Turning 8 Acres Into Parking Lot

When Big Time Out was ousted out of Cumberland, our amazing neighbours up the road at Ashberry Farms came to the rescue.

We knew what a huge undertaking this was and wanted to help in anyway we could.

Parking was proving to be an issue, although initially it had seemed camping would be the hard part.

We talked with organizers and co-ordinators and came to the agreement that we would use our land for parking, elevating the streets in anyway we could.

Then the work began.

First we had to borrow the farms mini excavator to remove our zip line.

Then mowing miles of long, left grasses.

Thank you J and John Deere.

Weed whipping an acre of thistles, thank you SA for that help!!

Then we set up a command post which I was stuck at for 2 whole days, but had many visitors, volunteers and food deliveries.

We had some signs made, you know to look really official!!

And lets not forget the port-a-potty.

Thankfully we rented one of those, it was a hit!!

Our usually quiet road became quite the sight, packed with cars and people.

Each night I stayed up till 3 helping people/cars out.

These lights were a god send, they illuminated the yard like sunlight.

The girls set this up all day Saturday and made over $70.

I baked some cookies early that morning and they were sold out before noon.

This ride got our VIP parking, right beside me.

WHY?

Just look at it!!

The green machine, known as Toast, was a hydraulic masterpiece with hardwood floors, swivel seats and an iPad in the dash.

There was a mini party there all night.

We literally had cars tucked into every nook and granny in the yard.

Barriers and ribbon set out the boundaries, which everybody kindly respected.

Cars came in and out, all night and day.

We had a total of 177 cars come through our yard and not one thing went wrong, no troubles or anything.

It was a great experience and the girls had so much fun with it all as well.

Our yard was fully intact when the last car left Sunday afternoon.

I am so happy we did this.

I feel a great sense of community in this act.

(And we made some money as well!!)

Wonder what next year will be.....