​Last year when I casually told my sister in Texas about the mountain lions and bears and other wildlife we live among, she laughed at me at said it sounded made up.  Those in northern Idaho know we have an abundance of wildlife.  We love having them around us, even the predators.  It's an amazing place to live.  At the same time, it presents problems to homesteading and farming.

​As we gradually transition from hobby-sized farm into one that produces enough surplus to sell, I have the need for more shelter without wanting to invest permanently in something we'll outgrow in just a year.  Hoop tents purchased online that provide shelter over an 12' x 24' space would cost me a couple of thousand dollars each for a cheap one.  After the initial year of use, I don't foresee a use that justifies that expense.  These hoop tents cost about 10% of that and can be used for livestock shelter or simple greenhouses.

​We were in a sort of limbo during the spring of 2016.  I had acquired four Oberhasli goat does and twelve East Friesian ewe sheep who all had little ones at their sides.  With the addition of a few more later, these were our foundation animals from which we would breed and grow our herd to our desired production levels.

​Even though Brandon is a food snob, he really likes a good burger.  A good gourmet burger is hard to come by in the restaurant world.  Many places claim they're great and have "interesting" toppings, but alas, they are mediocre.  Here are some gourmet burgers that you can make at home.

​We've moved around to different states, which felt normal to me as I am a military brat.  However, that also means that you can't enjoy the long-term rewards of your efforts, such as planting fruit trees.  It also complicates owning larger animals.  While living in California, we decided we wanted to settle in Oregon, so we made the move.