Everything is growing up, slowly

Us included. We've only been here on The Forage for a little over seven months, and already we've learned so much, sometimes the hard way. ;) Winter has brought its little joys (icicles) and challenges (too cold for concrete and digging), but it seems that we've barely blinked and spring is nearly here.

The quincho finally rises (almost)

After many months of span-chart reading and mathing, we finally felt like we might be able to build a quincho (outdoor kitchen) that won't fall down. But, it turns out finding a dry-and-not-below-40-degrees weather window for pouring concrete is not an easy task in the Ozark winter. But this week delivered! Our piers and post brackets are officially curing as I write this. AJ calculated that we mixed and moved 2,800 pounds of concrete. We're a little tired.

Next up are posts and beams! If you're interested in helping, we're planning a little shindig on 3/21. Food and drink on us after, and stick around the whole weekend if you want to hike and explore a bit.

Subsaharan permagardening for zone 7

It's been many years since we had our own piece of dirt to grow things in, so I'm giddy about the days lengthening and the soil warming up! It turns out there are a few differences, though, between permagardening in Mozambique and in the Ozarks. We've traded sandy soil for clay, scorching heat for icy snaps, and chameleons for apple-eating Japanese beetles. This year will definitely be a year of learning, and I can't wait.

We lucked into a few warm days in mid January and were able to get garden fence posts in the ground. The deer are plentiful and unafraid here, and according to locals wiser than us, eight feet might be enough to keep them out. I'll also be adding a food hedge a few feet outside the fence with people- and deer-friendly plants so everyone can have a few goodies.

Two skills that haven't required much adjustment at all are composting and double digging (though, we've encountered a few more rocks here than anywhere else we've lived). I've harvested my first big load of compost and am in the process of working it into my new beds as I double dig. (Happy to go into more nerdy detail about that if you're interested - just message me.)

And last but not least: seedlings! I'm growing all heirloom seeds for the first time and plan to harvest seeds in the fall. That will be yet another learning opportunity!

Companion crops

While we're on the topic of how to make things grow, I have to send out my love and gratitude to the folks who came for our winter solstice gathering in December. It was definitely rough around the edges with lots of mud, and tents in the woods, and eating with your headlamp, and it was the main reason we're here doing what we're doing. I had hoped that The Forage would become a place where people could gather and sustain each other. But even in my wildest imaginings, I did not expect the kind of joy and openness that you brought to these woods so early in our adventure. Thank you all.

Not a blizzard, but close enough for us

Any of you living in places that actually have winters can just stop reading now. I'm an unabashed lover of warm climates, the closer to the equator the better. Two dear people who took me under their wings when I was stranded in Seattle during the pandemic escorted me high enough into the beauty of the Cascades that I was won over by the quiet shush shush of snow shoes and the sweeping white landscapes glimpsed from Washington's fire outlooks. But short of that, winter is a season I can tolerate only for a few weeks before I'm ready for sunnier days again.

And then again, it's hard to deny the charm of our trails transformed by 12 inches of snow, the icicles growing down from the cliffs in great white sheets. A few of them are still lingering in the shadowed ledges of the creek, but winter's days are numbered, and I can't say I'm sad to see her go.

The thinking tent is open for guests

Our spring calendar is already sprinkled with visits from old friends from around the world. We're still definitely in roughing-it mode, but we love when folks come by to enjoy nature, spend a night in the thinking tent, or to help build something up from nothing. So just say the word if you want to come see what all this is about.

I'll sign off as always by sending my gratitude for the MANY people who have offered advice, muscle, materials, and much encouragement since my last update. We are constantly overwhelmed by the love sent our way.