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Natural Springs

Posted to Poplar-Creek-Farm by Lauren B. in Oakland Park, FL on 9/10/2007 4:04:20 PM

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Natural Springs

Posted to Poplar-Creek-Farm by Lauren B. in Oakland Park, FL on 9/10/2007 4:01:42 PM

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Natural Springs

Posted to Poplar-Creek-Farm by Lauren B. in Oakland Park, FL on 9/10/2007 3:52:22 PM

Natural Springs

Free mineral water and right at our front door! I was so excited when I saw the clear, running water oozing out from between the rocks under the tree roots and slowly swirling over the sandy bottom. Rocks, roots and sand along with muddy boots are the main clues to a spring. How appealing, environmentally friendly and, did I mention free, to have a natural spring water source on the property. We’ll just hook up a pump, run pipe to the house and always have healthy, clear, spring water. Yeah, not so fast.

According to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) it is illegal to develop water use without a valid permit. Here’s what else I found out. A water analysis must be done to check for bacteria, inorganic chemicals, petroleum, pesticides and other harmful impurities. Mitchell county and the Toe River Health District require water samples to be taken when the perc tests are done. So when we get to that stage we’ll know if the water will kill us or not.

The old double wide that’s been on my brother Stewart’s property has had potable water pumped in from a perennial spring up the mountain for years . We all drink it and are still alive so maybe there’s hope. There's also another spring across the road that created a swimming hole for the kids more than twenty years ago but is now the unkempt "frog pond" that flows under the road thru a tile onto our propery. Three guesses what a tile is. The water winds it's way down, about four hundred feet, to the stream leaving behind a boggy, soil rich path that we are planning on converting to a planting area and trout pond. Once the area is trenched and the water guided to the trout pond it should dry out and be used for organic gardening. I hope this works and will not remain too wet. Will trade ideas and suggestions for trout...

P.S. The real estate sign went up last week on the house in Ft. Lauderdale. Wish me luck.

Here are some pics. The ones of the spring really amaze me.

Lauren B.

First three: Hopefully, our free water source

Second three: Ian & Stewart cleaning spring holding tank, Ian inside tank, Me, Ian, Stew, Dad and Spike

Third three: Dad drinking spring water after hike with dogs, tub for runoff, dogs after hike with Dad

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Poplar Creek Farm

Posted to Poplar-Creek-Farm by Lauren B. in Oakland Park, FL on 8/31/2007

For Every Season...    

For every season there's a new site for the house. That's what happened to me each time I went to Poplar, NC and checked out the property. While there in the summer, we decided that the cottage should be placed near the soothing, splashes of the stream. After returning in the fall,  we noticed the views more and move the cottage away from the stream and up a little higher. The following trip in the winter was a real eye opener, we couldn't see much thru the blizzard that left six inches of snow. Hello? I'm from Ft. Lauderdale! The runoff from the melting snow in the springs and the bigger creek nearby were creating quite a soggy mess. I can't wait to see what spring brings. This is beginning to remind me of the time I shoved the piano in the living room around three times in one day before I was happy with it's location.

     You know the unwritten law that states you must visit your land each season to check it out for potential problems before you build you house of dreams? I highly recommend you do this. What started out as a fishing and hunting cabin in the woods  has now morphed into a "Craftsman style country cottage" with French drains,  a higher crawl space, 4/12 roof slopes,and a second floor master studio with it's own balcony. We had to have the views from fall. Oh, and remember the chilling twenty-two degree snowstorm? There are not one, but two, count that, two, interior stone fireplaces in the plan. Thanks, Michelle. (She was born in Miami and thinks 65 degrees is freezing.)

     Our  palace in the woods is really only 1,380 sq. feet but the more we work the plan the better it gets. My work experience has helped a bit. I have an Interior Design degree, remodeled & sold many homes as an investor,  and currently work as a kitchen designer with  your favorite big box . You 'd think this should be a breeze for me. It's not.

    Here are some summer, fall, then winter pics:

First 3: Gravel road to future driveway- notice puddles in summer

Second 3: Soothing, splashing stream

Third 3: The clearing - original spot for the future "big" house

Fourth 2: Future driveway to the cottage

Enjoy,

Lauren B.

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Dreams Do Come True

Posted to Poplar-Creek-Farm by Lauren B. in Oakland Park, FL on 8/28/2007

     Poplar Creek Farm, what a big name for such a small place. Three glorious, timbered acres tucked away in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina bordering the Cherokee National Forest.  This is what dreams are made of. So here's the deal...after having lived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for 42 years most of my family is ready to bail. My younger brother, Stewart, purchased quite a few acres in Poplar, NC and has parceled them off for sale. That's how I got mine. I make it sound so easy, don't I? Well. it is. You just REALLY need to know what you want in life. Inner peace, time for friends and family, no high debt, grow food for my family and dogs that can run free were top on the list. The decision to buy wasn't hard, just which parcel?

   Stewart thought I was nuts when we started hiking up the mountain and I pulled out the compass and watch, held my arms up like  cross, and began checking each parcel for sun exposure, time of day and south orientation. Are you starting to see where this going? This is what I told  him I was looking for:  lots of southern exposure, mountain to the north, natural potable water, good gardening soil, no cliff hangers, and trees for lumber. "That's my best stuff!" he cried. (Remember, I'm getting the "friends and family" price not the "I don't  know you" price.) "Yeah, let's go look at it." 

  It isn't just 3 acres of woodland.  It is 3 densely wooded acres that has 2 natural springs, a branch (small stream), and faces south, receiving lots of sunlight from 9AM to 5PM and has the mountain to the north. To any of you involved in active/passive solar design, sustainable building, green design or whatever you want to call it, you'll recognize these requirements. Now the fun starts.....

     What to build, what to build that is nice, roomy, and leaves as small a footprint as possible and with what money? I gave it all to Stewart!  Dad's there now and my daughter, Michelle, just put in a request for a cabin of her own. It's time to put up the For Sale Sign in Fort Lauderdale.

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