About Us

It never occurred to us that we'd one day be living on a small farm in Central New York, and if it hadn't been for one fateful weekend in 2007, we probably wouldn't be now.  We had driven from New Hampshire, where we had been living, to visit Tim's family for the Columbus Day weekend.  We had a wonderful time, so wonderful that we didn't want to return.  It's not that we were unhappy with our lives back in New Hampshire.  We loved our jobs, had a wide circle of dear friends, and lived in a lovely house in the country.   It never  occurred to us that this would ever change, let alone by a conscious choice.  That weekend did change everything, though, and in less than five months, we'd quit our jobs, found new ones, sold our house, and purchased a 40-acre farm.  This exciting and dizzying life-changing decisions and events inspired the name of our farm, because if this wasn't "living with wild abandon", we couldn't think what might be.

So why this particular farm?  We knew from the beginning of our home search that we wanted to live a sustainable, earth-friendly lifestyle.  At first, we thought we would like to build a new,   
high-efficiency house, but as we researched green building techniques (see Green Building A to Z: Understanding the Language of Green Building, by Jerry Yudelson), the first lesson we learned is that the most green technique is to "recycle" existing structures. 
This inspired us to look for a house with "good bones", and that could be readily upgraded for energy efficiency.  We also have an interest in eventually getting into naturally-raised, grass-fed cattle and goats.  So a property with good pastures and a hay field were an absolute requirement (not to mention the need to sustain our two, existing hay-burners - "Z" the thoroughbred, and Bill the percheron).  And of course, some reasonable shelter for the chickens and horses we moved with was necessary.
 

The search for an adequate property turned out to be more of a challenge than we expected.  Many of the small, family farms in this part of the state had succumbed to the more competitive, large-farm operations years ago.  Fields lay fallow, and filled with brush and   trees.  Barns and outbuildings fell into severe 
disrepair.  Farm houses that had once been grand became sad as owners grew less able to keep them up and modernize them.  Affordable prices were certainly there, but getting the capabilities we needed were scarce.

Our real estate agent, who did a wonderful job of researching the available properties for us, found our current home, though it, too, required a LOT of effort to get it back into an operating farm.  The 160 year old house had been "modernized" in fits and starts over the years, but the basement was surprisingly dry, and the frame of the  house was in very good condition.  Of course, there isn't a square  corner or a level floor in the house. But as one of our neighbors likes to say, "these old houses were built on hard cider."  We think it all just adds to the character of the house.   

Most of the  outbuildings were in good shape, but the remaining barn was abysmal,  and the chickens needed a coop.  The winning aspects  
of the property were its beautiful hay fields and pastures that had been kept mown,  and the gorgeous pond and plentiful water.  The land made the  decision for us.

And so now as we busily (frantically?) work to get the farm back into operating shape, we invite you to share in our experiences, and 
Eat with Wild Abandon!