Homesteading is an attitude!
Our goal is to bring to our home a more natural approach and grow or produce a large portion of our food and supplies.  We also seek to harness the power of sun and wind to promote "free" energy and to supplement the needs of our modern homestead. We installed our first solar panels on the property in 2007 and we're learning the ins-and-outs of catching the rays in a climate known for some great rainy days.   Solar power also requires a little more math than I expected. Amps, Volts, Watts... it boggles a newbie's mind.  On sunny days we calculate, on rainy days I calculate and plot.  Have no fear!  We haven't gone totally crazy and are still enjoying all the creature comforts like an electric coffee pot and microwave, the internet, satellite tv and our hot tub <- you try to take that away and there will be heck to pay!  Doesn't that sound so 80's? haha!

 

FALL arrives to the Hedges Homestead!
Come back sunshine...  We live in the Pacific Northwest in part of the Pacific Temperate Rain Forest.  This makes growing conditions for us pretty unique as the temperate rain forests occur in only a few regions around the world.  We snuggle right up against the west side of the Cascade Mountains in SW Washington.  We are surrounded by trees of several varieties: douglas fir, western red cedar, sitka spruce (the third largest conifer species in the world) and western hemlock.  Heck, we have several of those shade loving hemlocks growing under our decking.  In our bit of property, there are places where we've not even seen the forest floor as undergrowth is so heavy.  One thing we have many of is the Nurse Log.  This is when a tree falls and as new plants take advantage of the growing medium of the decaying fallen tree and set up shop.  Ferns and hosta and wild berries like huckleberry, blueberry and thimbleberry grow quite well in our environment.  As do mushrooms of many variety including poisonous!  I believe our grow zone is 8a though our higher elevation may explain why some things I try to grow do really well and others... well you live and learn, right?                                               
 

Pygmies at Play!

Excellent at eating leaves, some brush, some kitchen scraps, some gardening tools, and sometimes the side of your building... there is no doubt that owning Pygmy Goats will give you unending reasons to hang out in the barn.
 

Kitties are an important part of a homestead.  They keep down rodent population that is attracted by the grains and feed.  They hunt scary bugs too.  But mostly they are just used to keep us happy and they make the landscape even more beautiful. 

RoseArbour Rottweilers:  Lexie, Blossom & the rest of the dawgs
Please visit the Rottweilers of RoseArbour website to learn more about our fantastic dogs.

                 
"Just Ducky!"
I simply love ducks.  And geese.  We enjoy their laughter, their comical antics, their good nature and especially their fresh eggs!   Check out the link so you too can learn about our fantastic ducks and geese.

  Constant attention to weeds.  Hey, aren't the birds supposed to take care of weeds?

What else do we like to do? Well I fancy myself an artisan of sorts by dabbling in silversmithing, collecting minerals and gemstones in both rough and faceted, and I also enjoy etching stained glass.  I love photography.  I recently discovered how nice it is to bake bread!  Jeff likes fishing and hiking and basically being outdoors as often as possible. Living in the woods allows you to forget about the stresses of city and concentrate on nature.  "Real" life interferes quite a bit with our goal which is to be home without reason or need to step away unless we want to. Sometimes you just have to blow away the cobwebs and take off on your motorcycle.  Several times a month Jeff and I ride away on our 1100 VSTAR Classic which has been customized to meet Jeff's very particular and demanding taste for beauty and power.  In the Summer months we spend many afternoons and evenings on our boat enjoying a ride along the Columbia River.  We like to fish, and I particularly like to picnic on the little islands we visit.  I also love the PBR!  You will find me attending and photographing at several bullriding events each year.

Going Going Going Solar - well sorta...
I'm actually just cheap and am looking for ways to reduce my electric bill!
 

 

 

 

Hey.  Check out: my blog page.

Some of our favorite places to visit, or businesses in the community we support:

Absolutely Magic Dog Training    http://www.absolutelymagicdogs.com/	162nd Street Deli Incredible selection of meats, cheeses and breads. Owners Nina and Phil Rangel really make an awesome sandwich of generous proportions. 2602 SE 162nd Street, Portland, OR (503) 760-7510 Open 7 days a week!
VCA SE Portland Animal Hospital Your 24-hour urgent and emergency care veterinary hospital. The talented doctors and staff at SEPAH help keep the HedgesHomestead critters happy and healthy!	RBV Adventures Professionally guided fishing in Oregon <- Excellent guide!  http://www.guidedfishingoregon.com

     Farmer Carlie say's "Thanks for stopping by!" 

You can drop me a line... Carlie@HedgesHomestead.com

Since October 10, 2009, you are welcome visitor number


Next update planned for the first week of June'09!   Since 1996 we at the hedges homestead have enjoyed the use of AOL for many of our website storage centers... on October 31, 2008 AOL discontinued online storage capabilities for we pathetic human beings.  I frantically downloaded years of pictures and documents and have slowly been rebuilding my webpages...  So please be patient while things are updated and recovered or recreated. - Carlie