INTRODUCTION

At the heart of every exceptional property is a sense of place. The Simmons Homestead is unmistakable and tells a remarkable story spanning 212 years and 86± acres.

Anchoring the farm is ½ mile of frontage on the South Branch of the Potomac River. There is a restored 9 room manor house (circa 1812) that sits at the end of a mile long driveway with sweeping 180-degree views. Surrounding the house, 45± acres of West Virginia river bottomland unfold, while an additional 40± acres of forested mountain land rises up behind it. An historic log barn (circa 1780) and numerous outbuildings are spread across the property. Other improvements include an exceptional log cabin featuring a native stone chimney, hearth and foundation, an half acre pond, fencing, and a private bridge spanning the South Branch of the Potomac River.

The Simmons Homestead’s balance of seclusion, privacy, and convenience is unbeatable. The nation’s capital is only three hour’s away. Harrisonburg, one of Virginia’s most appealing towns, lies just 75 minutes to the east. The Simmons Homestead stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of West Virginia and the country lifestyle and presents a rare opportunity to own one of the area’s legacy landholdings.

The Simmons Homestead dates to 1760 when the German born Leonard Simmons (1726-1808) pioneered the South Branch of the Potomac River. There, he established his homestead near what is now Cave, WV.

Leonard’s son Henry (1760 in 1823) built a brick home in 1812 on the lower part of the farm.  This 212 year old historic home still stands as a lasting testament of the pioneering Simmons family.

Leonard Simmons was born in 1725 in Germany into a farming family.  In 1760 the 35-year-old Leonard pioneered the South Branch of the Potomac River and established his homestead near what is now the small community of Cave WV. There, Leonard built a log cabin where he and his wife Mary raised 5 children.  In 1808, at age 82, the pioneering Leonard Simmons died. His son Henry II, born 1760, built a brick home on the lower part of the farm in 1812. This home, which still stands today, headquartered General Stonewall Jackson in 1862 during the Civil War.  After a couple of days, Jackson continued the march of his army to the Shenandoah Valley.

The same son, Henry II, had six children with his wife Mary. Henry II died in 1823 at age 63, directed in his will that five gallons of apple brandy be supplied annually to his wife until her death.

A special thank you for the Simmons bio researched and created by Carolyn Sue Boggs Burt.

OVERVIEW

The reliably agreeable weather, unrivaled scenery, access to public lands, and year-round activities make the area a continuously popular and desirable destination for people throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

Pendleton County (pop. 7,695) has long been counted among the most dramatically beautiful counties in West Virginia.  The Simmons Homestead is convenient to all the recreation and cultural activities in the Potomac Highlands.

With an elevation of 4,863′, Spruce Knob is the highest mountain in West Virginia, and the highest peak in the Allegheny Mountains.  Franklin is the county seat, and this property is a 75-minute drive from Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Historically, the land in this area has been in the same families for generations. Parcels this size on the South Branch of the Potomac rarely come up for sale in the open market.

PROPERTY HIGHLIGHTS

THE HOMESTEAD

• 86.5 +/- acres of fields, forest, and home grounds
• 3-story brick home built in 1812
• One and half story hand hewn log cabin – new in 2022
• Large Pre 1800’s log barn
• South Branch of the Potomac River borders for ½ mile of river frontage
• Forest trails for ATV riding, hiking, camping, hunting and nature viewing
• Utilities on site

SOUTH BRANCH OF THE POTOMAC RIVER (SBPR)

• SBPR is the Simmons Homestead’s northwestern property boundary for 3000’
• Perfect for all water sport activities supported by the Potomac River and the region’s lakes and rivers
• Native Brook Trout inhabit the waters of the SBPR
• Is heavily stocked by the WVDNR January thru June and in October
• More trophy fish are taken from the South Branch than any other WV stream

LOCATION

• Located 5 miles from the Virginia state line in the border county of Pendelton
• Near the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area
• Excellent access off year-round state-maintained roads
• Small town amenities are available in nearby Franklin and Monterey
• Large city amenities are available in Harrisonburg VA, and Staunton Va, a 75-minute drive
• Four-hour drive from Washington DC
• One hour drive from Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort

AGRICULTURE

• One of the oldest farms in the state of West Virginia, circa 1760
• Approximately 13 acres in hay fields, 12 acres in pasture fields, and an additional 13 acres in fields of minor use
• Boundary fence between pasture boundary & cross fencing
• Well-maintained pastures and hayfields

FOREST

• Size 35 acres
• The mature forest is comprised of Red Oak, White Oak, Sugar Maple, Red Maple, Cherry Hickory, and Poplar
• Dynamic forest with some old growth trees estimated to be 150+ years old
• Forest soaks up tons of Carbon Dioxide and produces tons of life-giving oxygen
• Produces lots of hard mast (acorns, hickory nuts) for the resident wildlife to feed on

WILDLIFE

• Incredible resident wildlife population rich in diversity and ever changing

• Fur bearing – deer, black bear, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, raccoon, fox, chipmunk, opossum

• Area winged wildlife includes Neotropical songbirds, turkey, grouse, eagles, herons, hawks, owls, ravens, king fishers, ravens, crows, and hummingbirds

OTHER ATTRIBUTES

• Some very cool fossils estimated to be 400 million years old
• Large size lends itself to expanding this already amazing country retreat
• Very private but not remote with river, mountain and valley views
• A rewarding off-grid permaculture lifestyle can be easily developed
• Surrounded by mountain farms, and large timber tracts in a quiet rural neighborhood
• Dark skies with little or no light pollution for star gazing and planet observation
• Rock outcroppings for rock climbing, bouldering and exploring
• Low taxes, low population density
• All water, subsurface, timber, and mineral rights in title will convey
• No current gas or oil lease
• Conveys by General Warranty Deed

HISTORIC 1812 FARMHOUSE

FARMHOUSE HIGHLIGHTS

• Constructed two hundred twelve years ago in 1812
• The three-story brick farmhouse is up to date, in excellent condition, and lives like new
• 11 rooms; including kitchen, breakfast nook, 3 bedrooms, 2 partially finished bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, family room, and dining room
• The exterior bricks were handmade onsite and fired in a charcoal kiln
• The impressive foundation was set using large native stone quarried nearby
• Total home 2,424 +/- sf: Main Floor 1095 sf, Second Floor 851 sf., Third Floor 478 sf. –
• Seamed tin roof and full basement
• Kitchen features a soapstone farmhouse sink, Sub Zero refrigerator, granite and butcher block counter tops, roomy pantry with original storage bins and custom shelves
• The dining room features a built-in, custom designed, hand-built cupboard with vintage glass doors and dentil molding
• The flooring on the first floor is made of reclaimed vintage heart-pine and oak. The 2^nd and 3^rd stories have the original heart-pine flooring milled from old growth timber.
• The main bedroom features a walk-in closet and a sitting area with hand-crafted bookshelves
• The upstairs bathroom has period wainscoting, original paint, and an exceptionally milled cherry slab countertop
• The family room has truly unique double fireplaces, stone hearths, and dentil molding
• Screened three-season porch, covered front porch, deck, patio and several outbuildings
• Heating: electric baseboard and outdoor wood burning furnace
• Appliances to convey: Range, refrigerator, dishwasher, clothes washer / dryer, and water softener

ROOM DIMENSIONS

First Floor
Living Room – 14’6” x 23’
Dining Room – 11’3” x 18’8”
Kitchen – 12’6” x 21’6”
Pantry – 6’6” x 7’
Bathroom – 8’6” x 8’8”

Second Floor
Bedroom #1 – 14’6” x 23’
Bedroom #2 – 12’ x 14’8”
Bedroom #3 – 12’ x 8’9”
Bathroom / laundry – 8’6” x 8’8”

Third Floor
Bedroom #4 – 14’6” x 15’6” (partially finished)
Bedroom #5 – 12’2” x 15’6” (partially finished)

LOG CABIN

• 16’ x 18’ constructed using native White Pine – logs are hand-hewn. Built new in 2022.
• One story and a loft
• Covered Porch with long mountain views and sunsets
• Surrounded by split rail fence
• Metal roof
• Stone fireplace
• Stone foundation
• Stone Chimney
• Electric

HOMESTEAD BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS

Circa pre-1800’s large log barn

10’ x 12’ hand-hewn log garden shed built in 2022

Multiple outbuildings; two have electricity

THE SOUTH BRANCH OF THE POTOMAC RIVER (SBPR)

The Simmons Homestead is bordered by the South Branch of the Potomac River for approximately ½ mile.

The South Branch of the Potomac offers trophy trout fishing as well as trophy largemouth bass and small mouth bass fishing. The South Branch has been called the best kept fishing secret of West Virginia. The Upper South Branch has prolific cold springs entering the stream and the stream runs over limestone rocks and undercuts making the pH and the environment excellent for trout. The West Virginia Department of Natural Resources stocks the South Branch heavily each year beginning in January and runs until June with some additional stockings in October.  Trout are stocked 1 mile upstream and 1 mile downstream from the property.

The town of Franklin is where the trout action begins, rainbow, golden rainbow, brown and brook trout abound in the stream. Each year, more trophy trout are caught in the South Branch than any other stream in West Virginia. The state record for brown trout was hauled from the South Branch 32 inches long and weighing in at whopping 16 pounds. The area from Franklin to approximately three miles east of Petersburg at Welton Park is known as an area where an angler can catch trout, smallmouth and largemouth bass all in a single day.

The South Branch of the Potomac is approximately 130 miles long, and its source is on the eastern side of Lantz Mountain, near Hightown in Highland County, Virginia. From Hightown, the South Branch meanders northeast through the communities of New Hampden and Blue Grass, Virginia. At Forks of Waters, approximately 6 miles northeast of Monterey, Virginia, the South Branch joins with Strait Creek and flows north across the Virginia/West Virginia border into Pendleton County.

The river then travels on a northeastern course along U.S. Route 220. North of the confluence of the South Branch with Smith Creek, the river around Franklin, Pendleton County, West Virginia, at the junction of U.S. Route 220 and U.S. Route 33. After Franklin, the South Branch continues north through the Monongahela National Forest to Upper Tract where it joins with three sizeable streams: Reeds Creek, Mill Run, and Deer Run. The South Branch continues its journey eventually converging with the Potomac River.

The Potomac River is at least 3.5 million years old and is a major river in the Mid-Atlantic region. It flows from the Potomac Highlands in West Virginia to the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. The drainage area of the Potomac includes 14,670 square miles in four states: Virginia (5,723 sq. mi.), Maryland (3,818 sq. mi.), West Virginia (3,490 sq. mi.), Pennsylvania (1,570 sq. mi.), and the District of Columbia (69 sq. mi.).

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

The Historic Simmons Homestead is one of the oldest farms in the state of West Virginia, circa 1760. The Simmons Homestead consists of approximately 13 acres in hay fields, 12 acres in pasture fields, and an additional 13 acres in fields of minor use.  The balance of the farm contains 35 acres +/- acres of mature woodland and small wetlands.

There is a boundary fence between pasture boundary & cross fencing, allowing for rotational grazing throughout the season. Fence is a combination of high tensile fence, high tensile electric fence, and woven wire. Board fencing is used in animal containment areas.

The well-maintained pastures and hayfields also conserve water and filter out manure and nutrients, keeping them from entering nearby water bodies, protecting water quality, human health, and animal health.

APPLES PEARS AND GRAPES

The Simmons Homestead is blessed with rich bottomland which is outstanding for growing fruits and vegetables, as well as hay and pasture forage.

• Two Zabergau Reinette apple trees – heirloom German variety. Apples are sweet with firm flesh
• One Snowdrift Does not produce edible fruit, it is the pollinator for the other apple trees. It is beautiful in full bloom! And birds love the tiny fruit.
• Two mature heirloom pears – prolific harvest in mid-October. Firm. Great for canning.
• Three young heirloom pears, different varieties (each has a tag). They are three years old and should begin producing excellent fruit in the next year or two.
• The Grape Arbor has two Concord and two Champaign They are heavily loaded for the September harvest. The varieties are great for jelly, juice, and just popping in your mouth. Full of flavor!

FOREST/TIMBER RESOURCES

The timber resource is well positioned for future timber income as well as value appreciation over the coming decades. With an attractive species mix, adequate stocking levels, and favorable diameter class distribution, the timber amenity represents a strong component of value to the investor.

The 35 +/- acre forest has trees in the 10–100-year-old range. The forest resource is composed of upland Appalachian hardwoods species. The species composition consists primarily of Maple, Poplar, Red Oak, White Oak, Hickory, and a host of associated species (Sourwood, Black Walnut, Locust, Black Gum, Beech, Ironwood and Hop Hornbeam).

A few “Legacy Trees” are scattered throughout the forest and old field edges. These ancient trees, some 100-150 years old, have withstood the test of time, weathering, ice, wind, lightning strikes and fire.

The forest floor is home to several types of mushrooms, medicinal plants, wild ginseng, ferns, and cool green mosses. There are a few fruit trees scattered about, which were part of the early homestead. Honeybees will do very well here.

WILDLIFE

Consistent wildlife management practices have created the ideal wildlife preserve. Early on, management goals promoted overall wildlife health, facilitated the harvest of game, developed wildlife viewing areas, increased carrying capacity, and increased species diversity.

The Potomac River and the region’s other rivers and lakes are major contributors to the local ecosystem richness and diversity for both plants and animals. The Potomac River fronts the homestead by about ½ mile, and the surrounding aquatic plant life create a water supported community with a wide variety of wildlife. Some of the margins of the river are fringed by wetlands, and these wetlands support the aquatic food web, provide shelter for wildlife, and stabilize the shore of the streambanks. The plant life associated with the wetland includes rushes, sedges, cattails, duckweed and algae.

There are many animals that live year-round and at other times in the water and around the edges of the areas lakes, rivers, ponds, creeks and streams including raccoons, opossums, blue herons, Canada geese, wood ducks, mallards, minnows, native fish, turtles, salamanders, newts, crayfish, muskrats, bull frogs, eagles, hawks and redwing blackbirds.

There is the insect and microscopic world including butterflies, dragonflies, pond skaters, water beetles, damselflies, tadpoles and various insect larvae.

The diverse tree species, coupled with the abundant water supply from the creek, create the perfect wildlife habitat. The miles of “edge effect” created between adjoining fields, utility easements, creeks, hollows, ridges, and rock outcrops benefit all the resident wildlife. Bald eagles, white tail deer, black bear, wild turkey, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, raccoon, fox and many species of songbirds, owls and raptors make up the region’s resident wildlife population.

The hardwood forest provides an essential nutrient source and produces tons of hard mast including acorns, hickory nuts, beech nuts and black walnuts. Soft mast includes stag horn sumac, black cherry, tulip poplar seeds, maple seeds, autumn olive berries and blackberries.

RIVERSIDE WILDLIFE

The South Branch of the Potomac River harbors a diverse range of wildlife both in its waters and around its edges. Permanent and seasonal residents include beavers, otters, minks, raccoons, opossums, blue herons, Canada geese, wood ducks, mallards, kingfishers, minnows, turtles, salamanders, newts, crayfish, muskrats, bullfrogs, eagles, owls, hawks, birds, and neotropical songbirds.

The miles of “edge effect” benefit all the resident wildlife. In addition to those listed above, white-tail deer, black bear, wild turkey, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, coyote, fox, chipmunk, and many species of songbirds make up the resident wildlife population along the creek.

Equally important is the rich insect and microscopic life that flourishes here. Butterflies, dragonflies, water skaters, water beetles, damselflies, hellgrammites, tadpoles, and various insect larvae contribute to the creek’s ecological diversity.

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: 38.549140°(N), -79.440141°(W)
Address: 187 Leonard Lane, Franklin, WV 26807
Elevation Range: 2038 ft. to 2306 ft. +/-

Drive Times

Towns
Elkins: 1 hour 30 minutes
Franklin: 15 minutes
Marlinton: 1 hour 10 minutes
Harrisonburg, VA: 1 hour 15 minutes
Monterey, VA: 20 minutes
Staunton, VA: 1 hour 15 minutes

Airports
Elkins-Randolph County Regional Airport, Elkins: 1 hour 30 minutes
Grant County Airport (small), Petersburg: 55 minutes
Savannah Valley Regional Airport, Weyers Cave, VA: 1 hour 15 minutes

Recreation
Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, Cass: 1 hour 5 minutes
Fisher Mountain Golf Club and Resort, Brandywine: 30 minutes
Greenbank National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Greenbank: 1 hour
Seneca Rocks and Seneca Rocks Discovery Center: 40 minutes
Snowshoe Ski Resort: 1 hour 20 minutes

Spruce Knob Lake: 1 hour

DIRECTIONS

From Franklin, WV:  10 Miles +/- (15 Minutes +/-)

From the Post Office in Franklin, travel US 220 South for 9.8 miles; turn left onto Leonard Lane; travel 1/10 mile; cross the bridge over the river; entering the homestead; travel a short distance further to the driveway on the left.

WATER

The property lies about ½ mile along the South Branch of the Potomac River. There is a stock watering pond that is about ½ acre in size. Two small streams flow through with one being a dashed blueline stream about 3/10 mile on the property, and the other being a solid blueline stream of about 2/10 mile on the property. The two streams join just before entering the river. The streams should have regular water flow, especially during rain events and periods of snow melt.

MINERAL RESOURCES

All rights the owner has in title will convey with the property.

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

Two of the property boundaries are evidenced by fences on the northeast and southeast boundaries. A 3,000’ long chopped and painted survey line is the eastern boundary. The property is described on a Plat prepared by Elmer Snyder of record in Map Book 6 at page 24. The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

UTILITIES

Water: Water well
Sewer: Septic system – inspected 2015
Electricity: MonPower First Energy
Telephone & Internet: Fiber optic – Spruce Knob Senaca Rocks Telephone (SKSRT) or Starlink
Cellphone Coverage: Good to spotty depending on the location and carrier

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

Fronting on US 220, the property is accessed via Leonard Lane. LL is a shared private road and deeded right of way serving Heritage Homestead and two neighboring farms. The two farms use the road for agricultural purposes and currently have no residential use.

ZONING

Pendleton County currently has no zoning at this time. However, all prospective buyers should consult the County Government and also the Health Department for any changes and details regarding zoning, building codes, and installation of water wells and septic systems.

PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY

The homestead is primarily comprised of approximately 13 acres of hay fields, about 12 acres in a pasture field, nearly 13 acres in fields currently dedicated to wildlife habitat, almost 2 acres in home grounds, and approximately 35 acres of forestland. Remaining acres involve river edge, road, and miscellaneous vegetation areas.

(This summary is an estimation of current property use as determined from aerial photography.  It is made subject to the estimation of property boundaries and any errors in the interpretation of land use type from the aerial photography utilized.)

DEED and TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information: DB 174 Pg. 443
Pendleton County, West Virginia

Acreage: 86.5 acres

Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Pendleton County (36), West Virginia
Franklin District (3)
Tax Map 61 Parcel 1; Class 2

2023 Real Estate Taxes: $1041.72

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Pendleton County School District

Public Elementary School:
North Fork Elementary School

Public Middle School:
Pendleton County Middle School

Public High School:
Pendleton County High School

PENDLETON COUNTY

Pendleton County (pop. 7,695) has long been counted among the most dramatically beautiful counties in West Virginia. Spectacular mountainscapes that are perhaps best represented by towering Seneca Rocks are not uncommon throughout the county and are among its biggest draws. Small to medium-sized farms and small businesses are the largest employers, especially where tourism and outdoor recreation are concerned.

Large parts of the county are included within the boundaries of the Monongahela National Forest and George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. As a result of the completion of a new section of the US-48 expressway to the north, parts of the county are a drive of less than half an hour from significant interstate traffic.

Following are some of the many highlights and points of interest in the county.

Allegheny Front
The Allegheny Front is the lofty eastern edge of the Allegheny Mountains, an extraordinary escarpment that follows the trend of the Appalachian Mountains northwest to southeast across the northeastern U.S. The highest part of the front is at Spruce Knob at 4,862 feet above sea level, also the highest point in West Virginia. Much of the front is alpine and features wind-flagged spruce that bear the brunt of winter gales that sweep the highlands.

Germany Valley
The Germany Valley is a scenic upland valley originally settled by German farmers in the mid-18th century. It is noted for its extensive caves, designated a National Natural Landmark in 1973. The National Park Service cited it as “one of the largest cove or intermountain karst areas in the country, unique because all the groundwater recharge and solution activities are linked with precipitation within the cove.”

Seneca Rocks
Seneca Rocks are among the most photographed natural landmarks in West Virginia—a towering blade of sandstone thrust more than 800 feet above the valley of the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River.

The rocks are one of the most popular rock climbing areas in the eastern U.S. More than 375 mapped climbing routes ascend the rocks.

The U.S. Forest Service maintains a visitor center at its base.

Smoke Hole Canyon
Renowned for its dramatic landscapes of rock and forest, the Smoke Hole is a 20-mile-long gorge carved by the South Branch of the Potomac River. It is an isolated region with many reaches accessible only by boat or foot. The Nature Conservancy defines it as one of the most biologically rich places in the East, especially as regards its rare plant communities. Some old timers called the canyon “Smoke Holes” and claimed Native Americans used caves therein for smoking meat.

Dolly Sods
One of the most dramatic landscapes in the eastern U.S., Dolly Sods is a region of highland bogs and crags that follow the Allegheny Front along Pendelton county’s western edge. Like many other areas along the front, the sods are renowned for their forests of windblown spruce and scenic views eastward across Pendleton County to Shenandoah Mountain.

The Sods is a popular destination for hikers and photographers.

Shenandoah Mountain
Shenandoah Mountain forms the eastern border of West Virginia and Pendleton County and is named for the beautiful Shenandoah River, which sources along its Virginian flanks. Its name in Algonquian may mean “beautiful daughter of the stars.” Rising to 4,387 feet at Reddish Knob, the mountain forms the backdrop for much of the county and is excited in height only by the west’s Allegheny Front at Spruce Knob.

RECREATION AT THE SIMMONS HOMESTEAD

Simmons Homestead offers outstanding recreational opportunities. Numerous soft recreational activities are anchored by the proximity to the area’s rivers and lakes.

Nature viewing

Attentive wildlife management has been geared not to just game animals. Equal consideration has been extended to increasing the numbers and diversity of species including neo-tropical songbirds, butterflies, turtles, frogs, rabbits, chipmunks, dragonflies, owls and hawks.

Stargazing-Planet Observation
Complete or near darkness can still be found on areas of the property, thereby affording the opportunity to view the night sky in all its brilliant wonder.

Water-sports enthusiasts will find the South Branch of the Potomac River ideal for swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, paddle boarding and windsurfing.

Mountain Biking, Horseback Riding and Hiking
The property has forest trails that may be used for mountain biking, hiking or horseback riding

Shooting-sports devotees find all the land and privacy needed to enjoy:

• Paintball-Airsoft-Laser Tag-Archery tag
• Shotgun sport shooting including Skeet, Trap, Double Trap and Sporting Clays
• Rifle & Handgun shooting: bullseye, silhouette, western, bench rest, long-range, fast draw
• Archery and Crossbow competition shooting
• Plain ole’ plinking: Grandpa’s old 22 single shot rifle and a few tin cans make a fun day

All Terrain Motorsports
Internal roads and several forest trails that are perfect for experiencing the property from an ATV or UTV. These exciting machines handle the wide variety of terrain.

Rock Crawling & Rock Bouncing
Areas of the property afford a topographic opportunity for the Extreme Off-Road adventurist to enjoy the increasingly popular Motorsport of Rock Crawling and Rock Bouncing.

Dirt bikes can also be a lot of fun and they come in all sizes and horsepower.

Hunting is a first-class experience. White tail deer, black bear, red/gray fox, bobcat, wild turkey, grouse, duck, squirrel, raccoon, fox and rabbit make up the resident wildlife population. It is hard to find a property that has a better mix of wildlife.

FOREST FARMING

The most common crops cultivated are medicinal herbs and mushrooms. Other crops that can be produced include shade-loving native ornamentals, moss, fruit, nuts, other food crops, and decorative materials for crafts. These crops are often referred to as special forest products.

Here are some specific examples of crops in each category that are currently being cultivated:

• Medicinal herbs: Ginseng, goldenseal, black cohosh, bloodroot, passionflower, and mayapple
• Mushrooms: Morel, Lion’s Mane, Chicken of the Woods, Shiitake and oyster mushrooms
• Native ornamentals: Rhododendrons and dogwood
• Moss: Log or sheet moss
• Fruit: Pawpaws, currants, elderberries, and lowbush blueberries
• Nuts: Black walnuts, hazelnuts, hickory nuts, and beechnuts
• Other food crops: Ramps (wild leeks), maple syrup, and honey
• Plants used for decorative purposes, dyes, and crafts: Galax, princess pine, white oak, pussy willow branches in the spring, holly, bittersweet, and bloodroot and ground pine (Lycopodium)

DYNAMIC WETLANDS

A small wetland is currently in the early stages of development but holds great promise to become a rich, diverse, biological ecosystem, being akin to the world’s largest swamps found in the Florida Everglades and the Amazon River Basin. The small but mighty wetland works to provide “ecosystem services”—non-monetary, essential benefits like clean water, fresh air, carbon sequestration, and nature viewing.

Eventually, the wetlands will house butterflies, turtles, frogs, crawdads, songbirds, salamanders, newts, and a host of other aquatic invertebrates, migratory birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

Wetlands are a very productive part of the environment and sometimes surpass even some agricultural soils in vegetation production. This vegetation serves important purposes, such as sheltering and feeding many wildlife species that cannot survive elsewhere.

Remarkably, almost 35 percent of all rare and endangered species depend, in some way, on wetlands. More common wetland species provide enjoyment to many by serving educational, research, and recreational needs. Waterfowl and many furbearers such as beaver, mink, and muskrat provide both consumptive and non-consumptive recreation and also depend on wetlands. Some fringe wetlands provide the food that young fish need to survive.

Moreover, wetlands impact environmental sustainability by slowing water flow and preventing banks from eroding. Wetlands also trap and settle suspended silt, preventing it from smothering fish eggs and covering insects and other animals that fish eat.

CARBON SEQUESTRATION

The 35+/- acres of forest is a tremendous producer of Oxygen and sequester of Carbon Dioxide. Carbon Sequestration is the act of processing carbon dioxide through sinks and stores and releasing them into the atmosphere as oxygen. With 115 acres, the vigorously growing forest is sequestering thousands of tons of Carbon Dioxide each year and producing tons and tons of life-giving Oxygen.

This natural process allows the owner (and family/friends) the opportunity to potentially enjoy a carbon neutral footprint.

The leasing of “Carbon Credits” to environmental mitigation companies is a rapidly emerging financial opportunity for the property owner to receive income without placing any burden to the land.  The leases can be for as little as one year.

SELF-SUSTAINING LIFE OFF THE GRID

Just as it was 200 years ago, when the first mountaineers settled the area, the property remains self-sustaining in times of necessity – even without electricity.

• Fresh water for drinking and cooking would come from springs and drilled water wells (hand-drawing water from the wells using a cylinder well bucket).
• The creek, nearby river, and surrounding forest would provide fresh food (fish, deer, and turkey).
• The agricultural land’s flat to rolling topography would be used to raise livestock of all kinds (chickens, pigs, cows, sheep, goats, rabbits, etc.) The land can also be farmed with horse-drawn equipment and would support vegetable gardens, berry patches, fruit orchards, and row crops of corn, oats, and barley.
• Beehives would provide honey and beeswax for candles.
• The forest would provide firewood for heating and cooking, lumber for building, basket splints, maple syrup, and pounds of nuts (walnuts, beechnuts, and hickory nuts).