[caption id="attachment_33" align="alignright" width="258"] Our driveway, Winter 2012-2013[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_584" align="alignleft" width="267"] Sunset from the Southwest corner[/caption]
We purchased Skunk Ranch in the Fall of 2011.
Our goal is to serve as a working model for forest dependent communities to sustainably manage the forests that host them, using practices which are economically viable.
2012 to 2013 Our priority was the restoration of the forest. We chose a local CA certified Forester to produce a superb Forest Management Plan (FMP). This process took 2 years and was partially funded in 2014 by NRCS (National Resource Conservation Service), a federal agency. Our plan details the restoration and stewardship of the Skunk Ranch ecosystem for the next 10 years based on specific project areas for each year. Please click FOREST page above for the complete Forest Management Plan.
2012 to 2014 We fenced and planted vegetable gardens to help us live well and to develop organic produce for sale.
[caption id="attachment_212" align="alignright" width="300"] Yogi garden established 2014[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_48" align="alignnone" width="225"] main garden, fenced and planted 2012[/caption]
We restored, pruned and irrigated the two orchards,
[caption id="attachment_455" align="alignright" width="406"] Flowering apple trees Spring 2015[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_215" align="alignnone" width="341"] Apple trees with fruit, Fall of 2014[/caption]
2012 to 2013 we remodeled the main house, increased the number of solar panels, improved the solar infrastructure, and added a senior unit on the ground floor.
[caption id="attachment_218" align="alignleft" width="353"] Fall 2014, one of our much appreciated Wwoofers with the dogs and the pups, showing the new addition to the Ranch House, completed in 2013.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_637" align="alignright" width="300"] View from the tree tops, Thank you MAX ! Left to right, the homestead house, the car port, the first floor addition to the house (area under the new beige colored metal roof) the additional solar panels[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_226" align="alignright" width="266"] Existing kitchen when the property was bought, as seen from front room[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_225" align="alignnone" width="300"] Back of kitchen with island[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_222" align="alignleft" width="324"] New front room with new dinning area to the left[/caption]
We maintained the access roads
established a prototype compost/worm casting facility,
initiated brush chipping for compost worm casting business.
built a work shop for storage and maintenance in 2013.
After extensive research bought and installed a portable lumber mill in 2013.
2015, implementing the first two years of Skunk forest restoration practices we produced about 9000 board feet of lumber used in construction from thinned fir trees logged in the 2014 unit of the Forest Management Plan.
[caption id="attachment_277" align="aligncenter" width="233"] Brian in front of roof built with Skunk lumber[/caption]
Built a shed with the end pieces in 2014
[caption id="attachment_205" align="aligncenter" width="300"] end pieces left over from millingaintained the access roads,[/caption]
History
Our driveway, Winter 2012-2013
Sunset from the Southwest corner
We purchased Skunk Ranch in the Fall of 2011.
Our goal is to serve as a working model for forest dependent communities to sustainably manage the forests that host them, using practices which are economically viable.
2012 to 2013 Our priority was the restoration of the forest. We chose a local CA certified Forester to produce a superb Forest Management Plan (FMP). This process took 2 years and was partially funded in 2014 by NRCS (National Resource Conservation Service), a federal agency. Our plan details the restoration and stewardship of the Skunk Ranch ecosystem for the next 10 years based on specific project areas for each year. Please click FOREST page above for the complete Forest Management Plan.
2012 to 2014 We fenced and planted vegetable gardens to help us live well and to develop organic produce for sale.
Yogi garden established 2014
main garden, fenced and planted 2012
We restored, pruned and irrigated the two orchards,
Flowering apple trees Spring 2015
Apple trees with fruit, Fall of 2014
2012 to 2013 we remodeled the main house, increased the number of solar panels, improved the solar infrastructure, and added a senior unit on the ground floor.
Fall 2014, one of our much appreciated Wwoofers with the dogs and the pups, showing the new addition to the Ranch House, completed in 2013.
View from the tree tops, Thank you MAX ! Left to right, the homestead house, the car port, the first floor addition to the house (area under the new beige colored metal roof) the additional solar panels
Existing kitchen when the property was bought, as seen from front room
Back of kitchen with island
New front room with new dinning area to the left
- new dinning room addiion
- We maintained the access roads
- established a prototype compost/worm casting facility,
- initiated brush chipping for compost worm casting business.
- built a work shop for storage and maintenance in 2013.
After extensive research bought and installed a portable lumber mill in 2013.
2015, implementing the first two years of Skunk forest restoration practices we produced about 9000 board feet of lumber used in construction from thinned fir trees logged in the 2014 unit of the Forest Management Plan.
Brian in front of roof built with Skunk lumber
Built a shed with the end pieces in 2014
end pieces left over from millingaintained the access roads,
Skunk Ranch 