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Jun

2018

Removing Roots from Trail Path. It’s Hot, Dirty Work!

Rex is working hard to dig big roots to loosen, then chain, and pull out with truck! Temperature is in the 90's!!! Digging roots to loosen Wrapping chain around roots Pulling with truck

May

2018

Plant and Tree Identification

Checking out all the wonderful plants and trees along the new trail!

Apr

2018

Mushroom sighting!

A few old sightings along the trail today!

Mar

2018

The 15th Year is Completed!!!

YAY!!! The new logs for 2018 are inoculated and stacked until fall.

Feb

2018

Happy Trails!

Rex clearing mushroom trail with Toro Brush Cutter in order to access trees for 2018 mushroom logs. See Video! Brush Cutter at Work!

Feb

2018

New Shiitake Log Inoculation

Drilling holes in logs for inoculation Inoculating and Waxing

Feb

2018

Our 15th Year of Shiitake Production Begins

Good friends and helpers make hard work become lots of fun!

Feb

2018

Getting Logs Ready

Rex is cutting logs in the cleared area. He uses pipe to measure lengths of logs to get a uniform length for better stacking.

Apr

2017

NC Wild Foods Weekend Field Trip

What a delight to host a field trip from the NC Wild Foods Weekend!!! We enjoyed sharing with these fine folks all about a working Shiitake Mushroom farm!

Mar

2017

Beautiful Winter Shiitakes in Dome

Mar

2017

Newly Inoculated Logs are for Sale!

Feb

2017

Great Friends and Helpers Make Work Go Faster

Feb

2017

Fruit Of Our Labor

We are so excited with the beautiful harvest in the geodome.

Feb

2017

First Day of Mushroom Log Inoculation 2017

Jan

2017

First Snow of the Season

While it's cold outside, inside is aburst with life!

Nov

2016

The Geodome is in full production! We are harvesting Shiitake and Oyster mushrooms at the end of November that are fine quality. In contrast, the outside harvest is skimpy because of cold nights and dry winds. We are using fruiting blankets and shade cloths to cover the logs in the dome to maintain the darker environment...

Nov

2016

First Mushrooms in Dome!!

Nov

2016

Fogwood Farm Open House

Nov

2016

There’s Food Happening in the Dome!

Rex has been soaking three logs for 24 hours each for a few days now. The first signs of production are happening. And it looks like the tomatoes are about to blossom. It's so nice to be picking lettuce from the dome---our food producer!!!!

Nov

2016

Mushroom Log Soaking Routine is in Progress

This is the third day that Rex has soaked three HUGE Shiitake mushroom logs for 24 hours. The plan/hope is that in a few days we will see some beautiful flushing on these logs!!

Oct

2016

The First Shiitake Logs are in the Soak!

All the plants in the beds are growing quickly! Today we added some hanging baskets. They included mint, thyme, and oregano transplanted from the outdoor garden. And, today the first Shiitake mushroom logs went in the soak in the dome. We like to soak logs about 24 hours to rehydrate and force production.

Oct

2016

A Fieldtrip to Fogwood Farm

Our neighbors had a Saturday afternoon stew for family and friends. It was a treat for us when all the kids came on a hayride to visit and see the new dome! Of course, they loved the water!!!

Oct

2016

Geodome Lights

Candle light inside---full moon outside!!! A perfect way to quietly end the day!!!

Oct

2016

Let’s plan on holiday BLT’s!

Tomatoes look happy; and lettuce is germinating. Kale is also popping thru! Looking like good food to me!!

Oct

2016

It’s Cozy

Here's the thermometer at about 7:00 pm.

Oct

2016

All Work and No Play Makes Jack a Dull Boy

In the tobacco field, we always called it "party time" at about 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. when we might get an icey Coke and nabs!! Well, we called it "party time" this evening to enjoy the geodome. Should we reconsider and make it our spa???? Much more work to come next week, but for now, enjoy the morment!!!

Oct

2016

Planting

Today we transplanted some volunteer tomato plants. We also planted some lettuces, kale, carrots and beets. Wondering if this shouldn't become a spa!!!

Oct

2016

Dirt and Water Make a Big Difference

Completion of the growing bed by filling in with dirt, putting water in the tank, and leveling the gravel (one more time!) is making a big difference. We are nearly ready to go!

Oct

2016

Growing Beds and Water Tank for inside Dome

Work continues inside the dome. We are constructing growing bed along the inside perimeter on the left side. Then the water tank will be in the center on the north wall. We will use the tank to soak mushroom logs during the winter months to force production.

Oct

2016

Solar Powered Fan Installation

Solar panel attached to top of geodome on the south side is wired to inside fan. Underground pipes receive air from the fan to help with inside temperature control of geodome.

Oct

2016

Getting Underground Pipes in Place

Today was all about placement of the underground system in place and preparing for placement of water tank.

Oct

2016

Preparing for the Undersoil Heating/Cooling System

The main function of the undersoil system is to keep in check the cold ground temperature on the outside of the Growing Dome that may be trying to penetrate inside. The first step is to dig a ditch all along the inside wall.

Oct

2016

The Next Step, Metal Lining!

Today we installed the metal lining around inside of foundation. This covers the insulation. Also, we installed a metal drip edge that attaches to glaze panels just on top of the foundation. This will allow condensation to run into the beds that will be built next!!

Aug

2016

Blood, Sweat, and Tears —Outside is Done!

We are so excited to report that the outside work is DONE! That's in spite of a nasty cut Rex got today while working on top with the metal glazing strips. Just a little more blood, sweat and tears in this project! Today started at first light . . trying to beat the sun and heat. We finished taping seams, and did all the metal...

Aug

2016

Odds and Ends

Today was odds and ends: Cutting and placing final glazing piece over the doorway; cutting and installing final foundation pieces at doorway; and beginning installation of the hub covers. Rex cut and installed final glazing piece over the doorway

Aug

2016

On Our Knees: Prayers for Safety and Thanksgiving

We are nearly finished with taping the seams of Geodome. It's rather scary up top ... Rex is on his knees working and I'm on my knees praying for his safety...and prayers of thanksgiving we are both on the ground now!! This super strong sealing tape needs to be tough. Rex saw the first stinkbug of the season up top this...

Aug

2016

Taping Seams is a Stretch

It's another morning at first light for Rex and Brenda to tape a few more seams. It's like being acrobats to get to some of these places. Gina arrived to work just in time to help hold a slipping ladder Rex was standing on! We were also thankful Walter arrived just in time to get a couple of pics for the big stretch!! ...

Aug

2016

Seam Tape Beginning

Rex and Brenda got started at first light taping seams between glaze panels. By 8:00 the sun is too glaring and temp on glazing panels too hot to continue with tape. More tomorrow...

Aug

2016

We have a door!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YES! Rex and Brenda installed the door today!!!!!!!!

Aug

2016

Base Insulation and SnowShed Doorway Glazing

Rex worked along today with insulating the base of the interior of the Geodome, and installing the glazing panels around the doorway! Looking good!

Aug

2016

Snow Shed Entryway Preparation

Rex and Walter worked today on the snow-shed doorway . . .preparing for the glazing panels. This type doorway is desirable so that snow can easily slide off the entryway and not weigh down this area. Rex is pretty excited with the progress---can you tell???

Jul

2016

Solar Powered Vent Openers and Endcaps

Today Rex and I (Brenda) attached the solar powered vent openers. You might note that yesterday's pics had the bar in the wrong position. It should be parallel with the hinge side of the vent panel. Like everything else, we do it wrong the first time!! It was such a hot day, we weren't too sure how this was working....

Jul

2016

Working on the Vents

One top vent and two sides vents on the geodome . . .all require gasket trimming and security cords. Next comes the openers! Today Walter helped work on the geodome; and we were happy to have Emily on site to inspect! It was her first visit since the day she helped unload the truck months ago!!!!!

Jul

2016

Beginning the Glazing!

It's time to begin attaching the glaze panels onto the geodome frame. Today we covered the top section. We also stapled reflexive pieces onto the glaze panels that will further insulate the north wall.

Jun

2016

Installing Vent Panels

With Walter's good help (and a bit from Brenda, too!), Rex installs vent panels. These are hinged panels--one on top and two on opposite sides--for good cross ventilation and heat escape from the top.

Jun

2016

Constructing the Door Frame

Rex had Walter's help constructing the door frame . . .and Braxton and I approved the job!!!

Jun

2016

Trimming the Foundation

Grandson Braxton and the dogs are helping Rex get the trim on Geodome!!

Jun

2016

Construction of Sides & Top with Pentagons

What a fun day!! We constructed the frame (sides and top) of geodome using the pentagons. Fortunately, Walter and Luke were on hand to help out and encourage!!! ...

May

2016

Pentagon Construction for Sides of Geodome

Rex and Walter construct five pentagons that will be the frames for the sides and top of geodome.

May

2016

Foundation

Rex, thankful for the assistance of Sam, gets the foundation in place.

May

2016

Measure Again and Again to Get it Right!!

Rex works hard to get everything measured accurately before we can begin foundation!

May

2016

Geodome Kit Delivery Day

Delivery Day of Geodome Kit! Of course the FedEx truck couldn't get down our private road (across the railroad tracks), so the wooden cases of pieces were unpacked and reloaded on several pick-up loads to haul to the construction site. We were happy to have Jim and Emily helping us!

Apr

2016

Gravel Delivery

Gravel is delivered today. Poor Rex!!! He will shovel and move this gravel for so many hours to get site level!!!

Mar

2016

Preparing the site for Geodome

Neighbor Gary brings his tractor to scrape the ground and level the site for the geodome! Walter is ready to lend a helping hand, and Luke's excited about all the activity.

Feb

2016

Ag Ventures Grant !

We are so excited!!! We've been awarded an NC AgVentures grant (thru the NC Tobacco Commission) to assist with building a geodome. We will use the geodome to have a warm winter environment for the production of Shiitake mushrooms and other products. Follow us on our adventure!!!

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