My Quest to Build a Home & Grow an Orchard.

Clarity is the prettiest picture you will ever see.

For as long as I can remember, the idea of building a home terrified me. I worried about going over budget and dreaded the horror stories from others who had done it. It’s like the tales of pregnancy — you only ever hear the worst. I was also disheartened by uninspiring house designs; I had never seen a home that truly took my breath away until I did.

So, finding myself here is quite unexpected. It’s the meeting point of two ideas that have come together — one enveloped in love and the other fueled by curiosity. So what is my vision, my mission? I am going to build a home, in the country surrounded by fruit trees on a large block of land with a very small budget. And if I do it successfully, I am going to do it again and again both here and overseas.

I’m not particularly handy, and my track record with plants is far from stellar, so to say the road ahead is going to be filled with some steep learning curves would be an understatement. These challenges are minor compared to the budget set for both the land purchase and the house build. It’s going to be incredibly tight, meaning every decision will need to be both considered and swift, as every moment of the project will count.

Given the nature of this project, the land will be in the country. This means the travel time from my home in the city adds another layer of complexity to decisions about the construction team. It will also impact choices related to planting and tree care.

When you’re emotionally invested in something and have a vision, your expectations are often higher than anyone else’s. You set a standard for yourself that surpasses what others might expect. The stress you endure is largely self-imposed.

Grounded in purpose and carrying my values, I genuinely hope to create something special. Despite many people telling me it’s impossible based on the project’s elements, I remain undeterred.

I am stubborn, eternally optimistic, and driven by a purpose that could illuminate a small nation. So, I am stepping forward, building dreams that look like homes. I’m infusing them with passion, strength, and love.

It will be far from boring, far from ordinary, and far from what I’ve been told is possible. Yet, it might just be the adventure of a lifetime. If you want to watch, hope, cheer, and learn what it all looks and feels like, sign up at www.primleyavalonbriggs.com for the fortnightly newsletter or join me on Instagram. Be warned and get ready to hold on because I think it’s going to be a wild ride.

Primley A Briggs.