Jumps, Cruises, and Fire

Posted on

May 2, 2023

On December 2nd, 2021, my wife had a massive stroke and it has been a long road to recovery.

Recently, there have been a lot of ups and downs, but she rebounded and tried out the trampoline yesterday.

She did not do half bad, but she is exhausted from the well-placed effort.

My son is putting a lot of effort in, and he may well deserve the moniker “14-year veteran of life.”
Currently, he is working an abundance of side jobs to go on a faith-based cruise in January. He went out with his mom yesterday to work on his passport. I am proud and excited for him.

As stated in my recent posts, I am working hard on Willow Manor Urban Farm to manage my property effectively.

Last year, I let folks drop off compostable items such as logs, branches, pine needles, leaves, grass clippings, and thatch.

This was my bumper crop and I received over 50 pickup trucks full.

Surprisingly, when spread over a third of an acre, it settled down quite nicely, and large portions of the yard are mulched for water retention.

In a semi-arid steppe environment, moisture retention is important, especially for an urban farmer such as myself.

The long-term plan is to cover this mismatch of color with red mulch from Lowes for uniformity.

The logs are another project entirely. While I am using them for The Campfire, I picked up a few rusted-out 55-gallon barrels to manufacture charcoal.

I am hoping to use some of this for “biochar” in the yard, and most of it to attempt an iron smelt for a blacksmith project. I might bisque fire pottery as well.

With an enormous pile of maple on hand, I might reach out to a few grill masters and see if they would like some charcoal as well. Maple isn’t prevalent here

Author: Benjamin

Benjamin Thiel is a community leader, urban farmer, and author of The Ongoing Tale at Brothers Campfire. He might know a guy...

25 thoughts on “Jumps, Cruises, and Fire”

  3. Thattamma C.G Menon says:

    So awesome post 🌹🙏👍🏻 so happy to read that your wife now ok and her son helping his mom ,
    So lovely and you also enjoying your work together, so peaceful and beautiful family 😍God Bless 👏

  4. Eugi says:

    I am happy to hear your wife is continuing to recover.

  6. Jacqui Murray says:

    I am very happy your wife’s recovery is progressing. And you are staying (very) busy! Thoughts with you.

    1. Benjamin says:

      I am ecstatic about her progress!

      Indeed! I have immersed myself in work!

  9. Petra says:

    Woohoo, I’m so glad to hear the trampoline part and I hope she ends up being well enough for a bungee jump someday. And I really admire your farming efforts. I also hope your son enjoys the cruise, I remember ‘working’ side jobs for relatives when I was 10 and wanted my first cell phone, but my parents thought I was too young for it, so they made me earn it. Even now it’s the things that I’ve earned myself that have the most value.

    1. Benjamin says:

      I am extremely excited about the trampoline for sure.

      Urban farming is in my blood I think.

      Hard work is good. I won’t allow my son to have a cell phone yet.

      It is always so nice to hear from you, Petra!

  10. Cassa Bassa says:

    That’s a lot of work just to get the land ready for planting, big area.

      1. Cassa Bassa says:

        That’s back breaking labour intensive. Take adequate rest of your physical body brother Benjamin!

  12. Mr Gnome (etal) says:

    Prase the lord your wife is felling better. That sounds like a lot of projects you are starting. Go big or go gnome!

Comments are closed.

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