End of the Road Ranch

Moving to the claim shanty . . . HELP!

We have decided to move to our piece of property while dh builds our new house.  I am so excited!  He is going to build us a small rough "claim shanty" (We all been reading the "Little House on the Prairie" books).  It will be 16x16 or smaller, but will be insulated, have a wood cook stove, a bed high enough off the ground to fit to small trundle beds ( ok - probably some form of wooden crates) for the two kids, and ??? for the baby boy due in Sept.  There is a well on the property as well as electricity, and dh says we will run one outlet to the house for the crock-pot and my kitchen aid for kneading bread (I guess I’m a little spoiled!), but I don’t expect running water, except maybe a hose just outside.  This is likely to last about a year.  Hmmm . . . life in a one room cabin with 2 small kids and a baby - Sounds like a challenge. 

DH will be spending all of his free time trying to get the big house built before the loan deadline (10- 12mo.  we aren’t sure yet) and being it is an hour round trip from my parents house (where we are living now) to the property, we realized that we wont we wont see him for a whole year practically - I'm not interested in that - so the option is to go with him.  I am up to the challenge. 

I am scrambling to try to get ready - I had a beautiful garden planned for my parents’ house and already have the chicks arriving at the end of this month.  Now it is time to replan and make lists of what I need to take (really what needs to be left due to the lack of space in our claim shanty).  Any suggestions???  I have no idea how to cook on a woodstove!!  That’s what the internet and the library are for. 

Really though I need to figurer out how to best arrange a small amount of clothing for the kids that will only get washed once a week. 

Does anyone out there hand wash cloth diapers?  I need some directions.  (I can’t even stand the thought - I just about dump the pail into the machine with a 10 foot pole as it is!). 

As for the menus - I guess it will be a lot of beans and cornbread - I don’t have a ton of storage - but I will use a freezer and fridge that are already on the property in a shed.    Any ideas are welcomed.

Have a great day!

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{ 07:04 , Monday, April 16, 2007 } { Posted by morningsunshine }

lol! - way to "homestead" it! you are brave woman, I can hear you roar!!!

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{ 07:11 , Monday, April 16, 2007 } { Posted by HandsNHearts }

I am jealous of your great adventure!
I would dig into the archives here and visit Glenda's blog, Amazing Grace Homestead. She hasn't posted in a long long time, but back in her archives, she has wonderful, practical information for hand-washing clothing, living 'sparse' and enjoying things like that. She has alot to share.
You will certainly find a ton of information like that around the blogs here. Another that comes to mind is Mountain Lane Homesteaders...they are doing the same thing you are looking ahead to. I would head over there and contact them off-blog about some good practical information to prepare yourself. She also shares some photos of their small house, and the starts of the big house (complete with them cutting their own logs and milling them!).

Deanna

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{ 06:05 , Monday, April 16, 2007 } { Posted by hcorbin }

Sounds like a fantastic adventure!!!!!!
keep us posted... I am adding you to my friends list!!
Indiana Country Girl

Awww

{ 09:35 , Monday, April 16, 2007 } { Posted by mulberrylane }

That sounds so fun! Well, it will be alot of work, but what an adventure! Something the entire family will talk about for years!

Warmly, Melissa

Yeah!

{ 06:39 , Wednesday, April 25, 2007 } { Posted by blessedtime }

That sounds like quite the adventure! My husband and I are looking at building a new home, and quite frankly that is a great idea! It never occured to me that living in a small "claim shanty" or even a small rv on our land would help us get through the time period in between selling our home and our new home being ready! Thanks for the inspiration! I'll be watching for updates!

Washing Diapers By Hand

{ 11:27 , Friday, May 11, 2007 } { Posted by rellamom }

It sounds wretched, doesn't it!?

When we were without electricity a couple months, I did all our laundry by hand. It wasn't so bad. And my hands got strong and tough! :-P

For diapers -- DO THEM DAILY. The load isn't nearly so overwhelming or icky!

Buy a large tub for soaking or use a bathtub. Remember, your diapers should be rinsed *before* putting them in the pail. Adding a rinse to the pail helps too.

Dump the rinse water out of the pail, dump the diapers into hot water for a soak, and then drain an hour or so later.

Now, add half the usual amt detergent, and use your hands to "agitate" and scrub each nappy. When each is done, put into a "clean" pail.

After each has been hand washed, rinse tub, and dump clean diapers into clean, fresh water for a rinsing.

Hang.

Ta-da!

Your adventure is an interesting one. I hope your pregnancy continues well. Definitely have your husband put in a temporary stairway so you're not climbing a ladder... LOL

And ENJOY your adventure as it unfolds!

Carrie
ps- I also wanted to encourage you in your parenting! You're starting off right! Much nicer than beginning late, and needing to re-train! Keep it up! There's a reward in it! :-)