Ross Brothers Farm
Year 1 – 2000: First
point of business was figuring out how to cut the grass. The lot measures
350
feet wide, by 750 feet long. This should equal out to about 5 acres. 3 acres
are open field
with the remaining in timbered out woods. Not having the
knowledge as to maintain a large
yard, I knew right away that a push mover just
wouldn’t “cut it”. The first yard implement was a
Snapper Riding Mower with a
32” cut. It would take about 6 hours to cut the grass. Now that is
a long time!
During the first year a
number of white pine trees were planted. Just guessing it was around 50
or 60.
The trees were ordered from the State of Indiana and were planted very early
spring
along the east and west side of the property. We also planted a few
elderberry bushes. Two
of those remain today. At last count we still had about
15 white pines growing. The next couple
of years we also planted 4 or 5 black
walnut trees in the lower part of the property. Seems we
just can’t get
enough tress and bushes.
Early spring of 2001 a
gravel drive way was made and a barbed wire fence and gate were
installed across
the front of the property. I wish now I had taken pictures to capture the
moments
of anger and frustration of installing a barbed wire fence! Remember a
range fence was
designed to keep “things” out, not in.
In 2002, it seems like we
built a 12 by 20 yard barn, this is still a work in progress. We
completed the
fence around the upper part of the property and planted more trees and plants.
If you look around the property today, hopefully you will find a variety of
plants, trees and bushes.
When first purchased the land was bare, nothing but
grass was growing. Not one single tree
extended beyond the tree line on the
north side of the property.
Oh, yes the garden. Since
day one, attempts have been made to grow something that looks like
or represents
a garden. Let me say this, it is easier said than done. 5 years and still not
one
basket of tomatoes, potatoes or corn on the cob! Heck, not even a sunflower
big enough to brag
about. Something about a garden, they take a lot of time and
work. You can’t just turn over
some ground, plant a few seeds and except it to
grow. It just doesn’t happen that way.
2003 brought yet another
crop failure. We would not have survived as frontiersmen. We
would have turned
into another Donner party if we relied on our wits and ground to keep us fed.
Idea’s and plans for the property seemed to grow with every passing day. During
this time
frame we purchased a generator, added a 55 gallon plastic drum that
was used to store water
and supplied a gravity fed running water system for the
cabin, added a front porch and built a
small utility shed.
2003 also took us into the
21st century. A Sears lawn tractor with a 40” cut was purchased. This
cut grass cutting time down to 4 hours. Electricity comes to the property.
While I don’t recall the
cost to hook-up, trench and install electricity, it was
worth every penny. It seems we also added
the outside privy shower too.
More trees were planted
that included green ash, (also known as the Freedom Tree from the
Eisenhower years), a sycamore, scotch pines,
blue spruces along with a few dwarf evergreens
and one Pin Oak. Also 2 weeping
willows and a cork screw willow. I keep on cutting down the
forsythia better
known as a “banana bush”. Wow, sure seems like we are planting a bunch of
trees. But keep in mind, not one tree grew on the upper part of property prior
to 2000.
In 2003 we were gifted
with a 1948 Case VAC tractor. Our cousin Flip graciously donated one
of his
tractors to our cause. Thanks Flip. Let me see, that free gift cost the price
of an old
beat-up Woods brush hog, a single bottom plow and a tine row tiller.
Let’s not forget to add
in the new batteries, hydraulic and transmission gear
oil and a bunch of other items to get and
keep the tractor running. But what
farm would be complete without an actual tractor! Did I
mention the brakes
don’t work?