Favorite Tools:
Ron: Chainsaw, Corncobber for canning sweet corn (so you get the whole kernel)
Kathy: Camp stove (Coleman duel fuel camp stove because you can use gas and white fuel)
Shannon: Solar panels (to power her amps.

Would do differently:
All: Started earlier, done this years ago.

Rewarding overall:
Ron: Absolute peace of mind.
Kathy: The satisfaction of not being connected to the grid and being more self-reliant.
Shannon: Not having to rely on other places for entertainment.

Most Rewardi...
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The Hayden's, what to say about the Hayden's (nothing censored because I know they will read this ;)). Such wonderfully good people. Ron is a local, having grown up on his families farm that
has been theirs since the 1860's. He wanted to return to his family farm to build a house in the woods and start to try have a go at it. Having spent most of his career in cabinetry (for 27 years)
it wasn't difficult for him to just sort of build a cabin, from the trees that he fell right there on the spot...
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Carol has been what feels like a long time friend of Luke's and recently mine. Luke interned there last summer with Carol's partner Dwight where he was taught many useful and rewarding things about Permaculture.
I have put photos us of Carol's place but here are a few excerpts from
Carol is also an amazing artist - she creates stunning quilts. Go here to see them: http://www.sacredarts.info/artquilt.htm

1. Most Useful Tool:
Sewing Machine

2. Do differently:
Make sure to pick your neighbors and ...
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1. What is the most useful tool you have:

Carl
Squeezo Press (Victorio) or Kitchen aid to peel and squeeze apples and tomatoes
Tiller
Chainsaw


Ruellen:
4 tine fork
wood splitter

2. What would you change or do differently:

Ruellen: Build house further from the easment
Carl: Nothing (Though later he chose not to use reverse osmosis water because it gives him heartburn.

3. What has been the most rewarding:

Carl: This is paradise, everything the whole endeavor
Ruellen: Having berries (she is famous for he...
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We visited or first homestead (not counting the one that we are currently staying in) last night. Ruellen and Carl were a couple who has kept full time
jobs as an RN and a Microbiology teacher but had managed to build a house, and addition, a barn, two sheds and a cob house (well that was mostly the sons initiative) along with
maintain an acre of orchard in cultivation and an acre of garden under cultivation while still maintaining this homestead. Over the years they have kept
chickens (which...
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We use the term "farmer" in a very general sense - these could be homesteaders, researchers, writers - just about anyone.

We ask three questions (amongst many others)

1. What is your favorite tool
2. What would you do differently
3. What have you found the most rewarding (whether a task or just generally from doing the work you do).


Let us know if you want any other q's

We will post photos of the individual farms here:

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