Ross Brothers Farm
2004 was another expensive year. A 1600 gallon cistern and 1000 gallon septic tank
were installed. One of
the best investments however, was the excavation of the hillside so that
we
could add the hillbilly highway. The road opened the bottom portion of the
property for further
development and expansion. One fall day I decided to drive
down the road in the 1978 F-150.
Well to make a long story (and a weekend)
short, it cost $175.00 to have the truck pulled out.
Lessoned learned; don’t
drive on a dirt road after it rains. With the extra dirt from the cistern
and
septic, we had the contractor clear some brush and construct a small wildlife
pond along the
back fence row. Trees, actually this time a small orchard. What
started with 3 apple trees soon
grew into 10 apples, 3 peach, 2 pears and 1
prune tree. I still can’t get a cherry tree to take
root. Along the north east
fence line is a wild persimmon tree also.
Near the end of 2004
remodeling started on the cabin. A 10 by 12 foot room was added. Don’t
take any
measurements, because they are all off. A lot of the wood and doors and other
building
materials were collected on various garbage days. Why spend a buck, if
you look hard enough
someone is going to throw out everything that you need to
build a castle.
So begins 2005. Hard work
continued but finally the room addition was complete or as
complete as it was
going to get. Yes another crop failure, but would you expect anything else?
The
few apples became a late night snack for a hungry deer. Grapes, raspberries and
asparagus along with a popular tulip tree were added to our every growing need
to help out
Mother Nature. The wildlife pond actually has green frogs, turkeys
abound and yes the grass still
grows and needs cut about every other week.
After 5 years our loan for the property was paid
off. 5 years in the making and
the property is finally all ours.
I’m sure a number of
important items have slipped my mind, like the first time a coyote howl
was
heard. The storms that toppled a bunch of old sassafras trees. How darn right
cold it got in
the winter and how hot it was in the summer. The campfires and
the burn barrel. The chestnut
seeds that are planted around the property or the
time capsule at the end of the drive. Did I
mention we have satellite TV? We
did it… took old farm land, changed the landscape, meet
real farmers and people
that make a living off the land. Ventured away from our normal life style
and
laid claimed to a small nick of our children’s, children’s memory. While we may
never
become famous or rich, for that matter, if nothing else, we can call it
ours. So can we call it a
farm? Sure we can!
Welcome to Ross Brothers Farm October 2005
Legal Description and Location
6620 Pleasant Ridge Lane
Tract #2
Magnet, Indiana 47520
Township: Section 3 5-S Range 1-W
Perry County
Map #: 100340009PG6
Coordence:
38.06.53n 086.30.24w 818
feet
38.06.57n 086.30.24w 824 feet
38.06.63n 086.30.24w 707 feet
38.06.64n 086.30.18w 750 feet
38.06.59n 086.30.18w 798 feet
38.06.52n 086.30.17w 808 feet
38.06.55n 086.30.21w 815 feet (flag pole)
0.5 of mile from main gate to Highway 66
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