Resourcing for free! For Homestead Sunday #10

Welcome to Homestead Sunday, where we share what we have learned, what we do on a regular basis, and what projects we are building, rebuilding or working on. Who are we? We are a three generation family living on six acres in South Eastern Texas. 

And while we have only been in Texas a short time, we have had the homestead mentality and lifestyle for quite a few years. Starting out with our time living in Montana. And, although we are not experts in any way, I hope that what we share with you with this series is helpful, as well as inspirational for you and your own homestead journey. Or even with your own home and yard in the suburbs. Because to homestead is an much an action as it is a lifestyle.

One of the first things we sourced, we got for free!

We called our local electricity company and asked about the wood chips from the tree trimming being done along the highway. Could we get some? Not only did we get some, we could have absolutely all we wanted! The first year we took about 15 loads, thinking that would be more than we could ever use up. Wrong! So on the second year, we took all they could deliver. And they kept delivering until we ran out of room...We were familiar with free wood chips offered through electric companies, and had a few truck loads delivered when we lived in WA state. We used them to mulch the wood storage area to keep weeds under control. 

But we went much larger here in Texas, that second year we had about 34 truck loads delivered in the course of about a month! And we have been using them ever since, they are about gone...once again.

I took this photo standing on what had been the outside edge, of the last few loads of chips. 

As a matter of fact, the tree trimming crew simply stopped coming, because there was no more room to drop more loads! We chatted about where the loads could go, and then let them come in and drop as often as their truck needed to be emptied. If you are considering getting wood chips delivered, remember these are big rigs and will need a large space to be able to turn around in. If your area is smaller, you may need to allow them to be dumped where it is convenient for the safety of the crew and the equipment. I do remember in WA state, they were able to back up to our driveway and that is where the load was delivered. We used wheelbarrows to move them where we needed. 

How were the chips used?

The first year's chip drop was allowed to compost as long as was needed to be a little over half in pure dirt. Why? Here in this part of Texas most rural areas like our property are basically layers of sand and clay. Top soil as you can imagine has a high price and most companies do not deliver outside of their area without an added delivery fee. My husband built a simple sifting table and we sifted the compost to separate the dirt from the remaining chips that were still wood chips. This is what we filled our raised garden beds with. This process saved us so much money! 

With the beds built and filled, we could use the next years chips for weed control! But here with the humidity and a growing region of 9A/B, I always lay down cardboard and then top with the chips. Otherwise the weeds are standing proud and tall through the wood chips in about a week...and yes, the cardboard is sourced for free as well. Our local appliance store in the next town over is happy to see us pull up and break down the appliance boxes and load them in the back of our little SUV. 

OK, but what about all the other chips that would have been in that pile?

We did a lot of bartering and friendship building with those chips! 

• One neighboring couple down the road, traded to us nursery growing pots, for a few truck loads of wood chips for their garden. They got the pots free from a friend who has a nursery, and did not want them to end up in a land fill.
• And another couple had a load of mushroom compost delivered to their house. It was more than they needed, so we traded wood chips for mushroom compost. 
• And we just gave some away to neighbors that needed mulching material. 
• But the best part is being able to share, being good neighbors is important, on our country road. We do keep an eye out for each other. 

So, "what's next?" for that area where the chips were?

We did want the area where we had had the chips dropped to rest and reset, if you will, before planting anything edible in the soil. It was terribly weedy and also where the county will spray for weed control. Not my favorite method for maintenance, but outside of putting up a sign requesting "no spray". It will be up to us to keep the weeds in check to avoid having them come by and spray on a regular schedule. Which is our plan!

We will be planting fruit trees in these large tree pots. 

Since these piles of compost have broken down to half dirt, we will sift soil for the pots and use the remining chips to spread over the perimeter edges as a weed barrier. This will keep weeds from growing up the fence, then up the trees, and possibly interfering with the power lines. We do have some tall weeds in East Texas, often growing over 6 feet in height. Keeping those weeds controlled will help with the "no spray" signs that will go up and on the fence. 

So far I have the supplies needed for four fruit trees. 

I am giving each tree/pot lots of space so we can easily move around each one for pruning, watering and harvesting. The cardboard, soil and tree pots have all been resourced for free. This project has cost us, zero dollars so far. We won't actually put out any cash until we purchase the fruit trees! I would like to expand this to as many trees as we have room for. There is room in the rear for at least two more as well as up front. Which would give us eight fruit trees. A nice small orchard for our homestead family. 

The other crop we would like to grow in this area is flowers. How lovely it would be to be able to cut fresh flowers for the dining table each day! They can be planted around the perimeter of the yard, as well. 

Will we be requesting more chips?

Yes, we already have a call in to the power company for the upcoming tree trimming season. We also have a new storage area, picked out, because this one has been turned into a productive part of our family gardens. We are hoping we have enough drop space in the new location for more chips than we will need. In that way we can once again share with our neighbors in friendship and possible in barter. 

You may also enjoy: 

Please Offer Some Wild and Open Areas on Your Property. For Homestead Sunday #9

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