Subtracting TO ADD

Hello Blackhaven family. It’s been a little over a year since we’ve started this journey; and what a year it has been.

​In the span of just one year, we’ve managed to acquire and raise 6 laying hens. We’ve just recently added 4 more to the mix. I’ve manufactured a chicken coop and raised garden beds from all reclaimed material. We were successful in growing, harvesting, and preserving (canning) our own produce and are continuing the cycle by composting; using the chickens' waste, table scraps, and other organic material to create the rich soil to do it all over again this year. All right here, at a home on the South Side of Chicago.
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Along with learning how to become more self-sufficient, (through constant trial and error, of course) we also purchased the 40 Acres that we set out acquire, last April 12th. This came much faster than I could’ve ever imaged. BUT, as is everything else, It’s all been trial and error.

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After taking a couple trips to the land and even hosting the first annual “Men’s Weekend Retreat”, (more on that on another blog) I realized that there were some fundamental things that I was missing from this location, and it wasn’t as functional as I’d like.

​So we SUBTRACTED TO ADD, functionality and potential to our homestead. In September, I bought the second location for Blackhaven, and though it is about 11 acres short of the 40 acre minimal goal, it has a pond, great views, lots of functional space, and most importantly, it is adjacent to large acreage that I will be looking to obtain in the near future; holding true to Blackhaven’s mantra, “40 Acres Nothing Less”
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Some would consider me reducing the amount of land I purchased a major setback or even a failure. Hell, I did (I'm my biggest critic). I was really hesitant to do so. But I had to make myself understand, that long journeys are the summation individual miles; each one presenting us with different bends, breaks, hills, and turns. Nothing is constant, nothing is definite. 

Hopefully, you've taken enough interest to ride along with us on this journey as we continue to learn through trial & error; subtracting and adding our way to our goal of self-sufficiency, self sustainability, and ultimately, independence!  

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Matthew Ross