Category Archives: Okra Paradise Farms

Half way between Atlanta and Orlando and all the way to paradise!

Swayback shack roof 2024-11-10

Here is our 8×16-foot roof extension to our firewood shelter, the swayback shack.

[Swayback shack roof extension]
Swayback shack roof extension

This is steel roofing that was on my niece’s house before Hurricane Helene poked holes in it. You can see a few of the holes, but they won’t leak, because we put them on top of solid pieces of steel.

So, more room for the massive amounts of firewood we’re accumulating by sawing deadfalls off of driveways and woods paths.

-jsq

Cypress Swamp with dogs after Hurricane Helene 2024-11-11

Our cypress swamp doesn’t look too bad at the west end, after Hurricane Helene.

[Deadfall, west end]
Deadfall, west end

But some of it is quite bad. Continue reading →

Mouse PEX 2024-11-03

Update 2024-11-11: Fixing hot water line 2024-11-08.

Why does the well pump run in the night?

Why is the water hot immediately at the outside sink?

[Gnawed]
Gnawed

A mouse gnawed through the duct tape at the end of the PVC pipe around this hot water PEX tube, and gnawed a hole in the tube.

[Label]
Label

We had to dig it up, but it’s easy to fix.

Wrapping it in aluminum foil this time.

-jsq

Turtle in driveway 2024-10-31

Stopped pretty quick to avoid this turtle.

[Left]
Left

Not sure what kind of turtle. I’m guessing river cooter or pond slider. I’m leaning towards pond slider, Trachemys scripta scripta, due to the vertical thickness of the shell. Continue reading →

Removing large pine deadfall 2024-10-27

This slash pine was almost 100 years old when Hurricane Helene toppled it across our back driveway.

[Movie: Logging chain (11M)]
Movie: Logging chain (11M)

Here’s a video clip:
https://youtu.be/wqOaL1NYwBk Continue reading →

Deadfalls everywhere 2024-10-21

Walk anywhere, take chainsaws.

We hadn’t finished cleaning up from Hurricane Idalia, more than a year ago. Hurricane Helene was ten times worse.

At least the dogs get some amusement out of climbing logs.

[Most woods paths are like this, or worse]
Most woods paths are like this, or worse

Continue reading →

Little House Survived Hurricane Helene 2024-10-20

A bright spot. It survived Hurricane Helene: the Little House the Three Stooges Built in the Woods.

[Beyond tree roots]
Beyond tree roots

Trees north and south of it blew west and missed it. Continue reading →

Large pine, small chainsaw 2024-10-15

That one almost caught me when it sprang up four feet.

[26-inch pine with 18-inch chainsaw]
26-inch pine with 18-inch chainsaw

That EGO 18-inch electric chainsaw will gnaw through big stuff eventually.

That slash pine tree was pushing 100 years old until Hurricane Helene. Continue reading →