[vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1459″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” edgt_css_animation=””][vc_empty_space image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]Well, not so fast.  I have actually gone through a two year process and I am still not officially a farmer.  Let’s say, instead, I am a farmer in training!  The training program is called, The School of Hard Knocks!

It started with the fact that upon purchasing this farm, I clearly realized that it would need a lot of infrastructure improvements.  What was fascinating to learn, prior to buying this place, is that it was a designated Pittsburgh Historic Landmark farm.  The PHLF designated it such after determining that all of the buildings were built in the 1800s and that it would be of value to preserve this beautiful open farmland.  They wanted to insure that someone wouldn’t come along and tear all of this history away and build high-rise apartments.  Many were afraid to purchase this property because of the fact that it was an historic landmark.  They didn’t want to have to deal with the restrictions that come along with owning such a place.  That was a blessing for me because the property sat there waiting for me to discover it, fall in love with it, and bring it back to the life and condition that it truly deserved.  A true landmark it certainly is.

What began for me, however, was a full year of cleaning up the interior of the farmhouse, renovating the run-down springhouse, putting in a holding tank to capture the spring water and adding a UV filter, installing a new huge septic system so that the property could handle future plans to create kitchens and bathrooms in every building, and turning the old shack that used to be a chicken coop into a bunkhouse for farm workers to use to have lunch and for guests to stay overnight.

You don’t even want to know the amount of money I have spent before I even started FARMING!!  I wonder how many tomatoes and peppers I will have to sell to pay for all of this?  Well, you will find out soon enough.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]