Ten years of solar panels

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At the end of April, our solar panels turned 10. We celebrated the occasion with a sunny day and the inverters humming along (they actually hum as they convert the power). We also celebrated because over the course of the last year, the solar panels finally earned as much money as it cost to install them.

Here is my annual review of how much we’ve earned and how it compares to previous years.

If you need to get caught up, here are all of the previous updates and other details:

Let’s start with the big number. Ten years ago, we paid $40,727.46 to install our 40 panels. Since then, the government has paid us a grand total of $44,515.57 for the electricity the panels have produced (our rate with the province is $0.396 per kWh). So we are now $3,788.11 ahead. It took us 9 years and 2 months to fully “pay off” the panels, a bit longer than my original estimate of 8 1/2 years.

This past year the panels generated $4,311.71. This is a slight increase over last year, but I made an accounting change this year to reinstate HST on our payments, so the total reflects that more than any change in electricity generation. We’re just under our annual average of $4,451.56.

As usual, we made more than we consumed. We spent $2,661.31 on electricity over the same time period, giving us a profit of $1,650.40. (It always feels good to cover our hydro bills.)

Ten years also marks the halfway point of our 20 year contract.

For now, I’m content to let the panels hum along and see how this all plays out. Hopefully someday we can upgrade the panels, generate our own power and disconnect from the grid.

Regardless, I am proud of what we’ve accomplished so far and the choice that we made to go solar.

Odds & sods

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As I look back over April, I feel like it was a full, good month for us. Seeing the eclipse at the farm was a super cool experience. We also had our first patio dinner of the year, five family birthdays, some progress in the gardens, some progress on the coop, a little project in the house, an Earth Day double tree planting, and watched (virtually) my sister run the Boston Marathon.

Oh, and I also wrapped up my first year teaching. Teaching has been a great experience, and I’m looking forward to going back in the fall. But for now, I’m savouring a bit of time off before Ellie finishes school and we’re fully into summer.

As long time readers know, I often gauge the progress of spring by when (and whether) our forsythia blooms. This year, the forsythia was loaded with blooms by mid-April. This is in line with last year, but still later than our first year at the farm when it bloomed by April 2. I’m attributing the blossoms to the mild winter, as I assume temperatures weren’t cold enough to kill the flowers. The timing I’ll attribute to spring, which has been a bit cool so far. The handsomes I’ll attribute to Cigo.

Here are some more links from April.

The perils and puzzle of income taxes

I managed to sew this sweater while it’s still cold enough to wear it (I had hoped it would be ready for Christmas… then Valentine’s Day. It turned out spring was the deadline.)

April is our first 100+ hour month for the 1,000 Hours Outside.

Lessons in Chemistry… and patriarchy, cooking, parenting, rowing, love and life

Simple rain barrel idea

Eight ways to measure wealth – only one is money

“Life moves pretty fast. But it’s gonna be okay if you don’t move fast with it. Slow down. Stop and look around. Don’t miss it.”

Stephen Miller

I’m finishing off the month by reconnecting with a long-time friend and some more progress on the coop. I’m also going to kick off a big barn cleanout project that I am not excited about. Though it will be nice when it’s done.

What was the highlight of April for you? Did you watch the eclipse? Or the Boston Marathon? What projects are you working on at your house? What signs of spring do you watch for?

Not doing enough

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I’ve been trying to think of something philosophical and profound to say about Earth Day, but this year the words aren’t coming (so forgive what may be a disjointed post). This year, my world feels small. I don’t know how to save the world, so I focus on my own family and my own home. I want to say I’m doing what I can or doing my best, but I don’t feel like I am.

Living on a farm brings me closer to the environment and I’m learning more about how much potential this land has to help. We have our wetlands, grasslands and forests, but what should we be doing with them to make them healthier?

The need is urgent. Our potential to help, given this property, is larger than many people. I want to regenerate our land, diversify our grasses, rebuild our soil, dig out invasive species, plant native species, grow our own food. Though I think about tackling one field or one stand of trees or one section of phragmites along the creek or the pond, I don’t.

Not doing enough.

So I think even smaller. I should be eating locally grown produce, free range eggs, pasture-raised chickens, grass fed meat. The farmers are all around us, and they need support. We should be zero waste, palm oil free, off-grid. But we’re not.

Not doing enough.

Yes, we recycle, compost, reuse, try not to buy too many things, thrift when we need things, have geothermal and solar panels, vote for (hopefully) progressive politicians. But none of it feels like enough given the scale of the disaster we are in.

But I keep trying.

Sometimes, my not enough looks like picking up a battery charger someone dumped at the side of the hiking trail and carry it out of the woods.

Not doing enough. But doing something.

Consolidating kid’s craft supplies

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It was the scissors that did it. They tipped the balance from crowded into chaos. To be fair, it’s a whole carousel of scissors. And the living room has been maxed out for a while.

The journey to move Ellie’s play zone out of the living room and into her old bedroom has begun. While I had a vision of it being a one and done undertaking, I’ve come to terms with this being a more gradual process.

We started with the crafts.

Ellie is a prolific and varied crafter. Paper, fabric, stickers, glue, beads, wool, she loves it all. We’ve managed the crafting process and supplies with a small table in the corner of the living room and storage in the coffee table and sideboard. For a while it’s been a tight squeeze.

Then Matt’s aunt arrived for Easter lunch with an assortment of provisions, including a carousel of scissors (she knows what our girl likes). This, just weeks after Ellie’s birthday where she received rolls of colouring sheets, cases of beads, and sacks of needle felting, meant we were overrun with craft stuff.

I had the idea to shuffle some things around. As I said in my home goals post at the start of this year, this shuffle becomes like a row of dominoes. I reorganized and relocated some of Matt’s things. That freed up a cabinet and a bookshelf in the basement. More of Matt’s things moved into the cabinet and the bookshelf came upstairs.

After a quick coat of paint, the bookshelf moved into the playroom and became craft supply central. The first item to move in? The carousel of scissors.

While we were stocking the bookshelf, we made a few other changes to the room. (Though we obviously did not clean the mirror.)

Her little table and chairs moved from the living room to the new (soon-to-be) playroom. I also used my knock-off DIY Eames hang-it-all to arrange a little dress-up area for her with all of her costumes and a bin for accessories such as hats, crowns, scarves, Minnie Mouse hands, or an inflated pink dolphin wearing a fluourescent green legwarmer (???).

This is just the start (and it’s definitely not Pinterest-perfect), but now Ellie has most of her craft supplies in one spot, clearly visible and easily accessible.

Anyone else have a crafty house? How do you handle craft supplies? Who else feels like home tweaks are like dominoes?

Cooling down the bathroom

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A couple of weeks ago, I broke down and arranged for a plumbing repair… before our bathroom had a break down.

As I’ve written several times before, our main bathroom is in rough shape. For the last year, the tub’s cold water tap has been barely functional.

I’ve cooled Ellie’s bath with jugs of cold water carried from the kitchen. I’ve showered downstairs when I couldn’t adjust the temperature beyond scalding. Usually I resorted to turning the tap on and off with a screwdriver.

I hate the idea of fixing the bathroom when I’m going to renovate it (hopefully, relatively) soon. But the renovation is probably still a year away, and I was concerned the cold water tap wasn’t going to make it.

So I called the plumber.

Fortunately, he’s a plumber who worked with my Dad, and he (a) understood I was looking for a band aid solution not a fix, and (b) he’s a big believer in the friend and family discount.

He arrived with an assortment of parts to see what would work, gave us a new cartridge and a makeshift handle, and ended by saying, “How about you give me $40.” (I gave him $80 happily.)

It’s not pretty, but showers and baths are much more comfortable now, and our bathroom will limp along a little longer.

Anyone else have a makeshift solution at your house? What’s your fix versus renovate philosophy?

Firewood restock

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Our fieldstone fireplace is a huge feature in our home. Often through the winter, I would set up in the living room for the day and work in front of the fire. Ellie has come to love the fire as much as me. If it wasn’t going when she came home from school, she would usually want to start one (and she’s become very good at lighting it herself–with supervision).

(Flashback to fluffy baby hair. She still loves to line her toys up on the hearth.)

Our fireplace is just for atmosphere. It puts out a bit of warmth, but our geothermal heats the house. We usually only have fires in the winter. Fire season for me is November to Easter.

This year we didn’t quite make it to Easter because we ran out of wood. I didn’t think this would ever happen. Before we redid the fireplace we had a huge stockpile of firewood (starting just one month into owning the farm and added to again and again).

Moving the wood pile so we could build the garage took two days. Restacking it was also a big job. I think that made me cautious about adding to the woodpile, so I haven’t for the last few years. Matt’s Dad would come out, cut trees, ask if I wanted any wood, and I always said we had enough.

Well, we could have used one extra trailer load this spring.

As of a few weeks ago, we had a small pile of apple wood too fresh to burn and a bunch of punky logs. So this year’s fire season ended for us.

Now we are onto rebuild-the-woodpile season. Matt’s Dad came out last weekend to start spring clean up–trees always come down over the winter, and I want to clear them out of the fields before the grass starts to grow. The first trailer load stayed at the farm. The second went to his house.

When Matt’s Dad came for Easter lunch, he brought his splitter with him and he chopped all of our new firewood with an assist from my nephew. Isn’t he a great person to have around?

(In my journey through the archives as I was writing this post it appears that previous Easters have also been about firewood.)

We’ll need to do this a few more times–I estimate we’ll need three or four more trailer loads to get to my ideal state of three rows–but tree maintenance on the farm is ongoing. We’re on our way to a new fire season later this fall.

How did you spend your Easter? Anyone else maintain a woodpile? Have you started spring clean up yet? Who loves a wood burning fire? Who are your helpful family members?

Odds & sods

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Anyone know where March went? I don’t know whether it was March Break, the time change, spring coming (and then going), being in a fog because I had a cold most of the month, looking ahead to Easter, or what happened, but this month seemed to disappear.

March Break was a lot of fun. We did small little things around home. Went out for a few meals. Saw some family. Our usual lowkey, fun time together.

Being sick is obviously not as much. But it’s been an opportunity for me to practice rest and go to bed early.

In the blur that was March, here are a few things that caught my attention…

Kit without words has some beautiful words

Ellie is deep into Greek myths (this book is still a favourite, so much so that I bought Ellie her own copy for her birthday so the library could have theirs back). This podcast retells kid friendly versions of many classic stories including numerous myths, which has been a huge hit.

We’re also deep into BBC nature documentaries. This one was our gateway and this one has been the best so far. We’re working through the first Planet Earth series currently.

When do you feel a glimmer?

I really want to do these adult Easter games

A simple Easter craft (Ellie added a chocolate egg to the bunny’s paws)

This week I have a field trip with my students, a trade show with one of my clients and then Easter. Easter is my favourite holiday, so we will be rounding out the month with egg hunts, dinners, lunches and family.

How was March for you? Anyone else feel time flying by? How are you celebrating Easter?

Guess what?

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Has anyone been around long enough to remember the guess what posts I used to do? In the early days of the blog I would occasionally publish a picture of some part of something and say, “Guess what?”

Blogs have changed so much. This blog recently turned 12. Incredible.

The answer to today’s guess what is that some progress is being made on the finishing details in Ellie’s room.

It’s also that we had a great March Break, so not that much progress was made.

(And if you guessed that I am reweaving a bamboo blind by hand… that answer is also correct.)

How is March going for you? Have you taken any breaks? Are you working on any projects? Do you have any hobbies you’ve been doing for 12 years? Is anyone here who’s been around since the beginning of the blog?

Farm-iversary 12

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Saturday marked 12 years since the farm became ours. Ellie, Cigo and I had a great day. We had nowhere to be, nothing pressing to do and no one to see. We kept the gate closed (which has always been a sign of a good day for me) and boiled sap, crafted, swung, tidied, played and enjoyed our time together.

Sometimes I question the farm. Is it the right choice for us?

Would life be easier or happier if we lived somewhere else? A neighbourhood where Ellie could play with other kids or ride her bike on asphalt. Somewhere we could walk to the library or the park. A yard where I could handle the grass and snow myself (but still have room for a garden and chicken coop).

I follow a few bloggers who have downsized or tried country living and then returned to town. They write about how happy they are and how it was the right move for their families. Should I consider changing my mind?

On Saturday, those questions didn’t enter my mind. We had a balance of work and play, inside and outside. Cigo had two big runs (and reminded me that it’s pointless to give him a bath at noon if I’m going to let him go for another run after lunch). Ellie played on her swing (who needs a park?), rode around in the trailer, understood the need to do a little early season outside clean-up and was willing to help, explored along the creek, experimented with her loose parts obstacle course and so much more.

She is an independent, confident, capable child, and the farm is a huge part of that.

I asked Ellie a few weeks ago if she’s ever considered living somewhere else. She looked at me like I had three heads, and said, “No.” She loves the farm, and I hope that I can continue to build that feeling for her.

Part of my desire to stay on the farm is her future. I am not optimistic about climate change and the future of the world. The farm is protection—food, self-sufficiency, safety—if she needs it someday. It’s also my chance to do a little bit for climate change—protecting nature, sequestering carbon, restoring soil and forests.

It’s also Matt. The farm was both of our dreams, but when we got here I saw that the farm was vital to Matt in a deep way. I don’t want to betray that.

There are other good reasons to be here, both practical and emotional. Financially, we can live here fairly affordably. Philosophically, I believe this lifestyle is good for us. Creatively, I love a fixer-upper house and the property, barn, gardens and house inspire me so much.

No matter the questions, I come back to how important the farm is to me spiritually. Rereading my previous farm-iversary posts, the theme that is constant through the past 12 years is how special this experience is and how meaningful it is for me. That is still true.

The spirituality of it has changed over the years. Now it’s less about the beauty and peace of the property and more about experiencing it with Ellie and seeing her thrive and enjoy it.

We go through seasons in life, and this season is about her. This season is also likely the source of some of my questions. Managing the property on my own with a young child is a big juggle. I’m not doing as many projects as I want to because I can’t right now. But going through the weekend where she took on some of the work and recognized the need to care for the farm filled my spirit.

This farm, her, me. Matt and the generations that have been here before us. The animals, plants, water and life. There is magic here. I am grateful for the 12 years that we’ve had, and I’m here for the future of our family at this farm.

Odds & sods

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The highlight of this month (as in every February) is Ellie’s birthday. Our girl is six. I am so proud of what a smart, kind, enthusiastic, giving, curious person she is. It’s amazing to watch her grow and learn and see who she is becoming.

We celebrated with treats at school, a trip to a butterfly conservatory, a party with friends here at the farm and dinners (yes, plural) with cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. It’s been a big birthday month.

Online, it’s easy to present a “highlight reel.” Only those moments that are shiny and idyllic. We have lots of those in our life. But there’s also reality. A sixth birthday is exciting. It’s also exhausting, and there are lots of big feelings to go with that.

Baking cakes, finding the right presents, planning special outings, designing an epic scavenger hunt, and coordinating everything all take a lot of energy too. (Though it’s worth it for all of the fun things I was able to do with our girl.) While my mood swings have been less than Ellie’s, I’m ending this month pretty tired.

But it’s winter break for the college, so I will be taking advantage of not teaching to regroup this week. My to-do list is a bit ambitious, but hopefully I can find some rest too.

Amongst the busy birthday-ness of the month, here are some things that caught my attention.

This historic mansion is for sale. I can’t decide if my favourite feature is the porch or the staircase.

Beyonce’s new song has been stuck in my head since the Super Bowl. It’s certainly catchy, but I wouldn’t mind some peace and quiet. (Anyone want to learn the dance with me?)

Anything can be listified. Ellie got this book for Christmas and it’s been so interesting to read together. (It is great for “stumble upon” learning.)

My book of the month. (I’ve ordered book two in the hopes that I’ve found a new mystery series to read.)

Inspiration for my next trip with Ellie. (Matt’s Mom’s family is Swiss, so that gives us a great excuse to go, right?)

“Rest is not the absence of activity but the presence of peace.”

Jo Saxton

I will be finishing February with marking, lesson planning, catching up with some clients, income tax prep, sap boiling, a trip to the dentist, lunch with my Mom and hopefully meeting up with another friend. My big hope is that I’ll have time to work on the finishing touches for Ellie’s room, so I can share a reveal of that soon. It’s a leap year. Maybe that extra day will do the trick.

Have you had any special celebrations in February? How are you spending your leap year?