Building a Permaculture Dream
There’s a certain rhythm to life that I’ve come to appreciate more with each passing year. The way dreams take root in the soil of everyday efforts, growing slowly but surely into something tangible. Lately, my thoughts have turned often to our property in Texas, a modest 5-acre tract nestled between Houston and San Antonio. It’s become a quiet anchor amid the demands of running the company and nurturing our family, even as we haven’t fully settled there yet. While it’s just the right size for our current chapter, I’ve found myself envisioning expansions, acquiring adjacent land to fully realize the vision of a permaculture paradise. Sustainable living, harmonious with the earth. Gardens thriving, animals roaming freely, all woven into a landscape that sustains and inspires.
The challenge is real; the sandy soil demands patience and ingenuity, requiring layers of compost and careful cultivation to transform it into fertile ground. Yet, that’s part of the appeal. The work itself becomes a meditation on resilience. We began with raw land, overgrown with brush and dotted by trees. Clearing the undergrowth was methodical; we preserved the larger oaks and natives that lent character and shade, ensuring the space retained its natural essence. A camper now sits there for our weekend escapes, offering a simple refuge where the family can unplug and reconnect. It’s reminiscent of those serene moments by Lake Cle Elum, though grounded in the familiar warmth of Texas.
Practical steps have followed: installing an electrical pole and running the lines underground to maintain a clean, uncluttered aesthetic. No visible wires to disrupt the horizon. Details like these matter, preserving the property’s serene beauty. Now, my wife and I are immersed in designing our dream home, a place of simple elegance where we’ll relocate with the children next year. Spacious enough for our brood of three daughters and one son to flourish, yet designed for a balanced life amid the farm we’ll build. Chickens clucking in the yard, perhaps goats or other animals I hold dear, alongside fruit trees and vegetable beds. It’s an extension of my love for the natural world, much like the beeswax candles that light my writing sessions, casting a gentle glow on evenings spent with my sci-fi novel.
The holidays brought a spark of adventure; for Christmas, we gifted the kids an ATV, a dirt bike, and a four-wheeler. Seeing them navigate the trails we’ve carved, their laughter echoing through the trees, fills me with a profound joy. It’s these shared experiences that deepen our bonds. And now, with Grandma having moved just down the street, it’s truly a family endeavor. Her presence adds layers of support and stories, making the property feel like the heart of our extended world. Collaborating on this with my wife feels like the culmination of years built on partnership and shared aspirations.
This Texas haven is more than land; it’s a canvas for the life we’re crafting. Amid the chapters of my novel and the rhythms of leadership, it offers a space to dream bigger, to cultivate not just soil, but souls. I’m eager for the day we call it home, watching it evolve into the luxury permaculture farm we’ve imagined. In the quiet of those acres, life’s possibilities unfold.