August 29. 2008

OK, so things have settled down a bit in that we don't have much to report. The truck that came yesterday was full of fans and electrical equipment, nothing that causes dramatic impact visually. At least not yet. We are waiting while the concrete sets. Now that's exciting! Next week will bring more developments, so stay tuned!

August 27, 2008

It's such an exciting week; I guess we'll be blogging daily! Today, Ryan and family spent the day with friends in Lancaster, but the guys were busy working from early this morning. We stopped by the farm on our way to Lancaster around 11:00 a.m. and already much had been accomplished. Most of the poles had already been cemented in, and there was a flurry of activity. Another truckload of equipment will arrive tomorrow morning, so tune in again tomorrow for more!

August 26, 2008

Today was an exciting day on the Ehst Homestead Farm, a flurry of activity all day long!
Happy Construction arrived around 7:00 a.m. to start squaring off the greenhouse building.
When Ryan arrived around 8:00, there was a tractor trailer stuck in the grass in front of the barn (he didn't follow Ken's directions about where to pull in!). The truck was soon pulled out by one of the tractors.

Potty Queen delivered the port-a-potty to its new home for the next month around 10:00.
It took all morning (4 hours) for Ken, Ryan, and the Shuler brothers (with their tractor with a forklift) to unload the trailer.

Meanwhile, the Happy boys (they are the most hard-working teenagers you've ever seen) were drilling 170 holes for the support poles for both the greenhouse walls and the insides.

After lunch, Ken and Ryan were busy inventorying all the boxes through the afternoon.
Another tractor trailer is coming on Thursday. Whew!

Week of August 18, 2008

The topsoil is gone, the ground has been leveled, the foundation is laid, the driveway from the lane to the greenhouses (between the two barns) has been dug.

The foundations for the old corn bins have been broken up and turned into the future parking lot (left). The site of the old barn has been prepared for the new packing house and market (right).

Week of August 11, 2008

This week the excavators began removing the topsoil from the area where the greenhouses will soon stand.

Ryleigh enjoyed watching the diggers prepare the area for the greenhouse and the red house. Who told her that?! We aren't sure why there's a green house and a red house!

Week of August 4, 2008

The equipment has been collecting around the farm, and the work has begun!
The old red barn was taken down the first part of the week.

The nutrient tanks were also delivered this week.

August 3, 2008

Today was the Dedication and Groundbreaking for Butter Valley Harvest. Family and friends joined us at the farm. Ken and Abram (his father) shared the history of the Ehst Homestead Farm, while Ryan shared the vision for the future. Abram, Ken, Ryan, and little Ryleigh took turn turning over the dirt and "breaking" the ground. We prayed and sang over the ground that will hold the greenhouses, dedicating the business to the One who planted the dream and the desire. It was a time of blessing, not just for the business, but for the individuals involved.