To Be Something

We have to be an organization of some sort to be non profit, I vote for a Heritage Biodyversity Farm. We could call it something like Heirloom Farms, Heritage Farms...Sustainable Farm
Plant and animal life is disappearing 2 breeds a day.
Whats the risk? The fewer breeds we have the worse a plant or animal disease would be.

Traditionally, farmers throughout the world have raised thousands of different animal breeds and plant varieties. However, since today's industrial farms rely upon only a few specialized types of livestock and crops, thousands of non-commercial animal breeds and crop varieties have disappeared, along with the valuable genetic diversity they possessed. Fortunately, a growing number of sustainable farmers are preserving agricultural variety and protecting biodiversity by raising “heritage” or “heirloom” animal breeds and crops.

Anyway I found a good sheep for OR it's in the Sheep! post.

We'll need to talk about farm equipment, can we get one machine that does it all?
Amber whats used on the farm your living on? And what plant & animal live do they have?
:) A

Biodynamic Farming & Compost

I think I've stumbled into something. I've heard the phrase before Biodynamic Gardening, but didn't need it at that time in my life. But my friend Pam has invited me to a Biodynamic Gardening class :) I think it's time to go. And then I found this, and it looks like you make a tea of a few special herbs and add them in verious ways to the compost to make it such great stuff.....

"A basic ecological principle of biodynamics is to conceive of the farm as an organism, a self-contained entity. A farm is said to have its own individuality. Emphasis is placed on the integration of crops and livestock, recycling of nutrients, maintenance of soil, and the health and well being of crops and animals; the farmer too is part of the whole. Thinking about the interactions within the farm ecosystem naturally leads to a series of holistic management practices that address the environmental, social, and financial aspects of the farm. A comparison of objectives between biodynamic and conventional agriculture systems in Appendix I summarizes these ideas in table format.
In a nutshell, biodynamics can be understood as a combination of "biological dynamic" agriculture practices. "Biological" practices include a series of well-known organic farming techniques that improve soil health. "Dynamic" practices are intended to influence biological as well as metaphysical aspects of the farm (such as increasing vital life force), or to adapt the farm to natural rhythms (such as planting seeds during certain lunar phases)."

http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/biodynamic.html

Hey Everyone! I found a website to look at that gives basic facts about non-profit organizations - http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/npofaq. I know that is something that has been considered, and I am unsure of how much info we have about it. I also found a website about a non- profit farm in Pennsylvania that allows children to visit to learn about farming - http://www.quietvalley.org/. They have members and people who contribute. This type of organization and participation from the public would be ideal because then the non-profit regulations are less restrictive. However, I don't know what the liabilities involved would entail...
I definitely like the land that you found Amy. It sounds wonderful. Imnaha is a cool place, and it would be nice to live by there. Hope this message finds you all well!

Here's a House

Check out this cool house.

http://www.supernaturale.com/articles.html?id=156

Sheep!

I've been thinking about sheep. I'm really enjoying wool working, and wondered if it's sustainable to have some sheep of our own. What do you think Amber? I contemplated a small fiber family on the farm. A few angora bunnies, a few sheep, a few goats one for milk. I read lamas are good heard protectors. Do you think it pans out or is to much work in the end?

http://www.greenerpasturesfarm.com/SheepManagement.html

19+ acre Peach-Rd-Ontario-OR

HI All
I wanted to post this one again, it looks like a good area; schools, enough people, a hospital for jobs, and close to nowhere & Imnaha.

Maybe something like this one
http://www.trulia.com/property/1067836490-441-W-Peach-Rd-Ontario-OR-97914

89000.00
Enjoy the privacy of this 19+ acre parcel. Turn it into a nice horse facility with enough room for pasture, outbuildings and an arena or enjoy it for the wildlife habitat it currently supports. The irrigation ditch and natural spring entice numerous waterfowl and upland game birds as well as deer. The possibilities are limitless. The trailer currently on the property has been left to maintain the building right.
Ontario Or 9000 - 10000 people

Oregon County Selection Map

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/maps/oregon_map.html

Here's a city pop map/list for OR
http://www.citypopulation.de/php/usa-census-oregon.php

Elevation map, river maps, county maps, and high way maps all in this one!
http://geology.com/state-map/oregon.shtml

I sounds like visiting a lot of these properties has to wait until spring because of weather. That make me think I'm looking at the wrong stuff, if it's snowed in part of the year. If anyone finds property we should go look at we're in. Road trips, property searching, sounds great. What is the best property we have found thus far? Is there a propert that can be checked out right now? -C

Aerated autoclaved concrete

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerated_Autoclaved_Concrete

I've been researching this stuff on the internet, you can build a structure with it and slash heating and cooling costs. The air bubbles in the material and how they're spaced cause it to withstand earthquakes (such as AAC structures which survived from an earthquake in Kobe Japan). It withstands enourmous temperatures of about 3000 degrees, and can insulate extremely well. The material can soundproof a building, and is extremely lightweight (for concrete). Using materials which form silica similar to how the Romans constructed the Pantheon, AAC is durable and strong. It's extremely light-weight and can be cut with a hacksaw. It survives fires with ease and emits no toxic fumes either in a fire, or by itself. With solid wall construction and finishes, the chance for pest infestation drops dramaticly, and thus any need for indoor pesticides. Unlike concrete, AAC is cheap and very affordable. AAC doesn't require as much additional materials which tend to become air pollutants, environmental waste and unnecessary labor. It takes less energy to produce than other materials. It's made from raw and recycled materials readily available which produce no waste products or pollution. The Swedish invented it as a means to build without continual deforestation. Most of the material consists of air, which is what gives it the lightweight feature in part, and it's resource efficiency. It doesn't rot, and doesn't degrade over time in any way, is virtually immune to damage, and a stucco finish will mean it never needs repainted. It's a very versatile material, which can be made to look just about however one would want. It can be used for countertops, fireplaces, etc. as well. It's been around since the 1920's, but hasn't been available in America until about a decade ago.