1000 visits in 2 weeks!

Dear Edge Fans,

  We are extremely pleased to announce that in less than two weeks over 1000 visitors have come to this blog.  We are pleased and humbled that so many care about us and our journey.  It is my hope that you are enjoying what you are reading and that you will be inspired to create more of a dialogue with us, especially if you have questions or ideas for posts.

  We are trying to grow a fan base and would appreciate you joining our facebook fan page or follow via your google account.  Also, the more exposure the better!  If you would be so kind to post an entry on your facebook page (there is a button on the bottom of each article) then new readers could come enjoy our adventures. 

  So whether you like A letter to the USDA, or an oldie but a goody: The Flies are dumber out here we hope you'll continue to check in on us and our fun times here on Lancaster's Edge.  Here's to the next 1000 visitors!

Rob, Amy and Ayla
lancastersedge@hotmail.com.

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.

A letter to USDA

Dear USDA (United States Department of Agriculture),

Today we received a letter from you. Apparently on June 3 you came out to our land and decided that our land is Highly Erodible Land (HEL). Not all of our land, just the 2.94 acres that currently have crops on them, corn to be precise.

According to your department, we have 30 days to dispute this claim or we must forever hold our piece. If we choose too, we can pay $20 an hour to hire a mediator so we can work together to sort this out. But, before we go forward with this, I have some questions...

1. What is Highly Erodible Land?
2. Why do I need to have UHEL (meaning the land is Un-Highly Erodible Land?)
3. Lastly, if I do not call you and dispute this fact, do I go to HEL?

Yours Truly,

Lancaster's Edge

OK, but seriously...why is the government concerned with my 2.94 acres of land being HEL? I asked my neighbors and they too were informed that a portion of their land was HEL today. After a brief conversation with them, we have decided not to dispute this claim. The fact is, this is an acreage not farmland. I am open to anymore feedback or knowledge on this subject, but as of now, I think I am ready to move on.