Poor Farm Update...Spring Walkabout

So the status is this. Still working closely with a young couple on the sale of our farm. If all goes well we will leave here in November and they will move in. In the meantime we are increasing livestock numbers here to meet our present needs as well as future projections for possible new owners, who plan to sell the same products we are plus produce and poultry.

To make life even more fun we are now getting busy on Farm number 2 which we purchased last fall. The seven acres have proven a great place for target practice this winter but now with spring thaw here it is time for clean up.

The previous owners of The Poor Farm had lived there for many years but for reasons unknown to us, upkeep was obviously not a priority. Maybe they just got too old, too sick or just no longer cared when face with the foreclosure on their farm. I can't help but feel empathy for them as we've learned this farm had been in existence sine the mid 1800's. Recently Keith and I explored the property as weather warmed in order to see the lay of the land...

 At the north west side there is a naturally made pond. Only a couple of feet deep we plan to dig it deeper and wider. Will be a great place for natural water runoff and home for our ducks.

 

Moving south we run into what was probably an old pig shed. Small but adequate in its time.



 

I love the faded red wood on this shed and we will probably reuse for the indie walls of our yet-to-be-built barn .Unless we can find a good barn close by that the owners want to sell or giveaway which we will move to The Poor Farm.

 

The inside of the pig shed is in bad shape but it obvious by the beams that some one years ago put some time, effort and skill in its creation.

 

 We also needed to see how water flowed and drained, in which directions, at what speed etc. The day we went was perfect, we were able to see so much that we were not able to observe when we bought the property due to the extremely high grass/weeds.

And we needed to full asses the previous owners leftover "inventory." Junk to some, recyclable metal to others.

 

On the far south west end the land was higher and there were rows of snow between three rows of higher land. Keith thinks maybe a land fill area but I'm wondering if maybe there was at some time a garden of long raised beds here? If only the land could speak for itself.

 

The south side had more inventory piles and even included an old chimney. From where? The house? A smoke shed? This pile is a very long way from the house and yet contains a lovely guest bed and old frig.

 

At the farthest south west point we can clearly see the drainage pattern of the conventional field behind us. We were very happy to see that our property is built up (to the right) and the flow of water, topsoil and more than likely non-organic chemicals will run alongside our borders.

 

Looking north from the south end of our land you can see what remains of what once was a mighty barn. Keith is anxious to see what all is underneath. Me, I'm a little worried that Mr. 1930's farmer's skeleton is there waiting for discovery.

 

Keith and I don't always see the same "potential" in metal debris but I am absolutely in love with this old pig waterer. I see a great planter or even a shelf display in the house (which is not yet built but I can SEE it)  What would you use this for?

 

Although the property may seem a real shambles and represent nothing buy years of work, there exists an understated beauty.

 

 But then again I have always been a sucker for milk weed plants with their angel wing composition.

 

As we move east along the south side it is easy to see the hill the current house sits upon. If our future architect agrees we are planning to build our earth covered home within that hill and to the west (left) of the old place.

 

There is less water pooling (and junk) on this side of the property which may indicate a good place for initial animal grazing.  But as we move to the north east side we run into yet another dump site.

 

 

But we really don't mind. It was like an archaeological dig except that we having starting digging yet. We will do that this Sunday as we've roped in some family members to help. It was interesting to see how some of the junk, that towards the way back of the property was really very old, rusted, decaying while the piles closer and closer to the house (which must be torn down as completely unlivable)  were in better shape.

 

Meaning you could read the labels on some of the cans still!  Here again is the current house which at first glance might seem livable.

 

But don't be fooled. The roof is terrible and there is massive water damage on the inside. Interior roofs have given way, floors are decaying and the foundation collapsing. yet we still plan to pull any thing of use like windows and out into a new barn. We will strip the house of every usable piece we can and then who knows? A big bonfire? We'll see.

 

Below is the current well house. Soon the well will be checked and we'll know if its' good enough to use or if we'll be face with digging a new one.

 

 

I have great plans for use of this amazing weathered wood as well. Indoor shelving maybe.

 

For some reason this above pile of snow fencing really impacts me the most. Who rolled it all up after winter storms were over? Did they have any idea they would never set them out again?

 

The property is loaded with beautiful trees like this white birch plus many hardwoods and various willow trees. I love willow trees.  The very north side though has this thick line of bushes. Which at first glance seems like a nice privacy fence from the road which runs on the other side.

 

 However...after all the leaves dropped from the bushes over winter we could now see the buried treasure it offered us.

 

 Lions and Tires and Bears...oh my.

Some other highlights. Raised concrete supports from an old corn crib,

 

Suitable for more raised beds?

 

After figuring out the water flow I found myself becoming fascinated with the texture of the debris, the history within each piece. This old tree trunk with the eye of a whale.

 

The tiny bits  of  beautiful moss able to grow on fallen wood

 

The sculpture of rust barbwire wrapped around a fence post

 

A burned out stump with its Zebra like striations.

An old motorcycle frame. Wondering if I need to place a call to American Pickers? You know how Mike Wolfe loves his motorcycle frames!

So ends this spring 2014 tour of The Poor Farm. Hope you enjoyed.