The pleasures of sleeping outside

 With the beautiful weather (rain or shine) that Maine has been getting, everyone is sleeping outside, our new Chantecler chicks (more on them in another post), the cats, us and even the baby.  Especially during the daytime, when I am working in the gardens, he is often enjoying a snooze in the shade of the orchard, lucky kid! At night we have been enjoying the sounds and sights of nature from our tent.  Fireflies flickering their magical lights, shooting stars, rain falling on our forehead through the open netting, and the occasional big and noisy truck. 

 

The gardens are truly bringing to life our vision of self reliance.  Some vegetables, like the tomatoes, the corn and the basil are growing faster and in greater abundance than others, but I am enjoying the learning curve.  I definitely will always buy good potting soil from now on to start my seedlings. Just like human babies, they need their TLC :) 

The three sisters are taking over!

Plenty of zucchini leaves but no zucchinis...

Basil and parsley galore!

fresh seedlings for fall and winter crops

This week I start planting the fall and winter crops that are not yet in the ground. The root cellar will be a first experiment for us, and I already look forward to eating the fresh carrots, kohlrabies, potatoes and squashes in front of the fire.

Alex has been working hard around the property to get us ready for the cold months.  Now that we have the wood stove: we need wood!  Luckily our desire to harvest wood corresponds well with our need for more sunlit areas for the growing garden space. And although it can be sad to see a living being go (chicken or tree), the trees we are cutting are Norway maples; invasives and not very interesting for sugaring.  So whenever Alex has a little bit of time, he'll either be cutting away, splitting away, chipping away or piling away.  I think we'll have enough wood, what do you think? :)

Sleeping outside is quite a treat, but we have also been doing it for health reasons; taking advantage of the warmer weather to continue the Lead abatement on the house.   During our pregnancy we tested the soil and the house for Lead.  We were happy to know that most of the grounds are not (or barely) contaminated, but the same was not true of the house.  The Lead inspector tested all the surfaces and quite a few of them (mostly trims, floors, windows and doors) were painted with Lead paint, as is true for most old houses, and we now need to remedy this before Leo starts crawling and putting everything in his mouth.  Babies are actually drawn to lead painted surfaces because the lead paint tastes sweet, so frightening when you think of the impact it can have on their development.

So we are slowly (as fast as a new baby will let you!) painting over leaded surfaces, replacing windows, changing the old carpets, and finishing the beautiful barn wood floor that Alex put together to connect the kitchen with the family room.  I love the rough character of the grain and the history it adds to the space. 

Léo is teaching us that old houses are beautiful, but they can also be a hazard.  These touch-ups are certainly a necessity and a pleasure, because we are doing most of the work ourselves, gaining much knowledge and learning many skills along the way. Above is a picture of the new staircase runner (100% natural fibers, almost impossible to find these days...) that Alex laid down after encapsulating the lead painted staircase.

Three weeks in the life of Léo

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so this post will be worth many thousands. Enjoy :)

Picture taken by my friend Sarah Miller at 8 months

Only a few seconds old

Like father like son... taking naps at any moment of the day! Even at just 2 days old

Should have carried a diaper with me... Oups!

Poor Léo, the water from the well was too cold for him!

Enjoying the shade of the orchard

I'm watching you...

Already learning synergy poses :)

How bébé Léo got his name...

Our baby has finally entered our lives.  After having struggled almost three full days to come out, he didn't fail to impress us, by deciding to be born on World Environment Day, and with his right arm against his cheek much like Superman! We can only dream he will bring much good to this world.

Even though we kept it a surprise 'til the end, deep down inside we knew all along he was going to be a little man.  Léo, a strong name, for a strong being... His full name is a salute to many of his ancestors and elders who have shaped Alex and my life and who will surely watch over him when he needs it.

Today the story behind his first name...

Muscle man! Farmer with the sun, lumberjack with the snow

Alex and I both had Leo's in our lives. For me my grand-pa Léo was close to a deity.  Father of 9 beautiful kids (who then multiplied to create a loving family of over one hundred close relatives) he was a homesteader, a lumberjack, a storyteller by excellence and a 'patenteux hors-pair'.

Always ready to try a new invention

My grandma and grandpa Leo with Sebas, Val and I in 1980

My grand-pa was the hero and role-model of nearly everyone that knew him.  As a little child I spent important parts of my summers over on their farm in Lac Frontière, Québec, and the memories have had a great influence on how I view the world.  I remember making blueberry necklaces in the tall grasses, swinging in the maple tree swingset my grand-pa made, cutting rhubarb, hiding on the second floor of the barn, eating fresh warm toasts right off the wood stove, and listening to my grand-pa tell stories of the bible.  My grand-pa was an angel on Earth.  All he wanted was to do good on Earth and go heaven to meet Jesus :)  I would say I am more of a believer in the planetary forces, but to each his own, and I really hope he did meet him.

Still chopping his own fire wood at 92 years

I was lucky enough to have the pleasure of sharing a short 32 years with this man, who experienced many different realities in his lifetime.  Starting his life in 1916 he saw the world in a much more natural state then we now know it, without electricity, running water, telephones, cars, televisions, airplanes, let alone all the gadgets we have today.  He also saw what we were doing to the world, and although he didn't understand it all, he knew we needed to be more gentle and he certainly couldn't understand how the average person couldn't grow their own potatoes... everyone should have garden fresh potatoes! :)

Still picking the sacred blueberries at 94 years old

I was lucky to have him in my life for so long, lucky and inspired, to see that my grand-parents had survived and enjoyed the simple life, and their family life and community life was rich and healthy because of it.  I was inspired, and since, I have been dreaming of following in their footsteps.  32 years of getting to know him, and every year I had more questions for him, knowing that time was flying by.  My grand-pa past away March 12, 2011, at the age of 95.  I got to spend some time by his side in his final days.  I should say that most of my family flocked to his bedside. He was far from alone in this process.  On one of Alex and I's visits I made him a promise (more like a request), that I would name my first born boy after him.  Luckily he was ok with it :)

So it was meant to happen, now Léo is with us, and I know that grand-papa vieux vieux looks over him, where ever he is.

In dedication to my grand-father Léo Laverdière (1916-2011)

Bébé Léo is here!

Bébé Léo, a little tired after all that work

After 9 months of prep work and 3 days of labour, bébé Léo was born at home, as hoped and dreamed of by his parents.  He was (according to the "due date" calculations) 8 days late, but really, he was just in time... as Léo was born at 5h20 the morning of June 5, World Environment Day... How best to start his journey on Earth!

The mugshots!

Today it is bébé Léo's 3 weeks birthday :) and now that bébé and father are sound asleep, I take 5 minutes to write about the beginning of his exciting journey.

Having often been influenced by my maternal grand-parents, giving birth was going to be no exception.  My grand-mother managed to raise 9 healthy kids who were all born at home, an admirable accomplishment, and I have always dreamed of giving birth at home myself.  Plus I was lucky enough to know some very strong ladies in Montreal who had done home birthing before me, and their courage and strength had inspired me. Of course, hospitals save lives and when situations get more complex, modern medicine is a blessing.  But since birth is one of the oldest and most important event in Life's continuing history, I see it as a moment to be treasured, a rite of passage, a sacred bond between parents and the new child who is coming into this world. For this reason we wanted to go through this experience with the least medical intervention, as naturally as possible and in a space and place that is comforting and familiar.  What better place than our own home?!

Our midwives

3rd day of labor... ouf!

We had no idea, until the birth actually happened, whether I was going to be able to go through with it or if I was going to back out at the last minute in fear that something would go wrong... :) but we did get through it in the end!  After making sure we did everything we could to grow a healthy baby during the pregnancy, it took 3 days of labor to come out, and a cord wrapped around Léo's neck!  It was long and exhausting, but mom, dad and baby are all fine, healthy and happy. And although the birth was long, it was not that painful, and it truly was an amazing and exhilarating experience to go through... I already am excited for the next time:)

Léo is doing very well, since the very first day he sleeps well, eats like a king, and is slowly teaching us how to make him happy :)  He can't wait to meet you all.

Til next time, good night and be well.

V, A, and Léo :)

A week in the life...

Gearing up for our new arrival, we've been up to some fun stuff on the homestead. The trees are showing signs of fruit, we're clearing wood for the winter and to make more sunlight for the gardens, the chicks have arrived and are all healthy, and our pizza skills are ever progressing! More news soon :)! Oh, and lest we forget, the chia baby...

try counting these little rascals in realtime!

mmm...apple cider in the making

firewood for the winter, and more sunlight for the veggies

from Lima, Peru to lima beans

lessons of pizza making from Denman island well learned

Ch-ch-ch-chia...BABY

Enjoying life

Today we are thankful :) and joyful.  Just like a year ago today, the sun shines bright.  A year ago today, we spent the day in a maple grove, surrounded by everyone we love, to join in our sacred union.

And today we are enjoying ... eating the top layer of our delicious wedding cake, which I personally have been eying for the past year :),

enjoying the gardens that are officially planted and growing,

 enjoying Zane's presence on the farm,

and simply enjoying the last few moments before a new little life starts.  Soon...

Easter eggs :)

The homestead's hens are happy out in the field at last.  After spending the winter 'cooped up', the hens who are no longer little chicks have finally made their way out in the pasture.

Alex and I looked at many designs for DIY mobile chicken tractors, and this one seemed the best for our hens.  It was mostly built out of salvage wood from our renovations and old construction materials we found in the barn. From the cedar shingles, to the chicken wire, screen door and rooster decoration, all these treasures were salvaged by the previous owners of the farm, and are now being put to good use once again.  We did have to go buy a few 2x4 (and we made sure it was local untreated FSC certified lumber) and some good screws, but we would say that more than 70% of the coop is recycled (Eli, there is even a recycled inner tube to waterproof the seam, just for you!).

a removable side wall for easy cleaning

We get 2 eggs everyday now, from just 3 hens

It's a simple A-frame structure, with a shelter and 4 laying boxes in the back, and even though it's not completely finished, once it has its wheels in the back and handles in the front, we will be able to move the chickies to fresh pastures (and fresh new bugs!) on a daily basis.  At the moment we use a dolly to do the moving but that should be fixed by the weekend.  For this project, just like all our other projects, we wouldn't have been able to pull it together so quickly and resourcefully without the help of lots of friends, so thank you guys, we'll be saving some eggs for you!

A lot is beginning to happen now outside: the fruit trees are in bloom, the hammocks are up and we have relocated the vegetable transplants to the cold frames we found in the barn so that they can acclimatize to the outdoors before we plant them in their permanent home.

Last weekend, five of our girlfriends from Montreal came down to visit and they were instrumental in opening up the first garden plot.

Is it a pear? an apple? a cherry? who knows!

And with this blog post we really wanted to share that we value the help and the resourcefulness of people who are here with us in the present, but also of those who came before us.  Sometimes it can seem so easy to just discard the past, the old, the 'obsolete'.  But thanks to the thriftiness (or common sense!) of the previous owners, we built a mobile chicken coop, we protect our seedlings from bad weather with old cold frames and windows, and everyday we discover a new (old) treasure, or a new fruiting plant... and for all of this, nothing or very little new was needed.  There is something of a treasure inside everything, we humans just have to be patient and figure out what it is.

Until next time,