I found my wife when we worked together. We found common ground and mutual interest. But she had no experience with farming, homesteading, livestock, or gardens. I took the city girl by the hand and slowly lead her into a completely different life. i started with peas and onions, in one small bed. Then we added more, and more, and more, we were became a 1/4 acre CSA. Raised chicken, pigs, and goats, learning about the freshest food. With the decline of my grandmother we decided to relocate to better care, and spend time with her.

 With the tials of relocating a farm, reducing livestock, and putting it all in storage. We were looking at a longer wait to find a place. Moving in with my parents and searching for a home 4+ hours away became taxing. We leased property in chesaw for years before we decided to move, as the plan was always to move to eastern WA. We knew what we wanted and had money to buy, but that right place just didn't show. Then after looking, on the way home i checked the listing again. A Cabin in malott, small with less acreage than we wanted but in a central location. My wife said do it sight unseen.

Offer in and accepted hours after listing, now we just have to go see it. Even the agent was amazed, great location, super soil. Weeds everywhere, but no long term use of herbicides and pesticides. My wife transferred to Omak and was in the house by herself. I stayed and finished my season at work, hauling loads to the new house every weekend.

The city girl is working and living in the true country for the first time in her life. driving over the pass to haul every thing home. The Call! Shes driving, hits Blewett pass and calls me. "My heart is in Okanogan County we are never leaving" said Tracy. She has made the transition to a full County Woman. Now she doesn't even like to drive to Snoqualmie.

Settling in we started to clean up and trim the trees. Then the cows arrived, Four Dexters. Its official farm animal on! Cow pies arent cute, and they are as slick as ice. They fart, moo at inconvenient times, chase you, and even head butt you when not looking. " facebook and youtube lie, I never want a cow in my house" said Tracy. So then a shift to sheep, Hair sheep, their for meat.

Working in the barn we found almost three feet of compacted manure. When life gives you Poo, make compost. Ripping the back off the barn we used our tractor to break the Poo palace compaction, into convenient parts to be relocated to the future flower and herb garden. We still get great herbs and flowers out of those beds. As we watched and planned, found solar exposure, path way access, and equipment storage. An ideal place took form, using the best slope and the area with the best sun we started work on the former heavily compacted pasture. Sub soiling, disking,  then finally primary tillage to form raised permanent beds. The BCS we bought in 2023 was the best tool to convert 1/2 acre into production. using a rotary plow instead of a tiller greatly reduced over pulverization.

My wife Tracy, looking at things on the internet found an ad, lavender farm for lease. As all things which bring more work to my life she was exited. She has been looking for a farm venture, set fully in her wants category. We have explored many possible avenues, looking for her farmer niche. She didn't like the idea of chickens, not passionate about the market garden. Then the AD!!! she loves flowers but what kind, lavender farm for lease. We are now working to revitalize the farm and find many ways to sell the products. She is all excited to dig in and looking at different value added products. She just had her first day at the farmers market.