Strengthening Barndovilla: Installing Additional Floor Jacks and Cleaning Up the Crawl Space
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As we continue to enhance the Barndovilla, one of our recent projects has been installing two additional floor jacks beneath the living quarters. We placed one jack beneath the stackable washer and dryer and another in front of the refrigerator. This upgrade has helped alleviate structural issues, ensuring the structure remains level and stable.
The Unexpected Challenges
During the project, we encountered a few surprises, as is often the case when working beneath a house. We found some deceased rodents, which reminded us why regular maintenance in these hard-to-reach areas is so important. Armed with gloves and a lot of determination, we cleaned up the mess and took preventive measures to avoid future issues.
Cobweb Cleanup Hack
One unexpected win was discovering a neat trick for clearing cobwebs. Using a Swiffer with an extendable handle, we made quick work of the dusty corners and overhead spaces. This simple tool turned out to be a game-changer for keeping the area tidy.
Insulation Repairs
We also noticed that some of the old insulation had fallen and become damaged over time. After cleaning out the unusable pieces, we replaced the missing sections with fresh insulation to help maintain energy efficiency and comfort in the living quarters above.
Choosing the Right Floor Jack
Finding the perfect floor jack for your needs can be daunting, but we’ve made it easier by compiling a list of top-rated options on Amazon. These jacks come in various sizes and weight capacities to suit a range of projects. Click here to explore different types of floor jacks on Amazon.*
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. By clicking the link and purchasing through it, you help support our blog and projects at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Our Process
From tackling the cleanup to installing the floor jacks, this project was an all-hands-on-deck effort. We’ve detailed the entire process in a YouTube video, showing everything from selecting the jacks to replacing the insulation. Be sure to check it out for tips, tricks, and a bit of entertainment!
In this video, we take you under the Barndovilla living quarters for a much-needed upgrade! Watch as we install two additional floor jacks—one beneath the stackable washer and dryer… pic.twitter.com/PikLg1SZRu
As the season winds down, we’re reflecting on an incredible few months at Barndovilla. This year has been a mix of hard work, exciting projects, and bountiful harvests.
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Starting the Tiny Home Build at Tilted K Homestead
One of the biggest undertakings this season was beginning the tiny home build at Tilted K Homestead. Despite challenging weather and muddy conditions, we made progress and enjoyed great camaraderie while celebrating Jess’s birthday. Although the rain slowed construction, we’re eager to return and help Eric and Missy complete their cozy new home.
Harvesting the Fruits of Our Labor
Our gardens rewarded us with a fantastic end-of-season harvest. We gathered:
Sunchokes – Robust and ready for winter storage, though they require cooking to avoid digestive surprises.
Turmeric – Vibrant and fresh, perfect for homemade health remedies.
Radishes & Turnips – Crisp and flavorful, harvested from the chaos garden despite some pest nibbles.
Onions – A pantry staple that will enhance many future meals, though we experienced some loss due to delayed processing.
Each harvest came with lessons learned and a deeper appreciation for nature’s cycles. We processed and freeze-dried onions, ensuring long-term storage for our homestead needs.
Upgrading the Chicken Coop
Keeping our feathered friends happy is always a priority. This season, we added an automatic chicken door opener, making daily chores easier and enhancing predator protection. We also fixed the hinge on top of the nesting boxes, simplifying egg collection. Additionally, we implemented creative solutions like painting water buckets black to prevent algae growth and harness solar heat.
https://amzn.to/49pKBl3 Ortis Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener & Closer: A Poultry Keeper’s Dream.
Looking Ahead
As we prepare for winter, our homestead continues to grow with new projects and ideas. We’re grateful for the support and community that makes Barndovilla more than just a homestead—it’s a way of life.
Stay connected for more updates, tips, and stories from our journey. Be sure to watch the full video to see these projects and harvests in action!
We wrapped up an eventful season at Barndovilla! Despite muddy weather, we started the tiny home build at Tilted K Homestead, harvested sunchokes, turmeric, radishes, turnips, and onions, and upgraded our chicken coop with an automatic door and nesting box fixes. Learn more about… pic.twitter.com/Ubu6kgWBw1
In our latest homestead adventure, we took on a unique project: transforming a wall inside our barndominium into a medieval-inspired backdrop. With the help of Jason and Terra from White Rock Homestead, as well as friends Eric and Jenny, we’ve started building something truly special. This wall won’t just look great—it’s going to serve as a multipurpose set for videos on multiple channels, including Barndovilla, LarpCraft, and Backroad Reviews.
From Concept to Reality: A Medieval Fantasy Wall
The idea behind this wall is to blend rustic medieval aesthetics with modern functionality. We’re aiming for a vibe reminiscent of a fantasy inn, inspired by classics like Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings. Imagine rough wood beams, cobblestone accents, and textures similar to those found in D&D campaigns or Warhammer sets. Eventually, we plan to extend the medieval theme throughout the barndominium, turning it into a dynamic space for LARP events and filming scenes.
This transformation will help us level up our product reviews by giving us a controlled indoor backdrop, rather than relying on unpredictable outdoor conditions. We’re also insulating the walls (up to R20 or even R30 in the ceiling) to keep the space comfortable throughout the Ozark seasons. Down the line, we’ll add mini-split units for heating and cooling, hidden above the beams to maintain the theme.
Staining and Layering the First 50 Boards
The first step was to prep the cedar boards, which we stained using a mix of boiled linseed oil, reducer, and various stains. Because the boards are rough-cut, each one absorbs the stain differently, creating a natural light-and-dark layered effect. This variance was exactly what we hoped for—it adds depth to the wall, giving it that medieval character.
After experimenting with colors, we finally mounted the first 50 boards. The results are fantastic! We’re achieving the layered look we were aiming for, combining stained and burned wood for visual contrast. Next, we’ll build the beams and trusses using 2x6s to make them sturdy enough to hold lighting equipment and décor for our videos.
Progress in the Chaos Garden and Winter Prep
We’ve been busy in other areas too! While working on the wall, we jumped back to Link’s room to tackle a roof leak. After months of troubleshooting, we finally figured out the issue—a misaligned foam seal along the edge. We’ll monitor it through a few rainstorms before closing everything up and moving forward with a lean-to addition.
The colder weather is setting in here in the Ozarks, which means it’s time to wrap up the garden. The chaos garden fence line is coming down, and we’ve started burning off some old growth to prepare for winter. We’re finishing the grapevines, harvesting the last peppers, and pulling onions and potatoes before planting garlic. It’s also time to prepare low tunnels and begin work on high tunnels to extend the growing season.
New Gear and Community Support
A huge shoutout to John and Sarah, two of our biggest supporters, who donated a much-needed meat slicer! This larger slicer will help us with processing bacon and other meats more efficiently. We’re also firing up the wood stove for its first burn of the season—always a critical step before cleaning the pipe for winter use.
Of course, no project is complete without some chaos from our farm animals. Our rooster, Mr. Loudmouth, made sure to chime in throughout the filming, wrecking a few shots. Whether he likes it or not, progress marches on!
Looking Ahead
With the medieval wall almost complete, the next steps are building cobblestone-like accents and crafting a unique door—Terra’s got some great ideas for this part! The beams will add the final touch, giving the wall that old-world charm we’re after.
Once everything is in place, this space will become the perfect setting for product reviews, homesteading how-tos, and even some LARP roleplay scenes. The combination of creativity, function, and medieval flair will set the stage for some incredible content.
Thank You for the Support!
This project, like so many others, is made possible through the support of our subscribers and community. If you’ve liked, shared, or subscribed to our channels—or picked up some merch along the way—thank you! Your engagement on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X, Rumble, and Barndovilla.com keeps these projects going.
Stay tuned for more updates as we complete the wall and start building out the rest of the barn! In the meantime, keep those ideas flowing—we love hearing your thoughts in the comments. Until next time, enjoy the journey with us, and as always, like, share, and subscribe!
Starting a vineyard is no small task, but I’m here to show you exactly how we’re making it work here at Barndovilla. I’m Ryan Harden, your host at Backroad Reviews, and in today’s blog, I’m going to give you a firsthand look at our vineyard test, along with some crucial lessons learned from setting up this project. You can watch my accompanying video over at Backroad Reviews for a more detailed walkthrough, where I cover everything from trellis setup to soil amendments and how to fend off deer (yes, those darn deer).
Youtube Video
We embarked on this journey with the goal of growing organic grapes for both personal use and potential winemaking. I knew it was going to be a challenging process, especially with our unique soil conditions and the local wildlife. But with some persistence, a lot of learning, and careful planning, we’re on our way to a successful first-year vineyard test.
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Trellis Setup and Vineyard Layout
Let’s jump right into the setup. Our vineyard trellises are running north to south, which is ideal for optimal sunlight exposure. The key here is airflow, and that’s why we spaced the vines roughly four feet apart. Some folks might recommend tighter spacing, but we wanted to ensure ample airflow, especially since we’re located in a high-humidity area. I’m using this first test line to figure out what works best in terms of vine spacing and airflow before we expand the vineyard further.
As far as the soil goes, our land has a heavy clay base, and while it doesn’t hold water in extreme weather conditions, it’s still important to mitigate the risk of root rot. For that, we’re using a blend of native soil and organic additives like biochar, rock minerals, and gypsum, along with Pro-Mix to enhance microbial life. This mix helps the vines get the nutrients they need without getting waterlogged. Pro-Mix is especially great because it contains vermiculite and mycorrhizae fungi, which encourage healthy root development and nutrient uptake.
Managing Soil and Moisture for Healthy Vines
One of the biggest concerns when starting a vineyard in an area like ours is maintaining the right soil moisture level. To keep things balanced, we’re implementing the “Back to Eden” gardening technique. This involves laying down wood chips to retain moisture while breaking down over time to enrich the soil.
This method not only ensures the soil stays rich but also protects the roots from getting too soggy during heavy rains. We’re layering the wood chips in a lasagna style to provide both insulation and a slow breakdown process that feeds the vines.
Each vine is surrounded by a healthy amount of mulch, and even though it might look like overkill, this amount of mulch is essential for water retention. In the long run, the mulch will settle, and the soil will become rich and black, making it perfect for sustained vine growth. This method has worked wonders for our blueberries, so I’m confident it will work here, too.
Dealing with Wildlife – The Deer Dilemma
We ran into a big problem with deer, which any vineyard owner will tell you can be a nightmare. The deer absolutely decimated the last two vines I planted, which was beyond frustrating. Not only did they pull up the roots, but they also ate through a significant portion of our chaos garden and elderberries.
To combat this, we installed a high-line electric fence powered by a solar fence charger. It’s been a game changer. You can check out my full review of this product in the video linked above. Keeping the deer out was the first step, but we’ve also started working on a more permanent fencing solution that we’ll be featuring in an upcoming video on Backroad Reviews. Fencing is crucial when starting a vineyard, and I can’t stress enough how much it helped us recover from the initial damage.
When it comes to nurturing vines, one of the most important aspects is getting the right balance of nutrients into the soil. We amended the clay-heavy native soil with trace minerals, biochar, gypsum, and worm castings. These amendments ensure that the vines get the major nutrients they need, like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as trace minerals essential for long-term vineyard health.
One key trick we’ve been using is vermiculture – that’s right, worms! I’ve added over a thousand worms into the soil around the vines, and they’re doing an amazing job breaking down the wood chips and enriching the soil. Between the rock minerals and worm activity, the soil is constantly breaking down and becoming more nutrient-rich.
We’re careful not to overdo it, though. Too many amendments can cause root burn, which is something we’re monitoring closely. I’ve found that a slow, steady approach to soil improvement is best, especially in these early stages of vineyard development.
Growing Organic Grapes for a Healthier Future
One of the reasons we chose to grow grapes organically is that we consume a lot of grapes as a family – probably a pound or two each week. But beyond that, we wanted to avoid the harmful chemicals and pesticides often used in commercial vineyards. While organic wine is available, there’s something incredibly rewarding about growing and making your own organic products.
The grapes aren’t the only thing we’re looking to produce organically. We’re also planning to expand into beekeeping next spring, which will allow us to start producing honey and possibly even venture into making our own mead. Growing everything organically aligns with our values here at Barndovilla, and we’re excited to share this journey with you.
Future Plans for the Vineyard
This first test row is just the beginning. Once we’ve fine-tuned the spacing, soil composition, and watering system, we’re planning to expand the vineyard to cover a larger portion of the property. It’s going to take time, but with the lessons we’re learning from this initial setup, I’m confident we’ll get there.
We’re also considering purchasing a second property to fully dedicate to vineyard farming, but that’s further down the road. For now, we’re taking it one step at a time and sharing every part of the journey with you.
Preparing for What’s Ahead: Goldbacks, Growing Food, and Rejecting Modern Society
Goldbacks. Recently, I hosted a livestream for the North Central Arkansas Survivability Network where I shared my deep concerns about the current state of our economy and the pressing need for alternative currencies like goldbacks. Given the gravity of the situation, we’ve decided to release this video to everyone, because the message is too important to keep within a small group. As we face unprecedented challenges, it’s time we start unlearning our reliance on the government, grocery stores, fuel supplies, and currency as we know it. We need to create a new way of living—a network and economy outside of what the “normies” use—so that we can weather any storm that comes our way.
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The Economic Storm on the Horizon
We are currently in a recession that could easily spiral into a major depression. The signs are all around us—the dollar’s value is plummeting, and the government’s attempts to manage the situation seem to be making things worse. Historically, when governments impose price caps on essential goods, it almost always leads to famine. We’re seeing the early stages of this now, and if history is any guide, things are likely to get much worse.
But it’s not just about the economy. We’re entering what could be the most dangerous time in our history, with the real possibility of another stolen election and the resulting civil unrest. The divisions in our society are deepening, and the potential for widespread disruption is growing by the day. The oligarchs pulling the strings seem intent on seeing us—those they view as “serfs”—either dead or dying. All of this plays into their depopulation plans, and if we’re not careful, we’ll find ourselves caught in their web.
Unlearning Reliance on Modern Systems
To survive what’s coming, we must start unlearning our dependence on the systems that have been put in place to control us. The government, grocery stores, fuel supplies, and fiat currency are all part of a larger network designed to keep us subservient. It’s time to break free from that network and build something new, something resilient that can withstand the coming storm.
One of the most important steps we can take is to stop relying on grocery stores for our food. With all the food being treated with new chemicals, with tallow oils being replaced by seed oils, and with microplastics and “forever chemicals” contaminating our food and clothing, we need to reject modern society’s toxic offerings and return to our ancestral ways. Our ancestors knew how to live off the land, how to grow their own food, and how to trade within their communities without relying on outside systems. It’s time we relearn those skills.
Goldbacks and Homegrown Food: Building the Foundation of a New Economy
In light of all this, I’ve been advocating for two key strategies: investing in goldbacks and growing our own food. Goldbacks offer a reliable, tangible currency that isn’t subject to the same risks as fiat money. As the dollar continues to lose value, goldbacks can provide a stable alternative for trade, especially within local communities. By using goldbacks, we can begin to build a new economy that operates outside of the systems that are failing us.
But currency alone isn’t enough. We need to be able to feed ourselves and our families, no matter what happens. By growing food at home, we not only ensure our immediate survival but also create a buffer against economic volatility. Homegrown food buys us time—time to adapt, time to prepare, and time to figure out what our next steps should be. It also frees us from the chemical-laden, unhealthy options available at grocery stores.
Rejecting Modern Society and Returning to Our Roots
The modern world is full of traps designed to keep us weak, dependent, and sick. From the dangerous chemicals in our food to the microplastics and forever chemicals in our clothing, it’s clear that the powers that be don’t have our best interests at heart. The only way to truly free ourselves from their grasp is to reject modern society and return to our ancestral ways. This means growing our own food, making our own clothing, and creating our own networks of trade and communication.
It’s becoming increasingly clear that the oligarchs who control our world want us “serfs” dead or dying. Their depopulation plans are no secret, and everything we’re seeing—the economic collapse, the poisoned food supply, the civil unrest—is part of their strategy to reduce the population and tighten their control. But we don’t have to play into their hands. By building strong, resilient communities, we can protect ourselves from their plans and ensure our survival.
Building a Resilient Community: The Way Forward
Surviving these challenges isn’t something any of us can do alone. The key to overcoming what’s ahead lies in building strong, resilient communities. This means practicing open communication, sharing resources, and working together to ensure that everyone’s basic needs are met.
Here’s how we can start:
Food Security: Grow your own food, stock up on essentials, and learn how to preserve what you harvest. The more self-sufficient we are, the less vulnerable we become to supply chain disruptions. By rejecting store-bought food, we also reject the chemicals that are slowly poisoning us.
First Aid: Make sure everyone in your community has basic first aid knowledge. In times of crisis, medical help may not be readily available, so knowing how to treat injuries and illnesses is crucial. Returning to natural remedies and ancestral medicine can also reduce our reliance on pharmaceuticals.
Defense: We need to be prepared to protect ourselves and our loved ones. This means being armed and trained in how to use those arms responsibly. It also means being aware of our surroundings and having a plan in place for any potential threats.
Communication: Clear, open communication is vital in any crisis. We need to establish reliable methods of staying in touch with each other, whether through radios, private networks, or regular face-to-face meetings. Building a private courier network can also help us exchange goods and information securely.
Private Courier Network: As trust in public institutions wanes, we may need to rely on our own networks for the safe and secure exchange of goods and information. Establishing a private courier system within our community could be a critical component of maintaining our independence and security.
Creating a Network and Economy Outside the “Normie” World
If we are to survive and thrive in the face of these challenges, we must create a network and economy that operates outside of what the “normies” use. This new network will be based on trust, mutual aid, and a shared commitment to survival. By investing in goldbacks, growing our own food, practicing first aid, and building a private courier network, we can create a parallel economy that will allow us to weather any storm.
We must also reject the toxic, modern conveniences that are slowly killing us. By returning to our ancestral ways, we can protect ourselves from the oligarchs’ depopulation plans and build a future that is healthy, sustainable, and free from their control.
Bringing It All Together
The challenges we’re facing are daunting, but they’re not insurmountable. By coming together as a community, unlearning our dependence on modern systems, investing in alternative currencies like goldbacks, growing our own food, and preparing for whatever may come, we can build a foundation of resilience that will see us through even the darkest times.
This isn’t about panic; it’s about preparation. The more we do now to secure our futures, the better off we’ll be when the inevitable challenges arise. Let’s continue this conversation, stay serious about these preparations, and work together to build a safer, more secure future for all of us.
