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Abandoned - Forest Haven - Story 53

Started by Abandoned, January 31, 2020, 07:43:38 AM

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galensgranny

Those platforms that can built around trees are cool! 

Abandoned

#16
Chapter 6


  As always we kept a close eye on our firewood supply.  When spring came we stopped making soup to save on firewood.  Our log supply was low also.  We collected branches and cut some trees and began constructing a forester tower in the forest to the east of my seedling shed.  When Casimeon, the food merchant, came to port, we ordered apples and chicken.  Hopefully, we would be able to make chicken soup next fall and winter.

  We would have more mouths to feed.  In spring 9 more migrants arrived from the north.  There were 2 single young men ages 8 and 11, one built a house by the nut haven and the another by the hunter.  An older single man built a house by the new gatherer's hut that was built next to my seedling shed.  A tree topper was built for a family of 3, the husband was elven, the wife was not.  He became our forester and their daughter the gatherer.  By autumn a house for the remaining family of 3 was built nearby.

  We would have warm roasted walnuts to snack on this fall and winter.  The fire crackled in the roaster that was built a short distance from the nut haven.  We had a good harvest of walnuts the previous year and this one promised to be the same.

Abandoned


Abandoned

#18
Chapter 7


  When Mari, the livestock merchant, returned in spring of year 7, we ordered more sheep and chickens.  He said he wasn't sure he could get chickens but he could get ducks, so we ordered those too.  We really needed more sheep, our small herd was not providing enough wool for warm coats.  We built a small pasture near the trading post.

When 11 migrants arrived that spring, Rollan had a surprise housing plan in mind that even a non-elf would like.  It had been another snowy winter and we had 13 ground houses, 8 workplaces, the barns, and the school to dig out after almost every snowstorm.  That was enough.  Rollan designed a Haven platform on which 3 houses could be built on 2 different levels with a ground level storage market entrance.  Rope fences would prevent falls.  The house would be built around the oak tree supports in true elven fashion.  A small wooden doorstep marked the direction the door would face. 

  The migrants agreed to give it a try and the 3 houses were soon built and the families moved in.  The families loved it, they had a beautiful view and shade and a cool breeze up in the trees in summer.  It was breathtakingly beautiful in fall, and in winter the snow tended to blow off the platforms rather than piling up in front of their doors.  They only had to go down the rope bridges to the market for supplies.

  Casimeon, the food merchant, returned in autumn with apples and chicken meat.  The market soup stand immediately began making chicken soup with wheat noodles.  The platform market vendor went with his wheelbarrow to the nearest storage unit to pick some up.

Abandoned

#19
Chapter 8


  Being wood elves we were always concerned with the condition of our woodland.  Tree growth was still sparse in our nearby forests and across the river. It would be easy to clear land over there for farmlands with the least amount of forest destruction.  On this side of the river there did not appear to be a lack of wild foods and herbs in the forested areas themselves.  Our one gatherer was doing a good job collecting a variety of wild foods.  Our foresters were busier cutting trees than planting, we assigned the 3rd and last forester to our forester station and made sure they would all be planting seedling.  We built an herbalist nearby to collect the abundant amount of herbs.  Although our overall health was 100% many Havenians stopped by for healing.

  In Spring, 7 migrants stopped by but would not stay, they were going to Cottage Grove.  In late summer, Jaquel, the seed merchant, stopped by our trading post.  We ordered potato seeds.  We could grow more food and still preserve our forest.

  By the end of summer we built a wood cutter near the Haven Platform complex.  Across from the woodcutter we build a special stockpile, a worker would see that it was stocked with logs for the woodcutter.  We did not built another firewood storage, hoping firewood would remain available on all stockpiles and beside, the Forest Haven Platform market stocked firewood also.  Our supplies at the end of year 8 were good although we still needed warm coats,   We hoped our ordered sheep would arrive soon.

Abandoned

#20
Chapter 9


  We certainly could have used those warm coats that winter.  It was a cold and snowy winter and when we thought it was finally over, it turned cold and snowy again in early spring.  Everyone still wanted hot soup but we were out of chicken meat so we switch back to making mushroom soup.  Our firewood supply was good but our log supply was low.  We gathered branches to conserve our logs.

  When the weather warmed and the snow melted we could see the new growth in our forest to the northeast.  The forest to the east and to the south were doing well and receiving less damage since the size of the deer herds were being reduced.  There were three very large herds across the river.  When 2 families of migrant farms arrived in Spring we decided it was time to cross the river.  We did not want to clear forest land on this side for more crop fields.

  Our population was 71, 36 adults, 17 students, and 18 young children.  We could certainly use a few more workers.  Only 1 students would finish school soon, the others were still a year or two behind.  Our young men were still living alone although we did have 2 teenage single girls still living at home.

  We began building 2 bridges to cross the river.  Both families said they wouldn't mind living in platform houses overlooking their farm fields, but they did think the large deer herds would damage the crops.   The platform with a market was soon built and 2 lower level houses were constructed.  A haven hunter was built out back behind the structure.  A crop field was cleared for wheat and a small barn was built.  We collected herbs and wild foods and firewood nearby to stock the shed and stockpile.

  In late winter the ducks we ordered arrived.

Abandoned

#21
Chapter 10


(Mod note:  Kid's Workshop Farmyard has been added)


  We set aside an area across the river for the ducks, there was a low spot that always had water after it rained.  In early spring when the snow melted and ran off the haven platform there was a puddle underneath and a pair of wild ducks took up residence there.  When Mari, the livestock merchant, returned we only had enough trade goods restocked for 4 of the sheep he brought.  Just as well, they would fit in the small pasture and provide that extra bit of wool we needed.

  The branch gatherer we built near the haven had been helping the hunter instead of picking up branches.  By early spring we also had a new mill built by the wheat field and, when 8 more migrants arrived, one of the adult girls age 9 wanted a house built near it.  Her family built a ground level house across the river and soon had vegetables planted from the seeds they brought and nests for their chickens.  They were the self-sufficient kind and set up their own chopping block for firewood.  With a fence and flowers and a rocking chair, their farmyard was very attractive.

  The second family moved into a high level platform house and planted their farmyard nearby that they could see from their platform.  They had a small apple tree, wheat and bean seeds, and some chickens.  They too would chop some firewood in their farmyard for themselves and others.  There was plenty of room yet in the platform market.  They were still working in autumn when the snow began to fall.


Abandoned

#22
Chapter 11


  By spring of year 11, we had a bakery built not far from the mill, the smell of fresh baked herb bread filled the air.  The new migrants added new potatoes from their farmyard to the general food supply and a stand was set up by the main stockpile to roast some of them.  The cottagers set up a swing and planted flowers so laborers could sit and enjoy a roasted potato.  Our 3 types of families got along well in our Forest Haven and the non-elves were quite taken with living up in the trees.  We had 30 families but only 24 houses.  We knew some students would graduate soon and other young people would want to move out on their own so we began constructing another haven platform for 3 more haven level houses.  There was still a large clearing on the other side of the river.

  At the end of year 11, Forest Haven had a population of 94, 51 adults, 24 students, and 19 young children, all 100% happy and healthy. 

  We were quite pleased with our Forest Haven with its tree topper and ground level houses, our seedling potting shed, our gatherer, herbalist, and forester.  We had a nut haven and nut roaster, a wood cutter, a log supplier, and firewood storage.  Our elven hunter had a stand in an oak tree with storage beneath.  But best of all, we had 2 fantastic haven platforms with above ground level houses with rope bridges and a market entrance.  As you know, weary traveler, a new haven is being constructed across the river.  Your house will be ready soon.  I hope you enjoy the view and the breeze up in the trees, and remember, spring will be here soon.


The End 

Abandoned