USDA pt. 2

This blog's most popular post is titled  "Letter to the USDA" on June 15 (See the sidebar!).  Due to it's extreme popularity some follow-up is required.  Despite my humorous under-tone in that initial post, I must regrettably inform you that I spoke on the phone with a very knowledgeable man at the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office.  He guided Amy and I through the letter which was sent out on June 3 informing us we had thirty days to dispute the government's HEL (Highly Erodible Land) distinction that the USDA was placing on our property.

At this point, some background is necessary.  Our 5.61 acres is carved out of the original 160 acre Lohmeier homestead that was established back in 1889.  Within that 5.61 acres are 2.94 acres (yes, the government has diced up farmland down to that level of exactness) which are currently growing corn.  That contract was set up before we purchased the house and we signed a document allowing the growth for the year 2011.  It is not our intent in the future to maintain that contract but for now it is in place.  Our 2.94 acres was part of 90+ acres that was in a government conservation program to eliminate the HEL distinction.  When our 5.61 acres were carved out of the Lohmeier land, the letter we received informing us we were HEL was simply a courtesy notification on the government's part.  Confused yet?

So I asked the man, "What do we need to do at this time?" 
His answer, "you don't need to do nothin'".
Ignoring his grammar choices I responded with, "....Nothing? Why?"

Because we will receive a letter in the future detailing the conservation plan which is already in place, but we can not receive this plan until the required 30 days after June 3 have passed informing us of our HEL land.  (Why, if I just called in, do we need to wait...? In case we choose to dispute it before July 3?)


At which point we either adhere to this plan, request to make our own, or plant grass seed (which is the plan) and it will eliminate the HEL distinction swiftly.

Aren't you glad I followed up on this?  :)

All this talk about corn, I had to include a picture of some of our 2.94 acres of corn.

Beekman Inspiration

Have you heard of the very popular "The Fabulous Beekman Boys" on the Planet Green Channel?  Unless you have nice cable, this channel might not be available...we only have it because we have satellite.  If so, then you have witnessed some excellent reality television about two men who trade the fast-paced life of New York City for the quiet times of Sharon Springs, NY.  They purchase a mansion and barn (and land) that were built in 1802.  These two men, Josh and Brent, are pretty amazing guys, I highly encourage you to check out their website/blog/store/television show. 

If you have been reading our blog, or know us personally, then you know that there are some definite parallels here.  Trading urban lifestyle in for rural, switching to more natural living, making goat milk soap (oh wait, that's just them).  When we stumbled upon their show in 2009 it fueled the fire to eventually move out and give this a try.  Brent, who was previously a doctor, also worked for Martha Stewart and Josh is a business executive and author.  This post is about his latest book which is an "unconventional memoir" about their move titled: "The Bucolic Plague" by Josh Kilmer-Purcell.  Click the link and amazon has a sweet deal that lasts until June 21 offering the hardback book for only $10!

Before I get into his book, there is a small back story.  Today is Father's Day and I asked for only one gift from my wife/child.  Each night it is my responsibility to put our daughter to bed and I always read her several books.  She is currently fascinated with Curious George books, but we only own three books.  I have grown more and more frustrated and bored with these books so I finally asked my wife for new Curious George books to read to my daughter.  Today I received three new ones.  I was more thrilled than my daughter!  But how does this relate?  Knowing that I needed some reading material of my own my wife picked up Josh's book for me from the Beekman 1802 store and it was a personalized, autographed copy for me.  Hooray!

I have had the book for only an hour and I am already on chapter three.  It is informative, easy to read, and hilarious.  I must throw in a disclaimer that I do not work for the Beekman boys, I just am a huge fan of what they do and what they represent.  Here is one excerpt that I think is a good representation of what the book is all about.  After their real estate agent (Michelle) gives them a tour of the mansion...

"That's everything inside," Michelle said.  "Would you like to see the crypt?"
"The what?" I said.
"The crypt," she repeated.  "The Beekman Family Crypt.  It's just in the side yard."
Of course I wanted to see the crypt.  Who wouldn't? I wondered how she described that in the real estate listing.  "Historic Mansion, 5BDRM / 5BA / 7 FP / 1 CRPT".  (p. 30).

Truly a great read and I like it even more because it relates so well to our situation here on the Edge.  The Lohmeier family homesteads our land starting in 1889, which for Nebraska history (Nebraska received statehood in 1867) is pretty significant.  Our barn was built as it stands today in 1889, the house came shortly thereafter.  History intrigues me and the Beekman was established in 1802 which is even more historical.  Truly a great read and a great father's day, I hope everyone had a great day!