Our 2023 ACCOMPLISHMENTS Recap: Year in Review - Ep. 224

Now that we've reached our third year here at Flock, we thought it would be good to sit back, take it all in, and recap on what we were able to accomplish in that year. There are still a lot of ongoing projects that need to be taken care of, but we think we'll see more 'finished' projects come 2024. Or at least-here's hoping!
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[@bettyebauche]

You have done so much this year.. it’s incredible! Thank you so much for sharing your journey. ❤ It’s educational, inspiring and beautifully put together all at once. The attention to details as well as making it as long-lasting and sustainable as possible ist just on another level! I am so looking forward to see how it all progresses further.. while enjoying what you‘ve accomplished so far! 😊

[@lmathews61]

The elevated craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail is absolutely beautiful…❤

[@kathymacomber5115]

Saunders craftsmanship is excellent

[@SHARONSHORTOrchidsandGarden]

Saunders, we barely got a place to live, but the birds are taken care of..Hmmm! 😂

[@sdqsdq6274]

hmm i dont quite get that statement , isnt the main house done ?

[@mariafolch8067]

@@sdqsdq6274 🎄 They had temporarily moved to the Meadow house in order to fix the main house. View some of the videos where they put a new roof, etc.

[@ja-uh9gz]

You had a very busy year! When you recapped everything, it's amazing of all that you have done. Again...as I said in the comments on other videos, Sander does a great job and deserves all the kudos of his carpentry skills. Here's to a good and productive upcoming year in 2024. Happy New Year! ♥

[@pacaluvr7963]

You have done a fantastic job and creating a home like atmosphere in a very small space. Your sense of style is lovely. You have a great balance between items that means something to you and open space so that it does not feel overcrowded. I’ve lived in small apartments like this myself in the past. Good luck with your move and have fun decorating your new place.

[@Lifeover70]

Happiness for 2024. Yes, more bird houses 😅. Ann, Florida fan

[@stellaewunia9783]

Amazing job this year. And thank you so much for taking us along for the ride!

[@shephusted2714]

I'd say double down on clearing, gravel. compost, nut and fruit trees, consider a heat pump plus heat exchanger plus hepa pos pressure, more insulation and some solar and batteries - try some stuff out and be creative plus take a few moon shots, think about pollinator corridor/forage plots. get a bagging mower and build up compost - you can conc on going large to make it active through next winter - you should have a good 2024 - go out and interview some people and highlight some interesting projects - you will learn even more and be able to incorporate

[@sharonknorr1106]

You have gotten so much done in a relatively short period of time. Great job. Can't wait to see what the new year brings for you (and us).

[@judymckerrow6720]

Thank you Ms. Summer and Sander . 🌲💚🙃

[@brendaw53]

Great design, and decor’ to blend into nature. Inside and out true craftsmanship! I’m a lot older and I’ve always loved watching renovations and gardening projects. Exciting to watch the progress! ❤ 🪴

[@FlockFingerLakes]

Thank you very much!

[@karendurston2528]

And don't forget -- you haven't solved the conflict in Gaza either. Seriously, thank you for sharing your energy and creativity.

[@myapopova]

In regards to the air-locked nature of the common house: I read a NASA study which showed that plants, especially in combination with soil exposure to the surrounding air actually improved air quality. They did these experiments in completely air-tight spaces because they wanted to find a way for astronauts to have fresher air in spaceships in space. People have dismissed these findings because of failure to reproduce the results in homes and office settings, but it may be effective in air-tight spaces without much air flow, which can cause 'sick house syndrome'. .... Soooo great excuse for more plants in there! :D

[@kara_sergey_organic_farm]

Greetings from Kazakhstan! Love you, guys, you are the best! 💚

[@ac42405]

Congrats on your beautiful accomplishments! Much to be proud of and no doubt much beauty yet to come. Here's to 2024.

[@sumik8]

Very cool- lots of progress. Ate bat houses a thing? They are useful insectivores too.🦇😊

[@wimhance6541]

Way back at the beginning of it all, that main house dominated the terrain but now it looks quite small. Thanks for all the aerial footage, it really gives a new perspective and scale to all the landscape innovations. I'm profoundly impressed.

[@dkulikowski]

Thank you for this special recap. I loved it. You and Saunder bring joy to my spirit. Saunder, you are a special man and very talented to boot. Summer your designing reminds me of myself when I was young. My senior journey still has a lot of what I did as a young woman. Thank you both for sharing your journey.

[@karrieharbart9266]

So incredible! I really admire all the time and thought you are putting in to all the choices you make. It has given me so many things to think about and be prepared for when I start to do my own home renovations. I also really love your commitment to craftsmanship in all that you do! I am also someone who greatly appreciates impeccable craftsmanship. I am trained as a metalsmith and I am drooling over your copper gutters and those rain chains! Beautiful job on everything!❤

[@MonoiLuv]

What a team!

[@lgarden7086]

I love the positive reinforcement 😊 it’s all an educational journey! So many decisions and choices…it’s good to take a break so you can reflect on what went well and what you learned along the way. Dreaming of what will be is part of the fun…take your time so you’re not second guessing those completed projects and 🤞things last as long as you hope they will. The walkway into the main house was huge in my opinion. You guys are a great team👍🍾 celebration of 2023!

[@kathymacomber5115]

In Europe and the UK they use Yellow Rocket to get rid of the grass .This flowers allows the natural flowers to move in

[@FlockFingerLakes]

We're trying to get some folks start some parasitic flowers on grasses and sedges here, but it's few and far between. We have a couple leads though!

[@ESowash]

Happy New year 🎉❤ best wishes. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and kind influences.

[@louannshaffer3888]

Love this I too have 2 1/2 acres and have some large old oaks, poplar and pines and a home built 1960. It needs character but I love watching your work it gives me ideas

[@FlockFingerLakes]

Glad it's helpful!

[@sharonp6672]

Bat boxes for the mosquitoes!

[@rowenadinsmore1]

But you did it!! And everything is so pretty!

[@FlockFingerLakes]

Thank you so much dear. We're absolutely chuffed!

[@user-ey9bt7fs6n]

Amazing job! I truly look forward to videos. As far as a mower look into the DR Trimmer mowers series

[@katjasteinmetzer824]

Wow, you got so many beautiful projects done this year! And I love the last bit about the birds. Sounds so relatable 😉My house was still a ruin /building site but hey, I was busy focussing on planting up the dry stone walls, tending to the raised veg beds and building a compost heap 😀

[@mariafolch8067]

Wow!! The work that went into that meadow house (cottage)!! Impressive!! You complement each other rather well. Sander and his architectural/carpentry skills and you with the Horticultural and Planning skills make a good pair. I love the attention to detail you put to each project and thank you for sharing them. I have learned quite a bit that I can apply to my house, as well. Many thanks!! Thanks for always being so mindful of the environment and how you impact it on every move you take!! For instance, I never gave it a thought of the birds taking care of mosquitoes. I will start adding some bird houses to my property. 🙄 I love the little creatures, anyway. I look forward to 2024 and what it will bring to the Flock. Have a Happy rest of the year and a Prosperous New Year!! 🥰🏡☃️🎄

[@FlockFingerLakes]

Birds and frogs/toads and bats. Perfect trifecta for controlling those mosquitoes. Happiest New Year!

[@Thewildmanwoods]

What a wonderful team you make … love from wales “ The wildman woods “ ….im tree crazy so it’s beautiful seeing your land has so many xx ❤

[@cefcat5733]

One year smarter and the evidence surrounds you. Take one project at a time, you'll stay happy with your Heim. (home) It's my New Year's resolution too. 🎇 Really enjoyed the re-cap of the journey. Thank you both. Happy New Year to you and to Joey and Family as well.

[@SequoiaElisabeth]

Congratulations on a productive year. I live in a condo outside the city of Denver, CO and enjoy the quality and content of your channel. It gives the contact with nature like I had growing up in TN. Thanks for all you do, including the who team, Summer, Sonder, "J" and others. Have a Happy New Year!

[@FlockFingerLakes]

Glad you're enjoying the journey Elisabeth. Our other partners finally had a chance to stay at the Meadow House this week, so a good time was had by all. Have a Happy New Year from all of us.

[@kmwrites7456]

so ok, this is a superficial question I have had in my mind for the last year of watching you, but would love to know for the year 2024: Where do you get your beautiful clothing? Meaning Summer's of course :-) I moved here from Ithaca in the late 90's so find your farm progress very interesting.

[@tanyal7122]

It has been so much fun following your journey. Amazing work❤

[@eflick]

Great channel! Love the reporting and vlogs. Very thoughtful and curious community. It’s been a blessing to take the lessons from this channel and apply them in my own homesteading life. My only suggestion would be to divide videos into skimmable sections w/ KZbin’s video chapters. Happy New Year!

[@FlockFingerLakes]

Thank you for the suggestion!

[@hade7219]

Ni är så duktiga, så fint ni gör😊❤ from sweden

[@marshaharwood8883]

Great job!!!

[@FireflyOnTheMoon]

Measuring efficiency by comparing bills year on year is really difficult. Every winter is different, various min temp, various day temps.

[@christinelarkin8054]

Don't wear him out! Oh to be young and invincible 😊

[@AliMirjamali]

A quick question regarding the birdhouse in the meadow house wall. I believe you have put a camera inside it. I wonder if you will be streaming from it once it is occupied by the nestlings.

[@FlockFingerLakes]

That's the plan!

[@botanyboy5454]

❤

[@shawnfromportland]

hey guys, how did that house work out with building code? 600 sq feet is well below the minimum allowed square footage for "habitation" for most building codes (stupidly!)

[@FlockFingerLakes]

Hahaha. If that's the case then all of New York City would be in violation of building code. But I *think* anything under 120 square feet in NYS doesn't need a building permit (think shed); and anything above that then will require a building permit, so a dwelling unit has to be above 120 sq ft and any other room can't be less than 70 sq feet and then kitchens have no minimum. This is well above that at a whopping 600 square feet.

[@Majoofi]

have you tried a scythe?

[@FlockFingerLakes]

Yes, smaller areas. On 9 sloped acres though, we would be hurting more.

[@andreeawhatever]

My grandfather (in rural Romania) used a scythe on all the hay that he was planting for the animals (to feed them over winter). It is really hard work.

[@annahanna5247]

FAKRO - this is a company from my country - Poland! :)

[@FlockFingerLakes]

Awesome. Yes, forgot they were from Poland. Summer Rayne found them, so it was a great score.

[@kathymacomber5115]

Do you still have a third partner?

[@mariafolch8067]

🎄 I thought the same. Although I gather from Joey's last appearance that he is more of a city guy and this is more like an investment for him. 😉

[@FlockFingerLakes]

Yes, our other partners (Joey and family) finally had a chance to stay at the Meadow House this week. Have a Happy New Year from all of us.

[@christinelarkin8054]

Don't get it to air tight. Not healthy!

[@FlockFingerLakes]

That's why we have a fresh air unit installed and of course, windows that open.

[@FireflyOnTheMoon]

Says someone who didn't watch the video

[@christinelarkin8054]

Inspect closely if someone else is doing it. It's become common place for things to not to be hooked up properly, creating poor environments

[@carolyncarlon9870]

Gotta say….this review is very pretentious. Hope you have the creativity, man-power and financial support to complete these projects. Gotta say that bird house in the gable is really stupid. Really hard to get there for maintenance and gotta love the future bird poop you’ll have to contend with. With a 20-foot ladder????

[@FlockFingerLakes]

God willing with our health, hard work, elbow grease and working with our incredible neighbors, family and friends, we'll see it through. We find it important to have goals to set and work towards, and even if something intended doesn't get done the year expected-like the barn siding this year-then it can just roll over to the following year. That's why it's important to enjoy the process along the way, be accepting of how long it may take, and a solid reminder to surround yourself with positive, uplifting people who support you. We love doing recaps like this because it is a reminder how far we've come in a short period of time since we first got here, and that is always incredibly motivating to keep one's North Star in sights!