The Tractor and Planter
This is the third report on our new home and farm progress (The first, The second).
In this report I want to emphasize that we have been humbled and grateful for all of the help we have received.
Before saying more, I would like to update our progress. We have electricity!! We got a pole moved and a new one erected. The electric company buried their service to our meter which we placed on a pedestal on the side of our shed. We have two-200 amp service panels in place for the supplying of power to the house and barn. This week we are getting power to the well and to the barn.
Amanda learned to drive the tractor and did some bush-hogging one day. She did a great job. I have become proficient at running a weed-eater, especially around the pond. I once had as a lifetime goal of never owning a weed-eater. Now my goal is to own three – one for each son! The garden and sweet-corn are not doing so well. I intend to write more about that later, but let’s just say our schedule, the tremendous amount of rain, and the prevalence of existing grass has not helped the garden areas.
That gives you an update, but now to the subject.
Friends and church members are great at offering their help. I will not list names but here is a list of things that have been done for us mostly at no cost. I am sure I am overlooking others that could go on the list.
- Design help from an architect.
- Home plans drawn and guidance given from an engineer.
- My disk and cultivator reworked with new bolts and improved tremendously by a welder.
- Two to three tons of chicken manure donated for the gardens.
- Someone loaned us a manure spreader.
- Help in repairing the roof on the barn.
- Counsel and advice on how to manage water erosion and needed dirt work done.
- A loaned planter to plant my sweet-corn.
- A two-row cultivator given to us.
- The local electrical class building the service and wiring the barn with lights and outlets.
- A local electrician helping me finish up the electrical service.
- Counsel and advice on the farm and animal husbandry.
I think I am sure I am leaving things out and this does not reflect all that family has done to help. We all need help and can do more when we work together. So far, this endeavor has taught me how much we are blessed to have such talented and generous friends.
I think this is the nature of rural and farm life. You need others help and assistance. You pull together and help each other.
Finally, if you would like to help just come on out, we got lots of fencing, mowing, and weed-eating for you!!
Have you paused lately to consider how you are blessed to have so much help when you need it?
