getting prepared with STIHL

This is a sponsored post. 

As exciting as the prospect is of building our future home on acreage is, we are mindful of being aware of new dangers.  Being surrounded by gorgeous hills, valleys, bushland and natural habitat is wonderful yet the reality is we need to be aware of the potential hazards this can cause. 

When planning our home, our move and our new lifestyle to come, being firesafe and doing all that we can to minimise the damage to our property in the event of a bushfire is paramount. 

Careful planning is taking place regarding the landscaping, especially the garden beds and trees surrounding the house.   Keeping the structure free from plants so that if they catch on fire they do not ignite the buildings is an effective planning strategy.   Mulch around the home is also highly flammable whereas rocks and pebbles are recommended for their fire resistance. 

My husband was very keen to keep the grass low and purchased a ride on mower and STIHL brush cutter to ensure that the property is kept tidy as fire in grass above 10cm can travel through very quickly.   It was also interesting to discover that fire is mainly carried by undergrowth including grasses, leaf litter and shrubs, not trees (as I thought).  

Sadly Victoria has already been impacted by many bush fires this Summer and this season is also the worst time for storms and floods as we are currently witnessing in parts of Queensland.  

STIHL have a wide variety of products to ensure that your property is fire safe. 

Please check out their website

And for more information on what to do in the event of an emergency the SES guidelines are a great resource. 

The kind people at STIHL sent us all a pair of gardening gloves to  help us get stuck into preparing our property and making it fire safe.  STIHL also have a pair of adult gloves for one reader.  Follow along and leave a comment below to enter.  Entries close midnight 11th February 2013 and is open to all Australian and New Zealand residents.  

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this just in....

It's days like these that I simply love technology.  From 300km away, I can feel that I am almost there....these shots sent by either the builder or my beloved are the very beginnings of our home.  And now that I've uploaded them, and downloaded them, they are free for all to see.  See, today I love technology.

The house has begun....

The 13 Acres Family
xx

The Shed...

The Shed is finished.  It's been finished for a while, but I've only just got around to getting all the images together to post.  It's so exciting having somewhere to potter around in when we visit our little patch of dirt.  Of course, it took no time to fill it.  Friends of ours were selling off some farm equipment so we were fortunate to get the beautiful old Massey Ferguson.

My feelings about this land have changed too over time. I've always loved it,  although for so long it was left untouched.   Now she's taking my heart one beat at a time.  Each time I visit another little slice of me is left there until the day I call it home.

13 acres family
xx

progress

There is movement on the block.  Pegs have been banged in...and we are having fun stepping out the boundaries to our house.  A shed has been built and quickly filled with oodles of necessities like ride-on mowers, trailers, tools and bits and bobs.  I even have a pair of Rossi boots.  Who'd have thunk it??  But the more time we spend out here the more our anticipation grows of when this will be our place of residence.  We are planning out the veggie garden, getting advice regarding boundary trees, chook pens and I'm working on the citrus orchard (yes I will never buy another lemon!)... More importantly the builder starts on the house this month - squeeeeeee!!!!!  I hope to be there on the first day.  It will be very exciting times.

And if you are visiting here from my other blog Mira Narnie, thanks so much for stopping by..


Love 13 Acres Family 

first turn of the soil

It's been a while since I got to blog here on this lovely little world recording our journey from city to country life.  But don't be fooled that that means things have taken a back step.  Anything but really.  You see, we've been finalising plans, engaging a builder and even working on picking fittings and colours.  Totally exciting times at Casa 13 Acres!  

And look!  We've moved dirt.  Well not us technically but the builder.  It's not the house, don't get too excited but every farm needs a shed and this one is huge...18 metres long to be exact...so when I got the chance to meet with the builder out of site on the first day of him leveling out the area I jumped at the opportunity.  It was a great moment.  We've had this land for nearly 4 years, and so to finally see some action, some pegged out area and a structure starting to take place, well, I may have even teared up!  

I'll report back when The Shed is up! This has prompted some research into ride on mowers!  I have a feeling this shed will soon be full of farm equipment to keep us busy...

13 Acres Family

xx

The Farmer...

Source: meandalice.blogspot.com.au via Brenda on Pinterest

What sort of Farmer will I be?  I've been thinking that of late.  Now don't get me wrong...I'm using the term "farmer" very loosely....very very loosely, but a suburban existence to a country lifestyle is one I am very excited about when I'm not petrified. 

I'm really looking forward to the wide open spaces.  My husband and I can't stop talking about all the things we can do with our 13 acres of land....the possibilities blow our mind away.  

And when I see images like this one above, a little flutter in my heart occurs.  Me....donning my country boots, to feed the chooks or walk through the orchard to pick fruit ripe for preserving, whilst the smell of freshly baked bread wafts through the house.  The kids riding bikes (or even motorbikes) around the property and getting dirty knees and faces before we all collapse and night in front of a fire after a hearty meal.  

Sounds good hey? 

13 acres family
xx

decisions decisions

Source: countryliving.com via Brenda on Pinterest

When you build a new house, everything needs to be decided.

And I mean everything.

Given that we have such a large parcel of land (13 acres!)  I feel we even have more scope.

We don't have many restrictions.  In fact....we can't build a house that is too small.  Really our options are only limited to our imagination.

Some of the weird and wonderful decisions we are contemplating at the moment include;

A pool or games room?

A fireplace or coonara?

Polished concrete or something else?

An underground water tank or above ground?

A septic tank that doubles as a worm farm?

Oh the joys!

I have to say I'm loving this process.  It does get overwhelming at times.  I like that we are taking it slow as we are in no rush....so I know the decisions will evolve.

The picture above really piqued my interest.  I think I like the dramatic effect of the fireplace, those lovely windows and just the ambiance and cosiness.  I'm not a fan of the checked cushions, but you know, in my house I'll get to decide those things.  At the moment, I'm having fun gaining inspiration where I can find it.

13 acres family
xx