4 Feathers Farm

Lost time

What we forgot: the camera

Wildlife spotted: pileated woodpecker, 2 armadillos, numerous deer

What we learned: no matter how much firewood you think you have, it’s not enough

            We got an exceptionally late start Friday to Three Feathers Farm. (at least 6 hours of driving to Hohenwald, Tn., from Cumming) Our goal was to find the spring this trip since the brush has died back. We arrived just after dark so after setting up camp, we enjoyed watching the stars as we sat directly under the Milky Way. I spotted 4 falling stars, Hayes 2 and Alex 3.

            It was COLD. The dogs’ waterbowls were frozen over the next morning and we knew cutting and stacking wood was a priority for the day.

            I was starving and I realized that no matter how hungry you are, there is no hurrying cooking over an outdoor fire. A pileated woodpecker flew directly over us during our breakfast of eggs, grits and hot chocolate.

            Onto our mission: we started at Gandy Road between the two ridges on our property and worked our way down. Sometimes it was pretty steep, sometimes it was pretty brushy. We knew there was water from the presence of ferns and moss – later we found out Tennessee has been very dry lately. My dog GiLi found a rocky burrow and was growling at it so we’re wondering what was hiding out in it!

            Alex found the spring and that determines where we situate our house. The ground is slightly sloped but that’s ok because we’ll get plenty of sun to passively warm the house. Now we’ll have to clear around the spring and build a spring box to act as our refrigerator.

            GiLi and I semi-napped on a fallen tree while Hayes climbed trees and Alex whacked a path. Once back to camp, Alex cut logs and I stacked wood and pulled the beginnings of briar bushes starting in our camp. We unloaded building materials gained from an artist in Atlanta who had tons of salvaged materials. We even got shower pans, which enables us to bath a bit better when we’re there (you have to time your shower so the afternoon sun comes through the shelter door and keeps you semi-warm while bathing!)

            Being in a place where we’re not bound by time at all, you lose all sense of it. After what seemed like a day’s worth of work, I knew I needed to get started on dinner but wanted to lie down for a few minutes. Alex said, “Well, it’s only 1:30.” I flopped on the bed: “Dawg! I KNEW it was at least 5!”

            Instead we went into town for dinner and discovered a cat and two kittens by a Dumpster. We were able to catch the cat and one kitten and brought them back to our shelter. The next morning, while we were out on a hike, the cats got out of the shelter and only the mom came back so we brought her home with us. I’m hoping her kitten will make a dent in the mouse population around our camp!

            Alex, Hayes and our dog Shadow slept by the fire all night. I slept in the camper under three blankets and three dogs and was still freezing. During the night, I heard coyotes howling nearby and my heart started to pound. Whether it was from fear or excitement, I don’t know!

            Alex woke late but went hunting anyway and made a clean kill of a 4-point buck only 10 yards from him. It was, of course, at the northern most point of our property so we hiked down for Alex to strap on the deer and drag it out.

            It’s another beautiful site on the property and where the other spring is but it’s too shady for us to adequately build a solar-powered homestead.

            While Alex and Hayes field dressed the deer, I packed up camp and that meant we got a late, late start for home.

            Our plan is to soon start building pasture fencing for our horses in anticipation of a permanent move next fall.

            Until next time from Three Feathers Farm!