sailing the farm collective - wanna join??

Sailing the Farm tribe december 2010.

Dear friends.

Its been a cold november and december (coldest since 1919 they say) It
feels more like january with temperatures down to -25 C but work goes
forward as usual. We are still working with the sails model and still
not really happy with the construction so some time to go before we
scale up in real size and start to make it. 5-6 people have been here
last weeks. We managed also to melt some hundreds kg of beeswax out
of old beeframes which hopefully will be candles in future. Then we
also are working on the boat as normal.

Im sitting alone in front of the fire and writing up the last
Newsletter of 2010. Looking back, 53 people from all over the world
have been helping moving "Sailing the Farm" project forward in
2010. All more or less amateurs but they have all done a tremendous
work both on farm and on the boat. This adds up to 836 working days
or more than 6000 hours! Without this help this project will be
impossible to finish.. Im very grateful for all who have been
contributed, the laughter and jokes around the dinnertable and most of
all the good memories.

So when the fire slowly burns out and its time to go to bed, I wish
you and your loved ones a peaceful christmas and a happy new year and
hope to see you in 2011.

Pictures from last weeks: The sailmaking model goes forward. Mr Cat
and boatbuilding dog share the couch after a hard day. Boathouse in
wintersnow.

Peace and love from
Sailing-the-farm tribe.

<img src="http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=59898&stc=1&d=1292968656"/><br />
<img src="http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=59899&stc=1&d=1292968661"/><br />
<img src="http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=59900&stc=1&d=1292968665"/><br />

--
If you want to join our sea gypsy tribe, please contact us.
Navigare necesse est, vivere non est necesse
If you want to receive our newsletter on email:
http://list.nett.org/mailman/listinfo/sailing-the-farm

 

Sailing the Farm tribe january 2011

Dear friends.

New year and new possibilites! I bet 2011 will be a good year for our
dream project. More and more people are joining to help pushing
sailing the farm tribe forward so sofar it looks good.

Last weeks we have been working hard on the boat project and farm. Its
5 people here now from different countries from all the world. The
farm has also got a few more permanent inhabitants - we found out that
its time to get self sufficient on eggs so now we have chickens -
hopefully there will be plenty of eggs in a few months time. The
indoor garden is growing slowly and wonder of wonder we have now 2 red
tomatoes! That is really a slow growing plant!

Of more serious farm work we are cleaning 2500 frames in Sodium
hydroxide (NaOH) or better known as caustic soda which will be used
for next years beekeeping project. We made a 2x1 meter box out of 1 mm
aluminium for washing those frames, but suddenly found out that this
stuff was extremely corrosive. That box lasted only 2 days! Thankfully
there will be no NaOH on the boat!

Pictures from last weeks: chickens under the green lamp, cleaning
beekeeping frames, a boatbuilding girl in front of the boat.

Peace and love from
Sailing-the-farm tribe.

<img src="http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=61721&stc=1&d=1295653435"/><br />
<img src="http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=61722&stc=1&d=1295653440"/><br />
<img src="http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=61723&stc=1&d=1295653444"/><br />

--
If you want to join our sea gypsy tribe, please contact us.
Navigare necesse est, vivere non est necesse
If you want to receive our newsletter on email:
http://list.nett.org/mailman/listinfo/sailing-the-farm

 

If the skipper wears his hat backwards,avoid him. Avoid him like the plague if he chews gum, uses foul languages or calls you "dude." If a white naval hat with gold braid there're old,quiet money. A hard-billed hat, like a baseball hat except that the bill is quite large and juts far forward they're wheel is chrome-plated. A woolen watch cap, there're wheel is almost certainly made of wood (or there might be a tiller). The fellow wearing a traditional yellow oilskin fisherman's hat, wanted to look like Old Captain Stormalong. The always efficient, practical and easy-to-repair Chinese balanced lugsail will serve you well and I highly recommend it for the prudent, lazy sailor.

 

Sailing the Farm tribe march 2011

Dear friends.

The coldest months are behind us thankfully. Daylight get longer
every day and soon the springtime will be here. It has been maybe
10-15 very nice wannabee sea-gypsies here last 2-3 months and we have
made good progress.

We have been working hard on the boat and farm since last
newsletter. Since last time we are more or less finished with the
dieseltanks and watertanks inside the boat and also fixed the position
of the small engine we plan to install.

Making stuff for beehives is more or less finished. Cleaning and make
wax-moulds for 200 bee-hive boxes took a lot of time but only a few
days away finish up this step.

Of less serious business, as tradition on the farm goes - we made
another igloo this year and its a popular place to sleep during
night. Even if its -20 celcius its cozy and warm inside the
igloo. Skiing is also a popular pasttime.

When spring is coming we plan to grow potatoes, carrots and onion to
get more selfsufficient on food. Welding up the deck has also high
priority so until then - have a nice early spring (or autumn/winter
for those of you in the southern hemisphere!)


If you are interested in joining sailing the farm project please
contact us!

Pictures from last time.

1. The ladies are making wax-moulds for the bees.
2. Cutting wood for next winter.
3. A nice Igloo, very popular indeed!
4. Our birds are taking sun-bath.
5. Out skiing in nice winter weather.

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--
If you want to join our sea gypsy tribe, please contact us.
Navigare necesse est, vivere non est necesse
If you want to receive our newsletter on email:
http://list.nett.org/mailman/listinfo/sailing-the-farm

 

Sailing the Farm tribe early april 2011

Dear friends.

Spring is slowly coming and even if it is still snowing it usually
melt a little every day. We are into summertime so sun goes down after
2000 so we have long days ahead of us thankfully.

There has been many nice wannabee seagypsies last weeks on farm and
everyone talks eagerly about the future life of roaming the seas. We
have a huge stocks of sailingbooks on the farm so its easy to dream
about distance shores and nice sunsets.

The work goes forward as normal, we are melting lead for the ballast
keel (totally around 4500 tonns). It will be in big V-shaped form,
with average weight of around 60 kg. It makes it easier to take them
out in emergency. Lead is quite poisonous so we are using masks and
work outside. It melts around 300 degress, so easy to use a wood
burning stove.

The wax-melting process for the bees is finished thankfully. Now we
have 150 boxes with clean organic wax. We started this process in
october so it was a long and tedious work.


If you are interested in joining sailing the farm project please
contact us!

Comments to the pictures.

1: 3 hardworking seagypsies taking a rest on the couch.
2. the girl with the rooster. Look at the matching colors. The rooster
might think they belong to the same tribe.
3. Our Igloo got a nice shaped door.
4. Balancing on a line. A little cold without shoes.
5. Melting lead for the boat. Each weight 60 kg.
6. Time to hit the road again. Our professional hitchhiking girl
decide to go south after many month on farm. Deeply missed.


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--
If you want to join our sea gypsy tribe, please contact us.
Navigare necesse est, vivere non est necesse
If you want to receive our newsletter on email:
http://list.nett.org/mailman/listinfo/sailing-the-farm

 

i am notably jelous i would love to help unfortunatly i have no means to get there

i am eager to hear of yalls progress

 

Sailing the Farm tribe late april 2011

Dear sea gypsy friends.

Hard to believe but summer arrived early this year! it has been 15-16
degrees last days and we are still talking april! This looks good, our
sea gypsies even complain its a little too warm in the boatshed. How
fast we forget our frostbitten toes!

We are still into lead melting. Biggest problem is actually getting
scrap lead to a price we are willing to pay. It seems china is driving
up the prices so much so its hard to get scrap metal cheap anymore,
but we are more or less halfway through this process.

Latest news on farm is: We are now almost selfsufficient on eggs!! we
get one each day!!! just incredible. Will soon start to plow the field
and start planting potatoes, pacelia (for the bees) and raspberries.

Happy easter!


If you are interested in joining sailing the farm project please
contact us!


And as usual some pictures from the last weeks:

1. this girl is a serious sea gypsy. even have a fisherman anchor on
her left leg. so together with our 4 other fisherman anchor I think
we have enough!
2. second batch of chickens.Its incredible how fast they grow - almost
magic.
3. Yes, Spring time is here, cleaning and painting antofouling on the
small sailboat.
4. Easter dinner. What else than chinese hotpot! For those
landlubbers out there. this kerosene stove is stolen from the
boat to simulate that we have a real hotpot table.

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--
If you want to join our sea gypsy tribe, please contact us.
Navigare necesse est, vivere non est necesse
If you want to receive our newsletter on email:
http://list.nett.org/mailman/listinfo/sailing-the-farm

 

Got a chicken put on my foot when I was a child. Dad had a kerosene stove and heater on his boats. Give that first sister a hug and smile for me.

 

how long before you set out to sea?

 

Sailing the Farm tribe mid May 2011

Dear wannabe sea gypsies,

Its been really nice weather for the last 2 weeks. The bees are busy
collecting pollen, and we have been working out on the fields for the
last days. The potatoe field is finished so now its just to wait
until october to see the result.

We found we probably needed mast for the sea gypsy community so we
started planting 700 small spruce-trees. Then its just to sit down and
wait - some 80 years. It is the sea gypsies of the future who will
appreciate this step - but its good to think longterm. who
knows. maybe it will be hundreds of boats roaming the seven seas some
time in distant future?

We are still working on the lead smelter, it will be some time until
this step is finished, but goes slowly forward. Finding good lead is
biggest problem.

If you think you have some skills who could be useful to us and wants
to become a part of our happy seagypsy community please dont hesitate
to contact us.

Minutes from last weeks:

1. two hardworking kiwi/aussie guys on their way to the field to pick
rocks!

2. Cooling down the lead smelter with water. the obligatory safetymask
is on. getting lead poison is no fun.

3. Preparing the potato field. quite good soil (you can see some
beehives in the background there)

4. Planting 700 spruce trees. The seagypsy dog watch the process
closely.

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--
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i thought the title said wanna joint?

 

Without a workable combination of skill and experience, boat and crew face the harshest and unforgiving of taskmasters.

 

Put pipe bunks down both sides and the galley in the center. With a junk most of the time you'll only be going four knots. I seriously suggest that you get her in the water and sail her. Sand bags will work for ballast.

 

And so are the days of cruising in boats that are cramped, dark, smelling of bilgewater, kerosene and crew BO. We've evolved and so have our boats. Big hanging lockers, big opening hatches, portholes, so the ventilation is great and there's plenty of natural light and great waterfront views. Even the kids want there own cabin.

 

Great job on the boat! Truly awesome adventure. Will the chickens go on the boat?

 

Sailing the Farm tribe mid August 2011


Dear wannabe sea gypsies,

Still pouring down, last night it rained 50 mm/m2, which makes the
potato field a little wet, but still some time until we have a
beachfront at 400 meter above sealevel

Its been 5-6 hardworking seagypsis from Malaysia, New Zealand, USA,
France and Sweden here now for a long time and . We have spent time
painting the barracks which looks really cozy and nice, then we have
been working out on the field and also slowly preparing for winter.

When it comes to boatwork we got hold of 1 tonns more lead and will
continue making ballast for the boat.

If you think you have some skills who could be useful to us and wants
to become a part of our happy seagypsy community please dont hesitate
to contact us.

Minutes from last weeks:

a. Kiwi-girl painting the barracks inside.
b. Directly arrived from Jordan. A mix of norwegian winterclothes and
traditional jordan wedding costume maybe
c. Biking to the lake to go swimming. Whopping 16 degrees C in the water.
d. Painting the barracks outside.
e. As usual on thursdays - swedish peasoup and waffels.

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Sailing the farm tribe mid sept 2011


Dear wannabe seagypsies.

The first real frostnights have been visiting us, so winter is slowly
coming our way. we have had quite a lot of asian volunteers this month
and celebrated the full moon with moon cake some weeks ago. (chinese
tradition)

Last weeks have been mostly used to harvest and prepare for
winter. Jam-producion is up to full speed and hopefully we will have
enough homemade jam for the whole winter. The bees have got their
sugar so they are also ready for a long winter. Most important step
now is finish up the roof and also make a new shower/bathroom which
will be warm.

So until next newsletter, have a nice autumn!

Minutes from last weeks.

a. A seagypsy girl from Taiwain
b. two proud seagypsies just waiting to launch their home!
c. Apple harvest. We got 72 kg of jam!
d. Lingon-berry harvest. that was totally 26 kg sofar, and still more berries out there.
e. The roof had to be fixed. We are getting there!
f. Cleaning out the barn for making winter bathroom.
g. Wood cutting. We are not sure but we think we got around 20-30 m3
of wood ready for winter.

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The fine art of getting wet and becoming ill while slowly going nowhere at great expense.

 

Sailing the Farm Newsletter

October 2011

Dear Sea Gypsies,

The snow is almost here! September and October have been productive
months here on the farm, as we have been working hard to prepare for
the coming winter. The roof on the main house is nearly finished
(with lines so straight it is almost sea-worthy!) The trench for the
winter bathroom has been dug; once the pipes are in, these
hard-working WWoofers will have no more excuses not to shower! All
that’s left will be to install the wood-burning heaters in the
barracks, and then it will be so toasty warm it wont even feel like
winter. We even have a homemade hot tub, nicknamed "The Potato Pot",
and once the sauna is built, our luxury spa will be complete! What
better way to watch the Northern Lights, than steaming in a hot tub
(that was once a milk storage tank, heated by the magic of a Swedish
potato cooker)? Especially when (to the delight of some, and horror
of others) we discovered that it is possible to measure the volume of
its occupants. Maybe life is getting a little too easy on farm and we
have too much time on our hands?

Harvest season is over and we are enjoying the bounty of home-grown
potatoes, lingonberry jam and apple sauce. Our honey is jarred and
stored for the winter, and it makes a delicious accomplishment to the
morning porridge. There has been a spate of biscuit making, which is
definitely helping us to gain some well-needed winter insulation
around the stomach area! However we are already looking forward to
next spring, and are busy making plans, dividing the fields into
potential orchards, turnips, peas, maybe even pumpkins. There is talk
of installing both a greenhouse (for those of you who cannot seem to
do without a few tomatoes) and a heated space for growing mushrooms.
If you know anything about permaculture, we are very anxious to hear
from you, because we need all the help we can get!

Finally, we want to welcome six new babies to the farm. Chicks "
three white, one brown and two black" have arrived and are giving us
constant entertainment. Turns out, chicken TV is much more addictive
than the normal kind! Four of the chicks are currently living in the
girls' barracks, the last arrived this morning with the first snowfall
and we are calling him Tuff, in the hopes that he is tough enough to
survive the winter.

That's everything from the Sea Gypsy tribe this month. We hope
everyone out there is well, and enjoying the autumn! Please take a
look at our photos and remember, if you have some spare time, there's
always room on our farm for an extra WWoofer or two. The cold is
coming, and that means work is about to begin again on the boat. She
has been much neglected over the summer, and requires some
well-deserved attention!

PHOTOS:

a.The epitomy of a Sea Gypsy farmer, wearing a stylish hat and riding
a 52 model Massey Ferguson tractor.

b.Making apple sauce with our steam heater.

c.The trial run of our machine of the month, an old-style food
processor (acquired for free and in perfect working order, although
there was a long evening of head scratching before we realized we were
using it upside down).

d.Two happy WWoofers, boiling in the Potato Pot.

e.Moving home the grass in the fields.


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Sailing the Farm Newsletter
November 2011

Dear Sea Gypsies,

November has been an exciting month here on the farm. We've had
Americans, Australians, Spaniards, French, Dutch, English... all of us
wwoofers staring at the sky, waiting for the snow to come! It has
been unseasonably warm, and we are still working hard to finish all
the things that need to be finished before winter arrives. It's
already snowing on the mountains, so skiing, ice-fishing and igloo
building are just around the corner.

The roof is not quite finished, although we hope that by the end of
the week we will be eating "Roof Cake" to celebrate its completion.
Turns out a 100-year-old roof is hard to fix! But once all the tiles
are straight, we will move onto the winter bathroom and then the boat.
Other projects this month have included fixing up the chicken coop,
turning it into 5 star luxury accommodation. Only the best for our
chickens! We have also tried our hand at plowing, which is
surprisingly difficult. Maybe there's a reason farmers decided to
swap horses for tractors... although we definitely prefer the horses!
It might just take a bit of practice to get those furrows straight.

Other news... the northern lights have been putting on quite a show this
month. Wwoofers have been busy, hunting for trolls in the forest and
sending each other on scavenger hunts around the farm. One brave
wwoofer attempted to walk along the ancient pilgrim trail that runs
through the farm, back to Oslo.

If you are interested in coming to help us out here on the farm,
please let us know. There is always space, just send us an email if
you want to try your hand at roof tiling, giant igloo building,
welding, plowing... and of course boat building!

We hope all of you are well and looking forward to winter!

Check out our photos from this month:

a.Slowly scaling down the farm, this English girl worries about life
without diesel for our tractor... this guy works best on grass and
plenty of oats.

b.Wrestling with giant snakes in the trench!

c.Safety regulations are by the book. Everyone is wearing earmuffs
these days.

d.Happy sea gypsies feasting (Australia, France, US, England).


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