Monday, September 23, 2013: I've been SCHOOLED!

WooHoo! Got the Soil Test over the weekend! A wonderful soil scientist by the name of Phillip Archer with Breedlove was the first person to contact me when I was leaving messages for soil tests; and averaging 300$ a pop you'd think MORE would have called back! But no, Phillip was the one who called and it must have been divine providence that put him in our path. Talk about knowledgeable! He's as much a geek about soils as I am about history -- and that's saying a lot! Fortunately for me, he didn't mind being subjected to a million question inquisition as we tromped through the overgrowth here at Tranquility Bay.

And yes, it WAS an education! Archer took 4 soil samples across an acre of our property looking for color changes in the topsoil and topography, beginning with the top of the hill where our big wood pile is located (and where we will likely locate our house). The color changes in the soil all mean something and determine where and whether you can site a septic system. The variety of soils we have on our small plot of land surprised me. Every sample was about 5 feet deep, so I got a real close look at what my soil is like. This also got me thinking about amendments and soil improvements that will need to be done later and will obviously be a subject of much discussion on this blog when the time comes.

So check out these photos and descriptions if you are also in the process of building your own little homestead oasis. Hopefully, it will help and you, too, will find a great soil expert willing to teach as he works. I'm going to keep descriptions brief, but honestly this guy taught me so much about our property there is just too much to share here. 

 

The top right photo indicates that good old red clay we have in abundance around here.  It was the right composition for our leach field and where we were hoping to site the septic.  

 

 

The next four photos show a lot of iron oxide run-off ... means the water is sitting too long in one spot.  The sample below right is not as gross as it looks.  The yellowing in the clay indicates poor soil for septic leach fields and is similar in make up to the yellow soils of China.  The sample below left shows a good loose soil and indicates good drainage ... but it was too close to our well site to be viable.

 

The best part about this experience was that it turned out to be so much fun! Seriously! Archer was so eager to share information. He was patient with my thousand questions and misperceptions, he showed and explained the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of every soil sample taken.   As a former teacher, it does help to have an interested and active group of students. Of course, my husband told me I'd be paying extra for the geology course I'd just received. I wouldn't have minded a bit!  We wound up with a great soil survey at a good price (275$) and had the most fun playing in dirt -- second only to playing in the garden.

 

We've been very fortunate since we made the decision to relocate our homestead towards the top of the property. It appears we have picked a great spot for water AND drainage. That -- I will admit -- is largely sheer dumb luck. We know enough NOT to build where it floods, but we were worried about building so close to the road. Turns out -- top of the property has a lot of advantages.

 

This week's project: Getting quotes for grading the property.