RURAL magazine Spring issue

Spring

RURAL MAGAZINE

It's not where you live, it's how

Celebrate Spring!

Tiny house. Big dreams p. 44 A Sea of green p. 28 Inspiring tomorrow's gardeners p. 34

Enter our

Photo contest Details on our FB page

RURAL VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4 SPRING 2016 Cover Image JEN VANDERVOORT

Advertising RURAL2016@GMAIL.COM Subscriptions Visit www.RURALMAG.COM Copywriting Donna Donabella Carolynn Anctil

Published QUARTERLY by jen Vandervoort.

All Rights Reserved Copyright 2016

Find us on facebook : rural magazine instagram : rural magazine

RURAL

WWW.RURALMAG.COM IT'S NOT WHERE YOU LIVE, IT'S HOW

27 Dancing with Daisies 11

Lavishly Lilac

17 Hellebore Haven

Contents 24 Water wise gardening and DIY book reviews

31 Wild babies hidden in the woods.

7 Enter our SPRING photo contest for your chance to win these gorgeous books

22 The spring magic hidden in seeds.

9 Rural Reflections IG feeds we love 19 The most gorgeous greenhouse/ photostudio ever

36 Gently stretch into spring

14 Spring parade of Pansies 43 Hungry Moon Tangine.

It's delicious

Happy Spring!

It's been a long winter and spring is being heartily welcomed by us.

This is our biggest issue so far, filled with even more gorgeous photography, in depth articles and essays from our contributors. We've increased our article length, ventured into a wider range of topics, and added new features that we are sure you will enjoy reading and learning about.

We've been itching to get out in the garden, go for more walks, do a little stretching, plant some seeds, and take a few photos.

How about you?

Be sure to enter our spring photo contest. Send us your best spring shots.

Tag us on Instagram with the hashtag #Ruralmagazine.

Email your best spring shot to rural2016@gmail.com for a chance to win. See more details on our FB page.

Jen, and the team at RURAL magazine.

Visit our FB page for more contest details!

RURAL magazine

Contributors

Jen Vandervoort is the founder of RURAL magazine. She blogs at The Light Laughed.

Donna Donabella retired after 35 years in education.

She is now pursuing her dream as a writer/poet.

Carolynn Anctil is an artist and writer blogging at Tin Rooster Farm

Judith Rogers is a freelance garden writer blogging at Lavender Cottage Garden.

Grace Vanderzande is a farmer, writer, and blogger at Buttons Thoughts

Lillie Normile is a writer and blogger at Notes from Napanee, living in South Eastern Ontario.

Photography

Contributors Linda Hansson is a gardenlover from Sweden.

IG arstidensbasta blogging at arstidensbasta.blogspot. com

Kim HarbichtSczesny's business Turning Ground Yoga and Wellness is located in Sundre, Alberta.

Kristin Pehl Joy O'Connor Melanie Hewer Grace Peterson Deby Simmerson

Page 5

Non-GMO, Untreated, Non-Hybrid.

Most seeds are seed saver-friendly.

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"We take great pride in knowing we sell only the best quality seeds, generous quantities per package, with a high germination rate."

Florabunda Seeds is a family owned business based in Ontario Canada. Owner Dirk Berghout is a third generation Dutch seedsman who acquired Florabunda Seeds in 1998.

We offer custom packaging for your special events and corporate functions.

Our Fundraising Program offers great earning potential for fundraising events of all types.

Gift Certificates are available.

10% Off Order by mail, phone, fax, and online We accept VISA, Master Card, PayPal Cheque, money order, and cash

Orders placed before April 30, 2016 Use code RM2016

1973 Villiers Line, Indian River, ON Canada, K0L 2B0 www.florabundaseeds.com Email: contact@florabundaseeds.com

Visit our website for great information. www.florabundaseeds.com

Enter your best shot!

Spring photo contest

Sponsored by Quarto publishing Group US

Send us your best spring photo for a chance to win these gorgeous books offered by QUARTO publishing.

Contest closes May 15th 2016 Click here to visit RURAL magazine's Facebook page for contest details Page 7

jen Vandervoort Photo: Jen Vandervoort

@debycsimmerson

RURAL

@after Mars

Reflections

Instagram feeds with a RURAL feel that we think are amazing

@heather.nicole_photography

@Tallulah_pots Page 9

Lilac Love

Judith Rogers

Photos: Judith Rogers

Spring Lilacs

Written by Judith Rogers Photos by Judith Rogers

The unmistakable scent of lilacs in spring is a glorious reminder that summer is just around the corner.

Country roads lined with common lilacs in shades of pink, purple, burgundy and white perfume the air so profusely that insects are drawn from great distances to gather nectar.

The common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) was often a foundation planting at many of the old homesteads. Although a large number of the buildings may be long gone, their ghostly whereabouts are still evident by the lilacs that continue to bloom.

French lilacs are a hybrid of the common shrub and rated to zone 3, will grow to 3 m. Hybrid lilacs have been bred for a broad range of colours and Syringa x prestoniae (Preston Lilac) was developed in Ottawa, Canada. They are hardy to zone 2 with a height of 3 m.

Judith Rogers Page 11

Syringa hyacinthiflora is another Canadian introduction from Manitoba which is early flowering and has excellent cold tolerance.

Small properties can benefit by planting dwarf lilacs that are just as beautiful and fragrant.

Judith Rogers

Judith Rogers

Compact Korean and French varieties reach 150-200 cm tall.

Every type likes a location in full sun with well draining soil. A handful of bonemeal dug in around the base of the shrub in early spring is all the fertilizing they need.

Deadhead within two weeks of the finished blooms and prune after flowering as well because lilacs bloom on old wood. Well established bushes should have one third of the older branches cut back to the base and to control height, prune the whole shrub back by a third.

To prepare lilacs for a vase indoors, remove all leaves that will be submerged. Cut the bottom of the stem on a 45 degree angle then slit it with a sharp knife to allow water intake.

Page 12

Pansies Remember me now smiling on a gentle breeze spring’s warming time nears.

Donna Donabella Written by Donna Donabella Photos Donna Donabella

Pansy

for your thoughts in Spring

When spring’s siren call beckons on the warm wind, my thoughts turn to flowers, in pastel colors of purple, blue, pink and yellow.

Bright blossoms dancing on a sunny breeze. And the flower I picture every time, is the soft, smiling face of the pansy.

Donna Donabella Donna Abel Donnabella

They sing spring’s song of welcome, lapping up the cold morning sunrise, even enduring a frost or sparse snow that weighs them down temporarily. Their welcoming petals mean loyalty and remembrance, in the language of flowers from Victorian times.

What a perfect flower, then, to be a harbinger of spring. And no wonder my thoughts leap to spring whenever I see them.

But beyond their use in the garden, pansies have another wonderful trait. They are edible, being high in Vitamins A and C. A wonderful addition to a salad, or to adorn a cake. Perhaps even a wedding cake. And they look fabulous in a posy or vase. Or floated in a bowl.

Page 14

Pansies are easy to find in any nursery or garden center as spring rolls around. Planted in pots outside, they wake up the garden from its brown, barren wintertime. I lovingly grow mine from seed, but they do take patience and time to germinate and put on enough growth to be planted outside.

Donna Abel Donnabella Donna Donabella

Sadly, they do not last once the hot days of summer roll around.

But don’t be too saddened; because once the heat of summer gives way to the cooling days of fall, you can plant them once again. Don’t forget to leave a few in a garden bed to overwinter.

Then you will be assured that the first days of spring will be welcomed in again with these gentle, delicate flowers. Their faces smiling in the warm spring sun, singing a song of spring.

Page 15

Joy O'Connor Photo Canadian Garden Joy

Hellebore Haven Joy's amazing garden is home to a vast array of stunning plants year round but the Hellebores steal the spotlight in the spring. Visit her beautiful garden at Canadian Garden Joy.

Joy O'Connor

Photo: Canadian Garden Joy

Page 17

Linda Hansson Photo Linda Hansson

"To be creative and be able to create with my hands is among the best feelings that I know. " I've had an interest in gardening and flowers in me since I was little. I have my grandmother and grandfather to thank for that. I was always with them in the garden, my grandmother worked at a flowershop and I remember it smelled wonderful in there.

To be creative and be able to create with my hands is among the best feelings I know. It can be anything from making bouquets of seasonal flowers or digging in the soil. In my greenhouse, I have the opportunity to create. Likewise in the vegetable garden which right now is awaking after a long winter.

Photography Linda Hansson Text Linda Hansson Page 19

"The greenhouse is used year around. Now that spring is finally here it's well suited to twigs, feathers and eggs."

Linda Hansson

"Yes, I love it!

Soil and seed bags lying everywhere on my table.

Organized chaos I usually call it."

Page 20

Linda Hansson Photo Linda Hansson

Written by Jen Vandervoort Newly updated The Mother Earth News Almanac A guide through the seasons is back in print. Gardeners and DIY'ers will find that this amazing resource covers a wide array of topics on self-sufficiency, chicken raising, canning, gardening, pruning, seeding, foraging, folk medicine and more.

Filled with rustic line drawings and solid advice this book makes a great gift for the resourceful gardener, or self-sufficiency enthusiast and an interesting read. I'm still going through the pages and learning something new each time we read it.

Published by Quarto publishing group. .

Books supplied by Quarto Publishing Group for the purpose of review were received as compensation. All opinions expressed are mine.

Page  24

Watering the garden should be considered a peaceful occupation but our hot dry summers are making it harder on plants, requiring us to water smarter to keep our gardens lush and beautiful. I was excited when Quarto press asked me to review this book finding it full of helpful informative hints, resources, and tips for conserving water.

Water Smart Gardening written by Diana Maranhao gives me simple to follow ideas on how to save water, money, and make it easier for my garden to flourish despite our extremely dry climate.

The book is divided into sections that will take you all the way from planning, designing, building, and maintaining your water-wise garden. Full color illustrations and charts make it easy to choose plants for your climate and soil type.

It also covers water conservation, how to create a custom sprinkler system, harvesting and storing rainwater, rain gardens, berms, cache basins, and drainage systems. I'm looking forward to implementing the ideas, and information gathered from this book into my garden this spring and reaping the benefits of a water wise garden.

Books supplied by Quarto Publishing Group for the purpose of a review were received as compensation. All opinions expressed are mine.

Page 25

The Seed of Magic

Jen Vandervoort

Written by Carolynn Anctil

Photo Jen Vandervoort

Nature amazes me and never more so than in the Spring. The exuberant rush to life is inspiring and fosters hope for new beginnings. Never mind that the first green sprouts to appear are weeds. Dandelions are among the bees’ first meal of the season and are treated with deference here.

Migratory birds are a wondrous mystery and a sure sign that warmer weather is here to stay.

It is the modest seed, however, that truly puts me in awe of the magic that exists just outside our realm of understanding. Unremarkable in appearance, I marvel every year at the seeds’ ability to grow and flourish.

How one seed knows it carries the genetic coding of corn, while another is destined to become a carrot will forever be a source of wonder for me.

Page 22

It is for this reason that the act of sowing seeds in the Spring, in spite of the toll it takes on my back, feels sacred. I am, after all, involved in an act of creation.

Jen Vandervoort

Alone in my garden, with only the songbirds and my dog for company, I feel as though I am in the presence of something ancient and preternaturally wise. I turn the soil, dig my crooked furrows and gently place each tiny seed by hand. As I carefully cover them with dirt and set them firmly in place with a tender pat of my hand, I find myself invoking a prayer of gratitude for the miracle that is about to unfold.

“You know what to do,” I say, with the utmost confidence, and they invariably do.

Page 23

Grace Vanderzande Photo: Grace Vanderzande

Spring will always be the time of year where happy cows will be seen dancing with abandon. Dancing among the daisies, that spring herself had brought when she arrived. Scattered randomly in rich pastures, where cows with daisy petals stuck to their noses smile. Cows, seen with only the sweetest morsels that linger between lips stained with green. Where calls from bawling calves that search for lost mothers go unanswered. Mothers gorging in a land full of gifts from spring paying no mind.

Dancing with Daisies Written by: Grace Vanderzande Photos: Grace Vanderzande

Grace Vanderzande

Like every spring that has ever come before, the constant bawling will eventually stop. Those roaming calves will find their lost mothers. With tiny heads close to the ground, they will soon be seen dancing with daisies to the sound of munching. Quickly, they learn to snatch only the sweetest morsels of green. Smiling, and with daisy petals stuck to their noses, they will soon know the secret. Only during those spring days, you will find the sweetest of gifts.

Page 27

Grace Vanderzande

Grace Vanderzande

Written by Grace Vanderzande Photos: Grace Vanderzande

A sea of green

With those cold and snowy winter days now a fading memory, the much anticipated season known as spring had finally arrived. A season full of new life, made possible through a mix of warm sunny days and heavy rains.

Spring, as expected had worked its magic and brought forth an abundance of new life. Those once iced over puddles and streams, now overflow with cool rushing water.

Tadpoles hold tight to each other, as it splashes and gurgles. Loose soil and winter waste flow with it, while it tries to find its way.

A bountiful sea of green grass lay in wait, where once only a sea of white had lain. Trees, naked during our cold winter that had shivered in the blustery winds, now stand tall.

Proudly, they show off their brand new canopies in beautiful shades of green.

Page 28

Grace Peterson Photo: Grace Peterson

Lillie Normile Photo: Lillie Normile

BABIES IN THE WOODS Written by: Lillie Normile Photos: Lillie Normile The woods that encircle our gardens provide a variety of wildflowers in the spring. Trillium, violets, dog-tooth violets and blood roots announce the arrival of spring but mother nature has other surprises to share. Another spring miracle arrives in the woods along with the flowers. New babies are born or hatched and take up residence.

A bitter, cold winter wind had toppled an ancient pine tree and left it sprawled on the floor of the woods. Mother nature was not through with this tall sentinel. A day earlier we had observed a very pregnant doe browsing along our winding driveway. Her self-preservation instincts were well honed. We were watching from the living room but she heard our voices and raised her head to look our way. She carefully made her way deeper into the woods away from human voices and we forgot about her until the next day. Our son-in-law looking for firewood noticed the tiny new fawn partially hidden in the pine boughs. The fallen tree provided a comfy space for the doe to hide her day old fawn. A few feet away a partridge made her nest and deposited a clutch of eggs. Wildlife was still able to find a home in the fallen pine.

The tiny fawn kept perfectly still and telegraphed to us that it believed if it didn't move we could not see it. My three year old granddaughter was thrilled and had to be restrained from cuddling the forest baby. We explained that the mother would abandon her baby if we left our scent on it.

Lillie Normile Page 31

At night we often heard the howling of wolves and the yipping of coyotes. The new mom knew of the dangers in our woods and had left the fawn alone to draw any predators away from her baby.

Partridges often would break from the underbrush and startle us when we were walking along the paths.

Having a new batch of partridges to populate the woods was exciting.

The next morning we checked on our newest 'woodland babies' and found they were gone. We were not surprised that the doe would move her baby away from our prying eyes but were confounded about the disappearance of the partridge eggs. There was no sign of trauma or broken shells.

A small mystery in the woods.

While the gardens nearby provided us with tomatoes, zucchini, onions, cucumbers, pumpkins and a rainbow of colourful flowers we are reminded that spring is a time for renewal and the arrival of babies in the woods.

Lillie Normile Page 32

Kristin Pehl Photo Kristin Pehl

Inspiring Tomorrow’s Gardener Written by Judith Rogers

Judith Rogers

Children are naturally inquisitive. A garden with a broad diversity of colourful plants that attract birds and bugs to explore will draw them closer to nature.

It’s important to involve young ones in getting their hands dirty planting seeds, helping with watering and learning when to pick flowers or harvest vegetables.

All the while they are learning the satisfaction of nurturing plants.

A small vegetable plot of their own or a large container with dwarf varieties is perfect for little hands to manage. An herb garden is an awakening of the senses for children as they learn with adult supervision how the various aromatic textures taste.

Spring pussy willow catkins can become furry little pets and sedum hens and chicks is a favourite to see a mother surrounded by her babies.

Judith Rogers

The silvery soft hairs of lambs ears leaves feel just like that of a baby lamb. Putting together a fairy garden of miniature plants and tiny elements will stimulate creativity and imagination.

Judith Rogers

Fragrant plants not only attract bees and butterflies but little noses that love to smell pretty flowers.

Together watch bees closely and see how they pollinate flowers and collect pollen on their legs.

Page 34

Make a game of trying to identify birds in the garden by sight and song is not only entertaining but educational.

Judith Rogers

Organizing a treasure hunt is a good way to teach children more about gardening and nature. With determination and patience a bird’s feather or nest, pine cone, pretty stone, dandelion, leaf, four-leaved clover and additional treasures can be collected to talk about.

Children encouraged to participate in gardening and nature watching activities are more likely to carry this interest over into adult life.

They will have an appreciation for the fresh flavour of home grown fruits and vegetables, know how important a diversity of plants is, and be able to identify the beneficial insects that are vital to a successful garden.

Judith Rogers Page 35

Stretch!

Kim Harbicht­Sczesny

Easy Pose (Sukhasana) When you strip away the cumulative benefits of yoga: increased flexibility, better strength and balance, peacefulness, stress management, etc….the practice essentially boils down to meditation.

Written by Kim Harbicht-Sczesny Photo Kim Harbicht-Sczesny It is in meditation that we melt into that place of peacefulness. Unfortunately, tight hamstrings, inflexible inner thighs and sore backs can limit the time we can spend in this restorative posture. Thankfully, painful backs and stubborn hips can be improved and even offset by beginning your practice with the following simple routine. Add to these a few abdominal strengthening exercises and you’ll soon find that Easy pose becomes…well, easy!

Cat/Cow (Marjariasana): One all fours, with your wrists stacked underneath your shoulders and your knees beneath your hips, take a moment to find your neutral spine. Inhale and gently allow the belly to slacken as the chest and face open towards the front of the room. Exhale and engage the abdominals as you round your back and tuck your chin inwards, looking past your knees. Let your breath move you between these two postures and notice how nicely cat/cow release tension from your spine. 12-20 breaths Seated forward fold (Paschimottanasana): Anchor your sitz bones to the mat or, if your hamstrings are tight, sit on a folded blanket. Extend your legs out from you, grow your spine long and then hinge from the hips forward, gently moving your nose towards your toes. Keep your back straight and the front of your legs (thighs) active as you reach out from the hips and slowly, enjoy how this fold opens the hamstrings and brings length to the backs of your legs. 1220 breaths Page 36

Stretch......stretch....

Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana): Again, anchored with your sitz bones on the mat or a folded blanket, draw the soles of your feet together.

Cradle your toes with your hands.

Grow your spine long and hinge forward from the waist.

Gently move your chest towards your calves, concentrating on the sensation of opening in your inner thighs.

Don’t worry about how far forward you actually move. It’s about finding and working with your edge and extending only as far as you feel challenged. If available, gently press the elbows into the inner thighs to further lower the knees out to the sides. 12-20 breaths Easy Pose (Sukhasana): Come to a cross legged position. If your hamstrings are still tight, pull the flesh of your butt back off of your sitz bones so that you feel them ground into either the mat, a folded blanket or a meditation cushion. Pivot your hips forwards and backwards noticing where to find neutral, and then settle the hips into that comfortable middle-place.

Roll your shoulders forwards and backwards, again sensing where neutral is and let your shoulders settle at middle ground.

Engage your core muscles about 30%, enough to feel them supporting your lower back and then drop your lowest ribs in slightly to compensate for a chest that may be popping forward slightly. Finally, lower the chin slightly and notice that as you do, how the back of your neck gets longer. Now you are in the perfect position to dive into stillness. Place your hands gently at your knees, draw your awareness to your breath and enjoy just being there.

Kim Harbicht-Sczesny is a yoga teacher and wellness provider based in Sundre, Alberta. She teaches from her home studio and travels for workshops and events. Check out her website turningground.com for more information and discover daily insights at Turning Ground Yoga on Facebook.

“The yoga poses in this article should not be used as a substitute for professional health care. Talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise routine.”

Page 37

Deby Simmerson Photo: Deby Simmerson

Asparagus, strawberries, and a wide variety of farm fresh produce available this spring.

Living from Happiness blog Inspired by change, challenge and creativity.

Read more at livingfromhappiness.com

Okanagan Asparagus Farm okasparagus.com

Don't miss out!

Book now to advertise in the Summer issue of RURAL www.ruralmag.com

Kristin Pehl Photo : Kristin Pehl

Kristin Pehl Photo : Kristin Pehl

Photo Jen Vandervoort

Jen Vandervoort

Hungry Moon Tagine March is a time of re-birth, renewal and new beginnings…unfortunately those new beginnings aren’t yet yielding fruit in our gardens, which means that root vegetables (that winter staple) are on the menu for a little while longer. Re-invent root veg in a tagine or slow cooker with sumptuous Eastern flavours and relish how delicious eating the same ‘ol thing can be during the Hungry Moon.

3 potatoes, shredded 1 can chick peas, drained and rinsed 1 onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 inch ginger, minced 1 tbsp z’atar spice blend (or 1 tsp thyme + 1 tsp sesame seeds) 1 tsp cumin 1/2 tsp turmeric 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1 can tomatoes 1/2 tsp salt (or more to taste) 2 carrots, chopped 1 small turnip, peeled and chopped 2 Tbsp oil

Kim Harbicht­Sczesny

Sautée onion, garlic, ginger, carrot and turnip in oil on medium heat until onions are translucent. Add Z’atar spice (or alternative), turmeric, cinnamon and cumin and stir until deliciously fragrant. Pour all ingredients into a slow cooker or clay tagine.

If using the slow cooker, set heat to low and cook for 5-6 hours. If using an ovensafe tagine, bake at 325F for one hour.

Serve over couscous and enjoy.

Kim Harbicht-Sczesny is a mom, yoga teacher, writer and foodie devoted to cooking with the seasons. She’s always on the lookout for interesting new ways to feed her family. Discover more of her recipes on the award-winning blog, turningground.com

Page 43

Tiny house

BIG

DREAMS!

Written by Jen Vandervoort

Photos: Melanie Hewer

Melanie calls her tiny house Serendipity, and the journey towards its completion has been infused with moments that are perfect examples of the word. She strongly believes that if you do one thing a day towards your dreams they will eventually come true.

Melanie Hewer

She’s been interested in small builds for years after seeing a friend’s garden shed it was adorable….

"I loved to look at it and thought, if it was bigger I could live in one of those, it had cute windows and flower boxes.”

Melanie Hewer

About 6 years ago she saw the Tumbleweed Tiny House series on Youtube and her heart did a pitter patter….”I have been looking at tiny houses ever since, spending hours each week looking at them.”

She’s started a FB group to share the milestones of her build that has members checking in to see how it's coming along. Her tiny house has been featured on TV and in magazines.

Melanie Hewer

Page 44

After purchasing a trailer, [the most expensive part of the build] in 2015, she added 9 inches to the width specified in the plans by using extensions.

Melanie Hewer

She says grinding and drilling steel was hard for her “I wanted to be involved and do a lot of it myself, but reality sets in. If someone could build it to lock up stage that would save me a year of work” "No one wanted anything to do with it, they did not take me seriously I believe they were thinking it was a pipe dream, why waste their time?"

She decided to hire a contractor but was having difficulties finding anyone to give her a quote. A serendipitous meet up with an enthusiastic builder who understood what she’s trying to create and is helping turn her vision into a real life build became the turning point.

It's not been easy, but Melanie works with a core group of friends she calls her team, “7 people in my life I trust, and can ask for help when I need something."

They offer unconditional support, ideas, feedback and help. She also spends time each week discussing details and solving build issues in phone calls to her Dad, the experience she gained from her time as a teenager helping him build his house are coming in handy now.

Page 45

Similar to the way serendipity pulls everything together towards a perfect ending, planning and building a tiny house takes time and forethought because the details are hard to change once the framework is up. Melanie says that even a simple change of plans can affect the end result and must be thought through, “It is easy to say, the stairs are only 18 inches wide let's make them 24 inches instead. But then I cannot have a fold out bed in the great room as they're usually 60 inches wide, so it would not work.”

She’ll be using the same portable washer the size of a water jug called the Wonder Wash and an electrical spinner as the ones she found online for her Brother and Sisterin law who live off of the grid without power On good days she’ll do her laundry outside during the winter she'll do it in the shower stall, Melanie Hewer She plans to replace her current mini fridge with an apartment sized one when it wears out, a convection oven, hot plate, crock pot, and BBQ will serve up her meals.

Being goal oriented Melanie finds that working on one aspect of the house at a time helps her focus.

"Work smarter, not harder" is her Dad’s mantra, and she knows that she has time to decide the details because she hasn’t put time crunches on herself.

After the house reaches lock up stage she will concentrate on raising funds to purchase windows by selling off her unneeded household items that won’t fit into the tiny home.

She’s sorting through everything she owns, saving items that her mom has made, repurposing, and decluttering everything else. She's decorating in a shabby chic/Victorian theme and her mom and friends will be her biggest assets when decorating decisions have to be made.

Page 46

She plans on skirting the tiny house like a mobile home, and will have totes underneath for storage. “I would love to have a garden, and flowers again. I have not done a lot of that in the past few years but it nurtures my soul and I've already been planning it, even though I don't have a place for the house yet.” There will also be a large covered deck with some comfy chairs for relaxing with friends.

Melanie Hewer

A perfect day in her new tiny house will be leisurely awakening without the alarm, grabbing a cup of tea, sitting out on the deck with her dog Brown Sugar, and afterwards going out for a stroll in the garden, grabbings a few veggies for a salad, and then reading a good book.

In the winter, she sees herself curling up in front of the wood stove saying “this is the one thing I can’t wait for, I miss it as there is nothing like it to soothe my soul.

Page 47

RURAL ­ Fencelines ­ Or as we call it....the last page

Thanks for being part of our world here at RURAL magazine. We hope that you enjoyed reading this issue as much as we did creating it.

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