PIT (Purposeful/Intentional/Teamwork)

The Pit -  3 acre parcel, surrounded by farmland in the driftless Midwest, where we restore, grow in sustainability and land exploration, with no electricity or running water.

Restore/Respect/Preserve

Every year we identify goals to keep our family accountable.

2023

This is the first year, partly due to the lack of rain this summer, that we can come to the PIT and rest. Even with a lack of free time overall, we find small pockets of time and visit. We also bring water for the trees and critters. The trees planted in 2017-2018 are providing much needed privacy from the road. They also muffle traffic noise.

Septemper 2023

2022

2022 - This summer was very dry and we did not get consistent rains until August. The trees we planted in 2017/18 are finally thriving and are filling out surprisingly well. We had lofty goals to continue cleaning some of the trails but work, travel and summer heat kept us away. We had blackberries in locations previously cleared which made us very happy. We also track the wildlife visits using spypoint cameras and relish their adventures from afar.

2021 - This summer we decided that it’s time to sit back and enjoy some of our progress. While our goal is to continue learning from the land and its many critters, we began improving trails, cleaning up debris and perilous build up from fallen trees. Pollinators are active and enjoying all the berry bushes. The trees we planted in 2016-2018 have grown well and are offering much needed shade. We see beautiful and awe-inspiring animals and want to ensure that it is a safe environment for the humans as well. The long view for us is that we don’t want to interfere and change the landscape but maintenance is also crucial.

2020 - Steps were added to the front of the cabin finally! We also learned about carpenter ants and their destructive force if left unaddressed, finished wall paneling install and worked on transforming the loft area into livable space.

94FB2A61-8BD1-4380-A041-B4A462023944_1_201_a.jpeg

2019 progress…

2016 - Large leftover shale pile

2016 - Large leftover shale pile

2016 - After the shale was spread

2016 - After the shale was spread

It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it...So get out there...explore the forests...breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely, mysterious and awesome space...I promise you this one sweet victory...over those desk-bound men and women with their hearts in a safe deposit box, and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise you this; You will outlive the bastards.
— Edward Abbey (1927-1989)

2018

2018 was a banner, challenging year for our family, but nature was our constant refuge and we dedicated as much time as we could to the PIT. It made us more resilient than we could have expected. It was very satisfying to have limited cell service and shelter, as the last two year we used a beach umbrella to protect ourselves from the elements, when we visited.

IMG_7719.JPG

2018

Having completed the first stage of our project by building steps instead of a road, we are now working on the trail, removing dangerous cattle fencing and cutting overgrown, thorny bushes (wearing proper gear).

IMG_8222.JPG

Nature - patience's best teacher

2016 was all about brush cleanup. We have learned a great deal about patience from our work and the climate. Without shelter we were limited in the amount of work we could complete at one time as well as the tools we could employ. Having a budget was helpful.

fullsizeoutput_24fe.jpeg

Our first time installing a ladder stand. Perhaps wearing sandals and red pants in the woods was not my best fashion move (2016).