Purchased Property

toured Prospect Hill with Miche Booz and agreed to hire Miche as our architect

spent day inspecting grounds, rented brush mower to start cleaning land.

• Started cleaning vine from trees, barns, and grounds.
• Started the process to find all the barbed wire fencing embedded in the trees, soil and buried under fallen trees. It was during this process that we started to realize how much trash was on the property.
• Started uncovering tires as we pulled back the brush.
• Started the process of cleaning the trash from the grounds. This ultimately took us 6+ months to clean the trash from the different areas of the farm. This begins the roll off dumpsters of trash that we will catalog in the timeline - 11 tons of trash were removed in November of 2021.
• November 24, 2021 we submitted a Preliminary Review which gave the HPC the existing and proposed site plans, photographs, plan drawings, and conceptual renderings.

• Trash removal continued.
• Scrap metal collected for separate bins to be recycled.
• Tires were scattered all over the property around 160 tires were ultimately removed.
• Recycled Bus axle and stub frame found embedded in a fallen tree.
• 4 tons of trash were removed in December.

• Continued with trash, scrap metal and tires removal.
• Trash removed from the inside of the farmhouse and tenant house.
• 7 tons of trash were removed in January.

• Trash and scrap metal continued to be removed. The picture below is an approximately 7-8 feet deep pit of trash located at the old bank barn site. Trash and foundation stone were found and separated into the trash dumpster and a pile for the stone to be used later for the foundation repairs of the houses and barns.
• 21 tons of trash were removed in February.

• Forestry mulcher Jonathan was hired but only stayed one day as he discovered a large amount of barbed wire 3 inches under the soil. We continued from there to remove embedded wire fencing and trash removal. We purchased three metal detectors and spent several months going over old fence lines to find a LOT more metal that we had not found previously.
• Put up the fence gate.

• Trash and scrap metal continued to be removed.
• Glass beer bottle pit discovered near tenant house - thousands of bottles were removed. Rented dump trailer to take the bottles to Shady Grove Waste Transfer Station directly.
• More barbed wire was removed from this area near the tenant house.

• Trash and scrap metal continued to be removed.
• 16 tons of trash were removed in April.
• Cinder block removed from outbuilding

Demo in farmhouse.

• Removed crumbling plaster for future renovation. 
• Removed plaster parging from stonework on interior.
• Pictures of the original farm labor housing unit were shared. Old aerial photo of the farm was also shared.
• May 25, 2022 the Board of Appeals hearing for our farm labor housing unit, aka the tenant house, for variance application. Approval granted at the meeting.

• Hired Maryland Excavation Contractors to clear dead fall trees that were too large for our tractors to remove final dead trees. They were supposed to rent a huge grinder to turn them into mulch but they left without finishing the job. 
• Termites discovered coming from the west exterior wall. Contacted the exterminator and had the whole house treated. 
• Work continued on the interior demolition.
• During the interior demolition, the extent of the water and termite damage was discovered. Repairs and stabilization efforts were started to the outside of the middle section of the farmhouse exterior walls. Using lolly posts, bottle jacks, and temp walls, we stabilized the house so the Stone Solutions masons could repair the crumbing foundation. Once level, we removed the rotten and termite eaten oak sill and replaced it with a new 8x8 oak sill beam that was planed from the Hicksville Planing Mill.
• 21 tons of trash were removed in June.
• Work on the fireplace facing continued. Masons repointed all the stonework.
• Temp power installed by Pepco.

• Repair to the foundation of the old kitchen side of the house by Stone Solutions masons. Only cement on the outside corner where it looked parged. It was just a block of cement. Under the house, only a stack of bricks held up the joists in the old kitchen. The sill and end joists had rotted away already.
• New wall studs were also inserted as the termites had damaged most of those beams, also using custom planed lumber from the mill.
• 7 tons of trash were removed in July.

• Demo continues inside the farmhouse. There were a lot of snakes, snake eggs and snake excrement.
• 6 tons of trash were removed in August.
• Cleaned out the basement of the farmhouse. Trash, dirt shoveled out from under the old bathrooms. Sediment had accumulated about 18 inches deep that we hand shoveled. out. We know this because the old hot water heater was that deep under the soil.
• Met with a farm mentor, Russ Testa, to discuss fall planning and soil amendments.
• August 10, 2022 met with DPS virtually with civil engineer and architect to discuss site planning focusing on well and septic.

• Demo most of the old upstairs bathroom except the tub and framing.
• Stripping of interior doors.
• Purchased custom made exterior wood siding from Hicksville Planing Mill to replace rotten and broken / brittle siding from farmhouse.

• Removed rot from lower level bathrooms and walls. Exposed severe issues with the foundation beneath.
• Demo of interior of farmhouse 2nd level
• 6 tons of trash was removed in October.
• Chimney in old section deemed unusable due to large crack running down the outside and undersized for current use. Rebuilt chimney from stone to exterior.
• Foundation work nearing completed under the old bathrooms where the walls were compromised. Trades brought in to consult on configuration of interior foundation walls for them to install plumbing, heating and electrical.
• Exterior stone of kitchen fireplace cleaned of parge and repointed by masons.
• Cutting of dead wood into firewood began.
• October 25, 2022 Historic Area Work Permit hearing for farmhouse work. Approval conditionally approved for HAWP. There were five conditions that needed to be addresse

• Clean up of the dead wood
• Started working on covering the old section of the house - basement exposed - used special timber from Hicksville for joists as the old joists were not straight enough to use again.

• Clean up of the dead wood
• Large tree in center courtyard came down overnight 28th

• Land cleaning continued to clean the site of dead wood and trash.
• Processed dead wood into firewood.
• Burned vine and rotten wood.
• Attended Maryland Grape & Wine Industry Annual Conference for first time.

• Framed the old section of the house to get it under roof.
• 3 tons of trash were removed.
• Processed dead wood into firewood.
• Used forestry mulcher on dead trees to turn into mulch.

• Grind stumps.
• Finished framing old section and enclosed the planned primary bath of farmhouse.
• Processed dead wood into firewood.
• Used land rake to pick up smaller wood and rocks and smooth out ground.
• Started planting cover crop.

• Finished planting cover crop.
• Applied Solu-Cal Plus to planted areas.
• Perc testing completed - passed.
• Stripped paint from interior doors
• Received stop work order on farmhouse.
• Organized and added lights to tool room.
  
• In early April 2023, the farm had severe weather conditions including major wind storms. The largest hay barn suffered a lot of damage. The corner closest to the corn crib barn started to separate. This damage necessitated the barn restoration / rebuild project to be accelerated. The pictures below show the start of the separation at the corner. It became progressively worse as the weeks went on.
  

• Prepped box area.
• Cleaned out creamery.
• Built 4 raised beds.
• Prepared for barn restoration project. Interviewed two contractors and hired Evergreen Ridge, a Mennonite company to restore the two large barns.
• May 2, 2023 HAWP submitted for barn restoration.
• Mid May met with Russ Testa, farm mentor.
• May 31st, barn restoration began.

• Built a second set of raised beds.
• Barns were down by June 7.
• Built bee stands.
• Weeded and watered raised beds.
• 3 tons of trash were removed.

• First harvest of summer vegetables.
• Started creamery repairs.
• Foundation repairs began to level and shore up the creamery.
• Barn foundations were documented, staked and then dismantled into piles for the masons to reuse.
• Weeded and watered raised beds.
• July 12, 2023 meeting with our civil engineer and architects to review well and septic status.
• July 26, 2023 well permit applications submitted to DPS for 2 new well installations.

• Creamery structure was deemed unsaveable - there was 1.5 foot difference between the two sides and all of the boards brittle or rotten.
• Creamery rebuild began.
• Weeded and watered raised beds.
• August 13 met with Russ Testa, farm mentor.
• August 18, 2023 permit application submitted for Residential Building Permit for the farmhouse. 
• August 30, 2023 well permits approved.

• Mowed fields from cover crop growth.
• Creamery rebuild continued.
• Masons started the barn foundations - footers, trenches, cinderblock, and then faced them with the same stone that was used from the old barns.
• Mid September, met with Russ Testa, farm mentor.
• Started cleaning out the vegetable beds.
• September 25, 2023 ended the relationship with the architect. The application process had been unduly long in our opinion and we needed to reserve funds for the construction phase of the project.

• Second planting of the raised beds completed and reseeded the fields.
• Completed siding on creamery barn (smallest of the three barns).
• Last of the metal sent to scrap.
• Preparation of two large barns for cement floors.
• Relocated firewood to the top of the hill.
• Barn foundations completed on the 25th.
• Wells started by Easterday Wilson on October 26th.
• October 29 met with Russ Testa, farm mentor.

• Barns went up.
• Creamery roof installed on the 14th.
• Started clean up where we had cement debris, asphalt and other unusable materials - sent out two 20 yard bins of recyclable cement and unusable block.
• 7 tons of trash were removed in November.
• November 10, 2023 the septic permit applications were submitted for 2 new septic installations.
• October 29 met with Russ Testa, farm mentor.

• Creamery stairs went up.
• December 14, 2023 the septic permits were approved.
• Barns finished on the 18th.

• Cold and snow prevented work outside. 
• No permits to work on the farmhouse.

• Started MCBA New Beekeepers 9-month course.
• Well water tested.

• Fines received from Housing Authority. Hired Sean Patrick Hughes to represent us with the impending court appearances.
• Boarded up the tenant house.
• Started process to apply for demolition of the tenant house. We then began to realize the implications of a full demolition. We were advised that there may be a full subdivision required of the property to rebuild and there is a time limit of one year to rebuild the tenant house to avoid significant additional taxes. Mr. Hughes will research the matters and see if there is a way to avoid these major roadblocks.
• Cleaned up trees that fell during the winter.
• Graded driveway.
• Planted raised beds for our summer crops.
• Planted the first 3 apple trees.
• Started scraping and painting the exterior of farmhouse.
• Spread clover mix on bare areas.
• April 24, 2024, met with Dept of Agriculture and Soil Conservation District representatives to request help as a farm with soil and soil disturbance issues. Also met with Dept of Permitting Services to discuss soil disturbance permit which is handled separately from DPS when it is on a farm to see if they would allow SCD to take over the planning for SMF.
• April 26, 2024, met with M-NCPPC Historic Preservation Staff regarding the barn issues, status of the work permits, what has been taking place and that is taking so long. We requested assistance to complete the After Work HAWPs for the barn work that has been completed. Meeting was then scheduled for May 13th for that assistance. 

• Spread more fescue / clover mix on bare patches.
• Scraping and painting of the exterior of the farmhouse continued.
• Moved remaining barn wood to a better location.
• Installed 5 new bee hives.
• Started planting perennial flowers and berry bushes on hillside with beehives. This will be a multiyear process.
• May 13, 2024 Duane met with HPC representative to start the After Work HAWP for the three barns. Awaiting elevations to be drawn. We will submit those once received to HPC to finalize the HAWP for the barns.
• Week of May 28th, interviewing new structural engineers to take over the project. We had to separate from our last engineer as they had the request from DPS for structural drawings for more than 5 months without any activity. 

• Spread more fescue / clover mix on bare patches.
• Scraping and painting of the exterior of the farmhouse continued.
• Moved remaining barn wood to a better location.
• Installed 5 new bee hives.
• Started planting perennial flowers and berry bushes on hillside with beehives. This will be a multiyear process.
• May 13, 2024 Duane met with HPC representative to start the After Work HAWP for the three barns. Awaiting elevations to be drawn. We will submit those once received to HPC to finalize the HAWP for the barns.
• Week of May 28th, interviewing new structural engineers to take over the project. We had to separate from our last engineer as they had the request from DPS for structural drawings for more than 5 months without any activity. 

• Strap bee hives to stand to ensure they cannot tip due to weather or pest (Bear) damage
• Mite test and treat hives for Varroa Destructor mites
• Started deconstructing our compost piles to get ready for septic installation
• Change the apple tree protection due to deer damage
• Pause deconstruction of pile due to the discovery of a nest of native bumble bees
• Repair the mobile pressure washer
• Clean the stumps from the compost pile to prep for recycling
• Removed 4 tons of trash
• Finalized our planting plan for the farm through 2025