Our Oregon Farm

In my previous blog there were a few sneak previews of the farm, nice pretty springtime pictures! Let me tell you about our farm. It is a beautiful piece of ground, almost 150 acres. There are about 100 acres of tillable ground and a "50 acre wood" with a small lake. The woods are predominately oak with a scattering of pine and a whole lot of blackberry bushes, my goats would think they had died and gone to heaven if they could see the place! Most of the farm is good bottom land which floods in the winter. There are about 25 acres of higher ground where the house and buildings are located. There is an ancient orchard of a dozen or so trees with apples, pears, and a prune tree which bear tons of wonderful fruit. The farm has been mostly planted to grass seed the past 20 years. 

Three years ago the lease was up and we regained control of the ground and planted multi species grasses for pasture and hay. Since our kids were gone in February last year and know one was "minding the farm," things are little over grown. The grass was not grazed or baled so we're not sure what to do with it this year. We had thought we would be on the farm last year to care for it but our California place did not sell so the farm and house have been pretty lonely for some human love and attention. 

We're anxious to get some cows on the place this summer the break up the old stuff and start fertilizing it!  We've been followers of Joel Salatin for years and have employed the intensive grazing management to our place in California and were very happy with the results. We will do the same in Oregon to get our fields in shape, thought we may need more that three cows to do it! We do have a plan, we'll be bringing a couple dozen head from our daughters farm in Lebanon to help out.  

Right now we're between the two places. The California  house is in escrow and should close in March 2011. Mr. Green Jeans was on track to retire, then daughter #2 announced she's engaged and of course wants to be married from the home and community where she grew up...we're going to rent back till May 17th! Best laid plans of mice and men! The wedding is planned for Saturday May 14th then we're outa there Monday May 16th!