A Look AroundThe Farm...Black Pond Farm was named for the dark color of the water in the two large ponds located on the property (upper and lower ponds). The dark color is caused by leaves falling into the pond and then settling on the bottom. Tim thinned the offending trees and planted more evergreens. Afterwards, we had the pond stocked with rainbow trout and crawfish. To see more photos: Photo Gallery |
Return To Black Pond Farm Home Page Wow! Looks like rain... Again. Snohomish Washington gets more rain annually than Seattle! |
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Brenda and Tim Chovanak We are the kinda' folks who say things like, "One day I'm gonna'..." Then we do them! We lived in the city of Seattle before we purchased our 20-acre farm in the spring of 1998. Tim had bought me 3 Scottish highland cattle as a 1st wedding Anniversary gift, (we were married in a castle in Edinburgh Scotland, where we had seen the 'cool shaggy cows' for the first time). As romantic of a gift as it was -- we had NO PLACE to put them until we found Black Pond Farm.
Since then, we have put much effort into restoration and clean-up! What you see today is a much different place than what we saw on our first visit to the property! WE were greeted by abandoned vehicles lining the driveway and "NO TRESPASSING" signs. The cabin had been used as a rental. No heat, power, or running water, holes in the walls, painted plywood floors, boarded up windows and GARBAGE everywhere! Although it was never said out-loud, I'm sure our family and friends thought we were crazy to pay so much for the place (when we could have got a NEW house in a housing development like 'normal' folks) . Even Tim and our real estate agents all thought at first , "PASS!" Tim and Judie O'Brien have kept in touch with us and followed the progress of the property over the years
I could see the potential and wasn't about to just walk away. (Well, actually, I pitched a fit), and we put a bid on the place. Now we are so glad we have it!
The (1,440 square foot) cabin itself was built in (around)1979, using materials salvaged from two separate houses. This was most evident in the windows. No two were the same and in the summer of 2000, we were able to replace the drafty old aluminum ones with new double-paned vinyl, adding outside trim without losing the "cabin feel". New Windows For The Drafty Cabin 11/01/03 A Fresh Coat Of Paint For The Cabin Being "city slickers", the first winter in "the country" was a real eye opener for us. There were multiple power outages due to downed trees from heavy rain and winter storms.
The "big snow" of 1998. We were completely unprepared for country living. Our vehicles at that time were a shiny BMW, a classic Mercedes Benz and a rusty old pick up that was 2 wheel drive. I recall an occasion where I had to "herd" the cows when they got out...with the BMW! "Beep, beep...get along lil' doggies..."That winter we purchased a 4X4 truck and a shiny new chainsaw along with emergency items for power outages. We "city folk" learned a lot that first winter. When we purchased the property it wasn't a "view lot". However, after one winter storm, there were 10 trees that blew down on an adjoining property. That's when we gained our view of the Cascades! It caught us completely by surprise...by-far, the view was the "silver lining" that first winter on the farm.
Naturally, there's always a campfire for those who stay late to star-gaze and make tasty s'mores.
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(along with the rest of Western Washington below the mountains) although we're borderline zone 7. |
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The living room in the cabin is the perfect vantage point. It over-looks the pastures and I spend my days with the kids watching the critters. I write short stories I call, "The Adventures From Black Pond Farm". |
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Each spring and fall we have a party and invite
family, friends and co-workers for "a day on the farm".
It's always a family fun event for us. We sure enjoy sharing our
property with guests. We are so pleased to see the smiles and pure joy
in the eyes of the honorary farmhands of all ages. Some never
learned how to row a rowboat before a visit to Black Pond Farm, or held a
fluffy new chick...some have been amazed by the sight of a satellite
moving silently through the star-filled night. 
