Returning to the farm 1 of July, just when the renter moved out with her animals, leaving 6 dogs, 9 cats, 2 peacocks to get picked up later, and alot of repair to be done. More or less restoring it and prepare for the new stuff that will happen this late summer.

But first was clearing the inside of the barn, and the outside areas of old hay and shit, plowing the fields and sow new grass, that was 1 week of heavy grunt work. Old hay and straw will hinder the regrowth of new grass, and can rot and get infested by maggots, which can spread and be a health issue for the animals.

5 New arrivals - just after finishing the cleaning up, we got a pair of summer guest, a big 1.6 ton bull and a girlfriend, Hunk and Chuchu. A very big boy, but very calm, used as a therapy bull for kids, that needs a few months of freedom and quiet time, and keeping him happy, clean, and feed is part of my morning routine, as I will be repairing fences and the green areas around him, and he needs to know me, as im starting on the green areas around the farm, cleaning them for weeds, prepping for future gardens, and he chow down 3 wheelbarrows of weed per day with a happy face, so we are partners in cleaning up ;)

And 2 weeks in, the peacocks moved out and 5 chickens and 1 rooster moved in, and we prepared a place for the next animals to come in the end of July, 2 farmcats.

Cleaning up the gardens infront of the kennels and the main house, mostly for the clean up, as most of the plants will be vegetables which is to late to plant now, aswell as  trying out plants that will cover the fences, first plant for that was wines, but reading into plants that can be dangerous to dogs, wines where among them, so that model was dropped, and another area disignated for wines and different climbing plants for testing. Aswell as some raised stone beds for herbs, aswell as different trees for each section that will be used for shade and covering, mains are witch hazel and blood beerch

The wines and kiwis that was planted in the spring and supposed to be covering the fences, was damaged by sheeps and cows, as the were let in the garden area to grass, but after moving them to the back end to cover for an upcoming camping area, seems most have survived, and only took a setback of most of this years growth. The loads of rain in the end of July have made an big improvenmen

We also began preparing the barn to get a new roof, so I painted the most of the lining sidepanels for one side, and helped put up the full scaffolding and we began the build, but rain and storm put a stop for that for some time so we instead began making the foundation for a new sliding gate infront.

We managed to finish the side panels and the gutter system, and the preroof, so its just the metal roof plates that need to be done.

There is already cleared for the scaffolding on the  other side of the house, and organised so the cows will be out on outer fields, as the bull will for see a scaffolding as something to fight and damage or pull it down. So now its just the weather that will decide how fast it be done.

So I will begin August by painting the panels for the other side, its about 100 m2, the building is 60 meters long, each bord 4 meters, so alot of painting.

And hopefully the cement foundation for the new gate system will be hardened enough for us to start setting it up, aswell as building and connecting 7 ekstra fence panels to the gate, to close it all off and connect all parts of the fence together, so no animal can get out. Alot of trees, roots and bushs had to be cleared to make room for this, but will end with an automatic big gate and a bigger quest parking zone, and stronger gating on this part  to match the rest of the fence system.

August

We finished one side of the roof, as the roofers have 3 weeks  vacation, so it had to be done, even thought it was a cold wet day.

And then we took the scaffolding down, moved it to the other side, and layed it out to get installed when we start on the other side in the end of august.

The heavy rain created some problems at the farm, the hotel and storage, where all had to be fixed and cleaned to some extend.

The hotel garden was full, so I installed som gutters under the stones to help drain the water away, but the main issue is the garden is so old, the roots have lifted the stonegarden, and is blocking the waterflow, aswell as the earth seeping out and enhancing the blocks - the plan is to get all out outside tourist season, so this was just a way to relieved the system a little. 

The farm mostly had issues as the all the work created alot of muddy areas that drained away with the rain, making certain areas hard to work at, and the weeds to explode in growth, tho Hunk the bull is happy about that ;) he can eat 3 wheelbarrow a day with no issue.

Main gate and fence

We got the new fences home and the new gate for the entrancee, to replace the temporary ones thats been there, and fully close the area, so no animal can get out, and outside animals like wildswine and foxes cant get in.

Restoring tables

Two of the tables at the breakfast restaurant at the hotel, with a heavy metal frame and wooden boards needed to be restored, as all the water and Lubeck in general being an wet city have made them rosty and moldy. So the I started splitting the 2 spares we have at the farm and sand down the metal frame and will repaint them in dark grey and with new light wooden board to fit the general theme better, and then restore the 2 from the hotel the same way and use them in the inner yard, in the areas I have opened up there by cleaning out the green chaos to also make a red line thru out from outside to inside

Cleaning out and restore a technic room in the hotel. Old and damaged, we spartled cracks in the walls and floor, painted and secured old powerlines, so the house keeping staff could use it properly.

Cleaning out two offices and a big storage room, aswell as fixing the basement so that could be storage for everything the cleaning staff need instead of it being spread around in several locations, taking shelfs down from the big storage and moving into the cellar, then moving everything from the storage and offices either downstairs to the new storage or upstairs for the office storage, used by the office people all now together on top.

The plan for the combined storage/office space is for one big family apartment, which will have a fantastic view and great space.

Alot of painting, which we got a new spray gun for, which after some noob mistakes was so good to work with, alot of prep time but so fast when you get going.

After finishing the new  flat for the hotel, we moved on to restore an apartment in Obertrave, one of the houses owned by the company. With some longtime renters and some hotel rooms, this was one rented out for a few years that needed to return into hotel room lineup, and it was in pretty bad shape, all needed to be taken out and redone. Painting,( walls, doors, heaters and windows), new floors, footlists

Scaffolding part 2

Vacation time over and the farm friends that come to help with the roofing returned, to yet another 60 meter scaffolding buildt, and this time we had to build around 3 entrances to the farm, so the animals could get in and out, and aswell be stable enough to have a big bull test it

The rest of the month will be finishing up, make the underlining for the roof, and the front and back entrance, which just need new wood panels.

Because of heavy rain the front was delayed, but finally got ready to paint and finish.

The inside was cleaned out, and we installed 2 firewood ovens and had a big 60 people meeting here.

The grass was dwindling down for the bull and cow, so they for sure enjoyed that we took over the service of 4 rental properties in the company, and I brought home several big backs of cut grass 2 times a week, and fresh cut branches from the hedges.

The tinyhouse was finished and ready for use.

One of the chickens surprised us, coming back with 11 chicklings after being gone for a little month and presumed eaten by a fox.

We cleaned out most of the stable, except for where the bull  lives and the chickens, which was just renewed, which is cleaned and new straw and hay brought in.

November

November ended the camping season and started parking season, and brought the kennel a mother dog and 7 puppies to be raised here for a animal shelter, to give them peace and give them chance to meet dogs and people in a quiet enviroment.

The chicken babies started free running in the stable, and they were very curious to our stuff we bright in, to be able to work duing the winter inside, aswell as all the outdoor furniture.

The Bull and his girlfriend was brought home, to spend the winter in the barn, with his other ladies.

LEVELING THE AREA

Snow, winter is coming

Its mostly making sure 4 houses around Lubeck is cleaned for snow and sanded, as salt is forbidden around Lubeck mainly because its surrounded by water, but also the vast amount of old historic buildings.

At the farm we need to make sure the chickens get in and out without freezing to death.

December

December was mainly cleaning snow at the different properties under the companies unbrella, aswell as chopping firewood and keeping the office and entrance room of the farm ice free, as its newly covered by new roof and underroof, its was still nof fully isolated.

Aswell as saving the tinyhouse, where the frost broke the waterheater and made a waterdamage on the flooring.

Importent as from january I was to move into the tinyhouse, as my room was part of the side of the farm rented out to a dog trainer company.

And for us at the farm, we had some overtime to get rid of before the new year, so it was a long christmas vacation, for me tho I stayed in Germany and took care of the farm instead of going home

January

Continuing cleaning rental houses and snowcleaning, some times 2 times a day because of heavy snow.

Picking up a yurt and a big camping wagon thats to be used for camping guests, setting the yurt up inside to get aired out.

And as soon as the snow was gone we started digging out almost 600 meters for water pipers, for rain water and for future toilets and baths for camping guests, setup in  a shipping container style. The rainwater gets drained to big holding tanks, so it can be used for animals.

Burning alot of old trashwood and cuttings from the work, the size of a citybus worth of wood.

Making a door in the kennel which can be opened from inside for one of the dogs, which can react with biting to all people except one, and either need his mouthguard on for so long it gives him wounds, or stay inside when shes not here, so to give him freedom a doggy door was made.

February

Unfortunately the last days of January I stumpled over a metal frame, and even thought I cleaning and keept it wrapped, a farm have lot of dirt, and some of it gave me a severe infection, which I went to get medicine for, but instead was put directly into hospital care, because it was more severe then it appeared, blood test, x ray and test, showed risk of bloodpoisoning, blood clots, and the infection in itself was lying under the whole shin bone, and didnt take well to antibiotics, so was hospitalized for 11 days, and put on safety from more infection duty in an appartment in Lubeck, close to my normal doctor which I had to visit every 3 days, to get tjecked and get my prescriptions renewed. Ended up being on sick leave for almost 5 weeks in total, having 3 types on antibiotics because I got rashes after about 10 days on one type, and being tested if I needed to have a hard clot of blod surgical removed, which I luckely didnt need, it will have to slowly evaporate over the next 6 months, and only if its still there they might reconsider. Its a place with very bad blood flow, so things takes time, and that would include the recovery from surgery.

All went well but for sure showed me the importance of having your insurance in order, even our yellow card only does so much here, mostly for your private doctor, where it can be harder getting the termins you need, and you would have to pay alot upfront for the medicine, where with my german card, all just cost 5 euros.

Marts

In one of the hotel studie appartment building we cleared a storage room, to make a new 2 stories rental room, to ease me into work I helped here tking out the old windows and moving the old roof tiles around, to make room for bigger and newer windows, which for me ment alot of time on the street, watching out for people passing in case old mortar would fall, as even a little from 4th floor can do alot of damage, and we had to clear for 5 windows on the street side.

Tore down the walls in the old kitchen that will end up as the new bathroom, as the walls couldnt be made waterproof.

Walked down all the rubbish 4 floors and drove it all to recycling.

Rebuilding the appartment, which will then be used as a blue print for the 6 other appartments in the building that will gradually be renovated over this year, outside of the heavy turist times, as the house is normally fully booked during these. One of the best placements in town for turists.

And for me, im learning alot about the construction part of a build, which would normally be done by carpenters and plumbers, but I get to help and learn.

Sewage system being buildt