Conure

Here’s a different question for you! In your youtube video about cleaning the wood cookstove I hear what sounds like a conure or other smaller parrot in the back ground. What kind of pet bird(s) do you have? I have a 17 year old Sun Conure.

Mary
Lancaster, Kentucky

Yep!  That was Baby, Mom’s conure.  He was an old guy, at least 25 years old.  And a sassy bird, too!  Sadly, Baby passed away a couple of months ago from a heart attack, right in front of me.  His voice was annoying at times but we do miss him. — Jackie

Stretching fence

This weekend we tackled putting up a fence.  After your great teaching session at the seminar we decided we could do it.  We got up our corner posts using 4×4 treated lumber and have braced each corner.  Our concern is the 6 ft. tall woven wire fence does not get taut when we pull it.  How do we get it tight so there is no bowing of the fence?

I have memories to last a lifetime as you fulfilled my bucket list dream which was to meet you and share your wisdom. Jim and I made friends and will be meeting one of the ladies who attended when she comes to our area in July.  We have since purchased a DeWalt drill (20v) and it arrived yesterday in the mail.  My husband gained confidence and is eager to help me with the garden and clearing of our land.  I want to come back for another seminar and will start saving to be there next year in the fall.  Your warmth and friendliness made us feel welcomed.  Our next project is raising chickens and maybe a pig.  You have inspired me to tackle a project and not worry about how it looks but instead to just get it to work. Happy Anniversary to a great couple.

Deb Motyliunski
Brecksville, Ohio

Hi Deb!

The 6-foot-high wire fence is a bit tricky to get tight.  But really you don’t have to get it as tight as you do farm field fence to hold in livestock.  You’re just trying to keep out the critters.  We just pull it tight by hand.  In dips and valleys you sometimes have to cut the fence and pull it straight in two pieces and then when they’re stapled or fastened to the posts, wire the two pieces together again.  Like I told Jim, if you have a place that you can’t effectively get it tight to the ground, just tighten the main fence and then add on a “skirt” to cover the dip.

I can’t tell you how happy we are that you and Jim — especially Jim(!) — enjoyed our seminar! Homesteading is not about perfection, but about doing.  If a project turns out beautiful, all the better.  If not and it still works, great.  We have weeds in our garden and we still always fill the pantry shelves! Congratulations on your homestead and your projects!  We really hope you guys can come again sometime soon! — Jackie