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09/11/2006: "In the beginning..."

...there were pictures. Here are some photos of The Farm as it looked around the time that I purchased it from a specialty poultry-raising farmer. There is a barn, there is a house, there are a few outbuildings, an orchard, a tiny greenhouse, and lots of grass.

This photo is similar to the one that appeared when I did a real estate search for properties near Albany with acreage, the only difference being that the MLS photo was not as clear, and it had more turkeys wandering around in the foreground.




View of barn and south yard

Here's a close-up of the three-level, 2500 square foot barn:



Close-up of the barn

The house was in relatively good shape for being a grand old 1908 farmhouse. The upstairs was a little unusual, being divided into two large bedrooms, a landing, and an incomplete bathroom (since finished). However, the downstairs wood trim still had the original varnish over reddish fir, quite lovely.




Front of house

Behind the house was a mature orchard, with cherries in bloom and the promise of apples, pears, and plums to come later.




Orchard north rank (cherries)




Orchard south rank (apples)

Among the outbuildings there was this chicken-coop-turned shop.




Shop north side



Shop south side

Also this small fiberglass greenhouse, shaded by a hazelnut tree in need of vigorous pruning.




Greenhouse

At the edge of the pasture stands a small hired hand's cottage; there's probably a reason the blackberry behind it is so big (hint: it's getting fertilized).



Cottage

And looking out to the west, six acres of pasture in living green grass.



Pasture looking west



Pasture looking east