Monday, May 27, 2024

May 21 - The Campfire Trail - The Zucchini Apocalypse Has Commenced

May 21, 2024

Day 963 of the Adventure

As we near the end of May, the long wait for garden produce is beginning to pay off. The Zucchini plants have exploded in blossoms. I suppose that precedes the typical "explosion" of Zucchini in a garden. The old joke about Zucchini goes something like "Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach him to garden and the entire neighborhood gets free Zucchini for an entire year". It's a vegetable that no matter how you plan for the right amount, it always turns out to produce somewhere between three and ten times more of a harvest than you expect. You almost wonder if the plants sit around having daily pep-talks among themselves that go something like...... "He only planted five of us seeds so we need to triple or even quadruple our efforts!" And then go about to over-achieving by a factor of seven or ten! I'm thinking next year I should just toss an empty packet of Zucchini seeds out on the worst part of the garden soil I can find and see what happens. I have no doubt the package itself would put a call out for reinforcements and Zucchini would arrive from the four corners of the planet to populate our garden. Regardless of how many we end up with this year, I plan for a good portion of them to serve duty as loaves of Zucchini bread. If it freezes well, I plan for Zucchini bread all winter this year. 

Carry On

Adventure Quote:  "Last year the zucchini crop was really good and somebody left three bushels in my kitchen." ― Ryan Loveless

Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Lost on the Trail (Guatemala)

Resources

Make sure to visit our website regularly to see new products and resources.

YouTube Channel: The Campfire Trail
YouTube Channel: Life of Treasures

Our Books
Treasures of Life - Daily Devotional by Shelley
Treasures of Life 2 - Daily Devotional by Shelley
Back to the Land - Planning your Back to the Land Roadmap by Martin
Wealth Creation - Principles of Wealth Creation by Martin

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May 20 - The Campfire Trail - Why The Grass Is Green

May 20, 2024

Day 962 of the Adventure

There's an old song my brother-in-law sings called "The Grass Is Always Green Near The Outhouse". It's a comical song which is about what you would expect from a title like that. I think about it almost every time I'm looking out over our "Back Yard" which isn't really a "Yard", but it's where the grass is actually growing. It also happens to be where the septic field is located. Once you put two and two together, you may begin to think, "Hey, The Grass Really Is Always Green Near The Outhouse", or, in this case, the septic field! While technically it's true, the source of the green grass has nothing to do with its proximity to the septic system. At least I don't think it does. The fact that there's grass there at all is because it's the only place we've actually planted any grass. Once the construction of the septic system was complete, it was nothing but a big dirt field. One that not only looked terrible, but was also dusty when it was dry out and muddy after a rain. A few sprigs of voluntary grass attempted to spring to life around the outside perimeter but were pretty pathetic looking. On a whim at the home improvement store one day last year, we bought a small bag of grass seed. I did not have very high expectations from it and the instructions said it was only enough for a space about one tenth the size of our baren field. Nevertheless, we took it home and sprinkled it around one day prior to a rain. It slowly began to come to life here and there. This Spring, however, it looked as if it had decided over the winter that it would double its efforts and decide to do as it's label claimed and become a "Lawn". So much so that without watching, it grew into almost a hay-field, with grass approaching close to four feet high. We let it go to seed to begin with, then though we had better tame it down some. A mower wouldn't do the job, so I wrestled the brush hog onto the tractor and drove off into the jungle. After a few passes, it was re-civilized back to something resembling a lawn. It's a little raggedy looking now, but we can once again look across it to the other side. I was coming up from the waterfall and got this picture from the down-hill side. I suppose there's no way of knowing for sure whether the "outhouse" factor is at play here or whether it's simply grass seed doing what grass seed does. Either way, we have a nice green space now where a dusty and muddy field once stood. It has softened the landscape behind the cabin and the birds and deer seem to appreciate it.

Carry On

Adventure Quote:  “The landscape belongs to the person who looks at it..." -Ralph Waldo Emerson”

Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Lost up the Creek (Sumatra)

Resources

Make sure to visit our website regularly to see new products and resources.

YouTube Channel: The Campfire Trail
YouTube Channel: Life of Treasures

Our Books
Treasures of Life - Daily Devotional by Shelley
Treasures of Life 2 - Daily Devotional by Shelley
Back to the Land - Planning your Back to the Land Roadmap by Martin
Wealth Creation - Principles of Wealth Creation by Martin

Please Consider Subscribing to our monthly "How-To", Do-It-Yourself" newsletter in the upper right corner of this page.   AND........

Click any of the following Video links to start your own adventure with us on our YouTube Channel:  

Creating a "Roadmap" Back to the Land


Our 30 Day "Back to the Land" Playlist



Creating Sustainable Income

Creating Sustainable Income Make sure you are subscribed to "The Campfire Trail" YouTube channel and have the "Notification Bell" set to "ALL" to receive notifications of new video publications. 
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Sunday, May 26, 2024

May 19 - The Campfire Trail - A Delicate Visitor

May 19, 2024

Day 961 of the Adventure

I ran across this little guy in the garden this morning. Don't panic. Even though we have recently expanded our mushroom diet to include some "Chicken of the Woods", we did not eat this one. I have no idea what it is but it sprouted over night and was gone by later in the day. There were a number of them present and as delicate as they looked, it did not surprise me that they vanished so quickly. I have no idea what it was exactly. I'm not even sure I would have ever taken the time to intentionally go out and look for this kind of thing in nature. Being so active in nature now days I guess places me in their territory to see them by simply stumbling upon them. The entire top of it was about the size of a quarter. I'm sure it serves a purpose of some sort but today, it served a purpose of entertaining me.

Carry On

Adventure Quote:  “Nature is pleased with simplicity. And nature is no dummy” ― Isaac Newton

Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Lost in the Woods (Colombia/Costa Rica blend)

Resources

Make sure to visit our website regularly to see new products and resources.

YouTube Channel: The Campfire Trail
YouTube Channel: Life of Treasures

Our Books
Treasures of Life - Daily Devotional by Shelley
Treasures of Life 2 - Daily Devotional by Shelley
Back to the Land - Planning your Back to the Land Roadmap by Martin
Wealth Creation - Principles of Wealth Creation by Martin

Please Consider Subscribing to our monthly "How-To", Do-It-Yourself" newsletter in the upper right corner of this page.   AND........

Click any of the following Video links to start your own adventure with us on our YouTube Channel:  

Creating a "Roadmap" Back to the Land


Our 30 Day "Back to the Land" Playlist



Creating Sustainable Income

Creating Sustainable Income Make sure you are subscribed to "The Campfire Trail" YouTube channel and have the "Notification Bell" set to "ALL" to receive notifications of new video publications. 
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May 18 - The Campfire Trail - First Bean

May 18, 2024

Day 960 of the Adventure

Our First Bean is showing in the garden. Actually, I thought it was first, but in looking further, there are dozens of them. It's another one of those pleasant milestones reserved for gardeners (and those of us hoping to become gardeners) I've figured out that one thing has not changed since we've gotten most of the bigger projects done around here. There's always more than we seem to have time for. With the garden beginning to produce its abundance, I can see preservation activity in our future. Like everything else, we knew it would happen soon. Like everything else, nature is letting us know it's coming now and not going to wait around for us to be ready for it. 

Our plan was to have a summer kitchen built by the time the garden harvest began. Looks like we are going to need to adapt our plans once again to be ready. Every step forward that we are "Pushed" is another thing we will not have on our schedule for the upcoming years. The garden itself was that way. With big trees removed, planting beds built and greenhouse constructed, it all represents things we won't be doing again next year. Slowly but surely, the elements of the "simple life" are coming together. 

Carry On

Adventure Quote:  “Actions have consequences…the same is true for lack of action.” ― Bobby Darnell

Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Lost on the Trail (Guatemala)

Resources

Make sure to visit our website regularly to see new products and resources.

YouTube Channel: The Campfire Trail
YouTube Channel: Life of Treasures

Our Books
Treasures of Life - Daily Devotional by Shelley
Treasures of Life 2 - Daily Devotional by Shelley
Back to the Land - Planning your Back to the Land Roadmap by Martin
Wealth Creation - Principles of Wealth Creation by Martin

Please Consider Subscribing to our monthly "How-To", Do-It-Yourself" newsletter in the upper right corner of this page.   AND........

Click any of the following Video links to start your own adventure with us on our YouTube Channel:  

Creating a "Roadmap" Back to the Land


Our 30 Day "Back to the Land" Playlist



Creating Sustainable Income

Creating Sustainable Income Make sure you are subscribed to "The Campfire Trail" YouTube channel and have the "Notification Bell" set to "ALL" to receive notifications of new video publications. 
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Friday, May 17, 2024

May 17 - The Campfire Trail - 4.8 Kilowatts of Potential

May 17, 2024

Day 959 of the Adventure

We finally got the weather we needed to finish up building the solar panel rack in the garden. This is a 12 panel system made up of 400 Watt panels. That probably doesn't mean much from a statistics and specs point of view. Based on the fact that we were operating on about 20% of that amount for the past two years, this will likely have the capacity to easily power our entire property. Of course, this is just the collection capacity of the system. We have also secured about quadruple the amount of battery storage capacity as well. Just need to take delivery of it and get it hooked up. It's exciting from a self-sufficiency perspective. If you have trouble judging the physical size and scale, The greenhouse its next to is 10x20 feet. The solar panel rack is 10x28 feet of surface area. The next step is to run a pair of cables from the panels to the utility control building. Perhaps that will be a job for next week.  

Carry On

Adventure Quote:  “As much as I dislike utility companies, I do like having electricity!” ― Steven Magee

Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Lost in the Dark (Colombia Dark French Roast)

Resources

Make sure to visit our website regularly to see new products and resources.

YouTube Channel: The Campfire Trail
YouTube Channel: Life of Treasures

Our Books
Treasures of Life - Daily Devotional by Shelley
Treasures of Life 2 - Daily Devotional by Shelley
Back to the Land - Planning your Back to the Land Roadmap by Martin
Wealth Creation - Principles of Wealth Creation by Martin

Please Consider Subscribing to our monthly "How-To", Do-It-Yourself" newsletter in the upper right corner of this page.   AND........

Click any of the following Video links to start your own adventure with us on our YouTube Channel:  

Creating a "Roadmap" Back to the Land


Our 30 Day "Back to the Land" Playlist



Creating Sustainable Income

Creating Sustainable Income Make sure you are subscribed to "The Campfire Trail" YouTube channel and have the "Notification Bell" set to "ALL" to receive notifications of new video publications. 
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Thursday, May 16, 2024

May 16 - The Campfire Trail - The Road Less Traveled

May 16, 2024

Day 958 of the Adventure

We were receiving rain on and off all day today. While nothing serious, the passing showers kept us away from the outdoors work we were hoping to get done. That's okay though. An afternoon nap worked its way into the schedule instead. During a break in the rain, I decided to wander down by the waterfall. One of the last times I was down there, I was clearing out some brush along the pathway removing some stubbly stumps and briars. I've intended to get this pathway cleaned up since we've been here, now for about two and a half years. It always gets pushed back to a lower priority. It's one of the prettiest places on the property and would be nice if it were a little easier to access. Nevertheless, it's our "road less traveled". 

I suppose in a way, that pathway represents much more about our life down here in the woods. It has certainly been the road less traveled by any understanding of ours. It's a slower, more deliberate pace and life. One where priorities change as values change. I often champion the principles of self-sufficiency in videos and writings. The values I speak of go beyond that to something of a peace and contentment not easily found in our past lives. Yes, we have our plans to keep, and our projects to complete. In between that, and sometimes in between the rain, taking a walk down the road less traveled provides a time of reflection. I'm happy to have a pathway through the woods by a waterfall to offer up a reminder to why we chose this life. It's our road less traveled. Robert Frost put it best........

Carry On

Adventure Quote by Robert Frost

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Lost on the Trail (Guatemala)

Resources

Make sure to visit our website regularly to see new products and resources.

YouTube Channel: The Campfire Trail
YouTube Channel: Life of Treasures

Our Books
Treasures of Life - Daily Devotional by Shelley
Treasures of Life 2 - Daily Devotional by Shelley
Back to the Land - Planning your Back to the Land Roadmap by Martin
Wealth Creation - Principles of Wealth Creation by Martin

Please Consider Subscribing to our monthly "How-To", Do-It-Yourself" newsletter in the upper right corner of this page.   AND........

Click any of the following Video links to start your own adventure with us on our YouTube Channel:  

Creating a "Roadmap" Back to the Land


Our 30 Day "Back to the Land" Playlist



Creating Sustainable Income

Creating Sustainable Income Make sure you are subscribed to "The Campfire Trail" YouTube channel and have the "Notification Bell" set to "ALL" to receive notifications of new video publications. 
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Wednesday, May 15, 2024

May 15 - The Campfire Trail - 3 of 12

May 15, 2024

Day 957 of the Adventure

Today was another step forward on the solar plant. No I remember why we were having such a struggle two years ago getting the cabin built. It was the RAIN! This must be our monsoon season because it seems to rain every day, at least for a little while. Today was like that, building panel racks while dodging rain storms. It's a pain, but the garden is loving it!

The picture is showing 3 of 12 total panels this solar array will consist of. Meaning you are seeing one fourth of the total right now. Besides rain, I also ran out of lumber and had to make another trip to the lumber yard. Now I'm ready to finish it up.......Assuming it doesn't rain tomorrow. Let me check the forecast........ It says 91% probability...... with 88% the next day. maybe I'll have this done by August! 

Carry On

Adventure Quote:  “Never lose hope. Storms make people stronger and never last forever.” ― Roy T. Bennett

Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Lost up the Creek (Colombia/Sumatra blend)

Resources

Make sure to visit our website regularly to see new products and resources.

YouTube Channel: The Campfire Trail
YouTube Channel: Life of Treasures

Our Books
Treasures of Life - Daily Devotional by Shelley
Treasures of Life 2 - Daily Devotional by Shelley
Back to the Land - Planning your Back to the Land Roadmap by Martin
Wealth Creation - Principles of Wealth Creation by Martin

Please Consider Subscribing to our monthly "How-To", Do-It-Yourself" newsletter in the upper right corner of this page.   AND........

Click any of the following Video links to start your own adventure with us on our YouTube Channel:  

Creating a "Roadmap" Back to the Land


Our 30 Day "Back to the Land" Playlist



Creating Sustainable Income

Creating Sustainable Income Make sure you are subscribed to "The Campfire Trail" YouTube channel and have the "Notification Bell" set to "ALL" to receive notifications of new video publications. 
Video List
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