Last June, I left my life and in the city and moved back to carry on my families farming legacy. I sold my first home in NE Portland and made the hard choice to leave behind my amazing friends, delicious eateries, a wonderful clinic, a loving church community and some of the coolest neighbors I've ever known. I had been strategically plotting and saving for over 12 years to save up money for a down payment because farm land isn't easy to come by these days. I finally had enough saved last year and I arrived back on the farm on Father's day of 2014. My family is very important to me and that day I helped to prepare a BBQ feast for my dear old Papi with my Hermanitos (not so little brothers).
I love my parents and get along quite well with them but I moved off the farm and have been rather independent since I was about 17 years old. Moving back into my childhood bedroom has been for the most part going as well as can be expected but I have been craving a place of my own for months now. I love having people over for dinner and I used to do this in the city a few times a week. This has been something I cannot do as well staying with my parents and I miss it terribly. Having good conversation with great company while sharing a simple meal is one of my favorite things to do. Especially using fruit that I just picked off the farm and incorporating it into the menu.
I found some stellar contractors who are family friends and I started the process of trying to decide where I could put my little place on the farm. The first location I started to scout out was in a small pink cabina that was built around the 1930's. My parents had first moved into that little cabin when they first moved back home in the early 1970's. I thought it could be like a right of passage to move into this space since it was empty but after much thought and prayer and recommendations from my contractors I decided that this home was charming but too far gone and needed to be demolished rather than remodeled. I love using the backhoe and I confess demolishing this building was the most fun I've had in some time.
After researching what the most economical decision and praying about which would be the best way for me to go I decided to add a 26 by 28 addition onto the West Side of my parents farm house. I submitted all the permits with the county in July of 2014
Waiting is not some thing I am unfamiliar with and in my life I have had to make friends with time for many of my hopes and dreams. But waiting for a home of my own on the farm made me feel really raw at times and I wondered if I would make it through the process with my sanity intact. Many tears were shed and I could barely talk about it without having a small emotional breakdown when random strangers would ask me if it had been approved. I was "feeling all the feels" and I just couldn't keep it together when asked about it because I longed for it so badly. I am also waiting to get a dog when my home is finished. Every farm girl needs a loyal dog, Right?
In the middle of November all the permits came through and I had made it through the intense permit process. Trying to get housing permits on "exclusive farm use" is nearly impossible these days and I am so incredibly grateful. But by the grace of God, the permits all came through and the building has started at last in January 2015. Hope has flooded my raw and tender heart and I can't wait to have a dinner party soon with my friends to celebrate my little place being completed. Ive been looking all over for dogs and I am filled with anticipation that there is now some momentum for this dream as well. My heart is full and I am brimming over with gratefulness, Good things do come for those who wait, xoxo your grateful farmer
PS. If you want to know how you can partner with our farm and want more information about our ALL fruit CSA that this is launching this Summer please follow the CSA link and give us your email so we can send you more information. Thank you again for all the wild support and for rallying friends!