm
The piic of me with the 22,I was camping on the neighbors land waiting to close on mine.he is a firearm dealer he gets all kind of toys. The 45cal i edc, its a 911 military issue,  my dad passed down to me. Its at least 30 years old. I carry it, because he passed all his guns to me. He has no use for it.its mostly just to scare the moose.if I was single, I would have gone to Alaska. That was my dream.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 30th, 2018 at 8:32pm
Well drillers parked their rig here today, will be drilling tomorrow., Jolene looked interested in the trucks.
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by walter on Aug 30th, 2018 at 9:48pm
did you dowse the well site?

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Morphy on Aug 30th, 2018 at 9:56pm
I used to give people a hard time about dowsing. One of my roommates grew up in the country and swore up and down it worked. I tried it once for kicks. It was such spectacular and improbable success I never tried again but was a bit more open minded thereafter.

I second the dowsing question. Also, how much is the well going to cost you? (My bad if you've already said it, too lazy to go and read the whole thread again.)

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 31st, 2018 at 6:09am
I did not, not sure if the driller will either. I do know that some well drillers will use the dowse rod.up in this area. But we have a lot of underground water in my area,  so it might not be necessary.  Will be paying roughly $3k. He is the cheapest,  as well as one of the most honest ones around. He came highly recommended from multiple neighbors in my town.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Sep 1st, 2018 at 6:04pm
The well got finished yesterday, 220 ft drilled. About average in the area. 5 gallons per minute, I am not too happy with that. But nothing I can do.gonna be a whole before I can get a pump been pricing those out. Then I have too pump 1000 gallons. Before I can send in a sample to test the water.   The dogs were very curious. I have a video of the truck in action on my Instagram
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Oct 26th, 2018 at 7:16pm
We just had snow 3 in total 2 days ago. My Amish made tiny home is finished and will be delivered next week. My winter home. We also just adopted a 3rd dog today. Well still hasn't been fixed, just got the parts yesterday. So that a project for this weekend.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Oct 27th, 2018 at 2:44pm
You have a great place to raise dogs. They can be free for most of their lives.  Of course there are more dangers for dogs (bears, moose, porcupines, skunks, etc.)  but I think if you asked them they wouldn't have it any other way.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Oct 28th, 2018 at 9:12am

Rat Man wrote on Oct 27th, 2018 at 2:44pm:
You have a great place to raise dogs. They can be free for most of their lives.  Of course there are more dangers for dogs (bears, moose, porcupines, skunks, etc.)  but I think if you asked them they wouldn't have it any other way.

Thanks, I agree I think it was the best thing to do for the whole group. We mostly only seen moose here, but the dogs are usually inside when they come through the yard. My neighbors have more problems with porcupines and their dogs, then anything. But they are allowed to roam without supervision on their property.  Mine have to be within  visual at all times. The new dog we adopted. A tree walking coon hound, is gonna need a ton more training. He loves to roam, and I don't like it, but eventually I will be training him to hunt.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Oct 29th, 2018 at 7:37am
what mix is josephine ?

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Oct 29th, 2018 at 9:32pm

Curious Aardvark wrote on Oct 29th, 2018 at 7:37am:
what mix is josephine ?

She is a german shepherd and greyhound mix. As you would call her. A lurcher.  Name is Jolene. From the dolly parton song

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Oct 30th, 2018 at 7:34am
I knew it started with 'J' :whistle:
Great looking dog. Should have good temperament with that mix :thumb:

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Oct 30th, 2018 at 4:20pm

Curious Aardvark wrote on Oct 30th, 2018 at 7:34am:
I knew it started with 'J' :whistle:
Great looking dog. Should have good temperament with that mix :thumb:

Thanks, she actually does have one. The shelter I got her from, didn't have much information or any kind of experience working with her in different situations.  But her temperament is really good.  Brains, not so much. But I still love her

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Nov 8th, 2018 at 5:47pm
Here are a few pics of the delivery of my tiny home built by the local Amish. It's a 12ftx 20ft building.  That we will be staying in for the winter until next spring when I will start building.this got delivered today. I just got to finish the insulation myself and set up my new wood stove.. next update will be about my manual hand pump for the water. Got that finally fixed and it's working
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by kicktheotter on Nov 9th, 2018 at 5:33am
That's awesome! :D

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Nov 10th, 2018 at 9:01am
We just got another 2 in of snow this morning.  Here is our new adopted dog, we have had for a month now. Up to 3. A tree walking coon hound.,named Jake.  He is the red and white.
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Mersa on Nov 10th, 2018 at 8:55pm
Living the dream!!

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Nov 10th, 2018 at 9:32pm

Mersa wrote on Nov 10th, 2018 at 8:55pm:
Living the dream!!

Thanks, just love it up here. I am trying g to update this more as I go. When I have time

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Bill Skinner on Nov 11th, 2018 at 3:42pm
Once you get the house built, I take it that will become your shop?

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Nov 12th, 2018 at 9:12am

Bill Skinner wrote on Nov 11th, 2018 at 3:42pm:
Once you get the house built, I take it that will become your shop?

I wish. It's gonna be a guest house. We used it last night. ,my neighbor and his dog came over as well. He bought his propane heater. He is still in a regular tent, but just about finished his own tiny house. So last night we fit 3 adults, 4 dogs. In comfortable it was nice. So when it's one less person and dog, once I have it finished for us this winter, I plan on setting up ther wood stove this week,  and shower as well.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Nov 14th, 2018 at 2:55pm
Last night got to 11 degrees, today got to a high of 16. We finally got it insulated.  But still waiting for the stove pipe. Before it can be installed for the wood stove. My neighbor let us burrow his propane heater, and with 3dogs. We are so freaking warm. Gonna be high teens for a few days. So we are safe. Also got 2 in of snow the other day

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Bill Skinner on Nov 15th, 2018 at 8:33pm
Where's the bathroom?

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by walter on Nov 15th, 2018 at 10:22pm

Bill Skinner wrote on Nov 15th, 2018 at 8:33pm:
Where's the bathroom?


LOL

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Nov 16th, 2018 at 5:42am

walter wrote on Nov 15th, 2018 at 10:22pm:

Bill Skinner wrote on Nov 15th, 2018 at 8:33pm:
Where's the bathroom?


LOL

Funny you should ask. We have one in the camper,  with a mini septic tank. Well it froze yesterday due to extreme low temps, even for this area at this time. So now we are forced to use a bucket, and to dump it straight into the septic. Thankfully my old lady doesnt mind it..

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Nov 16th, 2018 at 6:46am
it's a big shed !

wouldn't you be better off in the camper ?
It's already got insualtion, heating, cooking and bathroom facilities.
What's the thinking behind the smaller one room shack ?

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Nov 16th, 2018 at 2:19pm

Curious Aardvark wrote on Nov 16th, 2018 at 6:46am:
it's a big shed !

wouldn't you be better off in the camper ?
It's already got insualtion, heating, cooking and bathroom facilities.
What's the thinking behind the smaller one room shack ?

The camper isn't insulated as well as I made this place. I used rock wool insulation.  The camper  isn't hooked up to any utilities either.  We get water from a manual hand pump, which after this storm I will be showing off

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Mersa on Nov 16th, 2018 at 3:53pm
Don't worry I get it !!!!

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by walter on Nov 16th, 2018 at 6:10pm
Love the tiny house! Delivered no less. Have you decided on a cabin plan?

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Nov 16th, 2018 at 7:45pm

walter wrote on Nov 16th, 2018 at 6:10pm:
Love the tiny house! Delivered no less. Have you decided on a cabin plan?

Thanks,  yeh. I drew up some plans about a year ago. But it's on my broken phone, so until I get that fixed, I can't view it, but I remember what I wanted.  A nice 30x30  square 2 story cabin is what i am looking at building

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Nov 25th, 2018 at 11:41am
   Great looking pack.  A tiny house makes perfect sense in northern Maine.  It's very easy to keep warm.  Love your updates. Keep them coming please.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Nov 25th, 2018 at 4:04pm

Rat Man wrote on Nov 25th, 2018 at 11:41am:
   Great looking pack.  A tiny house makes perfect sense in northern Maine.  It's very easy to keep warm.  Love your updates. Keep them coming please.

It was something to get us through the winter,  slowly making it our own. On Tuesday a few items for my wood stove will be in, so that will be the next install. I already got the chimney on the roof set up.

Here is an short video I did today. 4th snowfall of the season so far.
https://youtu.be/0gNkrue4tI4
This lifestyle is a lot different then living in South jersey. I love it here

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Nov 26th, 2018 at 8:23pm
  We got four inches of rain the day before yesterday and it poured like hell all day today here in South Jersey.  As you know quite well we usually don't get our serious snow here until after the holidays.  I wish all of this rain had been snow.  We'd have six feet or more on the ground. 
   Your dogs are really cool BTW.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Nov 26th, 2018 at 8:46pm

Rat Man wrote on Nov 26th, 2018 at 8:23pm:
  We got four inches of rain the day before yesterday and it poured like hell all day today here in South Jersey.  As you know quite well we usually don't get our serious snow here until after the holidays.  I wish all of this rain had been snow.  We'd have six feet or more on the ground. 
   Your dogs are really cool BTW.

Thank you. I actually spoke with my mom today , who lives in Deptford. She calls me every day to check in. She said there was a ton of rain today and the other day. Thankfully I don't miss it t herre. Too restrictive.  We have constitutional carry up here. Residents and non residents DON'T need a carry permit for firearms. Totally different lifestyle and I love it. No matter how stressful it is,

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Nov 28th, 2018 at 6:45am
what's wrong with jolene's paw ?

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Nov 29th, 2018 at 5:15am

Curious Aardvark wrote on Nov 28th, 2018 at 6:45am:
what's wrong with jolene's paw ?

She actually broke her nail, down to her quick. It was giving her pain, but I had her on meds, and put super glue on it. Now the bootie is on so she doesn't chew on it

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Dec 17th, 2018 at 7:45am
https://youtu.be/iyRJPJ8bGG8

Yesterday we got the wood stove fully functional,  here is a small video we did, which we found an issue, but fixed it. But we did have a fire all night. Only had to get up once to reload it. Its snowing now. The first thing we cooked this morning what's coffee in the percolator. The wood stove looks really close to the wall but the double-walled stove pipe only needs a clearance of 8 in which it has 16 inches. The cement board we used as a backer along the wall is cement with thin steel as the top layer with one Inch spacers connected to the studs of the wall. That reduces the clearance needed for the wood stove by 66%. The wood stove I have as in the video it says has two removable tops for cooking. I got this wood stove as part of a barter deal. I did 10 hours of manual labor of stacking firewood for the wood stove itself. The brand is a vogelzang boxwood German brand wood stove that is about 20 years old. But it is still unfortunately made in China. We will be doing another update about the wood stove as soon as we learn more about it while working with and cooking on it. But for now I am very happy with it. On a side note I haven't been this warm in a very long time we slowly got acclimated to the weather while we were using propane heater and still in the camper when we had snow earlier in November. This wood stove is bit of an overkill on this for the size of it, compared to the size of my tiny house. But I would rather cook us out open up a few windows and still be pretty warm which currently is what is going on right now.

I apologize for the long sentences, still trying to figure out Google Voice to Text thanks

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Dec 26th, 2018 at 9:44pm
   That stove is more than enough for your tiny house. You'll be toasty during the worst of it.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Dec 27th, 2018 at 6:08am

Rat Man wrote on Dec 26th, 2018 at 9:44pm:
   That stove is more than enough for your tiny house. You'll be toasty during the worst of it.

It's been going non stop for almost 2 weeks. It's been great,  we do bake ourselves out but I would rather that then not be warm enough.  Today we will be having a high of only 10. So if we need to cool down, we open the windows for a bit

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Feb 5th, 2019 at 5:27pm
https://youtu.be/9N1f_PaxOsY here is a link to my newest video. Almost 10 minutes long. It's my review of the manual well pump I have here and use.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Feb 9th, 2019 at 1:13pm
Nice you have the natural spring as a back up in case your pump breaks.  Plus after you dig it out the dogs can get their own water.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Feb 10th, 2019 at 5:24am

Rat Man wrote on Feb 9th, 2019 at 1:13pm:
Nice you have the natural spring as a back up in case your pump breaks.  Plus after you dig it out the dogs can get their own water.

Yeh, I had an idea that it might be, due to a few things I saw in the area and on maps of my land. But I did get confirmation from one of the other owners who was a logger and logged the land. So its s TRUE, I just hot to dig it out.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Feb 11th, 2019 at 6:55am
dig a fish pond :-)

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Feb 12th, 2019 at 4:21am

Curious Aardvark wrote on Feb 11th, 2019 at 6:55am:
dig a fish pond :-)

That's an idea we have been thinking about. Will take a couple of years before that happens.  It floods the next property over where it runs off. We might have to deal with the EPA before we do that due to federal regulations but from what I have seen,  it really depends on the size of it.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Mar 9th, 2019 at 6:24pm
https://youtu.be/lbzEK1OkIes this video is my 1st attempt at tapping a maple tree,  have about 20 taps total for our first time. Its gonna be part of a series to show the who.e process down to boiling, and bottling the syrup

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Mar 10th, 2019 at 12:47pm
   Fascinating.  That's something I've never done.  Birch sap is delicious. I would tap some Birch trees too. I look forward to your posts.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Mar 11th, 2019 at 4:26am
I think next year we will attempt to tap birch,  but from what I read the ratio is 100 gal of sap to 1 gal of syrup. Not sure how true it is, but we shall see. I did find out you can tap a few different trees as well. Hickory and walnut which I had no idea.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Mar 24th, 2019 at 4:58pm
https://youtu.be/O55XijRsnc0 here is part 2 of tapping a maple tree.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Mar 25th, 2019 at 7:49am
understood that birch sap was used mainly as a drink. never heard of it being made into syrup before.
Mind you that's purely from a ray mears tv program.

Aren't you supposed to tap maples in the spring ? WHen the sap is rising.
I know it's not an all-year-round business.

Winter, probably not the best time of year :-)

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Mar 25th, 2019 at 12:46pm
We have a birch beer drink in the US, sold as a soda. But the syrup from a birch can be used as a tonic. Its spring now, the day time temps need to get above freezing, and night time has to be below.  This winter we har a lot of snow fall. 150 inches,  or 12 feet of it, so its gonna be around for awhile in my area. Like today I checked my taps, its below freezing,  so the sap is frozen until it warms up in a day or two.the season is usually the end of winter, beginning is spring. Usually about a 2-3 week time frame.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Mar 25th, 2019 at 4:28pm
lol the snow is what threw me - we had about half an inch for about 3 hours, in total this winter :-)


Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Mar 25th, 2019 at 5:58pm
We had that amount before Halloween last year. All the locals  have said this is the worst  winter in a long time, so I think for awhile we will have it easy for winters I hope

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Mar 26th, 2019 at 10:55am
or they'll get consistently worse and you'll get really profficient at making igloos :-)

Kind of the problem with global warming - it doesn't make everywhere hotter (after all, it's about 2 degrees c every 20 years or so), it's main effect is to cause weather patterns to change.

At the moment the uk is heating up, but if polar melt water causes the north atlantic conveyor to shutdown (as geologic records record it does fairly regularly (on a geologic timescale) then the uk's average temperature will drop by at least 10c - which is pretty serious.

It's only simplistic idiots that look solely at the 'warming' and think: 'why arn't I sunbathing in winter in helsinki, if stuff's warming up ?' :-)

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Kick on Mar 26th, 2019 at 12:31pm

Curious Aardvark wrote on Mar 26th, 2019 at 10:55am:
It's only simplistic idiots that look solely at the 'warming' and think: 'why arn't I sunbathing in winter in helsinki, if stuff's warming up ?'


It's defintely not sunbathing weather over here but it is true that winters are getting less harsh. There was a big problem a few years ago where it got warm way earlier than usual, the bears came out of hibernation and then it got cold again. Lots of hungry bears wandering around wondering where all the spring delicacies were. Not good for their populations and not good for those living in areas with lots of bears. My girlfriend had a picture come up on Facebook in October (one of those "On this day..." things) and there was 3 foot of snow and minus temperatures back then. Same day 3 years later and not a flake of snow. It's getting harder to predict when there will be snow and for how long it will last.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Mar 26th, 2019 at 3:34pm
I agree, I am one of the few that believe global warming is real, and one of the reasons why I wanted a simp,er life was to also help reduce mycarbkn footprint, even if it fowsnt have very much of a difference.  Plus since I am not really a people person, that reason was good enough for me

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Mar 29th, 2019 at 10:59am

Curious Aardvark wrote on Mar 26th, 2019 at 10:55am:
or they'll get consistently worse and you'll get really profficient at making igloos :-)

Kind of the problem with global warming - it doesn't make everywhere hotter (after all, it's about 2 degrees c every 20 years or so), it's main effect is to cause weather patterns to change.

At the moment the uk is heating up, but if polar melt water causes the north atlantic conveyor to shutdown (as geologic records record it does fairly regularly (on a geologic timescale) then the uk's average temperature will drop by at least 10c - which is pretty serious.

It's only simplistic idiots that look solely at the 'warming' and think: 'why arn't I sunbathing in winter in helsinki, if stuff's warming up ?' :-)


I know global warming is fake because Rush Limbaugh says so. 

  Seriously, when I was a child here in New Jersey we had sufficient ice on the lakes for ice skating and snow for sledding through almost the entire Winter. There was even a ski resort, Ski Mountain, in my hometown of Pine Hill.  It was successful for a number of years but eventually had to close down because it stopped snowing enough.  This year the lakes never froze enough for one day of ice skating.  We got some snow but it all melted almost as soon as it fell.  Such Winters are now the norm.  In one human lifetime I've witnessed a climate change that should have taken thousands if not tens of thousands of years.  Almost all Climatologists agree that we have a huge problem yet there is an army of ******** ******** who refuse to believe the overwhelming evidence before their eyes. My Grandmom used to say, "It's good we don't live forever, Gary. There are things I don't want to see."

Edit:  I truly believe that if there are future generations we will be universally hated.  We have the knowledge of the impending disaster and the means to fix it but due to  our general greed and ignorance we're allowing it to happen.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by NooneOfConsequence on Mar 30th, 2019 at 11:42pm
You actually have to believe several things before behavior change based on global warming is justified:
1. Global warming is real.
2. Global warming is caused by man.
3. Global warming will result in catastrophe.
4. We can do something about it.

If any one of those is false, then the whole thing falls apart. Scientists have not shown much evidence or focused on anything beyond the first one, and half the population doesn’t believe even that... including many scientists. 

Personally I’d love to move to a cabin in the woods to be in a cabin in the woods. Global warming is about politics and money and power... not science or logic.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Mersa on Mar 31st, 2019 at 1:51am
1. Is true , there is pretty solid data backing that up .
2,3 and 4 are well open for debate, and that's where it gets fuzzy, I'm not so concerned about it in my life , I feel that if 2,3 and 4 are true it will be my grandchildren or theirs that see the world changing for the worse. But I think you could add many more problems to the list that have nothing to do with global temperature change .

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Bill Skinner on Mar 31st, 2019 at 1:30pm
The planet has been getting warmer for the last 10,000 years or so.  It also has cycles where the temps drop like a rock.  We are just now beginning to start to form working theories as to why and how much man is affecting the cycle.

Or, if we can do anything about it. 

Rising seas are bad enough, here's something else to worry about.

If the planet's global temps increase a few degrees, that means a lot of temperate areas will turn sub tropical, sub tropical will turn tropical and tropical may get too hot to live in.  Guess which areas grow a large amount of the globe's food?  What will that do to food production?  Will that start migration away from the areas that are now too hot to live comfortably? 
   

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Kick on Mar 31st, 2019 at 1:49pm
Also old diseases and pests in new areas. Ticks never used to live in Finland. Then they lived in the south of Finland. Now they're moving further and further north. African species of ticks have even been brought over to Finland and, though they don't survive the winters here (yet...) they are larger and very aggressive and have already been reported on in the national news. West Nile virus, Dengue fever, malaria etc. all those diseases that rely on insect vectors and can be devastating, are popping up in areas across the world that they've never been seen in before because the mosquitoes can spread further and further north. That also contributes to what Bill said about food production with the spread of pests. Climate change is happening and it's going to do a LOT of damage.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Apr 2nd, 2019 at 10:59am
Yesterday I bought home a few meat and dual purpose chicks, and a couple ducks. I will be adding more in a week or 2, and will be doing a video soon.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Apr 2nd, 2019 at 2:46pm
sounds good :thumb:
what kind of chickens ?

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Apr 2nd, 2019 at 5:17pm
Picked up a few cornish. Then some others I forgot the breeds unfortunately,  and I didn't write em down. But they are about 2 weeks old

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Apr 3rd, 2019 at 3:30pm
how are the dogs with them ?

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Apr 3rd, 2019 at 4:31pm
Not too bad, interested and like to sniff em. Jolene my 'lurcher'  thinks they are her babies, and wants to climb in the totem and lay with them. She will sit next to the totem for hours, stick her head in and watch them. Here she Is sniffing a duck.
20190402_185803.jpg (2284 KB | 52 )

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Apr 3rd, 2019 at 5:31pm
Also we got a surprise nor'easter today. Was expecting 1-3in but got 6 inches dumped on us.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Apr 5th, 2019 at 5:53am
Picked up a few more chicks last night,  so far we have 14 chicks and 3 ducks. The breeds are isa brown, columbian Red cross, cornish,  Rhode island  red, and Jersey giant. Now this group is my test run. Next year they might all be butchered. Reason is there is a specific breed I am interested in that is really expensive but they are built for the extreme cold weather we have up here. Those are called Icelandic chickens.  That breed is what the Vikings had.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Apr 7th, 2019 at 4:29am
Picked up a couple turkeys yesterday,   it one isn't doing so good. Hopefully we will be able to nurse it back to health.  But on a side note tomorrow we are expecting 7 to 11 I of snow. If that's the case after it's done will
Will have had over 160 in of snow drop so far.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Apr 7th, 2019 at 4:22pm

NooneOfConsequence wrote on Mar 30th, 2019 at 11:42pm:
You actually have to believe several things before behavior change based on global warming is justified:
1. Global warming is real.
2. Global warming is caused by man.
3. Global warming will result in catastrophe.
4. We can do something about it.

If any one of those is false, then the whole thing falls apart. Scientists have not shown much evidence or focused on anything beyond the first one, and half the population doesn’t believe even that... including many scientists. 

Personally I’d love to move to a cabin in the woods to be in a cabin in the woods. Global warming is about politics and money and power... not science or logic.

   
https://www.edf.org/climate/9-ways-we-know-humans-triggered-climate-change

https://skepticalscience.com/empirical-evidence-for-global-warming.htm

https://www.ucsusa.org/global-warming/science-and-impacts/science/global-warming-faq.html

   Scientists almost universally agree that man has greatly accelerated global warming and that we have a huge problem.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Apr 8th, 2019 at 4:12am
I picked up a couple turkeys but one didn't make it, and then the this morning a baby chick we lost. Not sure what is going on, the chick was healthy but I think the Turkey was sick

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Bill Skinner on Apr 8th, 2019 at 10:52am
Parasites? 

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Apr 8th, 2019 at 2:14pm

Bill Skinner wrote on Apr 8th, 2019 at 10:52am:
Parasites? 

I dont think so, but I am no expert.  Only because over the course of a week since I had them, and added a few more every couple of days apart. The rest are fine. The turkey we had less then 24hours.  The chick rgatwe lost today we had for a week. But the rest seem healthy but we shall see.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Apr 9th, 2019 at 3:44pm
What other animals are you going to add? Are you going to get goats?  I would have goats for a couple of reasons.  They give milk and meat like cattle but they need far less space and are less expensive to feed.  Plus they're way cool.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Apr 9th, 2019 at 7:30pm

Rat Man wrote on Apr 9th, 2019 at 3:44pm:
What other animals are you going to add? Are you going to get goats?  I would have goats for a couple of reasons.  They give milk and meat like cattle but they need far less space and are less expensive to feed.  Plus they're way cool.

I want  to add goats, possibly some sheep and an llama as livestock guardian plus to get yarn would be nice. Eventually I want to get into beekeeping.  I might do rabbits for meat and dog food. I know a few people who have gone on cattle but I want a buffalo might need more land for that though.  The meat is healthier then beef.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Apr 11th, 2019 at 4:11pm
I think Buffalo meat tastes much better than beef also.  It has a lot more flavor and it's leaner.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Apr 12th, 2019 at 4:28am

Rat Man wrote on Apr 11th, 2019 at 4:11pm:
I think Buffalo meat tastes much better than beef also.  It has a lot more flavor and it's leaner.

I haven't had it in so long,  I miss the taste.  I use to get burgers done in NJ at the grocery store all the time.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Apr 12th, 2019 at 5:23am
thing about bison is that they do not live well with others.
Had some friends in canada who ran a herd of bison (see what I'm doing here ;-) basically you do not EVER go into a field with bison. Even barry used to feed them from the back of his pickup truck.

They spook very easily and will trample anything around.
So if you want to go that route, you'll need a large fenced off field just for the bisons :-) 

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Apr 12th, 2019 at 6:22am
I was planning a small herd. About 4would be max, but that is still way out in the future.  But I do remember as a child living in Georgia in the states,  we had a bison farm that was open to the public.  You were able to feed them through the fence,  they never really got spooked. Due to the tourists, and from what I remember.  It was always busy there.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by joe_meadmaker on Apr 12th, 2019 at 10:20am
I'm also a fan of bison meat.  Although it's been a really long time since I had any.  Grass fed beef has always been a favorite of mine too.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Kick on Apr 14th, 2019 at 1:43pm
I don't want to derail the thread back to the climate change discussion when this is supposed to be for vetryan's cabin adventures, but, seeing as I mentioned it, I've never enjoyed being correct less than this...

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/apr/14/tropical-insect-diseases-europe-at-risk-dengue-fever?CMP=fb_gu&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3_fJ6FimfLDU2jEBNSTuzZfhcg2pYgXxcPromtWwcRA1s_YGFt-MgQ40c#Echobox=1555232982

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Apr 14th, 2019 at 5:54pm
https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2018/06/10/voracious-spruce-bark-beetles-are-back-in-force-in-southcentral-alaska/

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Apr 14th, 2019 at 5:58pm
Rabbits are delicious.  I hunted when I was young and enjoyed them quite a bit. When I was stationed TDY in Ft. Drum, N.Y. the mess hall served rabbits regularly and they were always available in the local supermarkets. Unfortunately they are very difficult to find in New Jersey.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Apr 14th, 2019 at 6:47pm
We have plenty of snow shoe hares,  but the coyotes are over run up here, and I haven't seen many on my land, except for a few tracks occasionally during the winter.  But once the water in the spring starts flowing all the animals will be coming by for a drink, plus with my chickens that's gonna draw in some predators,  which I have s few firearms ready to go.  Sorry but the sling will have to sit that scenario out. Lol

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Apr 15th, 2019 at 1:42pm
Will you keep the pelts or make use of the predators you kill in some other way?  Not to be gross but Coyotes are edible.  I unknowing ate dog when I was in Korea.  Afterward I had to admit that it was pretty good though I haven't had it since.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Apr 15th, 2019 at 9:01pm
I am gonna learn how to brain tan, it's been something I wanted to learn for awhile. I never tried dog, but might give it a go. Or be a jerk and feed the kest to my chickens. Lol. My dad was stationed in Korea, he has eaten dog. He liked it, tells me all the time, especially if he hears my dogs acting up. Lol

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by walter on Apr 15th, 2019 at 11:19pm
Dogs or pups?

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Apr 16th, 2019 at 3:59am
Dogs, talking about the local predator problem up here. Coyotes and my chickens

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Apr 16th, 2019 at 4:05pm
Found out today,  the local store who I purchased the chicks from. We hit a sich one,  and have to cull the whole flock.  And start from scratch.  We could do antibiotics,  but they can have flair ups and we would be be able to est the meat or eggs when they are sick.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Apr 16th, 2019 at 7:06pm
That  sucks. Sorry. 

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Apr 26th, 2019 at 11:58am
Finally finished boiling up the sap into syrup today, will be posting videos this weekend. Chicken situation Is still getting taken care of, video on that coming up after my new flock.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Apr 28th, 2019 at 5:04pm
Did you make enough syrup to sell or is it for your own consumption?

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Apr 29th, 2019 at 4:54am

Rat Man wrote on Apr 28th, 2019 at 5:04pm:
Did you make enough syrup to sell or is it for your own consumption?

We didn't get very much,. Its gonna be for our consumption.  Which I boiled a little too long and it partly solidified.  Lol. Its almost like a candy.  But I will be giving some to neighbors. Next year I already have a few people that want to buy some. Gonna try to throw a video up today or tomorrow

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by walter on Apr 29th, 2019 at 6:14pm
In the 70's and 80's there was a co op in southern maine that would buy any oops maple syrup. They would mix it all together, reheat and filter it. I think that was what got sold to grocery stores  :D

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Apr 29th, 2019 at 9:17pm

walter wrote on Apr 29th, 2019 at 6:14pm:
In the 70's and 80's there was a co op in southern maine that would buy any oops maple syrup. They would mix it all together, reheat and filter it. I think that was what got sold to grocery stores  :D

Knowing maine now, and being here for almost a year. It wouldn't surprise me. Lol. It might even still be around to this day. It's a great business strategy.  I do have a few videos I am trying to upload to show the whole process,  but we just used up our data for the month,  so now they throttle the speed until next bill cycle.  Ultimately we only got 20 oz. of syrup, next year we should be getting more.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Apr 30th, 2019 at 5:23am
https://youtu.be/C1Bl33WS1Js

https://youtu.be/QQIEwG8tt3k

https://youtu.be/HYiUhK6Hjzc

https://youtu.be/4iZS_-lxVaI

Here are the 4 newest videos I did following the progress of out sugaring adventure, and the end result. I think i will be doi g it again next year with more taps. I have a few people interested in buying some.

These are in order of how I made the, I dont do any editing, but one video had an issue, so it had to get broken into 2 videos.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Apr 30th, 2019 at 10:57am
If anyone is interested.  You guys can add your own photos and, and other discussions about bushcraft I dont mind

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on May 2nd, 2019 at 1:25am

vetryan15 wrote on Apr 29th, 2019 at 4:54am:

Rat Man wrote on Apr 28th, 2019 at 5:04pm:
Did you make enough syrup to sell or is it for your own consumption?

We didn't get very much,. Its gonna be for our consumption.  Which I boiled a little too long and it partly solidified.  Lol. Its almost like a candy.  But I will be giving some to neighbors. Next year I already have a few people that want to buy some. Gonna try to throw a video up today or tomorrow

Maple candy is awesome. Maybe next year you could deliberately solidify some of the syrup.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on May 2nd, 2019 at 4:24am
I really like it. I am hoping to add more taps every year. I already have customers for next year, after a few coworkers found out what I was doing. The stuff we got now,  i boiled it too much, and it's almost has the consistency of apple butter.  Not bad for my 1st time.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on May 2nd, 2019 at 8:47am
So an incident happened last night involving our ducks. We all went to bed. My, my gf, 3 dogs. In the middle of the night, I woke up due to 1 of the dogs taking my blanket. Well the 3 ducks are in a tote, and growing.  Still have a couple more weeks before they can go out in the coop. Well I went to kick a dog to nudge her off the blanket, I felt something really soft and alot smaller then a dog. I sat up, and found 1 duck  nested by my foot, in one of the blankets.  The dogs love them, and wint go after ro hurt em, the love to play together.  But 1 dog was actually laying and cuddling the duck while it was nested. So I had to put em away, since I dont want it popping in the bed. The end. Lol

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by joe_meadmaker on May 2nd, 2019 at 9:39pm
Now that was a feel good story.  In your first sentence when you said an "incident" happened, my first reaction was concern.  Glad it turned out happy :)

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on May 3rd, 2019 at 4:16am

joe_meadmaker wrote on May 2nd, 2019 at 9:39pm:
Now that was a feel good story.  In your first sentence when you said an "incident" happened, my first reaction was concern.  Glad it turned out happy :)

It was lucky I didn't kill it, I am usually very grumpy if I get woken up in the middle of the night.  Lol. And seeing that there,in my bed didmy help much. Now a few weeks ago, we had a true incident.  Where I had to destroy my flock due to them getting sick. But it turned out a different style of happy ending, that's still getting resolved right at this moment. 


Plus these ducks, I am not allowed to eat.my gf got attached to them. They are now pets unfortunately. I just hope they are female,  so I can get eggs

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on May 3rd, 2019 at 7:18am
I once punched  a duck in its beak.

We'd gone down to the coast for a bit of fishing (I didn't ctahc anything) and I was forced to spend the night in a tent.
So about 3am this duck kept pecking the outside of the tent.
In the end the only way i could get to bugger off and leave me alone was to punch it through the tent :-)

Didn't see a bent beaked duck in the morning so I guess it survived :-)

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on May 3rd, 2019 at 6:47pm

Curious Aardvark wrote on May 3rd, 2019 at 7:18am:
I once punched  a duck in its beak.

We'd gone down to the coast for a bit of fishing (I didn't ctahc anything) and I was forced to spend the night in a tent.
So about 3am this duck kept pecking the outside of the tent.
In the end the only way i could get to bugger off and leave me alone was to punch it through the tent :-)

Didn't see a bent beaked duck in the morning so I guess it survived :-)

That is hilarious.  I am not a fan of geese, due to an experience I had as a child.  I might get some next year. Not sure

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on May 3rd, 2019 at 10:36pm

vetryan15 wrote on May 2nd, 2019 at 8:47am:
So an incident happened last night involving our ducks. We all went to bed. My, my gf, 3 dogs. In the middle of the night, I woke up due to 1 of the dogs taking my blanket. Well the 3 ducks are in a tote, and growing.  Still have a couple more weeks before they can go out in the coop. Well I went to kick a dog to nudge her off the blanket, I felt something really soft and alot smaller then a dog. I sat up, and found 1 duck  nested by my foot, in one of the blankets.  The dogs love them, and wint go after ro hurt em, the love to play together.  But 1 dog was actually laying and cuddling the duck while it was nested. So I had to put em away, since I dont want it popping in the bed. The end. Lol


Great story. That would never happen at my house with my pack of murderers.  Anyway, geese are cool.  They might hiss and act bad but they don't have teeth or claws.  They really have no way to hurt you.  I walk through a flock of mostly wild geese every day to feed them.  They know I have no fear of them so they don't give me any crap. 

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on May 4th, 2019 at 3:41am
These ducks are named after the bullies in The Simpsons. . One of them can be a bit bitey,  I think they are protecting the female,  but we are not sure as they are only a little over a month old. Which I will be doing a video in a few days, after the rest of my flock gets here. The ducks and dogs loved to play together. All 3 are hound or hound mix, so its interesting to see how they each react to the one who bites them. Lol. The geese thing, happened when I was like 4 yo. Wait a picnic,  and eating a sandwich at the table.  Then some goose came up and snatched it out of my hands.  Little bastard lo l

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on May 15th, 2019 at 5:12am
So its snowing up here, and its sticking. Its supposed to be a coating but we shall see

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on May 15th, 2019 at 9:21am
it's always 'a coating' - the only thing that changes is the thickness of 'the coating' :whistle:

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Bill Skinner on May 15th, 2019 at 1:00pm
80's down here. 

Horse flies, black gnats, water moccasins, copper heads, rattlesnake and 'gators are all out in force.   :o

Wood ducks have already hatched out the first nesting, we've got a pair with two ducklings on the pond.

Hay already needs cutting, except the ground is too wet, the tractor will get stuck.

Largemouth bass are "off the bed" or have finished spawning and are returning to their normal areas.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on May 15th, 2019 at 4:47pm
   Perfect day here in Jersey.  Dry, sunny, breezy, not hot or cold... about as beautiful as a day in May can be.  A stunningly gorgeous day. It makes up for all of the rainy days we just had.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Kick on May 16th, 2019 at 2:04am
Same for Helsinki. My dad and one of my oldest friends have come over to visit and they couldn't have picked a better time to come over :D

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on May 16th, 2019 at 5:24am

Curious Aardvark wrote on May 15th, 2019 at 9:21am:
it's always 'a coating' - the only thing that changes is the thickness of 'the coating' :whistle:

True, the good thing is it lasted for 1 hour. But it came down like it was a blizzard . Then it rained for most of the day yesterday.  Which we experienced the couple of weeks of mud season a few weeks back.  That wasnt too bad. I was expecting far worse.  Next season is black fly season. Hopefully in a few weeks my chickens will be out in the coop, so they can deal with those.we started our garden, and still using the wood stove.  Today is my day off from work so I will try to get outside and do some clean up.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on May 17th, 2019 at 5:10pm
    Blackfly season. Ugh!

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jun 16th, 2019 at 2:39pm
So we have the chickens outside during the day as I am working on their coop. I got home from work, and was told that my chickens caught, killed and ate a frog that happened to jump into their run I have. I was upset I wasn't home and missed it,

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Jun 17th, 2019 at 9:53pm
Free chicken feed. Can't beat it.  I had chickens when I was a kid.  Now it would be difficult because of the murdering pack of wolves I live with.
    Often the ducks, geese, and all of their offspring end up in my next door neighbors yard.  He has a very large Yellow Lab and a Husky.  His dogs don't bother the waterfowl at all.  I can't believe it.  My crew of murderers lives to tear them apart.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jun 18th, 2019 at 5:07am
I got lucky and was able to train mine, since I got em as chicks. They actually play together now. Which I have to do a  video soon. But one of my dogs she has a huge prey drive, and she is fine with them. She does help me wrangle the chickens up for the night.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jun 25th, 2019 at 8:36am
https://youtu.be/7-KiiuQl5uw

https://youtu.be/k6XH9zjp-A0

A couple new videos showing off my multi species flock

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Jun 25th, 2019 at 12:11pm
Nice flock.  Good mix.  I have an  unrelated question.  No one loves the woods more than me but sooner or later one gets bored. Particularly women.  What do you two do when you want to step out?  Where is the nearest town and what is there to do there?

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jun 26th, 2019 at 6:46am
Hi Ratman,

I'm vetryan15's girlfriend. I asked to answer this. Out here it's very different,  I'm way too busy to really get bored. I pressure cook, garden, take care of the flock and 3 dogs, do laundry by hand, and cook every meal from scratch. The closest town is called Houlton only about a half hour away. They have a theater in town with 5.00 admission, and free popcorn, if I ever could find the time I would go, just too busy keeping the homestead going.

I also do not like the locals so I try to avoid town, they have a bit of a grudge against us "transplants" and it does effect my willingness to get out. I'm pretty happy just staying in and playing a game or reading when we are snowed in. I definitely wouldn't ever return to my previous life of diners and running around all the time. Hope this helps & good talking to you  :)

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Jun 27th, 2019 at 5:21pm
    It's nice that you both share the vision.  I sort of imagined him dragging you off into the middle of nowhere and you being bored out of your mind.  Many of the women I know would go mad living like you do.  I can see that you're a team and equally committed to this. 

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jun 29th, 2019 at 9:12pm
Hehehe, not at all, when he met me I was living on a corn farm near mullica hill nj. Even there I felt it was becoming too city for me, they even put industrial parks in cornfields and started buying half the fields to put small developments on.  I needed more land and less people. Plus I really wanted to be further away from Kramer landfill, Salem nuclear plant and the oil refineries.  It's nice to drink water that doesnt taste like chlorine and breath air that doesnt look gray in the distance. The fact that there are 0 poisonous snakes up here had me sold me. Vetryan15 having the same dream was just a wonderfully lucky bonus.

As for not being bored, it's the hobbies you choose to do that makes it worth while, for example. I hate sewing and knitting. Quilting is the worst hobby I've ever heard of, cutting up bits of fabric just to sew it together again, craziness really. If I had to do these I'd probably be ,miserable, but I do love to garden and cook. To me it's fun and not work. I pressure cook 7 quarts of meat at a time and cant wait to harvest and can from my garden. I guess it's all in what you can find to make you happy and making it your own paradise.  Sorry I'm a bit long winded, I'm not used forming

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jul 18th, 2019 at 9:03pm
https://youtu.be/wSeWCCqTLjg here is a video of us leveling our tiny house due to frost heave

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Jul 19th, 2019 at 8:30am

Quote:
hey have a theater in town with 5.00 admission, and free popcorn,

Wow !
That's got to be worth a trip.

And the 'locals don't like us' ALWAYS goes both ways :-)

But it definitely sounds like you're well matched :thumb:

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by joe_meadmaker on Jul 19th, 2019 at 10:00am

vetryan15 wrote on Jul 18th, 2019 at 9:03pm:
https://youtu.be/wSeWCCqTLjg here is a video of us leveling our tiny house due to frost heave

I love all the birds walking up to see what's going on.  That had me cracking up  :D

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Jul 19th, 2019 at 5:32pm
  When I read the title I thought you were tearing the house down.  Duh!

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jul 20th, 2019 at 5:26am
@CA,  I have only seen the theater I dont have the attention span to sit  through an actual movie  to attend. The locals I have had to put in their place more then once,  my attitude is starting to make people take notice. My reputation and. Attitude is what I am starting to be know by.

@Joe,  the birds have so much personality, we free range em most of the time, and when we leave  a building. They rush up everytime thinking we have food. Its gonna be hard to slaughter most due to personality unfortunately.  That's why I tried not to bond with them. 

@rat man,  lol my luck if my neighbor didnt help, that might have been what happened.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Jul 23rd, 2019 at 6:17am
where the chickens are concerned - just eat more eggs :-)

We had chickens some years ago. rescued them, ended up with 7. They are real characters.
At the tme we had a wire haired dachshumd - basically death on legs to anything.
And he and houdini (chicken that was good at escaping) used to be either side of the fence trying to kill each other.
Not sure what would have happened if they'd ever met without the fence. Dacar used to beat up anything bigger than him and regularly ate birds. But he wasn't used to things fighting back :-)

Raising chickens to eat, well unless you've got a LOT - don't do it :-)
You'll get a lot more satisfication from them as egg laying pets.
Get some rhodies, good layers, long lived and just fun !

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jul 23rd, 2019 at 7:03am
Well when we started the flock,  I purchased a few meat chickens so I can butcher em, just because if you have ever eaten fresh farm chicken,  it taste 10x  better then store bought. Plus from the information I got through the neighbors, who raised chickens.  With our winters we get down to -40. A few have had some meat chickens freeze to death. Me being an animal lover, I wouldn't want any of them to suffer. But the mixed flock we have we have a huge variety,  plus we want cold hardy, and my gf just purchased 20 more chicks, which we will get next week delivered.  Once they start laying we will have close to 2 dozen eggs a day. But a few people I know,  are interested in fresh eggs, so a small customer base is nice.  We do have some Rhode island reds. There are a few that we have, I have no idea what they are. Lol.


On a side note, one of our Barred Rock hens, caught, killed and ate a large juvenile field mouse. Which was interesting to watch.


Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jul 25th, 2019 at 5:33pm
https://youtu.be/XHWbaUQtvlU. ; here is one i did talking about the water test we did and got the results a few days ago.  This shows us drinking the well water for the 1st time.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Jul 25th, 2019 at 10:24pm
There's something wrong with the link.  I keep getting an error message.  Congrats on getting good results on your test.  That's a big deal.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jul 26th, 2019 at 5:18am
     https://youtu.be/XHWbaUQtvlU       Sorry about that,  hopefully this one works.  We are super excited, since now i dont have to drive to the spring every 2 to 3 days in town

https://youtu.be/XHWbaUQtvlU

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Jul 26th, 2019 at 4:06pm
So how do you feel today?

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jul 27th, 2019 at 4:51pm

Rat Man wrote on Jul 26th, 2019 at 4:06pm:
So how do you feel today?

Feeling good, as we are both still alive, with no gastrointestinal problems at all. Which was nice. We wre finishing up our last bottle of spring water todsy, and will be switched over to well water by tomorrow.  But if i have any iddues with the well. I can go back to the spring in town, it flows all year

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Jul 29th, 2019 at 9:03pm
  Your well water is probably better than  what most of us get our of our taps.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 1st, 2019 at 11:17am
Its been almost a week now,  we are doing pretty good. The water taste different form NJ thats for sure.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Aug 1st, 2019 at 8:33pm
When I was a kid our water here had no taste. Now it tastes like chlorine.... like awful Philly water. 

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 1st, 2019 at 8:45pm
I know how it is. At our apartment before we moved up here. We couldnt drink the tap. I wouldn't allow it. We lived less then 5 miles from kramer landfill. Its on the epa top 10 clean up sites. The water was brown. So we drank bottled water from Walmart.  But at my parents house 7 miles away. The water was fine

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Aug 2nd, 2019 at 4:20pm
my sister used to have a well at her last house in ontario. Apart from it running dry when the girls ran the shower too long - and at that point it can silt up - it was fine :-)

She did have to have a tanker to fill her hot tub though.

Get a decent wind turbine and some solar panels and you'll be fully off the grid :thumb:

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 2nd, 2019 at 5:50pm

Curious Aardvark wrote on Aug 2nd, 2019 at 4:20pm:
my sister used to have a well at her last house in ontario. Apart from it running dry when the girls ran the shower too long - and at that point it can silt up - it was fine :-)

She did have to have a tanker to fill her hot tub though.

Get a decent wind turbine and some solar panels and you'll be fully off the grid :thumb:


I have heard of thaf happening,  but with mine its giona take alot to dry it up. Our water table for my well is 20 feet, and they drilled down to 220. All in water. 
We are looking at a solar / wind turbine hybrid system but that might wait till next year. Just because we are stsrting to prep for winter, and i need to cut plenty of firewood

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Aug 3rd, 2019 at 1:15pm
   One benefit of wood heat... you won't need to join a gym. 

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 3rd, 2019 at 8:48pm

Rat Man wrote on Aug 3rd, 2019 at 1:15pm:
   One benefit of wood heat... you won't need to join a gym. 

Oh yeh, i have lost a good amount of weight since moving up here.


On a separate note today i got home and my gf with help from my neighbor surprised me with a coal forge with manual blower that was made in 1902. I have to get a few parts and fix the legs thats it.i will be doihg a video of it soon to show off

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Kick on Aug 4th, 2019 at 1:13am
Man, and I was jealous enough already! I would love to have a go at forging but we don't even own a garden let alone have understanding enough neighbours for forging.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 4th, 2019 at 5:52am

Kick wrote on Aug 4th, 2019 at 1:13am:
Man, and I was jealous enough already! I would love to have a go at forging but we don't even own a garden let alone have understanding enough neighbours for forging.


We have a small garden alot of ghe stuff died due to the weird clay like soil. So not much of a harvest this year. I did forge for 2 years before i moved. But sold my propane forge to my buddy. But this kne was in someone's basement lookung to get rid of it. The guy almost scraped it. But my gf said we would take it. It was a surprise for my bday that was a few weeks ago. But all he wants is a knife made when i have it up and running.  So now i have been busy looking fir a couple of parts

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Aug 5th, 2019 at 2:46pm
   You know we have a lot of bog iron in New Jersey.  At one point Batsto and its bog iron were a major supplier to a very young America, before better grade ore was discovered in Pennsylvania.  Do you have a lot of bog iron in Maine?  That would be handy in that you now have a forge.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 6th, 2019 at 5:04am

Rat Man wrote on Aug 5th, 2019 at 2:46pm:
   You know we have a lot of bog iron in New Jersey.  At one point Batsto and its bog iron were a major supplier to a very young America, before better grade ore was discovered in Pennsylvania.  Do you have a lot of bog iron in Maine?  That would be handy in that you now have a forge.

I actually do not know, i will have to ask around with some of the older lifelong residents. I have never hesrd of anything' like that in NJ, but i didnt care much for NJ to even care much about its history. I do know from my gf, that jer grandmother's house over in Mantua has coal underneath

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Aug 6th, 2019 at 2:13pm
I don't know if it's the same in North Jersey but here in the south bog iron is everywhere.  I could go out and pick up a ton of it right now.  Old Revolutionary War cannon balls made at Batsto can still be found with a metal detector.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 7th, 2019 at 5:41am
I had no idea about that.  If i would have known, i usd to spend a ton of time over at red bank battlefield, in national park,. Probably could have found a bunch there. I didnt talk to my neighbor,  but from what i found knline. There isnt much up here. There have been only 2 sources ever found, that have been documented, and thry dont look very close to me

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Slingky on Aug 8th, 2019 at 7:05pm
@vetryan15,

Hats off to you two for all the hard work. Great thread.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 9th, 2019 at 4:34pm

Slingky wrote on Aug 8th, 2019 at 7:05pm:
@vetryan15,

Hats off to you two for all the hard work. Great thread.

Thanks

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 21st, 2019 at 3:23pm
A couple of weeks ago. My gf got me a surprise for my bday, which has been over a month ago. It ended up being a coal forge. The person she got it from only wants a knife made from it when i get it up and running. It was built in 1902, by Champion blower and forge company.  In Lancaster Pa, which is one of the largest Amish communities in America.   The company is still around but is called Champion fans, and build fans for commercial use. The blower still works, which is a manual fan. I just need to replace 2 legs, and needed  pipe to connect the blower to the pan itself.  That piece is a flexible  heavy duty truck exhust pipe, which should be here tomorrow. I plan on doing a video after i get 1 fire in it.
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 21st, 2019 at 3:32pm
When i got home today, i was informed that our ducks have laid their first eggs. We have 1 male and 2 female 'runner' ducks. Which at 4 months hit maturity.  Which figures in account that the male has been horny, lol. Been trying  to mate with everything.  We have never eaten duck eggs, so in a couple of days after a few more we will try them.

What we do with the eggs is clean em up, and after that rub mineral oil over the eggs to give back the microbacteral film. The eggs will then be shelf stable and NOT need refrigeration for a few months. This even works with eggs from the store, after they have been in the refrigerator before we purchase them. Then we have em sit for up to 2 weeks. We go through a ton of eggs, they dont last long. Been doing it this way since we moved, and no problems at all.
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Aug 22nd, 2019 at 5:46pm
    The forge is way cool. 
    I don't refrigerate raw eggs ever.  I've lived here for five years and have never had a problem.  I generally don't keep them for more than ten days before they're used though. My late wife Marie spent part of her childhood on a farm.  She always raved about how good duck eggs are.  I've never had them.  My niece Julie has ducks.  I'm going to ask her for a few eggs the next time she holds a family function at her place. 

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Oct 1st, 2019 at 5:00pm
So came home today, my neighbor found our eggs. The chickens have started laying, a couple of days ago.  In an old tree that was cut up, woth a hole in it. So i wont be cutting it up for fire wood. Still doing some finishing touchs on the 2nd part of the coop, its gonna be an addition thats almost finished
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Kick on Oct 2nd, 2019 at 3:45am
I can see why they laid there. Perfect natural coop :D

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Oct 2nd, 2019 at 6:39am

Kick wrote on Oct 2nd, 2019 at 3:45am:
I can see why they laid there. Perfect natural coop :D

Yeh, i think i now have go check it everyday for eggs, and will probably try to move it. Into thier yard so its closer to the coop, but its a few hundred pounds. Thats only a few ftom my flock, i have clost to 50 birds, turkeys,  chickens,  egg layer and meat chickens. Ducks, annd guinea hens

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Oct 3rd, 2019 at 12:25pm
Seems that i sprained my ankle today while on my day off and working on firewood.  Wont be going to a dr since i have had multiple sprains in my life. Really sucks since the weather is gonna be a frozen mix tomorrow. The 1st of the season

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Oct 3rd, 2019 at 12:35pm
    Sorry.  Hopefully you'll feel better before too  long.
    I very much enjoy this thread and look forward to your updates. 

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Oct 3rd, 2019 at 1:04pm

Rat Man wrote on Oct 3rd, 2019 at 12:35pm:
    Sorry.  Hopefully you'll feel better before too  long.
    I very much enjoy this thread and look forward to your updates. 

Thanks, i hope i can get back up again soon. My gf is keeping me laid up right now. So i will get in trouble if i move. Its a shame too, i just got all my new parts for my forge yesterday and was planning on setting it up, and trying it out.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Nov 3rd, 2019 at 5:57pm
So alot has happened the last few weeks. I finally got the coal forge set up. But still need to get my anvil and stsnd set up. Bit by bit. They cut my hours at works. So that might be a couple of weeks.

We now get about 9 eggs a day from the egg laying chickens, and 2 a day from the ducks. I will have to post some pics, we get different colors, brown, green and white.

We just slaughtered our first chickens yesterday.  2 roosters, that were normal.  They were aggressive to the flock, and started fights with the turkeys, and Guinea hens. Plus they kept TRYING to mate with the ducks. Watched some YouTube videos on the whole process. 1st one was great. 2nd was a disaster.  Had to throw it away. Today we did one, due to daylight. That one went perfect.  I slaughtered,  my gf plucked, and gutted.  We are gonna do 1 a day till our mest chickens are done. We have 10.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Dec 25th, 2019 at 6:09am
I have my insomnia came back earlier this year. So i am usually up anytime between 2am to 4am. Very rarely do i sleep later.  But its Christmas morning,  we have been talking. We heard this weird scream, noise around 515am. Making sure whatever it was, didnt come close to the coop, and our dogs were freaking out a bit. Did some research on what the noise was, to some known animals.  We believe it was a Fox, which after almost 15 minutes of of research, we believe it was just walking though the next property through the woods.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Dec 25th, 2019 at 10:05am
Talking to my neighbor,  he was saying it might have been a fisher cat. Which is a large weasel. 

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Mar 11th, 2020 at 6:57pm
So its it's starting to turn into our extra season before spring. Known as mud season.  Snow melting andsince we have a ton of it, its gonna be extra muddy for a few weeks. But we been busy, i haven't been on social media very much.

We just tapped about 25 trees and are currently collecting sap to boil down into maple syrup.

I just actually made my very 1st gallon of mead. That is currently fermenting right now.

Most recently we actually picked up a small generator for some of my power tools, and got that running. So we do now have limited power to an extent. Just enough that so i can return to knife making this year, hopefully if i have time.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by walter on Mar 12th, 2020 at 9:02pm
Sugaring! Best thing to do in Feb. Hope it works out for you :)

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Mar 13th, 2020 at 4:29am
Yes it is, i even did it old school with an old carpenter brace.. last year we boiled it too much and started making it into candy, hopefully this year we wont. Lol

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Mar 17th, 2020 at 11:30am
No Birch syrup this year?

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Mar 18th, 2020 at 3:51am

Rat Man wrote on Mar 17th, 2020 at 11:30am:
No Birch syrup this year?

As of right now, pprobaly not. The birch season is i believe right after maple season. So there is time, but i dont have as many birch trees as i thought i did. Cuz you need 10x the amount of sap from birch compared to maple. To make the same amount

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Mersa on Mar 18th, 2020 at 5:22am
You can but try

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Mar 22nd, 2020 at 3:51am

Mersa wrote on Mar 18th, 2020 at 5:22am:
You can but try

I think i sill survey how mzny birch trres on my lot, this spring before i jump to commit. The taps are cheap i judt hope i have the time

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Morphy on Mar 22nd, 2020 at 11:25am
I got far behind on this thread and look forward to binging on it when I have time but from what I’ve seen you really are living the life. Thanks for posting all this Vetryan.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Mar 22nd, 2020 at 7:27pm

Morphy wrote on Mar 22nd, 2020 at 11:25am:
I got far behind on this thread and look forward to binging on it when I have time but from what I’ve seen you really are living the life. Thanks for posting all this Vetryan.


Agreed. This is one of my favorite threads. I live vicariously through Vetryan.  I look forward to new entries.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Mersa on Mar 22nd, 2020 at 7:56pm
He’s in a good spot considering current times

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Mar 22nd, 2020 at 8:16pm

Mersa wrote on Mar 22nd, 2020 at 7:56pm:
He’s in a good spot considering current times

    I hadn't thought about that but yes!

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Mar 27th, 2020 at 6:20am
Thanks everyone.  I love giving updates,  and as of now its been super busy and crazy.  Here in Maine with the coronavirus,  in state we have 155 cases. The closest to me is almost 2 hours away, in Bangor. Now i work in a grocery store, so am considered essential staff.  Which sucks due to the fact i have to deal with everyone going hysterical over TP, and doing thier panic purchases.  I have been doing overtime the last 2weeks, that is currently my whole schedule.  On top of my chores when i get home, cutting firewood,  pumping drinking water, and whatever else needs to get done. Which a few days ago. Feeling run down, and exhausted i really felt like quiting, not sure how much longer i can take. Remember i am disabled to an extent, due to a car accident 5 years ago, which i am still in constant pain, but exert myself way beyond what i should be doing all the time physically and mentally.  But anyway picking up some new hobbies, purchasing lots of tools. and trying to be ready for spring time. Thinking about stuff i didnt get done during winter. Enough of my ramblings.

So I picked up a small generator this year, we now have some power that is very limited for my power tools, and to charge stuff that my small solar panels cant charge. But mostly its to run my power tools when i get the forge up and running, and back into knifemaking, cuz right now i will not file knives by hand.  ;D.

  I started my 1st batch of mead, my gf got me a small mead making kit, and its is a raspberry mead, i have more equipment getting delivered soon and will be making a few more small batches. I accidentally did it the passive way, the honey didnt mix very well with the hot water, but from my research it will make it a sweeter mead. So now i need to wait another year before i can try it. I have a few mead making books as well. I do need to rack it a 2nd time, still some floaties in the bottom.

I am starting to get into. Bow making and atlatl making, i have been adding books to my library. (Bowyers bible, books by Jim Hamm, atlatl buiding books, and a bow&arrow making books by Douglas Spotted Eagle)  Getting tools, and i have a bunch of ash staves (quarters of trees) drying out under my house, and i kept 1 inside this winter as a test to see how it dries. I also have some maple staves cut and drying as well. Talking to a few coworkers(who know i haven't started yet) looking at purchasing a bow or 2.  ;D

Just this week our 1 female turkey just laid 2 eggs, so hopefully she will be broody, and possibly  hatch some babies.  Our chickens, have now started laying about 1 dozen eggs a day, which we sell the extras to my coworkers,  and a few locals. Bringing in some extra cash, not much. But every bit helps. We will also be butchering our 6 roosters we have, since only need 2 for our flock. Noisy little buggars.  >:(.

Here are a few pics.
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Mar 27th, 2020 at 6:22am
Before the snow last year, playing with the coal forge. I posted aabout it awhile ago in this thread, but again. It was built in 1902, Lancaster Pa
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Mar 27th, 2020 at 6:36am
https://youtu.be/fL5UKnPtU_I

Here is a new video i did of tapping maple trees yesterday,  i posted a small snippet on my Instagram.  This is 5 minutes long.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Mar 27th, 2020 at 11:47am
Very cool.  You have snow.  I remember snow.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Mar 27th, 2020 at 4:42pm

Rat Man wrote on Mar 27th, 2020 at 11:47am:
Very cool.  You have snow.  I remember snow.

If you go back,  i have a few other pics i added to this thread

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Apr 9th, 2020 at 7:29pm
Right now we are getting a huge storm , it started as rain. Then switched to snow. They are calling for 12in to 18in of snow.  We shall see how it goes

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Apr 23rd, 2020 at 10:09am
Earlier in the week we had finished out our maple taping season,  with 32oz of syrup.  Well i didnt like the final product so we did some more boiling down on it today. And now we are finished with our 2nd season of maple tapping done. Looks like i was able to boil it down by another 1/2. So we finished with 16oz of syrup. We had 24 taps, but there are certian maples that you shouldn't waste your time tapping.  Like silver maples, but i am still learning the identification of a few of the sub species of maples.  But next year we will be adding more taps. If you look closely at the tap, i got a pic of the sap dripping out, but it froze. One day i hope to have enough syrup to do a few trades and barter.
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Apr 23rd, 2020 at 7:24pm
   I'll be over for panakes with syrup tomorrow morning.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Apr 24th, 2020 at 2:10am
Thats one hell of a drive just for breakfast  ;D

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on May 10th, 2020 at 6:11am
yesterday  may 9th, we received  a huge snow storm. We got almost 10 inches,  flock isnt happy, but the dogs are. I forgot about it, and need to unbury my sled, and some tools to go cut firewood. But within a week, the snow should be melted.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Morphy on May 10th, 2020 at 4:59pm

Rat Man wrote on Apr 23rd, 2020 at 7:24pm:
   I'll be over for panakes with syrup tomorrow morning.


I’ll bring strawberries from my patch and cream from...err...someone else’s cow. If we are going to do this we might as well do it right. Vet you have room for a few dozen regular members right??  :D

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on May 10th, 2020 at 7:44pm
I have plenty of room. I think 20 acres is enough for a few visitors,  its just gonna be primative camping till we upgrade.  My gf said 'who was gonna be making the pancakes 'lol. I said  she was.  I haven't got that death look in awhile. Lol

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on May 10th, 2020 at 8:00pm
I have plenty of ash staves. Throw a bow building camp out. The staves have been drying since last year, and most are straight. Each stave can produce 2-3 bows each.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jun 17th, 2020 at 12:28pm
We have had such a demand for our eggs we sell. That we added another 15 chicks that came in today,  we do have someone who is possibly interested in taking a few chicks. Since we have no power we do radiant hesting with bottles of hot water for the brooder.


In other news i am currently working on putting my solar panel/wind turbine hybrid system together so we can have power. Its been 2 years without power. I would like to. Run my power tools, and dyhydrator,. As well as get the tiny house and camper hooked up so we can have guests. The system is 1400 watts,  its something i can slowly add on too as $ comes in.
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Jun 18th, 2020 at 3:42pm
   Electricity isn't a necessity but it is a very nice convenience.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by walter on Jun 18th, 2020 at 8:27pm

vetryan15 wrote on May 10th, 2020 at 8:00pm:
I have plenty of ash staves. Throw a bow building camp out. The staves have been drying since last year, and most are straight. Each stave can produce 2-3 bows each.


that could be a lot of fun especially if there was a sling thowing competion or two. the lp was a camp cook and says she will help with the flap jacks :)

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jun 19th, 2020 at 4:07am

Rat Man wrote on Jun 18th, 2020 at 3:42pm:
   Electricity isn't a necessity but it is a very nice convenience.

It is, we havent had it for 2 years ears.. its mostly gonna be for our dehydrator,  some tools to charge and some appliances.  Plus if i can buy the property across the street, i can add it over the there. The house could be wired for complete off grid power. One less bill

@walter hell yeh!!! Definitely come on up. Just be warned, my accuracy sucks lol havent practiced in awhile. ;D

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Jun 19th, 2020 at 3:40pm

Quote:
the lp

long player ?
:noidea:

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by walter on Jun 19th, 2020 at 6:56pm

Curious Aardvark wrote on Jun 19th, 2020 at 3:40pm:

Quote:
the lp

long player ?
:noidea:

LOL pretty close, but to her it means life partner.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jun 19th, 2020 at 7:16pm
I think its a US thing.lol

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 10th, 2020 at 7:47pm
Here is ine of our turkeys yesterday,  it was so hot he decided to sit and relax is the kiddie pool for the flock
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Aug 11th, 2020 at 7:34pm
Smart turkey!

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 26th, 2020 at 7:05pm
Here is the newest toy. A stevens 320 20 guage pump shotgun. Its a farm gun for all around hunting, and defense from 2 to 4 legged creatures. Its something my gf can shoot if need be. Yes those are the turkeys i pardoned last year. Full grown, they are my shadows. But i did warn them if they were gonna be jerks, i would put em on the table lo.
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Aug 27th, 2020 at 11:07am
   For home defense a shotgun is the best weapon IMO.  It's wide pattern makes it better for night use than a rifle or pistol.  Plus that big barrel is intimidating.  A 20 gauge is a good general size and as you said, she can shoot it.  It's just Mike and I here so we have a 12 guage pump.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 27th, 2020 at 5:03pm
We love it, my gf has put more rounds through it then i have. If i didnt have her here, i would have gotten the 12. Guage, which in the future i will pick one up. But she loves it, at first she was scared from people telling her about recoil, but i had her put about 20 rounds through it and now she is comfortable handling it. It sits on top of the 22 rifle, in the corner, but we also have a 45 cal 1911 military issue semi handgun that sits on the table or she carries around the property due to some weird people that have been around, but mostly its to scare the hawks and  other woldlife looking to eat the flock. The click from the pump is enough to scare people i love it.

The firearm itself was $150, at Walmart, ammo is $22  for 100 rounds, so i will be shootimg it alot for targets.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by NooneOfConsequence on Aug 28th, 2020 at 6:35pm
I bought a 20ga over-under for skeet shooting several years ago. I opted for the 20ga because of my wife, but when I shot a friend’s 12ga of the same model... it had less kick because it was significantly heavier!  I love my little shotgun, but I probably should’ve bought the 12.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 29th, 2020 at 11:10am
We are going  to invest in another which will be 12 gauge,  itsjust gonna be a matter of time. With my gf using this one, she was scared of it, but we did some target shooting, abd she is more comfortable with it now, towhere i think i csn upgrade  to the 12 with no problem. 

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Aug 29th, 2020 at 1:28pm

vetryan15 wrote on Aug 27th, 2020 at 5:03pm:
We love it, my gf has put more rounds through it then i have. If i didnt have her here, i would have gotten the 12. Guage, which in the future i will pick one up. But she loves it, at first she was scared from people telling her about recoil, but i had her put about 20 rounds through it and now she is comfortable handling it. It sits on top of the 22 rifle, in the corner, but we also have a 45 cal 1911 military issue semi handgun that sits on the table or she carries around the property due to some weird people that have been around, but mostly its to scare the hawks and  other woldlife looking to eat the flock. The click from the pump is enough to scare people i love it.

The firearm itself was $150, at Walmart, ammo is $22  for 100 rounds, so i will be shootimg it alot for targets.


The M-1911 is what I carried as an MP.  If I was going to have just one pistol that would be it.  To me it's perfect.  Smooth as silk, rugged, dependable, and hits like a truck. 

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 29th, 2020 at 5:11pm
It is fantastic,  i love the one i got, its also over 30years ol. Its got a full steel body. Its definitely a peacekeeper. Lol. I built a target, way back in the property.  We go shooting, and if i am having a bad day. Shooting it makes me feel better.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by NooneOfConsequence on Aug 29th, 2020 at 9:55pm

vetryan15 wrote on Aug 29th, 2020 at 11:10am:
We are going  to invest in another which will be 12 gauge,  itsjust gonna be a matter of time. With my gf using this one, she was scared of it, but we did some target shooting, abd she is more comfortable with it now, towhere i think i csn upgrade  to the 12 with no problem. 


Before sending it off with a friend, one of my favorite shotguns was a $99 Hatfield single shot break-barrel from Walmart. I cut my barrel down to a still-legal 20”, added a fiber optic sight, and after a little bit of dremel work, I got it to fold in half. It was a great pack gun. One of the best features is that you can use barrel inserts to shoot 12 ga, .22, .410, and a variety of pistol rounds from one gun.  My favorite are the 9” rifled inserts from Short Lane.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 30th, 2020 at 10:19am
We have that exact one at our local Walmart. But the issue was the single shot.  We  got big bears, and moose everywhere here. So i wanted something with 5 rounds, just in case some wildlife isnt deterred with the ssingle shot. I would like to add a breakdown firearm to my BOB.. since this is my 1st shotgun, i am still learning alot of information about in regards to,  modifying,  choke, and the inserts you talk about.  Coming from NJ, a no gun state, to here where i can open carry is a total culture shock, but one od the reasons i moved up here

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by NooneOfConsequence on Aug 31st, 2020 at 8:02am
Well... welcome to the addiction!  In your situation, I might save up for a .357 revolver as the next acquisition. Something like a Ruger GP-100 with a 6” barrel is a perfect wilderness sidearm. You can comfortably shoot .38 special ammo all day for target practice, but it packs a serious punch with .357 ammo if you don’t have any razor glandes handy to deal with a bear problem.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Aug 31st, 2020 at 4:14pm
Aim for the eyes.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 31st, 2020 at 4:50pm
When i moved up here, i had some family in NJ send me up with all thier firearms, so i can use em, without spending a penny i aquired 8 firearms. The shotgun was my 1st ever firearm purchase, but i do have a 38 special revolver thats been in the family  for at least 65 years, i have a few packed away from when i moved and still haven't  gone through my storage to actually get em out. But a list of what i got is.but most i havent even shot yet.

1911 45cal handgun military issue from my dad
22 single shot relover trapper gun
257 roberts rifle
38 special  revolver
32 revolver
22 rifle
1 or 2 more revolvers, but they were found in a damaged house, flooded. So not sure if they actually work.
50 cal Beowulf AR.

I do have about 30lbs of lead ingots i need to melt down for glandes or reloading ammo.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Sep 5th, 2020 at 9:06am
Here is a video that was requested by nieces and nephews.  We have a m9use problem jnside our tiny house, and in our vehicle,  so i been catching mice. I feed the mice to our flock, the turkeys and chickens will eat em. My little dinosaur flock, are not the lowest on the food chain.

https://youtu.be/bvITU7Oy-kM

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by joe_meadmaker on Sep 5th, 2020 at 10:21am
That's funny.  That spill at 1:42 was hilarious!  ;D

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Sep 5th, 2020 at 11:59am
It was, lol. They are so comical sometimes its better then tv, and he still didnt drop it. Maybe it will be a viral moment of 2020.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Kick on Sep 5th, 2020 at 3:30pm
It was when my family got three chickens and I actually really got to watch them up close that it became so clear that they really are dinosaurs. They would go for mice and frogs and strut around. Didn't take much of a leap to imagine them bigger with sharp teeth :D

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Sep 5th, 2020 at 7:22pm
I bet, we have learned from owning our own flock,  they are addicting, we have a huge flock.plus the entertainment factor of watching them.  We thought about making dinosaur costumes for them to walk around with. Lo.l

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Kick on Sep 6th, 2020 at 3:33am
Have you seen the experiments where they gave chickens long dinosaur tails? End up looking just like velociraptors :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMmgnpcaKyM

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Sep 6th, 2020 at 6:52am
That was hilarious.  I was expecting more inline with costumes. 

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Sep 6th, 2020 at 1:07pm
   I was expecting some sort of mutant chicken with a giant dinosaur tail.  Me being me, of course, I was wondering what the tail meat would taste like.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by NooneOfConsequence on Sep 7th, 2020 at 2:07pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wdld7SqnIxE
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wdld7SqnIxE

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Nov 20th, 2020 at 1:37pm
Here is a story  that just happened a few days ago, In regards to my chickens.

So about 2 weeks ago i got really sick. Not the coronavirus,  some kind of stomach bug. Didnt eat for 3 days, anything i tried to eat or drink came back up. I am still recovering from it. Every couple of days i have been puking, not sure why. But will be checking it out with a dr soon. Anyway, so i was out cutting some firewood, got sick, (doesnt help my ducks started following me around and cleaning it up like dogs) lol. So i go inside to brush my teeth,  come outside to brush, since i live in a tiny home i try to spend as much time outside.  Well we have a sick turkey in our flock, while brushing,  i went to the coop to check on him. Well we have some young chicks running around,  about 6 months of age. 1 was in front of me, as i walked towards it, it freaked out really bad and started running. (Like something was chasing it) i look up and flying towards it within about 8 feet from it, and about 5feet from me. I didnt hear anything, and barely saw it, was this big Horned Owl, this was around 3pm, so still relatively light out. I yelled it turned away, flew about 20feet from me, (right past me forge) .then did a 180° turn, and came towards me, as i was yelling.  Then within about 5 feet coming towards me, it decided to turn and fly away. My first thoughts were for some reason i was gonna need to defend myself and punch an owl, then 2nd was catch it and possibly turn it into a pet. Lol. Iam just glad i was in the right place at the right time. But it took a bit for me to calm down, and the flock as well. It was amazing to see nature so close.  Unfortunately we have a huge hawk and falcon problem.  The bald eagles mostly leave us alone, and the dogs keep the coyotes away. But WOW.

I apologize for this being long winded

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Morphy on Nov 20th, 2020 at 2:08pm


Can't blame you for being worked up these aren't for back scratches. If an owl that size swooped towards me I'm going to grab it and drop kick it with  no remorse.  :D

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Nov 20th, 2020 at 3:30pm
Yikes,  those are huge. I unfortunately didnt get an opportunity to see his.  But glad to see i am not the only one who would punch an owl. Lol. But i have been looking up falconry,  but definitely dnt hsve the time to do something like that. Unless its the SHTF senerio, i WILL catch one and ride though my area with either an owl, hawk or falcon.  ;D.

Fun fact is larger owls do eat smaller hawks and falcons. I didnt know that. Owls also deter hawks. That why  people have statues of owls. Something i just recently learned

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Kick on Nov 21st, 2020 at 8:34am
Here in Finland, the largest owl is the Great Northern owl. One time I was at the summer cottage and just as I opened the back door, I looked dead ahead. Directly in front of the door was a tree and because the tree was on a lower level, one of the lowest large branches was directly at eye-level with the door. Sat on the branch was this massive grey owl. It looked at me, looked to the right and then took off in that direction. Completely silently. Such a huge bird moving without a single sound was really disconcerting. I can see very clearly why owls were often thought in prehistory to be supernatural or ghostly.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Nov 21st, 2020 at 11:37am
@Kick. Thats awesome,  its such a surprise how big they are and silent,  like i said. I almost didnt even see it, i did hear anything at all. Very impressive to watch

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Dec 21st, 2020 at 1:56pm
Here are a couple of pics of our mmale duck. Evven though its winter. They still enjoy a bath. He will jump out with icicles stuck to him.  ;D
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Morphy on Dec 21st, 2020 at 3:15pm
Ducks are cool. I wouldn't mind having a couple pet ducks. What are you guys up to these days?

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by NooneOfConsequence on Dec 21st, 2020 at 3:19pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgNItW2O3-Q

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Dec 21st, 2020 at 3:59pm
I forgot to mentiom that bowl, is the community drinking bowl. Theducks have thier own pool. But its frozen now. Lol. The ducks are good and bad,  ours are named after the main 3 bullies from the Simpsons. Nelson jimbo and Kearney.  But we have been good. I heenbusy trying to get theknives done. Thankfully i can now move on from those. How is it going on your end?

NOC, i never heard that song before,  but i am a weird al fan. My 1st cd was bad hair day , when i was in 6th grade. Lol.i did pass that link to a couple duck lovers.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by NooneOfConsequence on Dec 21st, 2020 at 8:15pm
Ha! My first CD was Achtüng Baby by U2, but I had all the Weird Al albums on cassette as a kid long before I upgraded to cds.  It totally blew my mind the first time a friend showed me how he could jump straight to the beginning of a song with the push of a button instead of holding down fast-forward.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Dec 21st, 2020 at 8:32pm
I had afew cassettes. Just dont want to talk about my first one. As i was a nerdy child.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Morphy on Dec 22nd, 2020 at 12:14am

vetryan15 wrote on Dec 21st, 2020 at 8:32pm:
I had afew cassettes. Just dont want to talk about my first one. As i was a nerdy child.


Wow like that Vet? You can't stop right there lol.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Dec 22nd, 2020 at 4:44am

Morphy wrote on Dec 22nd, 2020 at 12:14am:

vetryan15 wrote on Dec 21st, 2020 at 8:32pm:
I had afew cassettes. Just dont want to talk about my first one. As i was a nerdy child.


Wow like that Vet? You can't stop right there lol.

Alright.  I forgot my age, but the cassette was the soundtrack to the movie The flintstones. The first one starring John Goodman and Rick Moranis. Only song i remember was B52s. Love shack.  ;D i was a very sheltered child in regards to music. I picked it up at the local. $1 store. 

Great now the whole internet thinks i am a weird nerd.  ;D
.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Morphy on Dec 22nd, 2020 at 7:57am
Shoot I could care less if people think I'm a nerd for listening to a B52 song lol they actually had a few great songs. Roam, Love Shack and Rock Lobster are the ones I remember. And... I will definitely be listening to those today lol.


Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by NooneOfConsequence on Dec 22nd, 2020 at 8:26am
Oh great... now every time I think about Morphy wearing his abomination sandal boots, I’m going to hear the B52s. Somehow that sound fits the image perfectly.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Morphy on Dec 22nd, 2020 at 8:30am
Hater lol

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Dec 22nd, 2020 at 9:00am
Lol

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Dec 23rd, 2020 at 2:44pm
Love Shack is a great tune. JS

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by NooneOfConsequence on Dec 23rd, 2020 at 5:25pm
When I picture Morphy, it’s more of a Rock Lobster kind of sound.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Morphy on Dec 23rd, 2020 at 5:51pm
Just heard that one today. It's weirder than I remember.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by NooneOfConsequence on Dec 23rd, 2020 at 6:12pm
Definitely weird even for the B52s.  That bass line is pretty catchy though.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Dec 23rd, 2020 at 8:45pm
I think rock lobster is supposed to be the song of Maine

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Dec 26th, 2020 at 2:28pm
    Speaking of ducks, one of my White Mallards died.  The pair has been on the lake for many years so he might have died of old age.  Who knows with ducks?  It's sad to see because they mate for life and this guy is alone for the duration.... unless he/she pairs with one of the many wild Mallards which seems unlikely.
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on May 13th, 2021 at 4:53am
This hasnt been updated in awhile, in about 2 weeks we be adding to our flock. More ducks and now adding a new bird, gonna have some Geese. There will be pics when i get them. But also we had another addition.  We had noticed a hen getting broody, he let her go with it, not expecting anything to come of it. Since the year before none have hatched. Well the friday before mothers day, we candlied some eggs, couldnt see much. The conditions were not right, well on mothers day we decided to check our nesting boxes for eggs. Well in the same nest 2 birds were sittimg together, we moved one bird and a baby started running around. Literally withna nest of 12 eggs. Only 1 hatched. So we boought the chick, mother and her nest of eggs inside. Bit it looks like it will be a single egg hatch.


I been every busy, but i got a new toy. Wood chipper/wood shredder. Its so fun. It can only take up to 3 inch thick logs. But i can use that for firewood. I cleared out an area and laid down some wood chips for a project.

My newest project,  whicj i was gonna wait to talk about it, i was gonna post a video of when i got the livestock.  But here i been assembling and staining the wood for it, i am also currently taking a online class about it, that is through the VA, and Michigan state University,  remote learning.


BEEKEEPING...

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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on May 13th, 2021 at 4:59am
I did put up an electric fence as well. We have lots of bear up here.

Here are a few more pics, this year we tapped put maple trees to make syrup. We fot about 30 gals of sap. The end result we got about 35 oz. Of syrup.  Its only worth. The intensive labor due to the taste. Lol.

Also our lone female turkey she laid a few eggs for 2 weeks. They are huge, i was abole to locate her nest, and had turkey eggs everyday for a week. She then moved her nest and the only one who could locate it was one of my dogs. Lol. Which she always ate the eggs. But it wss was about the size of 3 chicken eggs. Huge. And delicious.  That is the culprit,
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Morphy on May 13th, 2021 at 8:05am
So much work for so little syrup but it is quite good.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on May 13th, 2021 at 2:52pm
   The bee keeping is a great idea.  You'll have a totally sustainable food source either for yourselves or some extra income.  Good luck.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on May 14th, 2021 at 8:26am
Thats the goal.  From what i readm 1st year i should get about 100 lbs of honey. So its lookimg good.


Morphy, yes. Thats the only reason i do it. Lol

We just had a falcon swoop down and go after our ducks, i just so happened to step outside due to a a crow flying overhead. I had to run over to it while it was attacking them. And was able to scare it away. Only damage is the duck has a few broken feathers. Thankfully.  I was outside at the right time.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on May 14th, 2021 at 2:21pm
not sure if you've seen tham. But you can get a hive that has an actual tap for extracting the honey.

It uses a clever set of moveable plates for the bees to form the honey cells in. You throw a lever and the honey just runs down and comes out the tap !
https://www.honeyflow.com/
Clever stuff :-)

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on May 14th, 2021 at 3:51pm
   100 lbs is a lot of honey.  That will be a very productive enterprise!  I hope it works.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on May 15th, 2021 at 5:07am
Ca,      i seen those, thats one of the reasons i wanted to get into beekeeping.  But doing research,  lots of mixed feeelings within the community about those, tons of youtube videos as well. For both sides. My biggest problem was the price. Almost  6x the normal price of a regular 10 frame hive, i havent even gotten beese yet, i am in deep. Money wise.

Ratman me too, i eneded up getting a special breed of bees. Some Canadian bees. They are meant to over winter better, due to our harsh winters, more docile, and better honey producers.  They say the biggest problem in overwintering bees here, it was a bit more expensive. But i want the best i could get. Hopefully they arrive this week or next weeks

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on May 25th, 2021 at 3:11pm
     If all goes according to plan you'll soon have a f ton of honey.  Will you be making mead with some of it?  A friend of mine made his own mead and it was wonderful stuff. 

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on May 26th, 2021 at 7:01am
canadian bees, eh ?
Wonder if the honey tastes like maple syrup :whistle:

Well the tap beehive cost is offset by not having to spin the combs or replace the frames on a regular basis.

Used to do some work for a local bee man. Probably still got a frame around somewhere. Can't remember why he gave it to me lol

The thing to do is see how labour intensive it is doing it the standard way and see if you'd benefit from the other way.

And seeing if they survive the winter as well.

Shame I'm not nearer to you - I could probably make one of those hives fairly easily.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3202212
that would be cool for making bee wax candles from the wax you scrape off the frames before spinning.

They'd sell well at any farmers market or etsy shop :-)

Don't forget that beeswax is worth at least as much as the honey !

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on May 31st, 2021 at 6:14am
I sre hope it doesnt taste like maple syrup. Lol. I would be quite disappointed on account that i tap trees. Well i lucked out this weekend. I found out my neighbor has bees, he has everything i need, to extract the honey. He has offered to teach me how to use it and help out. I did a quick video of my 1st experience with going into the hives the other day.

https://youtu.be/AWI6kLPcOD8


Right now beeswax is gong for $14 a pound
Honey is about $10 a pound, but if i buy in bulk, in 5lbs i can get that for $30, or $6 a pound.

These Canadian bees are supposed to be very good at overwintering.  Which is good. Since being so far up north, our winters get a bit crazy,


I dont mind u sending free stuff. ;D i think u got my new address

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Jun 1st, 2021 at 2:00pm
  You must have missed my question above, Ryan.  Will you be making mead with some of the honey? 

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jun 2nd, 2021 at 10:37am
I thought i had answered it, i apologize.  But YES to your question.  I will be making mead. I have a few people in line who want to purchase mead and honey. Thats without me even going to a farmer's market lol

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Jun 3rd, 2021 at 2:14pm
  Honey, and mead for that matter, are great products.  They sell themselves.  Who wouldn't want them?

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jun 5th, 2021 at 6:03am
I agree, its one of those things. Every slow step to being more self sufficient.  Which is nice. Beeswax goes for about $15 a pound, that has a ton of uses as well. I absolutely love it

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jun 25th, 2021 at 4:28pm
Here are a few updates.

Yesterday we added a 2nd box to the bee hives. So now they are double hives, its to grow the hive and make sure they dont swarm, which since its the 1st year. I dont have to really worry abour it. But in about a month. I will be adding another smaller box, that will be to harvest the excess honey. The 1st year, since its a ndw hive and needs to get settled.  I wont be getting much honey. I am guessing maybe 20 pounds. Next years honey forcast, if everything goes right. With 2 hives and my current set up. It will be about 200 lbs.  :D

My gf helped, and is getting involved in the bees. We can walk the land and see bees on the flowers. Its quite interesting.  I have family visiting in a few weeks. So i will be having nieces and nephews going into the hives with me.

Yesterday we did collect a small amount of honey, and comb. The bees will fill every nook and cranny with comb, until there is only enough space for a single bee to go both ways. So u need to remove the excess. Its called 'burr comb' it had some honey on it, u can chew the comb, which has wax on it as well, very tasty.
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Morphy on Jun 25th, 2021 at 4:31pm
What do you mean by swarming? Do they leave the hive for a bigger place?

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jun 25th, 2021 at 4:38pm
Added more to the flock..

So we got some geese, and a few more ducks. We have 6 ducks. But due to the poultry industry standards.  They only ship 2 day through  the mail. The baby chicks from the hatcheries.  We lost 3. Which in my view was a wasted loss of life. But now total we have 4 geese, and 3 more ducks. They are now about 3 weeks old. And very messy. We actually bring the inside at night and have them in a small playpen during the day. They love it. One duck is known to perch like a chicken, it has already started to perch ar night. The geese like to yell alot as well, they are called 'weeder geese' they will keep the weeds down.

We let a chicken keep a nest of eggs to humor her. Since in 3 years we didn't have any babies hatch. Well the day after fathers day. We as a surprise to both of us. Found 12 baby chicks running around. Now the nest is in a predator proof area of the coop, and under  the nesting bboxes which i took an old pop up camper that was given to me and converted to a chicken coop. We will be giving most of these chicks away. We are allowing the mother to raise them. They are now only 5 days old. And doing good.
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jun 25th, 2021 at 4:40pm

Morphy wrote on Jun 25th, 2021 at 4:31pm:
What do you mean by swarming? Do they leave the hive for a bigger place?

Yes. If it gets cramped in the hive. They will raise a new queen, and bounce. Usually its close by to the hive they left. But an also be up to a mile away. There are other reasons they swarm. But thats the main one

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Jun 25th, 2021 at 7:18pm
   Nothing better than a hunk of fresh honey comb. 

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jun 26th, 2021 at 5:42am

Rat Man wrote on Jun 25th, 2021 at 7:18pm:
   Nothing better than a hunk of fresh honey comb. 

Ita delicious.  I only have had the bees for 1 month, and i am so happy to be going down this route,

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Kick on Jun 27th, 2021 at 9:05am
It's so cool. We've all said it before, but damn I'm jealous.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jul 3rd, 2021 at 2:31pm
https://youtu.be/UURwozFk4ck here is a quick video i made, showing off the baby geese and ducks at 1  1/2 months old,  then the baby chicks at about 3 weeks old, with mama chick.  She is very protective and has turned into 'CUJO'   lol. We have neighbors gonna take a few chicks,  cuz we have too many

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Morphy on Jul 3rd, 2021 at 6:12pm
Mama hen isnt playing around.  ;D

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Jul 3rd, 2021 at 10:47pm
     This is a little off topic but there were no ducklings on my lake this year.  This is weird because there is certainly no shortage of ducks.  There were plenty of goslings.  I have no idea why no ducklings hatched. 

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jul 4th, 2021 at 4:49am
That is weird, maybe a predator ate the eggs. I knpw racoons, skunks,  and opossums will eat eggs. Or maybe something happened in the environment where it couldnt sustian the duck population . A few different senerios

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jul 4th, 2021 at 10:02am
https://youtu.be/1re3Wu-_Mec here is a new one, i recorded this morning.  Baby geese and ducks, having a flock pool party. Its the 1st time they have been in deep water, that wasn't thier water dish.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Jul 4th, 2021 at 2:25pm

vetryan15 wrote on Jul 4th, 2021 at 4:49am:
That is weird, maybe a predator ate the eggs. I knpw racoons, skunks,  and opossums will eat eggs. Or maybe something happened in the environment where it couldnt sustian the duck population . A few different senerios


There have been no major changes in the environment.  I guess the only explanation is that a predator ate the eggs or ducklings.  I still might see some ducklings though.  Wild ducks often have a second brood later in the Summer. 

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jul 4th, 2021 at 8:04pm
Racoons and fox have been known to eat em. I dont remember coyotes in the area. But it isnt unheard of. Right before i moved up here. Philadelphia had a coyote running the streets. Watched it live and they caught it. I just found out that our ducks will go broody a second time, at the end of summer imto fall. See when we firat moved up here. I worked for 2 years. Sometimes a 2nd job. I wasnt around learning the flock, she took care of it. But its worse to have a nest so late up herw. Cuz fall comes quick. This week we have had highs in the 60s. Lows in high 40s low 50s. It was so nice.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Jul 4th, 2021 at 10:48pm
  Sounds heavenly.  The older I get the less I like warm weather.  Back in the Pines we have Eastern Coyotes.  They're a wolf/coyote hybrid with slightly more wolf than coyote in them.  But they're very people shy.  They avoid towns and stay in the deep woods.  We do have racoons and foxes here so they're probably the culprits. 

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jul 5th, 2021 at 5:03am
The weather has been so nice. Its july and i need a light jacket.  We have the coywolves up here, but they aint shy. They are smart. If the pack is hungry they will lay in wait, send out a single coyote to 'make friends' with a dog. Play chase and tag. Lead the dogs into the woods, right into an ambush of the waiting pack. Happens all the time to pets here. They have done it to humans as well, same game.  We gotta keep on top of them. They are over populated here. 


Unofficial

   there are wolves here, i heard mutiple people tell me of sightings, even my gf saw one the first winter
  Same thing with mountian lions.  It a little bit more wild up here. Lo l

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jul 16th, 2021 at 1:58pm
Today,  my solar/wind hybrid system is completely up and running. Right now we are using it now, for my gf to work.  So far it beats running the generator all day. Lol  this is one step towards my goal. We had a few broken pieces that i took momths to fight them to send a couple of replacements. So now its official

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Morphy on Jul 17th, 2021 at 7:18am
Very cool man. Bet that feels great.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Jul 17th, 2021 at 4:03pm

vetryan15 wrote on Jul 16th, 2021 at 1:58pm:
Today,  my solar/wind hybrid system is completely up and running. Right now we are using it now, for my gf to work.  So far it beats running the generator all day. Lol  this is one step towards my goal. We had a few broken pieces that i took momths to fight them to send a couple of replacements. So now its official


Congrats.  Being able to make your own power has to be a great feeling.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by meliisa on Jul 28th, 2021 at 11:25am
Looks really good, keep us updated!! :)

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by IronGoober on Jul 28th, 2021 at 2:57pm
@Vet I'm just curious, how many watts/kW is your system?  I made some panels for my parent's small vacation trailer (caravan). back in college but I did a poor job of soldering them and moisture broke the connections. But when they worked, they were a dream to keep their 12V batteries charged. we only had two 50W panels.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 19th, 2021 at 4:49pm
We are starting a new project. My dad came up for a week. Unfortunately it was the hottest all summer. 90s with humidity at 85. So not much got done. But we are building  a 10ft by 22ft shed. Which is bigger then my tiny house. Lol. But to help with storage and i can get a work bench, for a workshop.  We did the concrete footers, and started a frame for the foundation.  Did break my wheelbarrow,  but it was an old one and was already replaced.
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Aug 20th, 2021 at 7:39am
Can I just point out that no matter how big you think your shed is, it's never big enough. :-)
At this stage you could still make it wider.

Also if you've got the land why not make it square ?
That way you can use all the same length wood.
I think it's just habit that makes people build them rectangular rather than square.

12 foot might seem quite wide, but once you've got shelves and machines, it soon shrinks to a narrow corridor down the middle.

I guess the roof might be a bit trickier, but you could always go for a slanted flat roof. After all you want something you can easily get the snow off.

Great news on the power too :thumb:

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 20th, 2021 at 10:54am
Well this was an experiment.  My dad had purchased some kind of shed kit, which came with the metal brackets.  Also its set up with the kit, to where you dont need to cut wood at an agle while using the brackets. This was mostly to have a house for our well, and pump, due to freezing temps in the winter,. But the kit had material lists on what we needed, we just opted for the largest one. We are lookimg at eventually connecting it to our tiny house to give it a huge expansion.  Its about 12 feet away. So some  kind of small room will be needed to connect the two together..


So far the power has been hooked up and WORKING for a week now. Had a cloudy day the other day and it decided to alarm at 1am. So had to turn it off. I was already awake due to insomnia.  But the biggest issue is the battery monitor doest really work, so gotta figure out a way to get it rwplaced and a new one that actually works

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Aug 20th, 2021 at 11:42am
cheap way to link the two buildings: https://www.amazon.com/NSdirect-12x10x7-Gardening-Greenhouse-Portable/dp/B083J7WVY6/ref=sr_1_24?dchild=1&keywords=12+foot+polytunnel&qid=1629473789&sr=8-24

Though it looks like another victim of lockdown.
can't find a single one in stock on amazon.

We've got something almost identical in the garden. Seriously net bit of kit too.
I think my dad paid about £60.
Heavy duty tarp and really solid stainless steel poles.

Easy to put up and easy to move if you got  a permament building instead.
Would give you somewhere to grow some 'erb (huh huh) and store your wet boots and bee keeping gear. 

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 20th, 2021 at 12:39pm
We actually have something like that, the frame is up. But waiting till next year to put plastic up

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Dec 22nd, 2021 at 5:07pm
So here is a pic of my most recent project.  I made some hard (alcoholic) cider using wild crab apples i collected on my street, and wild yeast i collected. Which  this thread discussed it. https://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1625356363

I made 2 kinds, normal.  Just apples, yeast and brown sugar. The other is a spiced hard cider. Apples, yeast,  brown sugar,  cinnamon,  nutmeg, and cloves. Wild yeast is a bit slower then the normal stuff u purchase at the grocery store.  It usually takes about 6 to 8 weeks. This stuff took about 12 weeks. Its delicious and fun to make.  This weekend we are gonna warm it up and try it out.
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Morphy on Dec 22nd, 2021 at 7:25pm
Any estimates on the alcohol content?

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Dec 22nd, 2021 at 7:40pm

Morphy wrote on Dec 22nd, 2021 at 7:25pm:
Any estimates on the alcohol content?



No fricken clue, but its STRONG  :o :D thats usually how i feel after a small amount   ;D

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by joe_meadmaker on Dec 22nd, 2021 at 8:05pm
Looks great man!

There is a method to determine ABV, but you would need to sacrifice part of the cider.  Basically you can check the specific gravity (density) of a sample, boil it down to half volume (this removes all alcohol), replace it with distilled water, check the specific gravity again, and between the different readings you can tell how much alcohol was there.

It's usually recommended to start with a pint so the boil time is long enough.  So probably better just to drink it and enjoy it.  ;)

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Dec 22nd, 2021 at 9:18pm
Joe, that just sounds like too much work. Lol.  I eventually want to pick up a hydrometer,  but i think i have the word wrong.  The way i test alcohol level is by drinking. More fun and adventurous that way.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by joe_meadmaker on Dec 22nd, 2021 at 9:30pm

vetryan15 wrote on Dec 22nd, 2021 at 9:18pm:
I eventually want to pick up a hydrometer,  but i think i have the word wrong.

Nope.  That's exactly what you would need to measure the specific gravity.  But it's ultimately just a tool to give you information.  Not in anyway required to produce something good to drink.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Dec 23rd, 2021 at 2:11am
I knew i was wrong, lol.  There is a tool the home brewers use that beekeepers can use. Beekeepers can use it to measure the water level in the honey.  That is a refractormeter.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Feb 6th, 2022 at 4:48pm
Here is a small  update, we been getting lots of snow. I made a quick video showing it off. I talked about the amounts in the video, the dogs have an absolute blast in it. The flock, not so much.

https://youtu.be/0MsZT69otwM


Also i just checked on my beehive right before our most recent storm,  about 3 days ago, they are doing great. Another 4 months, and they are out of the clear for winter.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Feb 7th, 2022 at 8:25am
    Great video.  We had a nice snow cover here in Jersey last week but it went up to 58 and melted it all.  I guess snowshoes are a necessity up your way. 

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Mar 4th, 2022 at 12:11pm
Oh yen. In 2 weeks we had 4 storms, we got above 35inches of snow. Lol.  Unfortunately my snowshoes were not packed away and are buried. But now the snow is rock hard, domt sink anyway.

So a couple days ago i went out and checked my hive. I had 2, but one had the queen die. So i merged it with the other for the winter, anyway. That hive has died.  Not sure what happened. We have been getting -40 temps for a few weeks through February.  So nkw i need to purchase more bees and start over again.

We are getting ready to start tapping maple trees, this weekend.  I got these new item, called sap bags. Gonna try those out this year

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jun 23rd, 2022 at 6:02pm
Here is an update, we just rescued a mule today, in Texas. Tomorrow it was headed to Mexico to get slaughtered for its meat, she is 15months old. I got transportation all set up. In about 3 weeks it will be here in Northern Maine.  But the eventual plan is to get an amish buggy and use it as my vehicle,  since fuel prices are so bad, and right now we have a 8 cylinder jeep. Lol. We have big amish communities that are local, u see em in town everyday.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Jun 24th, 2022 at 7:24am
   There's too much traffic here to do that as you well know but for you that's an excellent idea.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Jun 24th, 2022 at 8:13am
https://youtu.be/0EPdq5abk8w

Nice one.

You could also use it for logging purposes.

Just bear in mind the phrase: 'stubborn as a mule'
Did not come into popular usage by accident :-)

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jun 27th, 2022 at 4:35am
I plan on eventually training this mule to do lots of stuff. The muscle for work would be worth it alone.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Jun 27th, 2022 at 8:40am
A trained mule.
Should be fun times ahead :-)

Be interesting to see if they live up to their reputation.

You got a stable planned for winter ?

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Jun 30th, 2022 at 6:15pm
Yes, I have a property  across the street from me, it's been vacant for a few years. Iam good friends with the owner. He gave me permission to use it, and the other day we went over and cleaned it up. I just gotta put an electric fence up. Which will be done next week, just waiting for some parts.

From what I have researched,  they usually do, but it's mostly when they are trained like a horse. With miles, the training is alot different. Special methods and such. With the winter I have gotten tips on the stable I am using from the owner, he had a horse years ago and gave me some pointers. The worst part will be me having  to pump the water by hand.

They are also used as livestock guardians if needed, they've known to kill coyotes.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 11th, 2022 at 12:08pm
Well here she is, a 16 month old Molly mule. We named her Maple. We got ther on the 3rd of August,  even though it was supposed to be a month earlier. But nothing can be done. She was on her way to  slaughterhouse in Mexico. A equine rescue pulled her out. Her adoption fee a d transportation cost was alot. Haha. It was supposed to be my money for a new car, nut5she will be getting trained to be that transportation.  So we have been bonding, I already got kicked, but thankfully it wasnt hard, and I think she was going for bugs.  She has lots of scars, and bald patches. I will be setting up a vet appointment soon.  I am gonna start training her soon, just with basics, as I am learning it myself.  I never trained a mule or any equine before. She follows me around d the yard, almost like a dog. Haha


https://youtu.be/RW8KFwzSPtc

https://youtu.be/_6yI5z6mO2U
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Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Aug 12th, 2022 at 7:46am
   Beautiful.  Congrats.  Any idea how old she is?

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 12th, 2022 at 5:26pm
Thank you. She is 16months old, and no history from the original owners, I dont have experience with equine this young, so it's a learning curve.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Rat Man on Aug 13th, 2022 at 11:29am
   Obviously she's been abused.  I'm glad she'll have a good home now.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 13th, 2022 at 6:02pm
Yeh. I think she was, I am gonna make a vet appointment next week for her, she had one it Tx, but it was just a health certificate to be able to leave the state for travel.  She is a bit jumpy if moving too fast, and around her head.  But other then that, she has been very sweet. 

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Aug 16th, 2022 at 6:18am
She'll soon be looking healthy, all equines are long term investment, so just take it slow.

Mules tend to be brighter than horses, so a similar approach to a rescued dog ought to work, slow and steady.
She should still have some growing to do right ?
But given she didn't exactly have the best start in life, might not grow much.
She's definitely fallen on her feet :-)

Good luck. -)

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 16th, 2022 at 7:21pm
Thanks, so far she has been doing very good, she comes up to me for attention, I usually got treats for her, but I gotta stop before she gets carried away, lol. She really likes to use me as a scratching post. She is already really smart, and gets really excited to see me.  She is still growing till about 3 years old, u cant ride her until then. Also I heave read she can still be growing till almost 10 years old. Lots of different information,  so it's a toss up of what's gonna happen. But she will need an ultrasound on her knees to make sure a bons is completely closed and done. Thier life expectancy is almost 30 years, and I have heard of people working them till almost 25years old

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Aug 19th, 2022 at 7:46am
never heard if mules being ridden.

Guess you could.
But like all bright animals, having something to do they can think about is better.

So work rather than ride, would definitely be my aim.

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 21st, 2022 at 8:06am
Yes, mules are actually better to ride in the back country,  they are more 'sure footed'then horses. Alot of old time cowboys perfer mules over horses. U need a special saddle for them, as the body structure is different.  There is a riding outfit in the Grand Canyon,  where they only use mules are used for them being able to walk better in the mountains.  I also think that in certian parts of the grand Canyon,  where mules are only allowed in certain areas.  I do plan on doing both, working her in the fields,  and also set her up with a saddle or cart and ride her...eventually..

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by Curious Aardvark on Aug 22nd, 2022 at 8:55am
cart I can see.

But then I'm just not a fan of people riding horses anyway.
The horizontal spine is just not evolved as a weight bearing structure.

But that's just me :-)

Title: Re: Update on my move/ log cabin build.
Post by vetryan15 on Aug 23rd, 2022 at 7:43pm
The structure of the skeleton of the mule. It's made for riding. Which at some point I will get a saddle, but it's mostly gonna be a buggy or cart, and eventually get so,e old school metal plows for the field, not to go political,  but the way the world is going. I would rather have some experience with this equipment before its actually really needed. That's the prepper inside me.

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