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About Us
Without going too far off the deep end, we see an ever-pressing need to be able to economically provide as much untainted, untreated food for our family as possible. We will reduce our dependency on the public food supply while reducing the myriad of pesticides, preservatives, and growth chemicals that we consume through our food. Simultaneously we will decrease our food bill while drawing us closer to God and His creation, and also creating a sense of security should something catastrophic happen in the future. Beyond meeting our own needs, we intend to sell select items to the public and also donate a portion to church functions and local homeless shelters.
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Who We Are
Geoff works on the farmstead full time. Daily animal husbandry chores, equipment maintenance, home remodeling, and farmstead improvements fall under his purview. He occasionally does home improvement projects outside the home, as time allows. He spent six years in the Navy as a mechanic, six years in new home construction, eleven years in manufacturing, and has a Bachelor of Business degree. These experiences taught him nearly all of the valuable skills needed for life on a farmstead. He enjoys target shooting, fishing, motorcycle rides, researching, challenges, and finishing projects. He is extremely focused and driven, and can always find a reason to make a detailed Excel spreadsheet.
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Our History
As Geoff tells it, our story began with the purchase of a John Deere lawn tractor. But, in reality, our journey began almost twenty years ago while stationed onboard the USS NIMITZ (pictured here). He was a mechanic and I was an electrician. We each worked in one of the nuclear power plants that provided the electricity and propulsion for the rest of the ship. Life on an aircraft carrier is like living in a small city of 5,000 people. Even though we worked in the same department, we had never met until two of our friends decided that we might be perfect for each other. Surprisingly, they were correct!
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Our Plan
Our property is rather odd in that it is triangle shaped and has an average downward slope of 12 degrees from front to back. There currently are no earthworks to control water runoff, and there is a storm drain in the street at the front right corner of the property that dumps precipitation out near the swimming pool. We are on the North side of a hill, which receives more shade and further complicates our ability to grow some of the crops and trees that we desire. The red area is a permanent easement of the Columbia Gas Pipeline, on which we are not allowed to build any permanent structure.
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Our Motivation
In the past, Geoff and I have worked demanding jobs with long hours and high stress which only left us with conflicting priorities, poor communication, and always a desire for more time, more money, and more things. Our focus has shifted. We now desire to draw closer to God by being more connected to His creation.
God’s plan is first revealed in the Garden of Eden when He picked up the dirt and breathed life into it creating Adam. We do not have God’s power, but we can tend the land with the same care and compassion. The soil can be maintained to bring life to fruits and vegetables and, in doing so, provide sustenance for our family and our animals. |
Our Hope
We will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary this summer. Looking back, we can see the ebb and flow of life. We have lived together in seven different homes in five states. We have started a family and enjoyed watching our beautiful daughter grow into a smart, caring young woman. Through the years, we celebrated times of great joy and struggled through periods of devastating sorrow and heartache. But, despite life’s changing seasons, one thing has remained the same. We have, and will continue to, place our trust in Jesus Christ.
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