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  • From: Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] Master Plan
  • Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:29:29 -0700


On Jan 12, 2009, at 6:52 AM, Robert Walton wrote:

Rob, have you drawn a master plan for your property?


No, not on paper. I've got a pretty good idea in my head.

Back field pasture, middle field crop rotation. Front field (7 acres
or so) is just goat pasture I've not touched yet, but I'm starting to
get a grasp on how do divide that up. Some areas are sloped and should
be permanent pasture. I've got a few areas of woods that are dedicated
to pines, the rest, I favor hardwoods.

To tell you the truth, until last year, it was a bit overwhelming,
especially since all of my open land needed to be reworked in order to
pasture or plant it. Topography is a driving force on the slopes.

I'd like to hear ideas on how to get a master plan on paper. I'm not
good at that sort of thing. Like to keep it all in my head.

You have been there long enough to have a feel for the place. Make an inventory of your assets: water, trees, buildings, soil types, etc., and also make a list of all you dream of creating. Get a topo map from the USGS. Two ways to do the master plan: on the computer and on the wall. Computer is better if you have any simple drawing program; scan the map and enlarge as needed for detail work, then back to small- scale for visual overview. If on the wall, take the map to a place that can enlarge to a size you want. Put it up on a piece of sound insulation board or something else you can put pins in. Roads and water lines and fences are hard to later move so take your time getting that layout. Make cutouts for buildings and stick them on with pins. Use colored yarn to show wind paths, different color for fences, utilities, etc. Once you are happy with the plan, replace the yarn with colored pencil or ink.

Random thoughts: roads, shop and garden locations are paramount, get underground utilities planned and installed as early as possible, plan multiple garden areas and multiple compost heaps. Look for microclimate spots or plan to create them with buildings, plantings, digging.

I drew my master plan many years ago using Freehand. Alas, that program became unsupported by Apple OS. I converted to Adobe Illustrator but struggle with learning to use it. For building design and simple layout I use Punch! Home Design Studio.





Gene GeRue
www.RURALIZE.com








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