The Family Farm Today

If you looked back to my previous post, the first few photos would look very similar to those.  The original family farm hasn't changed that much.  As I mentioned before, some new paint and tin were added to the out-buildings and the house was remodeled.

My house now sits in the corner of one of the best hay fields, but I don't think my parents ever minded having their little girl in view. 

My oldest brother, James, and his family were the first to return to the farm and build their home.  It's pretty much right behind my house.  Then my brother, Ray, moved back and built his home.  He and James bought the connecting farm up the road and Ray built his home there.

 

Ray's house sits on the far corner of the land.  He's in the trucking business and has a barn big enough to pull his trucks through so he can work on them. 

  

  

 Cattle and horses roamed over all this hills and valleys for the most part (and still do), but the main production was and is hay.  James picked up right where my dad left off and is now one of the largest producers of hay in Hickman County.

 

We've all taken our turn behind the wheel, but for the last few years it has been mostly James, my dad, and my son, Adam.  These photos of are of Daddy and Adam working the fields together.  I'm so thankful that James and Daddy took Adam under their wings and taught him the love of the land.  He's now going to college at Murray State in Kentucky, getting a degree in agriculture.  I know it's mainly because of what these two men taught him and encouraged him to do.

 

James is the main farmer now, with Daddy working for him.  James bought the original farm and has changed a few things and returned to some old ways.

 He works closely with a neighboring ranch and runs their cattle at times on the farm, growing healthier livestock for beef production.  He's growing vegetables, herbs, and mushrooms with out chemicals and stocking their pantry like Mom used to do.

 But he changed up the landscape of the farm a little and took areas that couldn't be roamed by livestock and built rental log cabins hanging off the bluff, overlooking the Piney River and a campground right at the river's edge.  He's running a different breed of livestock now, people longing to experience country living.

 

Piney River Escape stays full nearly year round.  Check out their website for some awesome pictures of the sites and homes.  James and his wife, Anita, have done an amazing job setting all this up.

While the campers love the view and the peace and quiet, there are times it gets a little loud.  Folks planning music festivals, weddings, and reunions are finding this place a great venue to hold their events.

Something else our parents taught us, besides how to love the land and understand what it took to make a living off the land, was to love art.  My mother was an artist of various mediums.  Many times here on this blog I've shared about her talent.  James has gone a step further and had her paintings printed so that everyone can enjoy her talent.  Prints are now available for sale with the proceeds going to an art scholarship for seniors at the local high school.

Click here for all the details of how to purchase your chose of size and style. 
       http://www.pineyriverenterprises.com/franceslewisart.html

Here's one of my favorites.

In less than a month, James and I will be part of a self-guided tour through our county to showcase home based arts & agriculture.  The Arts & Ag Tour will highlight folks just like us, trying to keep our farms going, raising livestock and plants of every variety and being creative with wood, metals, and fabrics to create beautiful works of art.  The tour takes place May 23 & 24, Memorial Weekend.

Piney's Needle will be stop number 26.  My daughter and I will be selling quilts and quilted items, fashions, jewelry, art (contemporary & modern).  We'll have my grandmother's quilting frame set up and giving demonstrations on quilting (traditional & modern techniques).  Guests will have an opportunity to sew some blocks for a purple quilt that will be raffled off in October for Pancreatic Cancer Awareness.  My husband will be selling some of his music CD's and his famous BBQ.  Sally is making pies! 

James and Anita will be stop number 27 and along with all the other stuff James does in his free time that I've mentioned, Anita is a multi-talented artist.  She's focusing right now on pottery and she does an amazing job.  Check out a few of her pieces here, http://www.pineyriverenterprises.com/neatstuffpottery.html.

We'll both have some of our mother's prints for sale.

I hope you've enjoyed this virtual tour of the place and encourage you to come visit it in person, during the tour or any time.  We're located in Hickman County, TN, about 5 miles off I-40, exit 163.  James' website gives great instructions on how to find us, because GPS is not your friend out in this area.

I'm looking forward to seeing what the next generation is going to do with the legacy that we've received from our parents and we are passing on down to our children.