It's been awhile since I've written any kind of update on the farm search. You know, the 'forever' farm that we've been searching for for the last 6 years. The short version is that we're still looking. We had one in our sights several months ago that we really liked, but if there's one thing we've learned over the years, it's not to make a decision like this lightly.
This farm had everything we've been looking for, especially location, but there was a major flooding issue in the pastures. We spent a lot of time thinking about it and wondering if it was something we could repair over time. We went to visit it in all kinds of weather. We had several experts look at it and give us their opinion and they all confirmed that it was an issue that couldn't be fixed. This meant that although the farm was perfect for building the bakery business, there wasn't much promise of having animals there and that's just not an option for us, as that's part of our whole vision.
There have been a few other interesting opportunities and other possible farm properties, but nothing has been quite right. After all we've been through, we know to allow ourselves enough time to feel things out and make sure it's a good fit for us. The marcellus shale gas issue around these parts continues to interfere. It's crazy how many farm properties listed on Craigslist tout "FREE GAS!" There are so many beautiful farms for sale that have either already had wells drilled for gas, have current leases to drill in the future, or that do not come with the mineral rights. There's no way we would buy a farm without owning what's underneath and having control of what happens there.
We want to find a small place where we can finally put down some roots and start a family business that can continue on after us. The last thing we want is for Zander to be left to deal with a potential environmental disaster and to be faced with the decision of abandoning his family farm because it's no longer farmable, livable or even sellable.
We realize that this severely limits our chances of finding the right place in Western Pennsylvania, but this is where our family is and we're determined to try. At some point we're going to have to take a chance and hope for the best.
We're happy where we are right now, so there's no immediate rush. This place is not our own but it's comfortable. We live on a farm, in a rental situation, where we help to take care of the animals. We're able to grow our own food, Zander is able to run free, and we can enjoy the wildlife, trees and stars. That's what's important to us. We love this small town and feel it's the best place for us to be. We're starting an exciting new project that will keep us plenty busy until the right place comes along. Stay tuned for more on that later....
July 8, 2014
July 6, 2014
lately
Now that I've gotten the heavy stuff off my chest... Here's a peek at what we've been up to lately.
There's been lots of sunshine and dirt. Zander happily digs for worms while we work in the garden. (Thank goodness it's fenced in, or we'd never get anything done. That kid is a runner.) The boy can't stop eating our fresh peas and now that he's successfully eaten all of the strawberries, he's moved on to the raspberries. He's been known to grab a leaf of spinach or kale or a cucumber to munch on as he passes by and dutifully checks the blueberries each day to see if they're ripe.
And then there's Idlewild. It's less than 10 minutes away and we get season passes every year, which makes it easy to drop in for a short visit a few times a week. It's a little bit of fun for all three of us.
There's a little something in the works, but I'll write more about that later.
Summer = Happiness
There's been lots of sunshine and dirt. Zander happily digs for worms while we work in the garden. (Thank goodness it's fenced in, or we'd never get anything done. That kid is a runner.) The boy can't stop eating our fresh peas and now that he's successfully eaten all of the strawberries, he's moved on to the raspberries. He's been known to grab a leaf of spinach or kale or a cucumber to munch on as he passes by and dutifully checks the blueberries each day to see if they're ripe.
And then there's Idlewild. It's less than 10 minutes away and we get season passes every year, which makes it easy to drop in for a short visit a few times a week. It's a little bit of fun for all three of us.
There's a little something in the works, but I'll write more about that later.
Summer = Happiness
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| French Toast! |
July 5, 2014
fyi
Alright, so the blog reconstruction is a work in progress. Bear with me. It just felt really outdated and I needed something new. Also, the name changed. Wolf Lake Farm was our old farm name, like several farms ago. I kept it for a long time because many knew us as Wolf Lake Farm but now, well, now it just doesn't fit.
Anyway, let's move on with things...
Anyway, let's move on with things...
June 27, 2014
letting go
When it comes down to it, when it really matters, I'm not very
good at this blogging thing. Whenever there's something huge happening
in our lives, something that might not be appropriate for public eyes to read, I
have a hard time thinking about anything else, let alone writing about
it. It's hard for me to write about insignificant things, like what we
did over the weekend, or fun things we did with Zander, when there's something really big going on. I'm sure it's something all bloggers struggle with. Just how much of my life do I really want to put out there? But I always come back to this one thought... This is
meant to be a journal of our lives, something to look back on and to share with our children, and I hate having such big gaps in our story. I
can count the gaps, there are just a few, and I can remember exactly what
major events were happening then. Out of respect for others and just general awkwardness, I couldn't say much about it. This is no exception. Only this time, it's more complicated.
I had intended to write more, in detail, about what we've been dealing with since August, 2012, when we left the last farm. I wish I could have been writing as we were going through it. It would have helped so much. Those close to us know just how hard it's been. Too much of our energy was spent in negative ways dealing with all of it and it consumed us. We felt hurt, angry, wronged and cheated. It appears, however, that there's no way to win an unfair fight, and we had to make the decision to walk away and let it all go. Though it's been a hard one, this decision has been unexpectedly freeing, like a huge weight has been lifted and we're confident it was the right thing to do. I'm sure that all sounds incredibly vague, but that's the way it needs to be right now. Someday I'll write a book about all of the crazy things we've encountered along the way. But for now, let this serve as a place marker and a way for us to move on and continue our story.
This farming journey has taught us so much more than how to grow vegetables and raise animals. We've learned huge life lessons full of love, accomplishment, disappointment and pain. Most importantly, we've learned to respect ourselves, trust our instincts, and not to regret the decisions and choices we've made along the way. For they have shaped us and made us who we are. And that, my friends, is what the journey is all about.
Onward...
I had intended to write more, in detail, about what we've been dealing with since August, 2012, when we left the last farm. I wish I could have been writing as we were going through it. It would have helped so much. Those close to us know just how hard it's been. Too much of our energy was spent in negative ways dealing with all of it and it consumed us. We felt hurt, angry, wronged and cheated. It appears, however, that there's no way to win an unfair fight, and we had to make the decision to walk away and let it all go. Though it's been a hard one, this decision has been unexpectedly freeing, like a huge weight has been lifted and we're confident it was the right thing to do. I'm sure that all sounds incredibly vague, but that's the way it needs to be right now. Someday I'll write a book about all of the crazy things we've encountered along the way. But for now, let this serve as a place marker and a way for us to move on and continue our story.
This farming journey has taught us so much more than how to grow vegetables and raise animals. We've learned huge life lessons full of love, accomplishment, disappointment and pain. Most importantly, we've learned to respect ourselves, trust our instincts, and not to regret the decisions and choices we've made along the way. For they have shaped us and made us who we are. And that, my friends, is what the journey is all about.
Onward...
May 14, 2014
May 12, 2014
thank you
Oh, and thank you for the best gift of all . . . starting to sleep longer stretches. In.Your.Own Bed.
I love you little bird,
mama
April 16, 2014
daily bread
This little boy was not happy that we planned to feed our stale bread to the chickens. So, he stole it. Who doesn't love having a baker for a daddy?
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