Red Elm Acres

Red Elm Acres A small project of restoration, one piece at a time, here in rural Minnesota

In a surprising development in the barn project: apparently the collapsed barn has been designated an official wildlife ...
06/04/2026

In a surprising development in the barn project: apparently the collapsed barn has been designated an official wildlife observation deck.

I looked out and found this gentleman perched at the absolute highest point of the remaining structure, apparently conducting inspections and filing complaints.

In all seriousness, old places become part of the landscape in ways I don’t always expect. This barn already has a plan and will continue coming down over the coming months, but apparently someone wanted a chance to enjoy the view first. No comment from the occupant at this time.

The first perennial bed on the farm isn't very large, but it feels like an important milestone. A few weeks ago, this ar...
05/31/2026

The first perennial bed on the farm isn't very large, but it feels like an important milestone. A few weeks ago, this area beside the house was hidden beneath an old pile of rotting wood. Once it was cleared, I discovered a patch of good soil and decided it was time to finally plant some of the perennials that made the move from my apartment garden in St. Paul. Most special among them is a Honey Gold peony that was given to me by a neighbor who saw me working on that garden and thought I might appreciate it. After surviving a winter in storage, a move, and a house purchase, it finally has a permanent home. It's a small garden bed, but it sits beside a door I use every day, where I'll be able to enjoy it's simple beauty while so much of the work elsewhere is focused on clearing and restoration.

One of my goals this spring is establishing vegetation buffers around every structure on the farm. Vines, saplings, brus...
05/26/2026

One of my goals this spring is establishing vegetation buffers around every structure on the farm. Vines, saplings, brush, and debris pressed up against buildings can trap moisture, hide developing problems, create habitat for pests, and make routine maintenance much harder than it needs to be.

Last week I tackled the first section, perimeter of the house, removing a surprising amount of grapevine and volunteer growth. The result isn't dramatic landscaping, it's simply a structure that's easier to inspect, maintain, and protect.

This is just the first building, but getting that first buffer established feels surprisingly freeing. There are more structures waiting their turn, and now there's momentum behind the work.

One of the biggest practical questions when I bought this place was how I was actually going to maintain it.A lawn tract...
05/23/2026

One of the biggest practical questions when I bought this place was how I was actually going to maintain it.

A lawn tractor may not be the biggest piece of equipment in the world, but it’s a huge first step here. Beyond mowing, it means hauling deadfall, moving field stone, keeping invasive growth under control, and slowly creating some order within a space that’s meant to stay more wild than manicured.

The tractor was delivered on Monday, and then several days of rain meant Wednesday was my first real chance to finally take it out into the field. There’s still a lot to learn, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t genuinely excited about it too. Practical tool or not, it’s also a very cool machine, and it already feels like the beginning of a new chapter of caring for this place

05/23/2026

A new piece of equipment arrived at the farm this week, and once the rain finally let up, I may or may not have celebrated with several dozen victory laps around the field. More on that later... 😉

With mama rabbit and babies officially moved on from the backyard, we’ve begun reclaiming Radar’s rightful place as rule...
05/21/2026

With mama rabbit and babies officially moved on from the backyard, we’ve begun reclaiming Radar’s rightful place as ruler of the yard.

This week we opened up an additional section of fenced yard and mowed a four-foot perimeter around the existing fence line to discourage future nests too close to the house. Radar has been conducting extremely thorough inspections of the expanded territory ever since.

I’m learning quickly that managing a property like this is less about making everything perfectly neat and more about balancing wildlife, safety, usability, and the realities of very enthusiastic spring grass growth.

05/20/2026

Mornings are starting to sound different at Red Elm Acres. This was sunrise the other day, quiet at first, and then slowly filling in with birdsong from every direction.

That “train whistle” at the beginning? That’s my resident dapper pheasant making his rounds. He tends to show up when I do, and then again throughout the day, like he’s keeping an eye on things.
I’ll have to properly introduce you to Mr. Pheaz one of these days.

It feels like everything is waking up at once.

My dad flew in from Texas this week to help get the house set up, and we spent a good chunk of it working on what he cal...
05/20/2026

My dad flew in from Texas this week to help get the house set up, and we spent a good chunk of it working on what he calls “sparky things” like troubleshooting old wiring, learning the breaker panel, and slowly making an 1888 farmhouse a little safer and a little more functional.

It’s the kind of work that makes the house feel more mine one project at a time.

A rabbit decided the safest place to build a nest was directly along Radar’s fence line. So for the last couple weeks, w...
05/10/2026

A rabbit decided the safest place to build a nest was directly along Radar’s fence line. So for the last couple weeks, we’ve been doing leash walks, careful yard checks, and delaying the first big mow of the season until the kits were old enough to leave safely.

This weekend, the babies finally moved on, Radar officially got his yard back, and I tackled the first real mow of the season.

I’m learning pretty quickly that caring for this place is a balance between keeping some areas wild, reclaiming others, and making sure everybody, dogs, wildlife, and the stray groundhog, can coexist safely.

These were the last few things I needed to take care of before living here full time. Getting the back steps into usable...
04/30/2026

These were the last few things I needed to take care of before living here full time. Getting the back steps into usable shape, clearing space in the garage, and finally getting internet installed so I can actually live and work here. There’s still a long list of projects ahead, but I finally feel ready to move in.

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West Concord, MN

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