Years ago, back in the 1940’s, the farm got started by brothers Robey and Noah Greer, who together farmed the whole valley with their wives Etta and Lula. The Old Farmhouse belonged to Betty’s great uncle Robey, while Noah built the Pioneer House just a little bit further up the hollow. They made a living raising sheep and cattle, running a saw mill, trapping, bee keeping, wild crafting, and doing whatever else they could to live off their land. Though it left the family and changed hands a number of times, and got divided up over the years, the heart of the farm was still intact and up for sale when we found ourselves looking for the perfect place to settle down, pasture our horses, and raise our children. It was a wonderful feeling to be able to bring the place back into the family, and continue on a tradition and lifestyle that Betty’s family has known for many generations. In 2003 we bought what portion we could of Robey’s half of the farm, and over the course of a couple years were able to build a new farmhouse, then turn the Old Farmhouse into a guest house/vacation rental. There is a wonderful spirit to the place; I suppose that is why everyone falls in love with it and is so eager to return at the next opportunity.
The farm history took a surprising turn in 2013. Noah’s son, Barton, had lived in the run-down Pioneer House up until his death in 2004, at which time Noah’s half of the farm, still intact, fell to Barton’s daughter, Della. Her husband saw big dollar signs in this windfall, and began to turn the farm into—gasp!!--a housing development. During the development process, the economy went bust and he went bankrupt. Our prayers were answered when the large portion of Noah’s farm adjoining our tract was offered for sale in 2013; we jumped at the opportunity to save the old farm and bring the Greer brothers’ farm back together. In 2015 we recovered another 30-acre tract which featured the Willet Nest, the house up high, giving us 3 guest houses.