Magnetic Nord is the story about our homestead in Northern Minnesota on the shore of Lake Superior.

Monday, May 9, 2011

"Yard" Projects

While we are making great progress inside finishing out the cabin there still is plenty going on outside as well.  We try to do at least one chore outside at the end of the day when it is too dark to work inside without light.  


The south side of the cabin stares south down the driveway to Lake Superior.  We thought that this would be a great location for a fieldstone patio.  Here you can see the local rock landscaping and the sand that we have tampered down in preparation for the 2 inch thick fieldstone that we are collecting from the property to set and complete the surface.  


We have rock "issues".  This outcrop is preventing the water from our "castle moot" to flow down the ditch.  However, like any geologist I know exactly what to do about that!  Here I am with my drill hammer and rock chisel banging away along the fracture sets of the rhyolite trying to cut a channel for the water to escape.  It's not the most glamorous job in the world but actually kind of fun if your a "rock-licking geologist".


This picture pretty much sums up spring on the North Shore.  We're prepping soil to plant our seedlings next to the churning wood stove.  


Planting seeds in trays.  Once they have sprouted we'll put the plants in the cold frames to grow and harden off before being planted outside. 


Three trays all planted and ready to sprout.


We built cold frames out of old windows and lumber scraps.  Cold frames are a great way to extend our short growing season as they create a microclimate for not only sensitive seedlings but full grown lettuce and spinach.

Beyond these projects we have roofed our shed and cleared a spot for our winter firewood supply that will be delivered in 8 foot lengths in June.  One of the best things about developing a property from scratch is that it truly is a "blank slate".  There are so many things to do on a daily basis that you never get bored of doing the same thing (except maybe for cutting down balsam fir).



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