We bought a farm… well, almost.

Geoff and Diane recently escaped Beaverton and landed just outside Newberg on a little slice of “what were we thinking?”—over 8 acres overlooking the city. The property almost qualifies as a farm, featuring nearly an acre of vineyard, a greenhouse, a chicken coop, and a very large shop whose primary purpose is storing and endlessly tinkering with Geoff’s car projects.

The house itself is a charming 1977 vintage, roughly 2,600 square feet, and apparently built at a time when insulation, windows, and logical floor plans were considered optional. Naturally, the only reasonable response was a major remodel: massive demolition, walls moving, the kitchen expanding by about six feet, and a brand-new covered patio. Nearly half the drywall is being replaced thanks to insulation that gave up sometime during the Carter administration, and most of the windows are finally being upgraded from their original single-pane glory.

Because so many people asked for progress photos (and because this is way more fun than explaining it repeatedly), this little website was born. Feel free to follow along, cheer from a safe distance, and enjoy the comfort of knowing you are not the one living in a construction zone.

To qualify for farm tax deferrals (and justify the acreage), some agricultural ambition is required. Adam and Daniel are tackling the vineyard and planning to make wine. Diane is plotting lavender, possibly Christmas trees, and maybe chickens—mainly to attract more coyotes and owls. It’s all part of the plan.

Stay tuned.
—Geoff & Diane