A couple hours of Internet surfing this evening, investigating gear. Chainsaw: We'll need to get one, so I started some basic research. My first priority was trying to see if I could find a low emission model. There are relatively recent EPA regulations for small engine products...
Karen harvested stinging nettles from our land, since the plants are springing up and are at their tender best as young shoots. She later hung them upside down in bunches in our basement, keeping them in a dark, dry location. Nettles have a pretty amazing sting from even the slightest touch. A...
We walked along the beach of Long Point twice this weekend, once in the evening and once in the morning. It's a great beach along the north pointing, driftwood-strewn land. Because of its unique projection out into the mouth of Penn Cove, it offers unobstructed views east, north,...
We completed our first home on the property: a tent. We selected a nice flat spot in the middle of the land, by the old Pacific yew and Douglas fir trees that Karen is standing between. It was very quiet and peaceful... Karen did not wear earplugs to sleep, for the first time in many years.
Today we met a land use planner and consultant who worked for Island County for many years before becoming a contract town planner for the Town of Coupeville (Tuesdays and Thursdays) and also working independently through his company. Nice guy, lots of good info. We laid out our general thoughts...
I met a representative from the Whidbey Island Conservation District and found out that they have an annual plant sale focusing on native plants at inexpensive prices (frequently around $2/starter plant). Good to know for next year's sale when we may be distributing plantings in open areas to...
After 6 years of thinking about it, 3 years of actively pursuing it, and lots of unusual paths along the way, we finally own Whidbey Island land as of today! And it's land we love, with a great ecosystem, pretty location, and a size large enough to have some fun and privacy with. It seems amazing...
Here are photos showing northern sections of the property from the vantage point of an airplane. It is gratifying to see all of the trees on this property and also trees still standing on other properties that have been partially developed in the Long Point area. Hopefully more trees are coming...
I received the professional archaeologist's report, nicely formatted and professionally researched/produced. We had a few last minute procedural glitches to overcome, but in the end the report and procedures were high quality and will be useful for answering any future questions...
The forester pointed out the following native plant species on our property today: Douglas fir Grand fir Hemlock Pacific yew Madrone Alder Salal Rhododendron Oregon grape Sword fern Bracken fern Trailing blackberry Evergreen huckleberry Ocean spray Wild rose / Baldhip rose Salmonberry Honeysuckle