We’ve been able to piece together bits and pieces of our farmstead in our six years here. I’m sure it’s incomplete but I’m happy to share with you what I know!

The farmhouse was built in 1918 in the Sni-a-Bar township. Sni-A-Bar is the name of a large creek that runs through the area. It’s a misnomer translated from French during the exploratory period featuring famous characters like Louis and Clark. I believe it’s something to do with a bend in the creek and a mistake that it traveled in the opposite direction than it actually does. Prior to this, I’m unsure of the name used by the Osage, who were the primary inhabitants of this area in Missouri. The dividing line for Osage Territory West of us is only a couple miles away on modern Buckner Tarsney Rd. Later, the Sni Hills provided ample dense woods for guerrilla warfare during the Civil War as well. A tumultuous history indeed!

Additionally, we are adjacent to a large ridge that is part of the Monkey Mountain Nature Reserve, an 850 acre county owned park open to hiking and horseback. This name, it’s said, is derived from a train wreck North of the current park that carried a traveling circus. The monkeys got loose and apparently weren’t found in this hills surrounding. At the time, the property was likely owned by a single farm, Sni-A-Bar Farms, which was run by a wealthy Kansas City man interested in breeding short horn cattle from Scotland. He did this and improved the breed here for years.

And to top it all, we live on a road named RD Mize, after a local judge. However, when pronounced it sounds exactly like, “our demise”, which I always pray this move was not. In spite of the countless nonsensical names around our homestead, we find our little nook in the Sni Hills of Easter Jackson County completely charming and quite bucolic.

At the time the farmhouse was built the farm was closer to 100 acres. It extended 90 acres North of our home and was used to run cattle, dairy cows, and laying hens. The two outbuildings nearest the farmhouse were used as the henhouse and the brooder. The small shed on the dam to the pond was the original milking barn. And the large barn was erected as a big, state of the art, for it’s time, dairy barn. We estimate all the small outbuildings to be early 1920’s and the large barn 1940’s.

The Witt Family was the first owner of the farmstead. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting the granddaughter of the original owner who gave me a bit of this history and shared a lovely photo of the farm from probably the 1950’s. The first generation of farmers, handed the reins over to the eldest daughter and her husband to continue farming here and build a house adjacent to retire in. All in all, the farm was in that family for 70 years and from the sounds of it, was a source of deep joy and pride for an extensive family. In the 1980’s the Witt family sold 10 acre tracks, parceling the land to be sold. As it stands now, North of us there are about 9 10 acre tracks with single homes, all backing to Monkey Mtn. This left 16 acres of the original farmstead. In 1989, the property was sold to another family and used primarily to board horses and enjoy privately. We purchased the farm in 2019 and have spent the past few years restoring some of the historic farming features that hadn’t been used in some time. It has been the most humbling experience of our lives. Continuing in the tradition of family farming, in 2022, 3 acres were sold to Lindsey’s parents and building has just begun. Another multigenerational farm in the making.

The location and microclimate of this place is unique for a Midwest family farm, especially one so close to a big city and informed our choice to purchase. It’s a very hilly spot, with lots of pasture grass. This yields essentially our own watershed. There are no commercial farming operations that feed water through our farm in any direction. We are tucked between small hills, and one high ridge. The closest commercial farm is over the ridge from us which saves us from run-off and we are protected by the trees and the geology from any harsh chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Additionally, we have the park that is managed in a conservation method by the County, as a buffer. This means hunting is permitted by lottery only, and the fields are hayed but never sprayed. We use the park all seasons to forage for mushrooms and other wild edibles, and just for pleasure for hiking and exploring nature. There are beautiful limestock outcroppings filled with mosses and lichens, countless trees, and sweeping fields all right out the back door.

Though we feel so tucked away, we are only about a 30 minute drive into the heart of Kansas City, MO and we are tucked between two moderate size towns, and close to bigger ones which makes us very accessible. Though sometimes I curse our busy road, I feel forever grateful I can still have Thai and Indian food delivered. Really the best of both worlds.

From a soil standpoint, our farm was never used to grow crops. It’s been used almost exclusively to graze livestock. We have a very thick layer of topsoil and high percentage of organic matter. and the main growing area is all facing southeast which extends our growing season just a little. Finally, we have a bit of weather protection with our ridge to the west of the house and gardens.

The climate is what I like to call a temperate jungle. The summertime feels so like a jungle in Costa Rica, life on life on life, all competing to outgrow the other. Rich with insects, amphibians, and all kinds of deciduous trees and shrubs. The only difference is, it’s seasonal! Winter is generally mild but often with one bitterly cold few weeks. And the shoulder seasons are just heaven, a truly full expression of each season.