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  • From: <eureka AT hctc.net>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] Call for Ideas !
  • Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:47:13 -0500

To give a better idea of the kind of destruction: 10 of the largest trees in Texas (including the largest) are either across the street or within a few miles of us. As much as we love trees (I am a botanist) I don't think that stick in the pit of my stomach is ever going to go away. Finding a new place to spend the rest of our lives is not feasible until my husband retires 3-5 years...and what's to say it wouldn't happen again? There are plenty of people with big bucks hankering to retire,ready to clear the land to plant WalMart shrubbery.

What makes it really awful is we truly like our neighbors (and they us) but don't understand their vision (ie. stupidity) and there are no fast growing native trees for our part of Texas. We have access to plenty of Japanese ligustrum seedlings, but I really hate the idea of spreading invasives. The cost of larger native plant stock and digging the back breaking holes through mostly rock conglomerate would be prohibitive. Our neighbors could barely swing the note on that property, so I'm sure they won't be buying mine anytime soon. And as angry as I am, I still value their friendship in this remote area.

I have the feeling knowing our grief over the situation they would let us collect rock out of their newly aquired wash, but I've never done stonework and river rounded cobbles don't stack very well. I've helped build several strawbale houses, so I'm comfortable with that process, only we do get enough rain it couldn't be finished with earth plaster. It's also hard to find straw around here and we have no place to store it. I like the idea of wiring twigs and driftwood on the existing fence, and we certainly have plenty of sticks...it would probably be acceptable as a "good neighbor" solution. I just wasn't looking for another project right now! I'm sure all of you can commiserate.

Is there any affordable product out there that could make a large running quilt wall of cotton sheets, etc. waterproof to the elements? If it could last 10 years it might give us time to plug in landscaping as we can afford it.

I'm making that list of ideas, so please keep the ideas rolling!

--Sage
Way out in Texas



On Wed, 12 Sep 2007 08:09:08 -0500
Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com> wrote:

On Sep 12, 2007, at 1:52 AM, <eureka AT hctc.net> <eureka AT hctc.net> wrote:

I am putting out a call for ideas for an affordable,
good-looking (maybe even artful), and relatively quick
solution to creating 800 linear feet of privacy. . . .
Recently the 5,000 acre ranch that surrounds two sides of
our land was sold to a developer who is chopping it up
into small parcels. We were not aware of this until our
only neighbors announced they had bought one that
surrounded us. . . . Tonight on our walk we
were devastated by the sight of all the shrubs and trees
ripped out on our one remaining virgin side, a small
sliver of land no wider than 10-12 feet between us and a
deep wash. . . . Give me your ideas!!!

Well, #!*%##!

In your present emotional state you are not thinking clearly, so keep all ideas and come back to them in a month or three.

If you are past the sick-in-the-pit-of-the-stomach state, start making a list of all possible answers.

Include finding a new place to spend the rest of your lives.

In the meantime it will give you solace to feel like you are doing the best you can to deal with the situation. Check with your Extension service and see if there is a fast-growing vine that thrives in the dry, rocky landscape.

Mind you I am not seriously suggesting this, but you could start hanging really crappy looking stuff on that fence and let the insensitive neighbor know that you would sell if he were to give you more than the land is worth, but in the meantime you just can't afford to do anything else but hang your old lingerie, panty hose, grandkids soiled diapers, holey socks, etc. on as much space as you can.

Expect a call from his lawyer saying you can't do such a thing to a commonly held fence. Ask the lawyer to send you his research.

Meanwhile, see if there is a copy of my book in your local library.

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