Farm History

     In July 1965, the Eliot family of five moved to their newly purchased 55 acre Holmes County farm. Their new house and barn were both small and in poor shape. Some of the 55 acres were wet lands but they were determined to put down roots and make it their family farm.

By the end of 1969, they had added a flock of chickens, a few pigs, four ponies, six or seven Black Angus beef cattle... and four more children. Over the years, with a family of nine to house, they kept adding rooms to the small house. To feed that family of nine, they had a huge garden, an orchard of apple, cherry, peaches and plum trees, a grape arbor, rhubarb, strawberry and asparagus beds. During the winter, a detailed plan was made for the garden and plants were started from seed. Usually the garden had 70 to as many as 96 tomato plants, rows of onions, cucumbers, peas, green beans, lettuces/chard, broccoli, brussel sprouts, several kinds of squash, a few pumpkin and watermelon plants, potatoes and corn. Each summer day's list of jobs for each child included weeding a row in the garden as well as other farm and household chores. More than 1500 jars of tomato products and applesauce were canned each year and most of the other vegetables and fruits were frozen in two large freezers.

As the children grew, so did the farm. 55 more acres were adding in the late 1980's when the adjoining farm was bought. Very early on, after picking several acres of field corn by hand, it had been quickly decided that hay would be the best farm product to fit the family and their schedules. So as the years passed by, hay making equipment and barns were a concentrated focus. 

60 years later, the farm is occupied by the remaining Eliot elder, Eliot children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. The old house and barn with the enormous garden and orchard are gone and have been replaced by several family homes. The land remains unchanged except for the recent addition of sweet smelling lavender fields. 

Grandma Eliot, May 2025