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Category Archive: Orcas Island

Anatomy of a Speed Run

Anatomy of a Speed Run

The longer we live on Orcas Island, and at the mercy of ferries, the more we learn to optimize. Itโ€™s normal to visit the mainland as a day trip. You take an hour-long ferry ride over, run errands, and come back on the ferry. The question becomes: what can you get done between ferries? If you plan poorly, you might waste hours waiting for the next ferry. This is where optimization matters most.

The Wood Shed

The Wood Shed

This put me on a course to making the most of our wood and one big idea stood out: we needed a wood shed. Firewood burns hotter and cleaner when it’s dry and dry wood comes from wood that can breathe. That’s why it was weird to keep it in the garage. By being out in the elements, it could naturally release moisture or “season”. In fact, rain isn’t a big problem as long as moisture isn’t trapped where it can create mold and decay.

A Train in the Sky ๐Ÿ›ฐ ๐Ÿ›ฐ ๐Ÿ›ฐ

A Train in the Sky ๐Ÿ›ฐ ๐Ÿ›ฐ ๐Ÿ›ฐ

Last week, we were watching TV, and Sachi jumped from her seat and opened the doors to go outside and peer into the night sky. We both looked up to see what looked like an alien invasion. Small bright dots were moving across the sky in a line. There were a dozen or more in view and they seemed to fade out of view, one after the other, until they were gone.
I snapped a bunch of photos, including this one:

The Most Wonderful Time of Year ๐ŸŒž โžก๏ธ ๐ŸŒง

The Most Wonderful Time of Year ๐ŸŒž โžก๏ธ ๐ŸŒง

I plan on the transition each year, and for now, I wait and watch for signs of change. The weather models are unsure of what will happen. Itโ€™s like the dry PNW summer is battling the north pacific currents trying to push into Washington for the winter. Forecasts this time of year often say there is a 58% chance of rain, which is frustratingly noncommittal. They might as well admit they have no idea.

Roots

Roots

Part of what has gripped me about the garden is the combination of permanence and change. The sumac tree may be here in twenty years, but it will have changed constantly in that time. Every day, I can inspect it and notice the little things. I can see it in different colors as the seasons change.ย 

Island Hardware ๐Ÿ› 

Island Hardware ๐Ÿ› 

Small and isolated places like Orcas Island need hardware stores and Iโ€™m so thankful that Island Hardware not only exists but does so in such a family-like style. More than just about any other place, it is Orcas Island and I hope it never changes.ย 

One Famous Sea Star โญ๏ธ

One Famous Sea Star โญ๏ธ

As one of the traps came to the surface, I heard Sachi say, โ€œWhoa!โ€ in a tone that was part surprise and part anxiety. It looked as though an alien had entered the trap. It was a bright orange sunflower sea star with 19 arms and we werenโ€™t sure what to do.

Permanence and Permaculture ๐Ÿฆ†

Permanence and Permaculture ๐Ÿฆ†

That evening the rain arrived on time and I heard the now-familiar pitter-patter of it on our skylights and metal roof. I had been anticipating it all summer and wondered how the rain would sound, especially at night when itโ€™s time to sleep. Listening that night, I thought about permanence and entropy. Try as we might to establish wetlands, gardens, and homes to be permanent, the universe eventually has its way with human projects.