A Bird’s Eye View

Seven years ago the ink was barely dry on the purchase contract when we had our friend and videographer Andrew Holzschuh come out to shoot our property with his drone and video camera. He helped create our vision video, an important step in solidifying what we wanted to accomplish at Purdon Groves.

Today as I watch that video I notice a couple of things: I can see the physical changes the property has undergone in seven years’ time. And then I consider the goals we created back in 2017 - the ones we’ve reached and those we’re still trying to achieve.

It was my sister-in-law who said something like, “Live with the property for a while and that will inform what you need to do.” She was so wise. Using that axiom to filter desired changes and improvements has no doubt saved us a great deal of money and untold heartache. 

A gravel road (and parking areas) was one of the first projects completed. It gave us access from our gate at the county road to the middle of the property. We kept as many trees as possible, while still making sure we could get where we needed to go. It was engineered to ensure water flowed off to one of the ponds we subsequently created.

I was looking at photos from the day Andrew came out and thought, wait, that tree looks really familiar and then realized it was the elm tree that now stands as the anchor in our cul-de-sac. The twin oak trees, under which we have hosted dinners, birthday parties and even a wedding, are another prominent Purdon Groves’ landmark featured on the video. 

We’ve worked hard to make sure the natural elements that attracted us to the land in the first place are showcased, all while trying to reach our goals. Our glamping tents are strategically placed to allow for some privacy, while still providing easy access to the shared bathhouse. The revenue generated has allowed us to provide a glamping experience for artists in the artist work exchange program. 

Houston continues to work on the farm aspect of our small business, caring for the livestock and getting the land ready for crops. (We’ve transitioned from the hydroponic towers - which we’re considering moving to the new place in town - to more traditional dirt farming.)

The Chef’s Table Experience has continued to be an integral part of what we do on our farm. Until we’re able to provide all of the ingredients ourselves, we try to make sure our chefs incorporate items from other local farms. 

When I think about the day Andrew took the drone footage, I realize how much the bird’s eye view spoke into what we’ve done to the property physically. And if we take that premise a step further and look at the big picture of the experiences we’re providing, I feel like we’re making good headway. Sure, there have been more than a few hiccups and even some disasters, but overall I couldn’t be more grateful to see what we’ve been able to accomplish in the past seven years. 

This piece first appeared in Sherry’s column, Finding Myself in a Small Town, in the August 3, 2024 edition of the Corsicana Daily Sun.