Renovations | Our Barnyard Renovation

Our barnyard renovation

shaping the land

One of the things Matt and I love about landscape architecture is how shaping the land defines space and accents unique topography. This summer we had an excavator in to shape a lot of land at the homestead and we're thrilled with the results. We achieved not only functional space but a unique space shaped by the topography of our valley. #landnerdalert

Last year we excavated for our small livestock barn and I thought that made a huge difference. That difference pails in comparison to the change we experienced this season. The excavation work this year not only made a level pad for our hay/machine barn, it also made a level lawn area that will be Matt's ball field next season. The ball field was very important to Matt since we don't have a level spot anywhere in this valley.

The excavation really changed the land and made our barnyard much more dynamic, it makes us landscape architecture major's very, very happy. Our land design, grading and drainage systems have created a unique space and an interesting barnyard, one that is uniquely ours. It really has me itching to help with more master-plans, perhaps helping more farms create unique and functional space in the future.

our plans for the barnyard

We decided to go with a pure clover lawn around our barns to not only minimize our mowing and help my favorite honey bees but to add to the farm aesthetic. I'm absolutely crazy about clover (I'm driving Matt crazy) after visiting White Oak Savanna, a new venue in Dodgeville, and alternative lawns that feed my designer mind with a balance of beauty and function. Originally we were looking at no-mow grasses but I'm much more excited about the clover. I'm also excited to see some green around the barn that isn't weeds!

Along the slope coming down to our livestock barn we plan on adding some grape vines since again, we hope to have less mowing and would love some added agriculture production in the valley. 

our barnyard/land design inspiration

Inspiration Images Via Pinterest | clover lawn , barn, vineyard

our dreams for the ball field

While the barn will be used for storage we are hoping to make the 'ball field' into a grand space that perhaps someday we'd use for gatherings. While I have my eye on an underutilized garage for our farm to table dinners, I'm starting to think about all the possibilities for a future venue space. The Hayfield's and McCoy's ball field could be a perfect location to hold a larger gathering. We'll just have to see where this little business takes us.

Homestead | New Logo

Introducing our new logo!

With the move to a new farm and the collection of our business under one name it seemed an appropriate time to rework our logo. I must admit, at times it's hard to connect my meat business with pretty flowers and design work. It makes logos challenging but I'm in love with end result of our new brand image.

How the tree came to be.

When Matt and I were contemplating an image for our new logo we wanted to capture something uniquely ours. The topography of our farm was considered; however, even with our landscape architecture backgrounds this image just didn't seem to stick. After hours of frustration on my part, again trying to find an image that would blend these businesses together isn't a walk in the park, Matt mentioned 'the tree'. As soon as those beautiful words came out of his mouth, I knew we'd found our image. Since I'm a woodworker's daughter and Matt a sawyer you'd think that would wrap up the story of adding a tree to the logo, but there is more to this story.

Is there something special about the Homestead tree?

Yes, there is something very special about this tree. I'm the daughter of a woodworker and tree nerd, which means that I grew up recognizing that certain trees were extra special. These 'special' tree's were the most figured trees, the largest trees, and trees that meant something special to a family or company. Think American Girl, that iconic symbol of a bur oak on their logo. It happened to be a 'special' tree on their main location. Much like American Girl, Homestead Wisconsin has a special tree.

  Homestead Wisconsin is home to the state's largest black walnut tree. Yes you read that right, it's recorded in several books published by the state's arborists and is a tree that my father has known about for years. In fact, he knew it so well that when Matt pulled up the listing for this farm my father knew it as the farm with the largest walnut in the state. Now, I can't say it had everything to do with us purchasing this place, but I think it played a big role in Matt and my father's decision making.

We're pretty proud to have this specimen in the Morrison/McCoy family and we hope for many, many more years of it gracing our farm.

And just in case you are also a tree nerd...

You can learn more about storied trees and how Matt helps give these special trees new life at The Wood Cycle of Wisconsin.