Nickel Farm

Spent a few hours during this period measuring and computing distances and plotting elevations as I prepared a topographic map of the site for future grading plans.

I was up at 6:00 am shooting elevations with my laser level.  The rest of the day was spent cleaning up site debris, moving large stones, and supervising a neighbor man in mowing the front yard.  Returned home later in the day

On this date, I transported the two stoves back to Nickel Farm on my tiny utility trailer.  Must have looked like the Beverly Hillbillies moving to town (yes, there is even an old concrete pond at Nickel Farm).  The stoves were beastly and, luckily, a charitable neighbor came to my rescue with his heavy-duty dolly when I unloaded them

Becky had learned from the previous owners of the property that they were interested in selling their four water shares as well as the wood-burning cook stove and double convection oven they had removed from the house prior to vacating it.  Today, I purchased all of the above for $10,000, $750, and $250 respectively.  Paid $25 to the irrigation company to transfer the water shares into my name.

Purchased round hardwood table at thrift store for $30.

Traveled to Becky and Russ’s new house and secured the outside basement door and measured the living room, summer parlor, and winter parlor in detail.  Returned home the same day.

At some point in time, the Welchs asked me to partner with them financially on their newly acquired property.  I agreed, and, since I could not afford to own two houses in the same valley, I immediately put my small home up for sale.

I met Becky and Russ Welch at the house and, together; we reviewed “the Good, the Bad and the Ugly”.  They agreed the house would be a ton of work but loved the land, the town, the valley and the amount of space the house offered.

Long story short, they made an offer and it was accepted.

Then, on this date, I received a call from Becky regarding a property she had found online in the same valley where mine was located. Since I lived closer to that property, I agreed to investigate whether the 3,300 square foot fixer-upper house on an acre of land would be a good investment for Becky and Russ. I discovered that the house was a “real dog” but had good bones. I reported to Becky that the house had potential but would require a tremendous amount of work to redeem. That was an understatement!

I encouraged Becky and her husband, Russ, to delay their planned departure out of state for one day and come take a look.

On this date, I had the opportunity to purchase at auction a 1,400 square foot fixer-upper house on a half-acre in a beautiful mountain valley. I was aware that a half-acre stewardship wouldn’t provide enough room to accommodate all of my plans but I was determined to live within my income and stay out of debt. Little did I know that the location of the future Nickel Farm was about to change.

The story begins with my longtime dream of creating Nickel Farm, a self-sufficient family retreat/refuge, which I would someday bequeath to my children. I wanted a place where we could have reunions and bond as a family – a place where the grandchildren could come and feed the chickens, milk a goat, pick a tree-ripened peach, play horseshoes, and camp in the pasture. Another goal of mine was to provide a “bug out” place where family members could come for a period if beset by economic, relationship, or health problems.

I consider everything that the Lord has blessed me with as a stewardship. Aside from intelligence, experience and good works, there is nothing that I can take with me when I depart this world. Nickel Farm is my earthly stewardship from the Lord, which I will increase and then leave for the use of my posterity. As a Greek philosopher once said, “Let death be daily before your eyes and you will never entertain any abject thought nor too eagerly covet anything.”

My oldest daughter, Becky and her husband, Russ, had been feeling the same needs for preparation and self-sufficiency as I had. Together, we had spent a considerable amount of time dreaming of and investigating Idaho as a place to establish family retreats.