WORK IN THE THERAPY GARDEN

Jennifer and I went through the fruit trees, after consulting two other ladies with green thumbs, and discussed which trees needed to come out, which trees are healthy and can stay, how many apple trees we really wanted as a majority of them are apples and such. We've narrowed down the number of trees by half to allow for space for each to grow and mature. There are plans to plant other fruit trees in the central part of the garden once the construction is complete. But for now we plan to have 2 cherry trees, 4 apple trees, a pear, 2 peach, an apricot and 2 plum trees. There is a dead walnut tree that we tried, but it just didn't make it through the hot summer, so we'll replace that this fall with a new one to become the central shade tree around which the rest of the garden spreads out. The Japanese flowering tree has grown taller and the grape vines are doing great, we've got 10 of those in varying kinds that are unknown at this point, 

Sasha just knows he bough 2 of each :-). Hibiscus plants will go in this fall, possibly hollyhocks as well along the neighboring fence line. All other smaller plants and flowers are going to have to wait as this central area of the garden will be a work area through the building of Stephen's house.

Trying to discern how far from the neighbor Larisa's property line we want to have 

the back trellis with morning glories planted. 

It will form a semiprivate wall at the back of the swing.

Trying to wrap the smallest grape vine around the string supports 

so it will grow up and not out.

Measuring for the width of the the sidewalk and then the width of the trellis that 

will shade the sidewalk area leading back to the swing.

Jennifer represents the location on the new apricot tree, 

I am standing in the spot of the spot of a lilac transplant 

to fill the far corner and mark the boundary.

The plot for the therapy garden is just now beginning the transfer process of documents from the owner, Larisa, to PROMISE. We've had to wait as local offices are changing across the country to consolidate the number of little offices in villages, to one local office at the largest village in the surrounding area. That's the slow step #1 that we've had to wait on. #2 is that Larisa does not have any documentation stating that she is the owner of the property. This is typical for elderly here in Ukraine as the plot has simply been passed down from one generation to the next without question.  #3 This therefore implys that she does not have documents privatizing her plot, making the land hers as well as the house on it. That is necessary in order for us to then go through the official purchase process. Hoping that all this will process sooner than later, the Lord knows, grateful.

Over this past week Jennifer and Joe Brown, along with Sasha and I have done some major cleanup work on the property. The perimeter has needed to be cleared and Sasha's done almost all of the edges in preparation for the plot to be officially surveyed and staked so we can put up temporary new fencing through the building process. 

The health of the trees has been a big concern, both those that were transplanted but the new ones and grape vines too. The snails multiply buy the hundreds it seems, overnight so I painted the scented white paint that's popular here in Ukraine, it's usually goes on at the start of the season. We're a little slow, that's all.

These are our 10 grape vines of varying types and colors, though labeled, we may just have to wait a few years to find out for certain what kinds they really are.

This area will have a foundation on it, we pray, this next year.

Spent a few more days this week working the land that will be the therapy garden plot for Stephen's home. With the hot sun these days, watering the transplanted trees is the main focus, though weeding is going to be a never ending endeavor if we don't try something new. 

So we bought something we were told is comparable to Roundup and sprayed it yesterday. Today the weeds all look the same. I don't think it's comparable!

Considering the price we paid for it, $4 to make a 5 liter spray container, tells me it's not the same. Sasha's willing to wait a day or two, I'm willing to maybe go look in another store to see if they sell Roundup. 

The soil is rich in Darivka. It's wonderful for growing plants, we drove through fields of blooming sunflowers this morning on the way to church. The problem is weeds grow just as quickly, if not faster. The vine that's formed across the entire garden area is all connected and it's roots are a bear to get out, well if your like me and have little upper body strength. The hoe I use is sharp, but requires a few more wacks to get to the bottom of the problem :-).

We have about 20 of these two or three year old fruit trees around the perimeter of the 

therapy garden that were transplanted this past fall and spring from the plot you see in the upper left corner where we will build the home. 

(The variety of trees: apple, pear, plum, cherry, apricot, peach and 10 new grape vines that are about 2 feet tall now. We also have a Japanese flowering tree and a walnut tree that will become the center of the garden area.)

I'm trying to be prepared for anything and everything to change at the drop of a hat, because that's what's been happening lately concerning my understanding of legal requirements and how they differ in so many ways depending on location. "STANDARD" is a foreign word in Ukraine - but seriously, nothing happens the same way twice, there's always a loop hole or glitch some where in every case whether it's plot contract or visa registration. The plans we have for the house, pictured below are the plans we are building with, but they are too big for the plot on one side  (the right). So on that one side, where we are purchasing the adjacent property, we have to go through the process of purchasing the plot of land to make it legally owned by PROMISE, which will take about 2 months, maybe 3. Then we can work once again with the architect and bring the designs back to her to approve. This bumps our start date for building back to May of next year, 2016, but this is our best option all the way around. Peace that only the Lord can give is sufficient.

This page shows two separate levels of the house in one image

The lofted area on the upper left is the attic/storage area in a rafted area of the ceiling accessible by a drop down ladder. This is the only part of the entire house that has not been made handicapped accessible. 

The center basement area has an extra long run on the stair case as we've made the rise of the stairs much lower (4 inches) and the run longer (12 to 14 inches) to allow those who can walk to easily help get food and other items out of the cold cellar.

So things go according to God's plan and not my own

This is something I have struggled with over the past week and a half or so as 

we got some of what we needed when it came to design plans, 

but not nearly all of what we expected and anticipated. 

So this past week was the first week for the design workers here in Ukraine to really begin fixing, exacting and clarifying what I was given so the house will fit properly on the plot of land, needing to be precise so the next step in the design processes could begin. 

The house ended up being too large on a few sides, 

so a meeting tomorrow may help answer some questions.

the front and back color elevations

a rendering of Stephen's home

Back in Ukraine and putting my hand to the "hoe" not the plow, but close. Sasha, Nadya and I worked out on the garden plot of Stephen's home today clearing weeds and watering the 20 or so fruit trees, most of them having been transplanted. (apple, pear, plum, peach, apricot, and cherry)

There are 10 grape vines as well, planted around the back area where there will be a trellis and garden swing. In the process we found 6 poppy plants and a few wild daisy plants we'll move into a flower garden area. Oh, the other finds were 3 self planted walnut trees, so were keeping them in case the one we've planted as the center of the garden is just a tad larger than a stick, if doesn't make it. 

We've not got enough room for all of them, unfortunately.