It's likely to be February before we move now, but that gives us chance to save, and also to start our new rural life in the spring. It'll be enough of a culture shock as it is without being snowed in
My first task has been to observe. Well, the very first task was to figure out how to use the central heating, and get the builder round to figure out why exactly two of the upstairs rooms don't have joists - but inside is my partner's domain, while I am in charge of outside.
This weekend was the first time outside hasn't been covered in snow, so I've printed a map and walked the boundaries, making notes and taking over 150 photographs in the process. These are a few of my initial observations.
We have several outbuildings, some in a better state than others.
We knew this, of course, but I have still spent house just sitting in the living room staring out of the window. One of our major 'wants' for this place is to open up some of the best views that are blocked by less useful outbuildings. We'd like to create several seating areas - to start with by the front door (for breakfast), and secondly by the back door, which has the best views.
We'd also like to put simple seating areas in several of the other fields, particularly down at the bottom of our slope which is secluded even from our house.
There has been a LOT of snow around here, so the general sogginess is partly due to that, but I remember some areas being quite damp when we visited in August. There are several springs, in some cases more of a stream, and three of the fields in particular I would describe as wetland.
This is the field closest to the house, about two thirds of an acre in size, and only gently sloping, with no shade. It's also one of the least muddy, and has the best access from the drive (for deliveries, and for ambling in to check the veg on the way home).
This morning I spent some time investigating the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. As we had no particular plans for the land, investigating the local priorities for wildlife and environment seemed like a good place to start.
We are in a national park, so there are all kinds of priorities relating to that, and we have possibly a couple of miles of dry stone walls, which have their own payments attached in some circumstances. We are very near a small bit of woodland, so there is the possibility of extending that slightly into our land (in fact it seems to be extending itself already).
Apparently, we are also part of a potential refugia, something I'd not heard of until this morning. Natural England says:
A variety of evidence suggests that species have, in the past, been able to withstand the effects of climatic change in localised environments known as refugia, where specific environmental conditions acted as a buffer against broader-scale climatic changes
On our second day, we saw a hare just outside our front gate, and we've seen it several times since, leaping across the fields. I even managed to get a photograph of it this morning.
So, as I'm having a response partner meeting with my diploma chum Barry tomorrow, here are some next achievable steps:
- Continue the process of observation and documentation
- Decide which outbuildings to remove and get assistance if necessary
- Think about the best place for chickens - there is a rehoming day on 7th April but if we are not ready by then, we'll wait
- Decide where is the best place for a greenhouse and order one
I'm off for a fortnight over Easter so I hope to get the greenhouse installed and my annual veg beds started before I go back to work.
I'm glad I've got the structure of the diploma and the permaculture design process more generally to help me with this else I'm not sure I'd know where to start...