Spring routines on our homestead. 

A plumber friend told me that Teflon tape should be wound on in the same direction as the fitting will turn, otherwise the tape can be sliced by the threads . 🚿

A tip: Some local Grandma's place a long, strong stick under the clothes lines (in the middle), to prop them up, keep them far from the floor and get the clothes more exposed to the wind

It may be the first time that you have grown California poppies, but they will be with you forever! They self seed everywhere ❤

If you have enough space, the chickens will be happier to have another roost. They may not need it, but they will certainly be happier.

Two perches for space as it'll get hot in the Summer 🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓

Thank you so much for such a relaxing video. The music and the sound of the birds were so soothing 🤩

Again, I must have missed this video because it’s 3 months old. I did tick the notification bell, but your video only showed now. Anyway, I enjoy you guys putting a lot of effort into your new farming skills, and as kids growing up with chickens in the 1960/65 before going to a boarding school, our jobs were to care for our chickens, ducks, and geese. We did not really go into the sheds to collect the eggs, except if all the nesting boxes were full with chickens laying eggs, some chickens would lay them on the floor. Our nesting boxes were built into the wall (flush on the inside and the back of the box stuck outside of the wall where you could open up the lid and remove the egg (s) close the lid fasten the catch to prevent mongoose or other animals opening up to get into the chicken house. The chicken boxes were tall with a 30 degree slope for rain to run off. Every box was made identical, so if a box became damaged we could put another in its place with out do building work. There was a steel 90 degree bracket sitting underneath the nesting box outside. Hope this helps, plus inside we had four different levels of straight poles for perches. Then once every two months we would remove the old bedding and replace it with new bedding. Once every six months we would shut down that pen, remove them on to a clean pen. Clean that pen, disinfect it and leave it without chickens for two weeks. Happy chickens, happy cockerel. One cockerel with ten hens per pen.

So lucky to be surrounded by such a glorious orchestra( birds, insects...)!! Greetings

Hello Carissa, with all of your lovely flowers everywhere, you should invest in a bee hive. Bees are incredibly calming and entertaining just like your beautiful videos.

Happy Birthday Iwan. Carissa your love of beauty and gardening shines thru your videos. The chickens are beautiful. What fun company they provide. Take care❤.

Hens need two perch's, one lower than the other. The dominant hen(s) will take the higher perch leaving the subordinate hens to gather on the lower perch. :)

I vote for a second perch. Especially so they have more room in the summer months. I'm still concerned about the amount of ventilation in the new coop, even with the 'screen' door.

I just love that you have chickens called Gary and Andy :-))) - I don't know much about bees in Portugal, but in the rest of Europe wild bees are getting quite endangered through loss of habitat and competition from the many honey bees that people keep that compete for food, so unless one really wants one's own honey letting the wild bees rule the roost, so to speak, is at least in most countries the better option.

Happy Birthday Iwan. Carissa I really love your work ethic and love for flowers and gardening, they are so beautiful this time of year. They soft music and your calm whispery voice is so soothing. Your videography is excellent, and I feel and see all the effort that you put into it which makes it so special and beautiful to watch. Thank you for all you do for us, your viewers and friends. I am from Swansboro North Carolina, USA and I really love seeing different countries and their special beauty. I was in Lisbon in the 80's when I was in the U.S. Marine Corps but that was totally different than the countryside where you live. Thanks for sharing your special place.

I love all the wild flower areas on your land. I know they're not particularly productive for food but they feed thy soul.

I hope this year is going to be your best yet. I would be interested in seeing any local market days you go to. Here in the US there are homesteaders that arrange meet up on a large scale once a year. They arrange pop up tents so people can sell and share what they have. Everyone brings their own chairs, ice chest and own lunch for the day. They arrange for guest speakers from people that have the most knowledge in sharing info on a host of different topics. It is a great way to learn a little or a lot about something your interested in. With all the x pats that have moved to Portugal I think you should all get started in doing this. Within your area. Watching all the strimming you do I was wondering if you have thought about throwing out a grass seed to grow a shorter grass. Some grass's will choke out the tall stuff so that you don't have to strim so much. Is that a thing in Portugal?

Green house looks healthy things are growing i love this time of year chickens look happy

Another lovely video. Can't wait to see what you do with the barn next to your refurbished one. Really appreciate the gentle and relaxing music.

Hi Iwan and Carissa, your videos are always relaxing. Spring looks magical there, and your drawing of the poppies is quite beautiful. 😊 Have a wonderful weekend! ❤

HELLO CARISSA & IWAN, FURBABIES & ASSORTED FEATHERED FOWL...IT SEEMS YOU HAVE A NEW LITTLE FURBABY NAMED SIMAO...I MAY HAVE MISSED A VIDEO...THINGS ARE COMING TOGETHER VERY NICELY FOR YOU ON YOUR LAND...THERE IS NOTHING MORE LOVELY THAN HEARING BIRDS SINGING AROUND YOU WHILE YOU WORK...ALL THE BEST...🙏;)

I love the flowers and birdsong! I wish for you many more glorious days. PS Please more footage of Frankie. I adore her so! 💗

Loving your Californua poppies and other pretty blooms all the way from California 😊! Simão🐈 is such a cutie. Bless you Iwan for laser strimming around those helpful planties on your land. Good work on the perch, nesting box, pump, clearing a space for your shaded storage project. Enjoy your company, refreshing showers, everything 💖.

It seems the jobs never end on a farm! Hope you don’t run out of steam. Glad to see you sketching again

California Poppies are so beautiful, have them in my garden and they come up every year. So pretty. Your garden is looking stunning. Jenny, Cape Town, South Africa 💜

Beautiful video as always. If you leave your egg collection towards the end of the day, the eggs layed early, encourage the remaining hens to also lay. 😊

Everything looks so healthy and beautiful! Spring is such rebirth! Happy birthday Iwan! Love being part of journey!

I think it is about time you invest in a lawn mower, especially since you do it for a lving too. You probably can get some company to send you one to sponsor, if you are very clever !!!

when you do the roof consider lifting the front and adding windows to let in natural light...having the rain water run off the back for collection instead of the front, just an idea;)

Chicken Union here😊 yep we vote for a second perch, keep us cluckers happy 🐔

If you can find some plaster of Paris, make a small hole in the end of a few eggs and put a toothpick in to break the yolk, then clean out the insides (you can use the insides for baking or scrambled eggs). Then fill the shells with plaster of paris. You can then leave the fake eggs in the nest to encourage the hens to keep laying in that spot.

🍷🍾Happy Birthday Iwan🎂!! Carissa your drawing of the poppies is just lovely, and I so appreciate that you identify all the flowers. I know some of them but not others so it's helpful. Your choice of music is always perfectly suited to the lovely photography. The chickens, dogs and kitties all look so happy and healthy. It's a joy to see. 😊 Take care and have a good week and visit with Iwan's mom. 🥰 ♥️🌿

You might want to check out shawn James Chicken coop in Canada. Total Ventilation even in sub zero climate. Your in a totally different climate and Your so diligent in your endeavors on a better simple life. Easy fix for Cabin is a roof sealer and You roll it on the entire roof.

Your opening was beautiful, all the lovely flowers and music.....enjoyed the video!

Your videos are so relaxing with the music. I know you are working hard to put them together and completing tasks on the homestead. Happy birthday Iwan.

Congratulations for your work. I enjoy seeing your videos. I live in Castelo Branco ans have a small garden. I enjoy the same things that you do. Nature,calm, animals. Maybe we meet someday. Jaime

Awesome job going around the flowers Chicken box looks good and the chickens laid eggs in there so they like it😁 Thank you for sharing 😁

I have heard that one perch end should be higher on the one end cause the boss chicken likes to perch higher then the other chickens…and I have noticed that of my grandson’s chickens. Just an idea!🇨🇦

A very happy birthday to you, Iwan. Lovely to have your mum visiting, Carissa, especially when it is all looking so lovely. Have a great visit. I would live to hear, sometime, what, if any, building restrictions you have on your land. Can you add anything on at all such as a verandah or extra room? Can one apply for permission to increase the size of a dwelling?

Hi, Carissa and Iwan. Spring is a busy time on your homestead. Good job on the chicken roost and the nesting box, Carissa. Iwan, I like that you strimmed around the beautiful lupins. You also did a great job on the pump. Have a good week❤️❤️

I absolutely love your musical choices. 😊

What a beautiful video, guys:) Love all that you're up to in your beautiful paradise, and, as always, I'm so inspired by your work ethic and handy skills:). California Poppies are indeed medicinal. A great one for calming, helping with anxiety and insomnia, and for relieving pain (especially gut or uterine spasms). I can't wait for them to grow out here- fingers crossed! Last but not least, Happiest of birthdays, Iwan!

I cheered for you when you got that screw in to the perch!!!

Thanks again for sharing your beautiful paradise with us. Have a nice weekend!

Great video. I am sure you are both unfortunately going to face a very hot summer. Good idea to get your water needs prepared. Put in an extra perch the chooks deserve the space. Look for a good secondhand ride on with catcher. Strimming in the heat of summer will become very tiring. Best wishes from Sydney Australia.

Happy Birthday, Iwan. I love the videos you both put out, very calming and enjoyable. All of the animals are so content. I like the new drawing of the poppy flowers. Every year you will have more and more poppies.

Sweet peas you can smell them a mile away

loving your many gardens in your area, also your beautiful painting...I just love flowers...growing up with mom in her garden I learned to appreciate the Lord's nature creation ... a place where you can enjoy and feel the purpose of life...all else flows😇🥰💫

Очень хорошие видео у вас! Смотрим в России и радуемся!)

Dear Carissa, chicken castle is very small indeed…Carissa you must enlarge the area to the chicken happiness…❤🍀👍🙏🇵🇹

Happy Birthday Iwan! Great Vid as always! The chickens look happy in their new digs. The doggies and kitties are so adorable. 🙂👍👍🇨🇦🌷🌻

Awesome video again loved the birdsong throughout ❤

Seriously, your season is two months ahead of UK. Here in Cornwall it is 10 degrees C today with almost icy rain.

Happy birthday Iwan. What an amazingly relaxing video. You are the best.

Happy Birthday, Iwan!

Yes, put up a second perch, at the same height

Put a second perch at a lower level and not under the top one or chickens will poop on the bottom ones. They have a pecking order and the boss chickens get the top.

So relaxing to share your lovely environment that you open up to us to watch . The one thing I have noticed is that on all the videos , the trees all seem to be leaning over at steep angles . It's everywhere here in the UK as well . Maybe its a sunlight issue. Tree trunks are bending on a lot of the bigger trees also, or maybe they have always been like it, but I haven't noticed before? 😊

Beautiful video ☀️🌸🌸🌸

looks like lack of water or could be Iron chlorosis, iron deficiency that is a huge problem, many trees are acting out of character even here in the uk, lovely video as always ☺

I like the music!

I love your videos and look forward to them every week. Thank you for sharing your life with us! 2 questions: Does your little paradise have a name? Do you have an overhead map to show is where everything is? I keep finding myself confused as too where the garden plots are and then get turned around mentally 😂

happy birthday Iwan, so how many returns is it?. Carissa, wow your hair is so long and beautiful. I noticed your threw the marigolds on compost heap, were they no good for tea? Your land is beautiful, i can see how you have fallen in love with it. And you do. You love and respect the land, and for me i see that in the way you have things laid out and planted. Although when you were digging, it already looks dry. I hope it will not be so hot this yr for you there and for us here in England So pleased you have gotten the rain. Good pressie Iwan off mother nature. The sunsets are beautiful too OOOh thumbnail for me personally it is the 1st 1. xx

Oh have a good weekend! Happy birthday Iwan and great job on your chicken box Carissa!

Yes, you’re California Poppy has medicinal uses, edible to. The leaves are edible if cooked. Caution is advised because other plants in the family are poisonous. Medicinal use, CP is a diuretic, relaxes spasms, relieves pain, promotes perspiration, and is sedative. It is non-addictive and can help with opiate withdrawal. It most likely works with GABA receptors. The entire plant is used medicinally, with the root being the most potent part. Has sedative properties and antispasmodic. California poppy is a mild sedative that also works well for incontinence, especially for children. It aids in treating sleep deprivation, anxiety, and nervous tension. The sap is somewhat narcotic and works well for alleviating toothaches. Unlike opium poppy, it does not depress the nervous system and it’s much milder in action. Take it at bedtime since it induces sleep. It is also an antispasmodic. It normalises psychological function, PTSD, and anxiety. CP seems to normalise the thinking patterns of people with psychological issues, and is mild enough to use for children. It does not have a narcotic effect, but helps calm the spirit and helps people regain normal function. It works well for anxiety disorders and PTSD. It suppresses the milk in nursing mothers. When lactation is not desired, apply CP Tea made from the roots as a wash on the breasts to suppress the flow of milk. It helps the milk dry up quickly. Yes, from a brief scientific research, there is so much more and I do agree with you that you must do more research. Check out some tea recipes too. You can even make tinctures using vodka or other alcohol, or substitute raw natural apple cider vinegar. This way you can keep this tincture for up to seven years.

Happy Birthday Yong! Hope you’re both well out there 😊🙏👍👌

Thank you for another nice episode 🤗

Love the birds and flowers.

What a lovely relaxing video thank you it was very soothing.❤️❤️

Yay!

Lovely video x

Another lovely video Carissa. Your land is looking so pretty, your animals are really happy and content. You're both doing a fab job on the chicken coop.., Carissa your woodworking skills are coming along nicely 😜 Happy days ❤️

Had to pause at just 1:33 because I adore your California poppies! But also adore all the wild flowers you are pulling and call weeds! I wish I could grow such a beautiful crop of weeds as you do there, in my hard pan desert soil in Reno, Nevada!❤

Cork Oaks: you showed us the flowers. I believe the leaves last two years. Then they spoil like the ones in the picture you showed of the flowers, and fall off, in the spring. We have california coast live oaks and cork oaks on our property in Los Angeles. Both species have similar habits. They are, I think you would say, semi-deciduous. In other words, they keep their leaves over two seasons, so when the older ones are falling off, there are still green ones from the past year's growth. They do not shed their leaves in the fall. But do your own research. These are my observations from watching our oaks for several decades.

Beautiful video! Reminded me to order seeds for California poppies❤

Old lawn mower grass catchers are great for nesting boxes. And they’re portable. Great job.

so nice

Parabéns 👏👏 por desenhar tão bem. Beijinhos 😘 de Lisboa ❤❤

❤ love it, i didnt know stonefruit grow true. Will be saving all kernals now

Guys the land truly looks beautiful. Your hard work is definitely paying off. Keep it up. Love and be safe!😘🤗🌼🇻🇪

I have four hens and they all perch at one end together. I’m sure the one is fine in my opinion. Beautiful land!

Great episode. Happy birthday 🎂 🎉

Happy birthday 🎉Iwan🎉😊 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

Happy birthday !!!! Love your videos 😍

Dandelion is really good for the liver.

Rand for the lovely video. Happy birthday to Ewan

In France the blue cornflowers are the same as UK poppies for armistice day

Happy birthday 😘👌💯

Happy Birthday 🎉🎊🎂🎈🎁

Guinnea hens males are fantastic about clearing ticks. I saw a you tube of a lady that hired hers out.

Great vlog 🤗love your content 💕 Happy Birthday Iwan 🥂🎂🎉🥳for tomorrow

Happy birthday Iwan, this flowers you pull out are maybe golden flower and you can make a medisional cream for wounds from the leaves, this pomp is for in the house to keep the pressure on your pipes and there is a klep with a ball in side that you can put in the tube that pull's the water out of the well and that keeps the water from flowing back. Thanks for your vid 😇💟💟💟 Love and bless you guys.

Just saw frankie 😘

Poppies/Opium. I bet it does make you feel good.

Nice video! You need a sponsor for an electric lawn mower!

Happy birthday to Iwan !

Reference your trees, just went outside and ours look similarl towards the canopy, quite bare. I shall be more aware from now on and watching out for either revival or ground flutter!

Have you considered getting a mower? I am sure you would cut the grass in a much shorter time! 😊

BON DIA... ITS 8AM HERE IN IDAHO U.S.A. AND MY COFFEE IS POURED... LETS SEE WHAT IS GOIN ON IN PORTUGAL. 👍

One would never be enough

Hi guys the trees most likely have iron deficiency.