A Real Mountain Man

I will call him Larry.
and some Notes.

If I am not down the hill working im up here working. I can barely open my hands.
Our vegetable seeds came in, Over 300 species and varieties. Through working on this property I have learned one thing for sure.
Its all about the right tools and knowledge. I feared casting all those seeds, so we went with a commercial vibratory seeder. Also went with jiffy 1.5 x 12 organic seedling trays, 3000 of them. They should all be under fluorescence and led lighting by mid Jan, Then on to the HID building by mid feb. Most stuff came from seed savers but it took a ton of companies to fill the voids. All organic. 12 Varieties of tomatoes, 20 pepper, 4 melon, 1 corn, 6 sunflower, ect.

 Im researching commercial tow able augers so we can get root depth for when they get moved to the outside in Spring whenever that is here. That has to be done soon and then we will construct 36" wood framed beds above the augured holes.

 Wood floors ordered and coming in freight Monday, I am soooo sick of walking on dirty sub floor. All bamboo with cork underlayment. Lightest stuff I found at 5/8 inch.
Ordered a Alderlea T4 from Pacific Energy and they will install within two weeks. I hope we make it in it before the next ass whooping storm. Stove installer walked me through constructing the hearth. I have been really looking while driving around and it looks like the bomb stuff is a commercial propane generator on a cement pad with its own tank. I usually see them at peoples well houses. So bank but I found some nice used ones on Craig list. Maybe soon.

Kai was back at the dentist for a spacer for his pulled toofth. Also at our family xmas gathering he was rough housing with a bigger kid and chipped off half of another. He will be back for that one next week. So the chief of police and chief of fire was there. Fire guy and Ann get to talking and he will be out to evaluate our fire danger and instruct how to make it money, he also looked her straight in the eyes with what she described as a very rare sense of pride "We will not let any fire hurt you" We have patrols all the time and he was so proud of his crew, Ann said it was awesome to see a man so proud to protect a community. We plan on installing a landing pad and fire sis trines for our local department. We had another fly by a fire pumper with the hose hanging down it was sweet. We are in a very serious fire area, it was one of the disclosures on our home and we have to pay special insurance due to the area. Our friend who helped us find this property allows her son to run around all year long except during fire season. So it was very comforting for Ann to meet him and see that honor in duty. He wants to meet with me next week here to instruct me on prevention.

No TV for along time now. No one misses it. News comes slow. Weather determines allot. Internet works about half the time.
We had another couple days of downpour.
I put Kai in timeout in a corner and he made shadow figures, little man will not let himself be kept down, I love that about him. He was testing us though, I love that about him. Always test authority.
 
I thought we was rural and depressed with no technology, I thought we left allot of that back in the bay, I thought that was a bold and big move toward something different, new challenges we wanted. Microwaves, TV, Tivo, Highspeed Net, Plastic and Dishwashers no more. The Lady at the power company we call when our power is out, She told Ann something that makes ya think. "Hey what did everyone do before power" Made me think how weak we have become and how bad ass they were. I wana be more like them and less like what we have become.

And then I met Larry.
Larry is a bad mother fucker.
Larry walks and its cold wet and hard walking country.

I drive to the lumberyard at least 5 days a week. I see this cat walking. I wave at everyone. Most wave back. I love that people wave. Larry always waved. Today im rollin down to get some 2x6 and I see Larry. Larry has his thumb out now I was raised to never pick up hitchhikers but ive grown found of interesting days and so Ive been saying WTF now more than ever and its been fun.

I pull over, he is actually heading to the gas station and I was going that way, 15 miles. We chat, he tells me all about our community, the dos and donts. Who is bad and who is good. I ask him if I can pick him up on the way back he says yes. I go down get my lumber come back pick up Larry bring him home and Ann make him breakfast.

He invites me to his property.
I have no fucking clue what I am doing up here. Winging it day to day, Getting my ass handed to me daily if I am to be perfectly honest so I am eager for some damn knowledge to make this transition smooooother.

Larry gives me a tour.
He is off grid and I mean off grid. No power. A dead 1950's generator and they don't have power down there.
He has a wood stove for heat and cooking. No money for propane and the propane heater needs parts.
I learn Larry has been up here since 1975.
Larry grows medical MJ and has a county permit to do so.
He took me through his farm and homestead.
I saw his well, his well fills a bucket and he brings that bucket up to a steel container that has a valve he can fill stuff from.
Chicken coops I saw!!!!! and that knowledge I am starving for as we found the birds I just need to build their coop.
His spine was crushed at a construction site so he is on disability and just received a 175 a month cut.
A tree was blocking his road since the storm so I went down tonight after framing and cut the mother up. I love my chainsaw.
He taught me how to properly take down a downed tree. Kept me safe. Made sure I was spot on and safe. I love cutting wood. Downed wood.
He taught me about our water table and what to do.
And taught me about our soil.
He has a honey pot ( 5 gallon toilet ).
I told him I would check in on him often.
Ann made him a roasted chicken and potato dinner tonight and I ran it over and helped him cut a lock.
I thanked him for his time and knowledge, he gave me a hug and asked me to thank the misses for a full belly.
Larry is a real mountain man. So much respect I have for him.


Its 8:06 pm and I just heard some very large centerfire. Me thinks someone is having some backstrap tonight.
DFG seems to have gone home for the season.
Not many deer around lately.
Its getting colder but without doubt the time of our lives.
You could never go back once you have left.
35 feels warm.

Dan