Each side used two smaller pallets with long planks to connect them. Pallets were used for the floor with plywood to cover.

Toprails added to stabilize and door frame established.  Then added the plywood shell.

Keeping it simple (no windows) I used planks from pallets for the siding, overlapping an inch…Then came the challenging part – adding the roof!

The roof itself was salvaged, I was able to lift it bit by bit until I could slide it into place, bracing it with a heavy plank until it was secured and roof frame was in place.  The roof itself was slightly too short but fortunately I had one more piece of matching length I could build a tiny extension as needed.

Then to build the shelving (more pallets and discarded shipping containers) and finish the Dutch doors – which will end up eventually with matching crosshatching on the door front – but I will leave that detail for another day.  For now it’s moving day for the chickens into their new home…

I love the natural, old fashioned look of wattling – the process of using natural elements especially branches and twigs – to make fencing or other useful items.  It has a timeless look to it and fits easily into any era.  It ages beautifully and best of all is free.  Mostly anyway – nails and wire are the only costs involved.  Not only are the branches and small trees easy to harvest but wattling can be done from landscape refuse materials that would normally go to fill a landfill or get burned.

We started with a simple need – how to keep the animals (goats and horses) out of our garden.  So the initial fencing went in, the posts are sunk anywhere from 4 to 8 inches. Placement of the doorways is crucial, make your doorways wide enough to accommodate your garden carts, wheelbarrels and tractors.  (we made a couple of fence section gates that blend in for larger carts).

wattle fence

Making trellises and frames for the climbing vegetables can be done using vine maple and pole saplings – we used a bit of wire to hold the branches together.

To help keep the deer out we built up woven half wheels which creates an airy and confusing pattern that so far (cross your fingers) the deer have respected.

Deer Fencing

Wattled Wire

For some of the fencing we used the existing open wire livestock fencing as a base and wove vine maple through it.  Which toughens up the wire fence and beautifies it at the same time. When one sees it now, all they see is the wattled design – you can’t see the wire at all until you get close.

As the growing season moves from winter to spring, creating your wattled garden makes a perfect framework for your garden to grow on.

There’s Lana, my Nubian Queen descended from Lady Kreasome, my champion Nubian Doe.

Lana of Lady - my Queen

Whoopsie of Lana and Walnut

Then there’s Lucy, from Lulu and Walnut

Lucy, of Lulu and Walnut

Here is Whisper, from Lulu and Walnut

Whisper, from Lulu and Walnut

Finally there’s Borg – from Lulu (Nubian) and Adam (Boer)

Borg, from Lulu and Adam

The Four Nubians are 100% Nubian milk goats while Borg is Nubian/Boer – we’ll have to wait and see if she proves to be a good milker or not.

In the background of Borg’s photo you can just see Mr Fritz, our visiting Nubian buck, enjoying the girls company while we await his owners, he should be leaving us soon to return to his own farm. I think they’ll be pleased with his condition, he’s added at least ten pounds since coming to Dryads Rest!

Babies in ten weeks! Can’t wait!

Location chosen – the first one should be close by so we can easily make and use it. We settled on a spot far enough to not have smoke be coming in any doors or windows, but close enough to access easily. By the garage, sheltered under the eaves seemed good.

Clay Oven Site

Using salvaged parts of shipping boxes and pallets, a stand is assembled. We laid a floor of a couple layers of plywood then built a frame of 2×6, filling the bed with sand. Above that we laid brick, filling with more sand. We included a pipe for increased air intake.

Oven Base

Trimmed pallet planks finished the base sides. Local clay was laid on the oven floor, about an inch thick. We found a stove door, how lucky was that! Bricks set around the door (using a metal flat bar to support the bricks in back) Sides begin to rise…

Bricks and door, first clay day

Day Two of clay – more work with the walls, I found a mallet and my fists to be equally good to pound the clay into place. Finished setting the bricks..

bricks done, more clay

Day Three of claywork – more clay, more pounding, pushing, shaping. Walls continue to rise. Much care and attention is given to smoothing the insides as I go. The dome top is taking shape.

Dome forming

Day Four of claywork – still more clay, more pounding, , pushing, shaping. Working clay gives you a workout! At this point the walls are about 5-6 inches thick, closer to 4 inches at the top. The dome is finished! much smoothing goes on. At the end of the fourth day of claywork I am a muddy mess! But the oven looks great. I had been concerned about the oven needing a support structure to build, but we didn’t need it. So far we don’t regret that decision..

Dome complete

I built a quickie shelter for our newly finished oven and good thing too – we had torrential downpour that night and the next day. Once the weather cleared, I set to building the first fire, to start the drying process. It took awhile because it’s still so damp in there but soon got the coals going.

First fire

That’s the progress so far. Cost at this point: $0 – all scrounged.

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Wedding

More!

After several adventures (and misadventures) of UHaul rentals, schedule conflicts, and Halloween to boot, we are moved in. Mostly. Mom is now comfy in her suite, the goats are in the barn, and two days ago Chance came home. Red and Emilie have yet to finish their move, and I have another month to gradually strip my old place bare. Lots of plants to still dig up and transplant, storage issues to be worked out. But we are snug.

There is nothing so satisfying than walking out my door and greeting my horse. After sixteen — no, seventeen years of boarding elsewhere, he is at last home with me. And bored no more! Instead of a small, muddy pen attached to a stall, he has a large room with over forty acres of woods and meadows to roam and explore. I was concerned that he would be lonely, but as for now, there is too much new to discover. Best of all, we are bonding again. How lovely to whistle and call for him (with a treat in hand) andf have him willingly come back for a check in and a pet. He’s an athletic guy, but it will be a challenge to keep him active enough to burn off all that he eats out there, but for now he’s been having more daily exercise than ever before, which should keep his arthritis under control.

There is still so much to do, but for now, peace.