It’s really , really real…

Well, we started work on the farmhouse this past week. And by WE…I mean The Cheesemonger. I am busy working at the hospital these days. Things are falling into place and before you know it we will be living in Festus. Next on the agenda is to paint the exterior of the house and replace the wrap-around back deck. We are going to extend the deck to connect the bunk house with the main house. After that: internal demo.

I have been scouring over loads of design magazines like Dwell and other periodicals such as Beautiful Home and Cottage Living. The farmhouse is very small. It is about half the size of the loft give or take a few 100 square feet.  I keep forgetting that we have two barns and a bunk house to store things in…that is good. But I am worried about our clothes and shoes. We have ALOT. And if you know anything about The Cheesemonger…you know who has the most shoes…I have been trading kitchen ideas with a friend of mine for the last week or so. I think he may be more excited about the renovations than I am at this point. He can be…he won’t have to live there.

There are other tidbits to consider at this time as well…like for instance: A NAME for the farm/dairy. Right now it’s just known as THE FARM. But I want to come up with something a bit more catchy and fitting. I don’t necessarily want Festus to be in the name as it reminds me of the word fester, like a festering boil. I know that is gross…but it is what it is.

Lehrer Family Farms isn’t bad…but people have such a hard time with that last name! So, if anyone has any suggestions…lay ’em out there. I have my people working on it as I type this post.  It was also brought to my attention that I need to hurry up with this ‘naming’ project as I need to secure my domain name/website. All of these little things are on my to-do list that I have filed back in my brain…but I think we are going to need to knock this part our sooner or later.  We have lots of folks asking about THE FARM and wanting to get the word out…and yet, I can’t even tell them what we call it.

We won’t have sheep until the spring. We will start with chickens.  The Cheesemonger is making the plans for the coop and we are trying to figure out the best place to put it. They will be pretty free to roam the farm. I’m hoping they will help keep bugs away.

I’m excited. I’m scared. I’m hopeful. I’m nervous. I’m just all around ready for this adventure.

 

Summer Internship at Berger Bluff Farm

We had the joy of spending Sunday out at Lee & Ingrid Abraham’s farm in Berger, MO! What an amazing day!!!! It was very hard for me to leave after a wonderful brunch and afternoon walking the farm. I have fallen in love with their daughter Leena…I only hope someday our kid is as cool as she. She made us laugh with her prom night story….and she loves Feist just as much as I do and even went to the show in StL last week. Coolest kid around….she even ate the cheese rind….most teenagers wouldn’t have even put the strange cheese in their mouth….not Leena…she’s awesome.

Simon says our visit got me “farmcited!” (farm+excited). And yes….I am beginning to long for our own little plot of land and to leave the city behind. I would be happy just to move in with Lee & Ingird. I just need to finish grad school first…well, maybe I don’t…I might be able to finagle a way to do it from a farm….ah….a girl can dream…

Anyway….Berger Bluff Farm is in need of a summer intern(s). See below for details:

We are looking for one or two apprentices for the 2008 growing season. Work will include all facets of vegetable farming: propagation, transplanting, cultivation, irrigation, harvest, packout, and delivery. We market our produce in St. Louis at a farmers’ market and restaurants. Our prime consideration is that we find a person or persons who have a passion for gardening/farming-and are willing to work hard, listen to instruction, and apply the information. The intern must enjoy working around others and be flexible to the needs of the farm. Housing is provided in a one-bedroom, restored log house with kitchen and bathroom facilities. We offer a monthly stipend and produce during the season. Please contact us if you are interested.

If you are not familiar with Berger Bluff Farm, I am so sorry! You are missing out! You can find them at the Green Market in the CWE….you will NOT be disappointed with their bounty! Please check them out once the Green Market opens this season. I was introduced to them when I began dating Simon…all those years ago! Sidenote: Lee and Ingrid were the very first people I was introduced to as Simon’s girlfriend!!! AWWWW.