The start of Farnsworth Farm march 23rd 2026 375 words

When John’s family bought a farm in the 1970s, it was an insurance against urban decay. They were living in downtown Detroit and had experienced the riots, National Guard on their street corners, and the start of urban renewal with remnants of the burned-out businesses. They would drive the 130 miles each Friday and return late Sunday.
John’s mom and dad had researched organic farming and being self-sufficient. One of the first purchases was a mixed lot of chicks to raise. The lot was usually mixed with male and female chickens. The coop was fenced with a door for the chickens to go out when they wanted. The feed was in a 30-pound holder that was accessed from the bottom. A 5-gallons of heated water was available for their drinking needs. The hens had a large box filled with sawdust for laying their eggs. The roost measured three by five feet and had netting to allow the excretions to fall for easy removal in the spring.
John’s first chore upon arrival at the farm was to fill the water and check the feed level. Then there was the task of gathering a hundred or more of the fertilized eggs. The eggs were cold but rarely frozen. The constant activity of hens coming and going and the number of hens nesting in one place kept the eggs edible.
The spring and summer months were the most profitable. The farm-fresh eggs sold at the local farm market. The hens’ diet was augmented with kitchen scraps and eggshells. Oyster shells helped to ensure the production of strong eggshells.
The Ellsworth farm, as it was known to the locals, harvested and canned fruits and vegetables to add to the market stall.
Over the years, animals producing meat expanded to rabbits, geese, turkeys, and a pet pig named Arnold. The geese were kept as guards to protect the property. They would hiss at any stranger that drove up the drive. They would pinch with beaks, raising painful welts.
The dream of the organic farm faded after John was hired by the postal service.
When he finally sold the property, locals probably referred to the farm as the old Farnsworth place. Such is the country way.