First Post - Background on the farm.

In 2001, Joan and I purchased this property in southern Ohio.  It is 195 acres of which about 40 acres were previously pasture and about 155 acres that are in woods.  There are some pretty steep hills, a few seasonal creeks and a couple of small ponds.  The previous owner was worried about Y2K (the year 2000) and he was prepared to go "off grid" at this location.  He demo'd the old farm house and built a new 5000 sq ft pole barn.  Inside the pole barn, he had a 1200 sq ft cabin constructed.  The farm was set up to survive a technical meltdown by being largely self-sufficent.  It has both propane heat and a wood stove.  It has city water but also a well.  It has electric power but was also designed to run on a generator.  Here's a few photos of the property.

This is the driveway with a locked cattle gate. The old pasture is visible on the ridge behind the gate.

The pasture is on the ridge top and there are woods all down thru the valleys (or hollows as we call them around here).  The property is pretty remote and difficult to access except via the driveway. There are no roads bordering the property and the driveway has an easement thru a neighbor's yard.

Each year we've made a few improvements like this new pond.  We've also expanded the cabin and added atv trails, hunting box stands, and food plots for the deer and turkey.  We planted over 3000 small pine seedlings (most of which the deer ate or rubbed to death).  There was an existing fruit orchard with apple, pear and cherry trees.  We've also planted some new fruit trees and they are just begining to bear fruit.  It's a challenge to grow any crops - I'm developing a real appreciation for farmers.  The wild game loves most crops.  The bugs are destructive.  The weeds are never ending.  And the weather is never right - always too hot, cold, wet, dry, etc.

The woods have a mixture of oak, maple, beech, hickory, cherry, dogwood, redbud and other trees.  Portions of the property had been logged 15 or 20 years ago so there are some immature forrest areas.  I have been enrolled in a USDA program to remove an invasive species (Tree of Heaven - Ailanthus) and also to do some "crop tree release".  This involves cutting down less desireable trees so that the more valuable ones succeed in getting light, water and nutrients.  It's also desireable to open up the canopy so that the under-story grows to provide food and cover at the elevation that can be accessed by the deer, turkey, etc.

I have been learning about game management.  When we purchased the property the deer were over-populated and emaciated.  The natural browse had been completely consumed and there was very little green growth within reach of any deer.  I joined the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) and started to learn about habitat and herd management.  I worked to improve the food sources by planting food plots like this clover plot.  I also worked to improve the natural browse which coordinated with the tree management program mentioned above.  With friends and family, we have been bringing the deer population into balance with the food availability.  Last year we harvested six does and two bucks.  The turkey have also been prospering and we also see coyote, fox, hawks, wood ducks, doves, woodpeckers, grouse, great blue heron, raccoons, possums, and many other species.  Also an occasional turtle, black snake or copperhead.  And the mice are very creative at finding their way into the cabin.

These are all trail camera pictures taken on the farm

Here's a few hunting pictures

And a few crop & plot photos

The apples are popular with kids and deer.

A Few of the Tools and Toys

Farm Structures