We have been busting at the seams to give you another
"our life update"
and it became official just the other day
that we could talk openly about it conversation.
This "thing" will play a gigantic role in our future together.
One that we are really exicited about.
When I told my family about this "thing"
I stood on a chair at a birthday dinner
and made a big dramatic announcement
half of them checked to make sure I really had wine in my hand.
It was fun.
Justin thought I was cray-cray
(thats "crazy" in teenage language, even I learn at school)
We bought a farm!
I know!
Wild right!?!?!
We have about a 52 acre all organic plot.
Now give me a few minutes, there is a lot to explain here.
This farm is a huge leap of faith for us.
We did a lot of thinking,
a lot of considering,
a lot of figuring,
a lot of listening,
a lot of hoping,
a lot of no sleep nights,
and a lot of praying for the right decision
...and man does it feel right!
Justin and his brother Chris have been dreaming of a farm their ENTIRE lives.
They used to build Lego farms and just sit outside and watch the farmers plow their land for hours and hours and hours and hours.
Together they worked over a decade on their uncle's fresh fruit farm.
They both left the farm to pursue their college degrees and then followed their heart's back. Farming these days is difficult to explain,
it is not "buy 10 acres and provide for all of your families needs".
To put it simply you need to be pretty big to be successful, and it is nearly impossible to start big.
It's very competitive and very difficult to break into unless you have inherited land or a production, or money.
And even with those things farming is hard, it is risky, expensive, and you have to be willing to commit your life to it.
I have nothing but the utmost respect for our farmers and their families.
They keep us going, and they don't get nearly enough credit.
Awhile back Justin and Chris decided that regardless of "land ownership" they were going to give farming a try on their own.
So they spent a great deal of time and effort researching profitable crops and land to rent.
Together they decided that they were going to plant and grow hops.
Hops farming is currently small in NYS but has the potential for a lot of growth over the next few years.
They decided it was now or never to get in and stay in.
At the same time...
A man (named Wayne) who lived about 7 miles down the road from us had his 52 acre farm for sale for the last few years....but hadn't sold it.
It was an organic hay and goat farm.
He wanted to sell by April 1st, 2012
and he was very finicky about who he was going to sell to.
Needless to say the boys talked to him, then to each other, then to their wives.
And we all agreed,
If he would sell to us, we would buy.
And this is where the really neat part comes in.
Justin and Chris lost their Uncle Robert back in February.
HE WAS AN AMAZING MAN...
at his memorial service Wayne approached the boys and said something that brought both Amanda and I to tears.
Wayne said "You know I have been praying for what seems like forever for the right thing for my farm, and when you approached me the other day I knew that God was answering my prayers. And I said God, what took you so long?"
Wayne was waiting for someone like the boys to buy his land.
He had offers from land developers
He had offers from BIG farmers
He had offers from people who didn't know what they were doing on a farm.
BUT he accepted Chris and Justin's offer for less,
because he believed in them.
Justin and Chris have worked a long time in this area with very little acclimation or credit.
But they built their reputation as hard workers and honest men.
And Wayne, a stranger, noticed.
So together with Chris and Amanda, we bought the land.
It is not enough to make us a big farm or sustain both of our families.
But it is a starting point and what I believe to be the best thing for us.
We hope that it will grow someday, but I believe that there is a time and place for everything.
I continue to be in awe of my future husband, and am more than proud of him.
How could you not be?
So there it is..
One of our dream chasing stories...
(Dad) Hard work paying off,
Us being lucky,
and God being good.
