Homesteading by baby steps. That's what we're doing. Whether it is better to site the well before the perc test or perc test the land before siting the well - that is the question.
The answer is: site the well.
Actually, its site the homesite THEN site the well.
So, we have sort-of/kind-of sited the house area -- now we should actually get some stakes and put down the perimeter of the dwelling. Getting my husband out of bed before the temperatures reach 90 (around 9:30 these days!) will be the tricky part. After that its all pounding stakes and tying survey tape. And avoiding mosquitos. Mosquitos love me. Apparently my blood type is known in a tri-state area of mosquito conniseours. Lucky me.
The important thing is: today is get well-siting prices day. Call every local well driller within 75 miles and find the best prices and quickest appointment time. More than likely we will go with one of the companies that drilled the well for our neighbors and Mom & Dad. And isn't that the beauty of living in a rural area -- having just a few neighbors to speak with and learn from. I'm luckier than some; relationships have already been established by my in-laws and it seems everyone on our road knows my darling hubby (fond memories of him driving his old Harley off and back from his ironhorse adventures). I get hugs from the neighbor lady across the street the first day we meet. I'm at home and accepted so quickly. They probably all think I'm a city-girl who finally wised-up and moved out to wide open spaces. They would be correct.
So, a well is in our near future. Here's how its working for us: the company we're going to us is going to site the well for free (free is good!). Then -- after the perk test -- we're going to get the well drilled. This will cost us 10$ per foot for the drilling and casing (high cost around $6000, but I don't think we'll have to go that far). THEN we need a pump and all the accessories that go into transferring the water from the well to a house. Cost range on this is $2000 to $4000 depending on what kind of well is dug, how much water we're getting, and how deep the well had to be dug. I think we're going to come out somewhere in the middle without a lot of problems; seems there is an artesian well under all our pine trees and scrub.
This is the first steps in building our homestead and I am thrilled!
And so it begins -- albiet at a snails pace. The speed limit around here averages 40 miles per hour. Life, however, moves a lot slower. Adjusting my pace is going to take a while for this 'city-girl'.
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Oh! almost forgot! Did not get the job I applied for, so now I am free to volunteer at the library and my first assignment: reading stories to the kindergarten classes! I am so excited! I picked out my three books from the stack last week and the librarian will go with me for my first visit to introduce me around and get me started. I may not be working for a paycheck, but I love that I'll still be able to contribute to the community in an educational setting. No sense letting those college degrees go to waste!
Big smiles and best wishes for you all around for the days ahead.
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