Grandma's Corner is a place for you and Grandma to have a conversation. Ask a question or share your ideas about the tree farm, the family, or life.
Thank you to everyone who made it to the first All-Family Meeting at the end of June. We appreciate your thoughtful responses both at the meeting and through the heirloom scale survey. It is clear that the majority of the "next gens" consider the property of high importance and of sentimental value that unifies the family. Based on this and other findings, we've identified the following next steps to consider:
Develop a clear management structure that accounts for varying levels of involvement and interest.
Consider ways to make the property more accessible and useful for recreational purposes.
Explore sustainable income-generating options to support maintenance costs.
Foster open communication about responsibilities and expectations among family members.
Create opportunities for the next generation to connect with and appreciate the property's value.
We look forward to continuing these conversations with you. The next meeting will be in Summer 2025. Look out for a date-picking survey early next year.
The seedlings weathered the hot and dry July and August. The blackberries thrived. We've been focusing on cutting back berry bushes, Alder, Wild Cherry, and grass overtaking the Douglas Fir and roads. Blaed mowed all the access roads and Ken mowed the pastures.
This summer, we replaced the 30+ year old water pump and installed a new 119-gallon pressure tank (35 gal water capacity) and a 3/4 horse power well pump along with new pipes and valves. The total cost was $5,255.
Under the hot August sun, Laz & Char leveled and cemented Grandma's front rock pathway, making it much safer for all of our ankles and toes.
Grandma's wood pile is full and her chimney is clean. Thank you to the many hands that helped get the farm ready for the winter, including Aunt Pat, who visited in May. Linda and Laz also weatherized the house with new insulation underneath.
This summer and fall, we've been tackling a lot of administrative tasks. For example, River developed and published a new online Work Log to track time, money, and work accomplishments on the farm. This is important for taxes as well as understanding distribution of labor.
Open the TPM Work Log!
The October work party was small. Cheryle and Neal used the splitter to work through the excess wood that was difficult with the axe. Neal cut back dead and damaged limbs around grandma's rhododendron and the house. They also were able to light up the burn pile on a later rainy day.
I graduated...
I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Early Childhood Studies from Sonoma State University in May and am excited to now be working as a supervisor for ABA services.
Willie officially joined the family in September and we were so grateful to celebrate with so many of you. We spent our honeymoon in Cancun: zip lining, riding ATVs, swimming in the ocean, and RELAXING! Thank you to everyone who contributed to our honeymoon fund.
See you all later this month for the "All Play" year on the hill!
~Makayla
The Smith household has been busy celebrating so many milestones: graduations, weddings, and a grand baby in July. What an experience it has been watching our babies grow into their independent adult selves. Baby Bennet Lee had our hearts immediately. He is now 3 months old and all smiles. He is a strong happy little bundle of cuteness and so loved.
Skylar is in his last year of middle school already and just finished his last season of cross country before high school. Laurence and I are settling into the calm of Fall after a bustling Summer and soaking up all the Bennet time we can get. We are so excited for this years All Play on the Tree Farm and can’t wait to see everyone while celebrating and giving thanks for all the blessings in our lives.
~Cedar
It's an even year, which means it's an All Play year for Thanksgiving. Come one, come all to share in family, food, and a "friendly" game of Pictionary. Follow it up with a midnight walk through the woods. Bring a side dish, dessert, or salad to share. Let us know your travel plans.
One of the family traditions that helps hold us together is our annual Cousin Christmas Drawing. I remember passing around a hat as a young kid and drawing names. As I've gotten older, and the gift focus on Christmas morning has shifted to my kid, I still enjoy having a special gift for me from one of my cousins. As usual, it is optional to participate. However, if you've been out of the game for a bit, I encourage you to join back in this fun family event that draws our generation together.
Avery's take on "Piet Mondrian"
October Art Discovery project in Ms. Canfield's Kindergarten class
Josephine 7/3
Josh 7/12
Tasha 7/28
Odin 8/1
Ken 8/10
Avery 8/23
Clark 8/31
Adam 9/7
Payton 9/10
Jackie 9/11
Cooper 9/16
River 9/17
Lori 9/19
Hailey 10/11
Nick 10/19
Jamie 10/22
Morgan 11/1
Clyde 11/26
Cedar 12/3
Do you have information or ideas for the next newsletter? Send us your thoughts!