This blog has been sadly neglected. I guess part of that is that I’m not really into talking to myself and part of that is that I haven’t been applying myself to the farm, so didn’t really have much to talk about. But it’s a new year. And new years always stir new beginnings in me, a pattern I am becoming more aware of as I get older.

I have some new subscribers, hello! Now that I know there are people out there interested, it makes sense to me to apply more of myself to this blog as a record of who I am and what I have to share, and the changes I make in myself and the world around me. I have been oscillating; between city and farm, work and self-employment, here and there, up-beat and down-trodden. I’d like a little stability and I’m placing this blog at the centre of that. Sure, it might be a big call, but I’m nothing if not extravagant!

My list of 100 things to do around this little farm in 2017 looks like this:

1. Build more veg beds to complete vegie patch
2. Plan and complete keyline ploughing
3. Plan and build roof extension
4. Plan and build filter bed for olive processing waste into compost
5. Build 8 compost bays
6. Plan and build chook tractors for paddocks
7. Plan and build greenhouse
8. Build deck at west end of house
9. Plan and build chook house for domestic use
10. Plan and build irrigation for olive trees
11. Prune olive trees
12. Finish Whole Farm Plan
13. Install water tanks under deck
14. Plant vegies
15. Get breeding stock of chickens
16. Document the farm projects as I go (at least monthly blog updates, with photos)
17. Plan and build fire protection system (irrigation etc)
18. Plan and build swale and dam system
19. Plant tree corridor
20. Mulch olive trees
21. Plan and implement underplanting of olive trees
22. Install taps at each corner of the house
23. Plan and install irrigation for garden around house
24. Plan and build herb garden
25. Get organic certification
26. Get biodynamic certification
27. Plan and implement rotational cropping system for vegie patch
28. Plant and install wall planters that I got for Christmas 2016
29. Sell olive oil in storage
30. Plan and build chook tractor for vegie patch
31. Install library/spare bedroom layout in loft
32. Plan and build internal fences
33. Fix exterior fences
34. Build new entrance gates
35. Plant perimeter trees
36. Plan and build hops trellis
37. Plant berries
38. Plant bananas
39. Plant coffee
40. Plant espalier fruit trees about the vegie patch
41. Get breeding stock of cows
42. Plan and build dairy
43. Plant citrus grove
44. Plant avocado trees
45. Plant more pomegranates
46. Plant chestnut grove
47. Plant hazelnuts
48. Plan and complete landscaping around house
49. Plan and complete landscaping around processing shed
50. Rearrange bedroom furniture
51. Get two proper wardrobes
52. Install shelves in study above the desk
53. Buy and install shelves for cool and dry stores
54. Plan and build strawberry forest
55. Plant flowers/succulents under the solar array
56. Replace wood heater
57. Plan and implement rotational grazing system
58. Plan and implement rotational cropping system for farm paddocks
59. Plan and build grain sprouting system
60. Buy seed planting equipment for paddocks
61. Buy soil blockers (large and small)
62. Plan and build tool shed under deck at the western end
63. Buy electric mesh fencing
64. Plan and build She Shed
65. Plan and build 3 tiny houses
66. Plan and build retaining wall behind processing shed
67. Plan and build retaining wall near machinery shed
68. Make path beside processing shed
69. Plan and build stables
70. Plan and build new graded road through property
71. Install bath in bathroom
72. Install shelves in laundry cupboard
73. Install carpet in bedrooms
74. Plan and build cool store into machinery shed retaining wall
75. Empty shipping container and convert to dry store
76. Get breeding stock of sheep
77. Get riding horses
78. Get draft horses
79. Plan and build cafe/store at new gate
80. Plan and build ice house
81. Build and landscape natural swimming pool
82. Landscape creek path, include small bridge
83. Landscape big rock area
84. Plan and build natural swimming pool
85. Create sacred grotto
86. Plan and build temple
87. Seed truffles
88. Seed mushrooms under pines
89. Clean and organise machinery shed
90. Buy and install shelves for machinery shed
91. Plan and build labyrinth walk
92. Install double-glazed windows
93. Plan and build grape trellis
94. Plant sugar beets and make sugar
95. Buy horse drawn carriage
96. Buy horse drawn wagon/cart
97. Plan and build retreat/chapel building
98. Plan and build glamping space at small dam
99. Buy antique armchairs for studio space
100. Plan and build a stile over the fence to Neil’s place

There is some crossover between this list and the Business Goals list I’ve written for myself this year, but that’s another blog post. These projects are things that I’ve wanted to do for a while and I’m curious to see how many I can get through this year.