Barbra-Sue’s First Trip to Kowalski Mountain
Barbra-Sue’s very first trip to Kowalski Mountain was a quick overnight trip in a Uhaul. Philip had a small tarp shed assembled on the property to shelter supplies. I slept on a hammock in the shed for a few hours before sun up.
I got my first experience driving the 4 wheeler. We explored a little, unloaded our supplies and headed home.
First Workcation
Kowalski Mountain was built in workcations. We took our first working trip to Kowalski Mountain in July of 2018. Our goal was to prepare the RV pad for the arrival of the RV. I’ve always said that I think part of Philip’s plan was to see what I was truly made of, could I handle roughing it. Building a homestead from the ground up is no small task and it would require both of us to work hard and be willing to sacrifice some creature comforts as we worked towards the goal.
Camping in the Enclosed Trailer on Kowalski Mountain
That first summer we camped in an enclosed trailer. It wasn’t exactly roughing it, as we had a generator, air conditioning and hot water, but since it was our first vacation together, it wasn’t your typical vacation.
Hauling Water
We purchase water in nearby Leitchfield, hauling it in a small cistern tank and pumping it into the larger tank used for water storage.
Assembling the Canopy
Getting the tarp up was challenging, but Philip has a way of thinking outside the box to get the job done. I can’t imagine building the homestead without the bobcat! Philip uses it like an extension of his arm.
Building the Dam
A refreshing chore enjoyed by all of us was in the creek. We built a dam to slow the water flow.
Planting Our First Crops
Philip “MacGyvered” a plow so we could till the soil to plant the first crops on the property. We got enough green beans for dinner later that year.
I’m not a skilled laborer, so I typically get the end of a shovel. Philip encourages me to use all the equipment, but sometimes the shovel is just more my style. (Yes, I’m using a pick ax in this picture. )
Comforts of Home
Time for Fun
This trip wasn’t all work, we explored the property on foot, played in the creek and enjoyed the amazing fireworks in the nearby community.
Read about the RV making it’s final journey to Kowalski Mountain here.
About the Author: Barbra-Sue Kowalski grew up on a small hobby farm. She was always drawn to farm life, however, she was stuck in an urban life far from her roots. Barbra-Sue was a single mom for 13 years, raising her 3 children on her own. She met Philip in 2018 and they married in 2021. Between the two of them, they have 5 grown children and 5 grandchildren. These empty nesters are following their dreams! As they both turn 50, they are building their off-grid homestead to live the life that they dream about. Learn more about Philip and Barbra-Sue here. Contact them here. To leave a comment on this post, please scroll down.
This post is GREAT! It really shows how off-grid living starts. It’s rough. I admit that I never started from the bottom up. I had the good fortune of moving into a set up that was further along than that. But I’ve seen a lot of people start exactly this way in the hills of northern CA. LOVE seeing your start in this post. Thanks for sharing 😉
Thank you! We’ve come so far! Progress is slow, but we are getting there.