Pictures of Our New (Or Not-So-New) Farm

As Mama wrote in the previous entry, within the next few weeks, we will be downsizing so our cows can do some upsizing! We are excited that God has clearly and quickly opened many doors for our family and our farm. The Lord has provided an abandoned 100 year old house and dairy farm for our family. As you will see in the following pictures, there is a lot of work to be done in a very short amount of time! I am already looking forward to posting the "After" pictures, but at this point, everything is definitely still in the "Before" stage. I only have exterior pictures, but hopefully I will be able to post interior pictures in the future.

The dairy barn and other outbuildings will suit our needs so well. The dairy barn is huge and has 32 stantions. The owners have been using the dairy barn as a storage room for many years, so we have a lot of clearing out and throwing away to do. There is a huge hay loft above. Since Elliott and Oliver work for a hay farmer, they are very familiar with different hay lofts and say that this one is of very high quality.
There are many other outbuildings on the farm. It will be so convenient to be more organized and spread out. At our current home, we basically took our house and added a bunch of cows, pigs, goats, and chickens to our land and called it a farm. This is a REAL farm though and the set-up is so much better than what we are working with at our current home. It is a great blessing. Daddy and the boys checking out different outbuildings on the property:
There is also an old singlewide trailer that we can use for farm interns in the future.
Our new farm is about 11 miles from our current home, and the location will drop about 10-15 minutes from most of our farm delivery sites and the farmer's markets we work at. I've always been fascinated with learning about the Mennonites and Amish, and this farm is right in the middle of a heavily Mennonite area, down the street from the Mennonite store, and across the street from the Mennonite church.
Also, for several years I have enjoyed reading the book series by Beverly Lewis about the Amish and I feel as if I am moving to one of the lovely farms they live on! It is like stepping back in time.Sulli and Harrison playing at one of the old gas pumps on the farm:
Climbing silos:
There is a very, very long trail that goes down through farm land behind the house. I can't wait to get our four-wheelers out there."Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!" Psalm 144:15"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19"For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills." Deuteronomy 8:7
"For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills." Psalm 50:10
"God will greatly bless His people. Wherever they plant seed, bountiful crops will spring up. Their flocks and herds will graze in green pastures." Isaiah 32:20