We found what we considered to be the perfect spot for the bus and the life style we were seeking in Bakersville, NC which is in the Blue Ridge Mountains, near Penland School of Crafts, about half way between Asheville, NC and Johnson City, TN. We purchases our land on Sept.2, 2006. Among the things that attracted us to his particular land was the fact that it already had a road, water, electric and septic, all costly and time consuming to install. We also liked the feel of the space and the fact that there was an already cleared large field once used for growing Christmas trees and boxwood. The land is steep and slopes south so we get lots of sun which was also very important. Another important feature is that the land is secluded and at the end of a low traffic road surrounded by woods making is safe for our dogs, Marge and Buddy Ray at the time.

Our 8.2 acre of land is about 1/3 open field and 2/3 wooded. (See map at bottom of page.) Christmas trees and boxwood were once grown in the field but they were neglected to years prior to our purchase. It was impossible to walk through the field as the weeds were so thick and many over 5' tall. Our first purchase was a tractor which was essential in dealing with this overgrown mess.

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The first task was to clear a path on the existing road up to the spot where we wanted to park our bus and to cut the weeds in the field.  A family of migrant workers who took care of the Christmas trees and boxwood had a trailer where we planned to put the bus. This is how the water, septic and electric got on the land. It was great to have those utilities in place but the down side was having to clean up lots of junk from the former trailer residents. 

The worst part of clearing the field were giant pot holes that were left from digging out the trees. Parts were so bad that we had to abandon the cutting for fear of the tractor tipping over. We quickly learning that clearing the field was a huge project and we now try to do a small section each year. We managed to get the higher part of the field pretty well cut and it was great to be able to walk around and see the view. Of course the weeds all grew back next spring.

Gary got a good temporary start but we eventually needed to have the road professionally graded and topped with gravel. The bus will go where the van is in the image above. After a long day romping in the fields Buddy Ray and Marge were eager to go home and get some dinner. So we left Hound Hill and headed down Robert Phillips Road (below center) back to the Sigler's guest house.

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Our main goal for 2007 was to get the bus finished and moved to our land so we could start living there. Before that could happen we needed to have a professional road grader finish the road and cut out an area big enough for the bus to turn around. The bus turn around is pictured below. The steep slope has become my greatest gardening challenge and least favorite area to work. It has also presented lots of drainage problems with rain water runoff from the field above and we eventually needed to put a trench around the top edge.

While Gary was working on the bus, road, etc. I started gardening with the first area being around the bus. This was my first taste of the awful invasive vines that thrive here, along with the poison ivy, golden rod and other weeds that drive me crazy. I bought a book on slope gardens but most of it is common sense. There is a nice breeze and view under the pines so I wanted a small seating area up there. This called for some steps, so I began to gather rocks. The purple phlox that you see blooming was already there (under the weeds) and a nice surprise. Results are in the image below. ​

A favorite time of day was and still is when Kathie comes with her dog Beau for a walk to the pond. The pond is on our neighbor's property in what was once a big apple orchard. 

Finally, the day arrived . . . we were ready to move the bus to Hound Hill. Gary and friends met at the wood shop where he built the bus on a misty North Carolina morning. After fueling up with coffee the crew was read to roll. The drive from the shop to our land is only about 2 miles but the roads are steep and winding. Donald lead the way in his pickup and Doug took pictures of the caravan. The last picture above shows the bus coming up the road to our land. The buildings in the background belong to our neighbor Bruce and include his house, old apple storage barn and volley ball court.

My next big landscaping project was the driveway up to the bus and the adjacent hillside. We lined the driveway with 18 Cleveland Select pear trees which are very popular in this area. The garden in the photo (right above) is at the top of the driveway in front of the patio where we planted a fast growing red maple for shade. A pretty blue spruce was already growing on the hillside on the south side of the driveway so we made that the centerpiece of that garden. Further down we planted fast growing Thuga Green Giants behind the pear trees that we hope will someday hide the utility pole. The plastic was for weed control but we did not mulch before leaving from the winter so it blew away and was a big mess. We gave up on the plastic in that area. (More about that later.)

A beautiful giant hemlock was already growing along the driveway across from the bus by the parking area. The cut out hillside surrounding the parking area presented the biggest challenge. It is extremely steep and hard to get your footing. The the soil is solid clay and very hard except for early spring. This is a project to tackle next year. Gary started on a small building behind the bus to house the water pump and other supplies. We are on a spring and need to pump water to get enough pressure.We left for Rochester in late October to be at the store for the holiday season.

Continue on to 2008