Trails, snakes, and a big, blue tent
- Aug 14, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 10, 2025
It probably won't surprise any of you to know that we've jumped right into the deep end, or should I say the deep woods. It is hot and humid, but hey, it's still cooler than Mozambique, so we've grabbed our gloves and tools and are making things happen!
Trail work
This whole piece of land is gorgeous, but the real gem is the creek!
The existing old trail down to the water hadn't seen any maintenance in eight years, so it was barely recognizable. We've put our fire rakes and hoes and pickaxes to work to clear and widen it and add stairs to make it more accessible to a variety of folks.
We're about half way there! (Special thank you to Toni and Mary Pat, who visited last month and braved the summer weather to help us start fixing the trail!)
The meadow (aka future garden, quincho, fire pit, and campsite)
The only unwooded part of the land is a smallish meadow, so that's where we'll be putting our garden, quincho (outdoor kitchen), fire pit, and in the nearby trees, some campsites for that first round of adventurous visitors we hope to have! I've learned to drive a tractor and bush hog , and we've already started gathering up reclaimed building materials to use for the quincho.
I'm also rediscovering how satisfying it is to compost! (Shout out to the amazing Peter Jensen whose Peace Corps permagardening training has stood us in good stead for 15 years!)
The thinking tent
We're not quite ready to start on a cabin yet, but AJ and I are both eager to have a little spot out in the woods to settle into to write, read, and think. So, we've ordered a pretty fabulous 13' canvas bell tent and have cleared a place for it on the way down to the creek. (Slightly terrifying video of AJ bringing down a giant dead tree so it doesn't squish us while we're sleeping is below.)
Deck materials are being delivered next week! We're hoping to have our little "thinking tent" ready to inhabit by the time things cool off a bit in the fall.
And because it wouldn't be us without a little bit of misadventure, too, here's the little friend we found in the mud closet of my parent's garage apartment where we're temporarily living.
And of course, I've already had a major run in with poison ivy and now consider my dickies overalls my personal force field against three-leaved misery!
Request for experience and knowledge
There is so much incredible knowledge and experience in this group of people! We could use some advice on the following if you and/or anyone you know have thoughts!
Opinions on good small wood stoves for semi-permanent tents.
Experience prepping ground for and leveling a patio
Thank you all so much for coming along on this journey with us. How incredibly lucky we are to have a community of smart, adventurous, thoughtful people in our lives. We appreciate you!
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