Things are Really Hoppening Around Here

There's a lot to tell you about in this update.  Not so much with the hops per se... they're plugging along.  Watering is proceeding since we're in a hot dry time right now.  The cones are growing larger and fatter.  The bine for the Cascade has grown to the top. On the other hand, the Hallertau has stopped short of the top, but it is nice and bushy.

Cascade hops 7/20/2011

The big news is that the Hopfengarten will have to move.  In June we were informed by the owner of the house to vacate the premises by the end of August.   We were flabbergasted.  But when we thought about it, we really engaged in thinking about buying a home of our own to avoid this kind of situation again.  We looked at several houses in our price range and a few above our range. Now we are in the process of making an offer on a house on the other side of town.  We do not anticipate actually moving until September, due to the nature of the short sale.

Hallertau, 7/20/2011

Not that the hopfengarten was a major criteria for the purchase of a property, but having the space for a  garden with a full day of sunshine to grow vegetables was.  The area behind the garage is ready to have a new-and-improved trellis (or two) installed and the hop rhizomes transplanted this fall for spring growth.  

Other parts of the property need some clean up. In the back of the house a tree is growing too closely to the deck and a shrub grew to tree size, sprawling into the yard.  Removing this bush/tree will open up the yard up.  The major advantage to this property is that the lawn will only need a regular push lawn mower to maintain it, not a riding mower.  Maintenance will be easier than 18 Benedict. 

Behind the house is a detached garage, which is in great shape.  It has electricity, water and is rustically finished inside. The first two need to be researched further to see how viable they are.  My wife Jen used the term "brewhouse" to sell me the idea of this house.  Her scheme worked – yet, there are other important reasons why this house makes sense for us: great neighborhood, solid foundation, newer roof, newer mechanicals, updated electric, attractive price and convenience to Jen's business. "The Brewhouse" happens to be one of the seven reasons. There are a few problems that can be fixed over time.  So not to jinx the process, images of the house and property will come forward when the closing is imminent.

I've loved living where we were on Benedict Rd. for the past four years, tending to the hopfen and pflanzegarten, but I'm so happy to be getting our own house where we can plant and tend as we please.  An Oktoberfest party may be in order if we're in by October near the festival dates.