We’d love to keep our pastoral two wheel lane into the house site and barn, but the county requires a road large enough for a fire engine.
In addition to the road the county requires four turnouts so that another vehicle can pass the firetruck. We also have put in culverts to help divert the runoff from melting snow in the springtime.
And to think– all the gravel has come from a pit on our property. Saved us countless thousands of dollars, and perhaps the hole will fill up in the spring to be a pond.
Driving to see the progress on Mule Springs is easy, because we are only five miles away. We are living in a 1910 farmhouse, owned by Bruce’s son, until our new home is built. It’ll be awhile, because we must sell our house in Alaska before we can build a new house. Still we have much to do: restore the barn, kill thousands of invasive weeds, create a farm plan, install irrigation, plants shrubs and native grasses, and, perhaps build the shop and garage. Stay tuned….
Sher: I love the photos and your description of what you are doing!
It is great fun to follow your project. Thanks again for sharing! Leese 🙂
Thanks Leese- the past week I’ve been swamped because I am shutting down and closing out my office and moving it to a small room in the farmhouse. But, I’m working on a neat piece about ants at Mule Springs that I hope to post soon.
It is fascinating to hear that you HAVE to build a road… for FIRE engines! Is fire a big threat in your area then?
Yes, fire is a huge issue here. About ten years ago a fire came through the Mill Creek Valley- where we live now in the little farmhouse, and almost destroyed my sister in law’s house across the road, the 1860s barn, and my stepson’s house. We were spraying and wetting down the barn, and the firetrucks were on hand. Bruce and I just happened to be in Oregon while the fire was happening. It gets very dry here in summer. At this point I am no longer driving my Jeep across the fields at Mule Springs from concern a spark might catch. Apparently the little four-wheelers are safe, so we are buzzing around on that. And yes, we are forced to build the road if we want to do anything else. And if the house is over so big, we must have a sprinkler in each room! The regulations here are amazing. Alaska was so much wilder!! But then– there were less people. 🙂
Sher, glad to participate in your blog musings, it is fun to hear of such dry living conditions. It is pouring rain today and very calming here. I travel to Seattle a little later today for some medical . I’ll be down for 4 days as it is planned.
also, such good news in our camp; Rhonda and hubby are moving here in one month. He is being transfered to a post in Ktn as human resourses commander. He will not be an attorney, but WILL NOT be in DC!!! ( :
What great news Judi– congratulations. J and K are on their way to KTN and I fear rain for them… I will be in KTOWN Aug 28 – Sept 6th. We need to get together! I still have the same cell phone… I know living in a dry place feels like a miracle. i wonder how I will feel when I return to Alaska… I hope great and not too homesick.