Exploring Fruit

We just found out that we can grow the following fruits in our growing zone; though some require a greenhouse, which we plan to have anyway, and are subject to varieties developed for our particular zone.

We knew the primaries were an option:

• Cherries
• Apricots
• Plums
• Pears
• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Cranberries
• Rhubarb
• Grapes

Greenhouse dependant:

Dwarf varieties (which means the trees grow up to about 12'):

• Avocado
• Banana
• Lemon
• Lime
• Orange
• Grapefruit
• Mango

We also found out that there is a coffee plant that can be grown and cultivated in our growing region.

To be honest, no matter if it is this farm (response on offer still pending) that we have our heart set on, or any other farm, the growing season/zone will be roughly the same (and it's a difficult growing zone) because we have the state picked.

The property in question already has a hearty apple tree on site, as well as a couple other random fruit trees. The only thing now is to choose which ones to start with!

With options like those it's clear that eventually we wouldn't have to use the grocery store for our fruits (or wine and coffee!), if we can manage to grow them properly. Preservation methods range from canning, freezing and drying, and of course juicy and fresh straight off the vine/tree.

We're getting pretty excited over here...and that's just about the fruit!

Step One: Find Property

We might be making our first offer on a piece of property.

40 acres of mixed grazing field, woodland, and house/yard site.

Buying an old farm/ranch is difficult, the well and sewer are all private.

The septic (sewer) system currently on the plot is a leaching type, which goes into a tank that has perforated holes in the bottom, and then leaches, or "drains" over a treatment bed (made of soil and natural bacteria) and then into a leaching bed, which may be one of two types, which we don't know.

The well is old, there is no township or county data on it (same situation with the septic system), so we're looking at the possibility of getting a new one dug, because the property used to be a farm and also had a good amount of auto mechanical work done on it, which means contamination to the well, depending on it's current location.

The house was left mid-remodel, so that needs to be finished, almost completely.

Sounds like a trap! A $20,000 dollar one! However, with a low offer we have the funds to put $20,000 into the new systems.

The house is a very perfect size with a decent layout, and lots of potential. The property has many out-buildings, as well as a large pasture, lots of trees and space for gardening. An giant oak tree stands in the front yard, and the driveway, which is along a dirt road, but less than a mile from a paved road (from our memory) is a horseshoe shape.

We hope to make an offer on Monday. Hopefully the bankers involved in accepting the3 offer (because it's a foreclosure) have a good weekend and are in high spirits.

The First Entry

Well, it's been decided.
We're buying a farm.
This is going to be a whole new adventure...