Our first driveway just followed an old logging road. It traveled up a too-steep incline, took a hard left, then down a gentle slope to the lodge. We now have a shorter, nearly flat entrance that should be far easier to maintain without fossil fuels

In the South we normally have a really low percentage of organic matter, because the soil is active all year. We’ve learned to keep our organic matter rich by keeping something growing on it all year too. Cover crops and lots of compost are the key

We’re converting Veg Hill to almost all raised beds. This should help us control weeds better, land should look spiffier too. The main disadvantages are the cost of the beds and their tendency to dry out, especially in the first year

When the muscadines are done in a few days, our fruit season will be over. We’re pleased with the blueberries, muscadines, and figs. Our blackberries aren’t sweet enough. Still waiting for persimmons, apples, pears, and pomegranates

Our big agenda this fall will be the "Veg Hill Reboot," a sort of "do-over” for the vegetable garden. This is the brainchild of the Farmer-in-Chief, who' hoping it will bring the weeds back to a level at which she can control them

We hope all the distractions that have pulled us from the farm this summer are behind us now. On Veg Hill, it’s about weeds and keeping up with the okra. In the orchard, we have big, succulent muscadines. And Lee’s been busy bush hogging the trails

Installing a stout, generous clothesline was the right decision for us. Ours is quiet, it saves energy, and it never breaks down. Whether it’s the right call for you will depend on the space available, your tastes, and your daytime schedule

After two years of planning and a year of construction, we’re ready to call the lodge more or less complete. Today we talk about how we’re already using it, what we’re already learning about it, and what work still remains

We use simple strategies at Longleaf Breeze to keep our electric bills down. Changing light bulbs and turning off lights helps, but the big savings come from using as little air conditioning as possible and avoiding the dryer

Three years after we planted our first fruit trees, we’re finally seeing fruit we can enjoy eating. This is our first production year for blueberries and muscadines. The figs, apples, and pears are isolated. Still no persimmon, olive, or pomegranate