About
Hello world! Welcome to my attempt to document and explain my work that I set out to achieve in the late spring of 2015. My hope is that I will be able to share what has worked but also what hasn't. In doing so, this blog may turn out to be a time capsule allowing me to reflect on the progress I have accomplished.Who we are:
This property is lovingly called Paradise Acres Ranch. The land it occupies has a rich history, but my story starts with a close family friend. Although, he was more a member of the family then some family members I know. His name was Phillip "Pete" Peterson. He lived a long life, making it to be over 100. Born in 1902, his family moved from North Dakota to Oregon when he was in his teens. He purchased a piece of property in the Eola Hills of the Willamette Valley in the 60's. Eventually he would consolidate several neighbor properties into its current iteration.
Fast forward to the early 80's when Pete met my father, a hardworking man with immense ingenuity, who Pete took a liking to. Pete and my Dad would end up working together in the machine shop Pete started almost a half century prior. With Pete's advancing age, a workhorse though he was, needed my Dad more and more to take over day to day operations. When Pete could no longer live on his own, we gladly took him into our own home and made sure his final years were as great as they could be. We built a homestead on the Ranch where Pete lived out his final days and passed away peacefully in his own bed. I will forever miss him. Tears come to my eyes even as I write this.
Paradise Acres Ranch is over 200 acres of mixed age, mixed species forest. About 60% of it is Douglas Fir, the other 40% is predominantly Big Leaf maple, with a smaller percentage being Madrona, White Fir, White Oak, and a good handful of specimen tree species from around the world. We maintain the property mostly as forestland, building up native plant species and habitat for the many animals and insects that call this place home. This is where I come into the picture.
While I have called this property my home for more than half of my life, it is only recently that I have taken a much larger role in the management duties. I am also building my homestead on the property where I can implement many of the permaculture principles that have come to be my motivating drive for self sufficiency and sustainability. This property is a blessing that I do not take lightly.
Paradise Acres Ranch - Welcome to its story.
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