Keeping Hill Eco-Housing

03/19/2017

Extra mealworms and kitchen scraps for all the KH flock today! They do love leftover spaghetti , too .... hmmmm

As you are no doubt aware, March 19 is Poultry Day. Your chickens will of course be expecting the customary Poultry Day gifts.

03/09/2017

Spring is knocking at the door here at Keeping Hill. The chickens are so busy laying that they are cooperating on the efficient use of space. There is a late season maple run happening that has this lovely Great Grandmother maple tree wearing emerald earrings. And in the bottoms of the watershed feeding into the lake here, a saturated log is alive with a flourishing moss enjoying the sun.

03/09/2017

I was resigned that the 2017 maple syrup season has finished over the two weeks of very warm weather. Until I went for a walk in the woods to see this. Mmmmmmm.
Looks like two jewels on that Great Grandma maple in this light.
I have unleashed the irresistible maple scented lure to persuade a helper to walk the woods and schlepp the sap. Life is good and always springs anew: I promise.
With any luck, the photo has successfully linked to this post.

02/06/2017

It is that time of year again: mmmmmmmmaple! As the below freezing nights and the above freezing days start waking the trees up, the respiration of the buds in the warming sunshine draws the sap up.

How can water drawn up from the earth by the roots of a tree end up tasting this supreme? My scientific understanding is that it is magic. My experience is that it is a lot of work and a lot of fun. Truly, it is soulful work, and a great honor to be the person tasked with reverently going into forest and bringing back the sweet flavor of spring itself.

Over the past two days, I put 74 taps out in the woods here at Keeping Hill. Some of the taps started running as soon as I drilled the hole for the spile (which is what you call the little spout that holds the sap holder on the tree). When there is enough volume collected to work with, the sap is boiled down to a reduction of 50/1 to yield that flavor that will make your french toast sparkle.

You are hereby invited to come and experience the magic yourself. Message me to see if there is sap to haul or a fire under the evaporator that needs to be tended. I promise good work, bad jokes by the fire, interesting company and some KH pure maple for your breakfast delight.

10/02/2016

It's really quite lovely out at Keeping Hill. Anuja is manning the bonfire, the chickens are wondering by, and we are waiting for you!

10/02/2016

Come on out!

10/02/2016

Open house at Keeping Hill tomorrow --- Sunday October 2 ---from 1-3!
Come out and visit the property... See if this is the place for you and your dream green home!

09/19/2016

It's official! We have changed the lot platting in Keeping Hill!
As we wrote earlier, we are committed to the idea of a small, supportive rural neighborhood at Keeping Hill --- a place where we encourage more living more sustainably and creatively.
We are now platted into 5 residential lots as well as a common area. The common land is shared and used by all the lot owners and includes garden space, lake, woods, and a space where we hope we can build a community building. Of the residential lots, 4 are for sale, and those range in size from about .38 acres to .65 acres.
New lot outlines shown below (the lots in red are available).
Let us know what you think!

09/04/2016

And.... The Chicklets are growing! It is so cool to see Mama Hen parade them around and show them how to scratch for food!

09/04/2016

If you have been by Keeping Hill lately, you may have noticed this new sign out front. Wondering, "What's up?"
When we started the concept of Keeping Hill a number of years ago, we envisioned a small cohousing neighborhood with 8 homes and a community house clustered inside the drive, each home sitting on a small privately-owned lot and the remainder of the property owned by the community at large --- essentially the HOA. We knew this idea of cohousing was a little different than the way real estate has been usually handled in this area, but it is a growing concept and we hoped it would catch on. We have been met with interest and enthusiasm from almost everyone we have talked with regarding the concepts behind the plan, but it has need a bit of tweaking to bring us closer to what feels more familiar as a neighborhood.
We have submitted to the plan commission a proposal to reduce the overall density at Keeping Hill --- reduce the total of home sites to 5 from 8 --- and increase the size of the privately-held lots. Most of the property, including the lake, woods, and garden space, will remain property of the HOA, and we have set aside a spot to build the common house (not a residence, but a community building for gathering, etc. --- kind of like a "clubhouse"). We remain steadfast in our goal to make Keeping Hill a community where we can live more lightly on the land, know and support our neighbors, and encourage art and creativity.
The plan commission meets on September 14. If all goes as planned, we will post the new configuration and updated information on the lots, etc. after the meeting. Please contact us anytime if you want to talk more about our proposals, or if you want to see if Keeping Hill is the right place for you and your family to live! Thanks to all of you for your support!

08/26/2016

Photos of the proud mama and the brood!

08/26/2016

The Dedicated Mom.
A few days ago, a miracle revealed itself here at Keeping Hill. Well, eight miracles more accurately.
This brave momma hen appeared with seven chicks and she managed the entire process on her own. Outside of the safety of the coop.

The natural world can play pretty rough when predators and domestic critters collide. For the 21 days of gestation, that very dedicated hen sat on those eggs around the clock with her only protection coming from being hidden in tall weeds.
We could add altruism to her accolades by the fact that, at most, only one of those eggs was hers.

Through the course of this life bringing process, she did lose some feathers from her head in a battle to protect her little gang. You shoulda seen the other guy, she might cluck.

It is both magnificent and heart warmingly fun to watch them running around. They are already foraging with the main flock and Wally, our gray Silky rooster and as the only rooster we have is the presumed Pop short of alien abduction theories.
The chicklets, as we like to call them, are thriving and growing fast. We have left them to their camping lifestyle so far but have made food and water available to supplement their foraged feast.
Come and meet the little miracles if you'd like. They are delighting kids of all ages these days.