One Half Buddhist, One Half Christian, One Half Pagan

Given that we're actually starting to take baby steps towards homeownership, I decided that I should actually write down some of my thoughts and the things I want to do once I have land to do them on. Some of these are realistic, while others are pipedreams or things that will take a couple of decades to pay off.

- As soon as possible after we move in, I want to build a dozen raised garden beds. I think 1 yard by 2 yards will be the optimum size for me, but I still need to figure out how high to make them. I'll start planting in one or two of them right away if it's the right time of year, and the rest I'll fill with scrap wood, brush, and soil for the hugelkultur method. I figure I'll add one or two beds to cultivation each year until I reach as many as I can handle.

- In the first round of planting I'm going with onions, garlic, green peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, and maybe potatoes and hot peppers. Not sure what I'll add to later rounds.

- Stay organic. What's the point of growing my own food if it isn't going to be any better than what I can get at the store?

- Use local heirloom varieties whenever I can find them. Again, what's the point of growing my own food if it's no better than from the store or if it's not well suited to local conditions?

- I'd like to end up with 6 apple trees, 3 tart (pie) cherry trees, 3 sweet cherry trees, an edible crabapple tree, and a pear tree. This may take a few years.

- A strawberry bed.

- A grapevine.

- A raspberry/blackberry patch.

- I hate lawns that are cut so close to the ground that they look shaved. I like grass that's long enough to move when the wind blows.

- I'm also not fond of lawns that are solid blocks of green. I like multiple shades of green, and even some color.

- I'd like to make a mix of native grass seed, violet seeds, clover, and a few fragrent herbs, and use that to fill in any bare patches on the lawn. I'd have no objection if the entire lawn ended up being things that smell lovely.

- A few chickens

- I'd like to grow the majority of the vegetables we eat, using saved seeds as much as I can

- a peach tree or two. I know it will take more effort than the other trees I have listed.

- a fruit salad tree, but only if I do the grafting myself.

- a patio and fire-pit that are comfortable for large groups

- interesting sculpture in out of the way corners

- a milk goat

- a rose garden. All varieties choosen for 1)their hardiness, 2)how well suited their blossoms and hips are for making food or cosmetics, and 3)how fragrant they are.

I also have a yard and garden board over on pinterest.

This list will get edited and added to, and the individual items will get changed and expanded upon. Some things might even get deleted.

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I'm going to assume this is after taxes.

I'd buy a house just a bit more expensive than Tom & I are planning on getting anyway, and pay for it up front.

Everything left after that would go into the bank for property taxes and maintenence costs.

It would make my life easier if I had some sort of system that could be used to inventory the food in my kitchen. Even better if the inventory was connected to a recipe database, and would give me recipes that used what I actually had in stock.

If you had an unlimited budget, and no limits imposed for other reasons, what sort of hobby space would you design for yourself?

Mine would be a large, interestingly shaped room with lots of windows and separate areas for different types of activities.

The reading area would have a window seat and tons of bookcases, as well as an outlet for charging my Kindle.

The knitting/embroidery/other hand-held project area would have a couple of comfortable chairs (one soft and cushy for lounging in, and the other more like a good office chair), and a good TV with both a DVD player and internet access.

The workshop area would have two sub-sections each with 2 or 3 stations worth of countertops. One would have the counters at a comfortable height for me to stand, and the other would have the counters at a comfortable height for sitting. Individual projects would be stored in mobile cabinets more or less like this one, which would be stored under the high counters when not being worked on. General supplies would be stored in kitchen style cabinets above the counters. There would also be a mini-kitchen with a sink, small fridge, stove, and another station or two of counterspace.

I don't think I'd bother with a distinct office area, instead I'd get a top of the line laptop and a portable stand for it.

The whole room would have an excellent sound system, wired (or wirelessly connected) to the TV, a server, and a top of the line stereo.

The decor would be simple. Light, cool colors. Solids or simple prints. Minimal knick-knacks, and just a few rugs on a hardwood floor.