The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-10-12
THEY RENovATE OLD FARMS.
boston Sunday Herald. ]

living which have sprung out of the back
to the farm idea is that of a man and
his wife who move about the country
renovating old farms. They do not
travel rapidly; in fact, they never spend
less than year on farm, and some
times they stay longer. When they made
move this autumn they did so at net
profit of $1,000 on their year of work
and their investment.
"We make no attempt at farming"
the man exclaimed: THAT is, unless you
would call keeping horse, one COW and
few chickens farming. We lease the
agricultural privileges, crops, fruits,
hay, pastures and all, to some farmer
Of the neighborhood. This brings US in
small income, saves us labor which we
could not undertake and keeps the land
under cultivation and attractive.
"My part of the work is renovating
the buildings inside and out and getting
everything into perfect repair. Ny wife
takes charge of the lawns and flower
beds Immediately about the house and
makes the porches cosey with awnings,
chairs and hammocks. Pretty porches
and lawns appeal to every purchaser, as
does also small we'll kept chicken run.
My wife takes care Of the chickens, too.
FROM CITY OFFICE.
mo, l was never a carpenter nor a
plasterer or mason. In fact l was
book-keeper in a city office for long
term of weary years before my health
broke down and gave me my freedom.
That was some IL years ago, when the
craze for the simple life was just be-
ginning and when a good farm we'll To-
Gated could be bought for next to moth
ing.
1--WE invested part of our savings in
really fine little place. The house was
did what we've done everywhere since
three rooms while renovating the rest.
"At the start we intended to perform
the usual stunt of scientific farming,
but it was late in the autumn when fate
sent US scurrying from the city, and
during the cold months | worked hard
getting the interior of the house and
barn into good condition. 1t was then
that / realized for the first time the
mighty joy of seeing things take shape
and grow beautiful under ones hands.
l developed an enthusiasm for improve
ment making which has never lessened.
LEARNS RAPIDLY.
Il had to hire expert help for much of
the work the first winter, but l assisted
with everything and picked up hints,
until today am able to do almost any
job myself except installing the modern
plumbing systems, which are always
necessary. As for my wife-well, you
just should have seen her paint the front
piazza last spring.
I'VE were already getting into trouble
with our initial attempt at farming that
first spring when one of the hundreds of
city couples who were then securing the
land for country homes happened into
our house and We're so delighted with the
clean, new appearance of everything
that before they left we had received an
offer for the place which we couldn t
well refuse. We had also obtained our
idea.
ALWAYS FIND BUYER
"Renovatlng farms has always been a
good business with US. We take care to
select our properties with view to SELL
ing them, and we have never failed to
find buyer within reasonable time.
And as for the work ITSELF told you
that l came to the country because my
health broke down, but when / contrast
the chest and arms l have today with
those | possessed formerly l know l
never had much health to break.
MY wife and l always make friends
with the neighbors and join in all the
life of the countryside, and, we always
pretend that the house is to be our own
for keeps, and that we are planning and
fitting it up Tor ourselves; so we get lots
of fun out of our work all along the way.
THAT brings me to the one objection
which the work presents. We get so
attached to place while we live and
plan and work there together that it is
always wrench to tear ourselves from
it and to realize that we have been max
ing somebody else's home, and not one
for ourselves.