A nice blend of field and forest, the 36-acre Mint Springs Farm offers those from urban areas the opportunity for a rural retreat.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 36 +/- acres of fields and forest combine to create a recreational and farming property.
• Original 1600’+/- sq ft two story circa 1930 farm house in good repair but will need some renovation.
• Everything in place to create a permaculture and experience its rewarding lifestyle.
• A nice rocky creek forms the western boundary.
• Surrounded by timber tracts and farms in a nice rural neighborhood.
• Superior access adjoining paved state road on school bus route, FedEx delivery.
• Dark skies with little or no light pollution for star and planet gazing.
• Rich soil offers numerous garden spots and fields suitable for hay, corn, pumpkins, etc.
• Vintage large barn in great shape.
• A small wetland habitat supporting native sedges, rushes, ferns, songbirds, frogs, turtles, crawdads and rabbits.
• Located in peaceful Monroe County just 10 minutes to Union, the county seat.
• Some very ancient trees scattered about the old boundaries.
• Excellent timber species include fragrant cedars, beautiful oaks, walnuts, poplars, maples and hickories.
• All mineral rights the seller owns will convey.
• Electricity and phone on site.
• Wildlife is abundant with several fur bearing species represented.
• Winged wildlife includes eagles, hawks, owls, ravens, and Neotropical songbirds.
• Diverse topography of forest, field, wetland, meadows create an interesting natural setting.

THE OLD HOMEPLACE

The original 2 story home, built circa 1930, is still standing and is generally in very good repair. This 1600’ sqft home is well worth the time and attention it would take to bring it up to modern living standards. The home’s dimensions are 26’x29’ with a small alcove attached.

• The heavy gauge tin roof is in very good shape, as is the foundation.
• A large portion of the basement is made of beautiful hand cut stone, hearkening back to an earlier time when skilled stone masons plied their trade across the country side. The floor of the basement is concrete and there is an outside entrance as well as an inside entrance.
• The home’s exterior walls are sided with milled ship-lapped yellow poplar siding.
• Some of the windows have the original hand-blown “wavy” glass.
• The interior floors are hardwood and some of the walls are tongue and groove oak.
• The solid oak stairway is in excellent condition.
• Large boxwoods accentuate the wrap-around outdoor porch.
• The water for the home is supplied by a mountain spring.
• There is no septic system in place, however the original outhouse is still standing near the home.
• There is a central chimney made of cut stone and brick.

VINTAGE BARN

The two story barn is old timey circle sawn oak and chestnut and dates to circa 1930. This is a sturdy barn and is in very good repair. The barn’s dimensions are 28’x32’.

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: 37.560235°(N), -80.619312°(W)
Address: 4095 Laurel Creek Road, Greenville, WV 24945
Elevation Range: 1870 ft. to 2186 ft. +/-

WATER RESOURCES

Mint Springs Farm has two proven year-round springs, one of which has served as the water source for the original farm house. There is a concrete spring box in place. There is another spring near the house that has been used in times past to fill a small pond.

On the western boundary line, there is a blue line stream which contributes to some great aquatic value to the property. This stream is fed by hundreds of higher elevation ephemeral streams on surrounding property. This stream is full of interesting rock and is a particularly active during rain events and early spring snow melt.

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

Mint Springs Farm’s rich soil, climate, and topography provide the necessary elements for a permaculture lifestyle. There are currently about 15 acres of nice fields suitable for hay or row crops like corn, pumpkins etc. There are several fruit trees scattered about the farm that were a part of the early homestead.

FOREST AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES

There are about 20 acres currently in forest. The predominant forest type is comprised of Eastern Red Cedar, Staghorn Sumac and Black Walnut. This forest started to emerge soon after the farm’s pastures were abandoned about 30 years ago. The forest still has many small areas of grasses, soft mast trees/shrubs/bushes and blackberry/raspberry briers scattered throughout the Cedar creating a superb wildlife habitat. This “thicket” effect provides cover and is an important food source for the resident wildlife population including deer, turkey, squirrels, rabbits, raccoon, black bear and a host of winged wildlife.

A smaller but very important portion of the forest is made up of mature Appalachian hardwood trees including white oak, red oak, hickory, walnut, beech, poplar and maple. The abundance of nut trees produce tons of acorns, hickory nuts, beechnuts, and black walnuts.

Several “Heritage Trees” are scattered throughout the forest and field edges. These ancient trees, some 100-200 years old, have withstood the test of time, weathering ice, wind, lightning strikes and fire.

The forest is healthy and there are no signs of pest infestations of Gypsy Moth. The Emerald Ash Borer, which has inundated the entire Northeast US, is present and the Ash component will significantly decline over the next decade. The Eastern Hemlock species is under attack by the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid and the hemlock will significantly decline over the coming decade.

There have been no forest fires in recent memory. The forest floor is home to several types of mushrooms, medicinal plants, wild ginseng, ferns and cool green mosses. One could spend a lifetime getting to know this inviting environ.

MINERAL RESOURCES

The seller will convey all of the mineral rights they own at closing, including coal, oil & gas. The presence of any coal reserves underlying the property is unproven and there has been no known mining activity on the property. There are no leases currently let on the property.

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

The property is comprised of the original tract less prior conveyances, which are described by various methods in the deed records. A portion of the boundary runs with state roads, and other boundary lines are evidenced by fencing. The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

UTILITIES

Water: A proven mountain spring with concrete spring box in place.
Sewer: Original outhouse
Electricity: present on the property
Telephone: Available nearby
Internet: Should be available through Frontier cable or a provider such as HughesNet
Cellphone Coverage: Weak to good depending on where you are on the farm

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

The property has 960 feet +/- frontage on Laurel Creek Road RT 219/11 and 250 feet +/- frontage on RT 23/4, providing direct access to the public road system.

ZONING

There is currently no county zoning in Monroe County. All prospective purchasers are encouraged to contact the Monroe County Health Department for answers regarding installation of septic systems and water wells. Further information on county zoning may be answered by contacting the Monroe County Commission.

PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY

The property is devoted pasture fields and forestland. The following is a breakdown as determined from aerial photography:

Pasture fields: 14 acres +/-
House and Barns area: 1 acre +/-
Brushy former field: 1 acre +/-
Forestland: 21 acres +/- (the balance of the property)

DEED AND TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information: DB 203 Pg. 660
Monroe County, West Virginia

Acreage: 36.75 acres +/-.
Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Monroe County (32), West Virginia
Springfield District (5)

Map 16 Parcel 4; LAUREL CR N SIDE OF SEC RT 219 ON SEC RT 23/4 36.75 AC 37.75 AC;
Class 2;
2017 Real Estate Taxes: $317.01

SURROUNDING AREA

Mint Springs Farm is located near the charming village of Union, which is the Monroe County seat, is just a 10 to 15 minute drive. Banking, healthcare facilities, drugstore, grocery, hardware, auto parts and farm supply are readily available. Some of the friendliest people in West Virginia can be found in Monroe County. Monroe County has a population of about 13,000 residents and does not have a stoplight and has more cattle and sheep than people. There are no fast food restaurants but there are the local restaurants, Corner Café and the Kalico Kitchen, in downtown Union that are great place to meet friends and enjoy a great home cooked meal.

The small town of Greenville is just down the road from Mint Springs Farm. Greenville is a special community with interesting folks, both “born and raised” and newer members from many different states. People from all walks of life reside in harmony in this lovely pastoral setting. Often, there is a community get together to cook out and listen to a live band at the restored grist mill. Roadsides are kept clean through community involvement and neighborhood watches are common in the area as well. Located south of Union, and west of Blacksburg, VA the parcel offers those from urban areas the opportunity for a rural retreat well within a half days drive to Washington, DC and Charlotte, NC. Lindside and the Lindside Volunteer Fire Department is a 10-minute drive.

Historic Lewisburg is located just 1 hour to the North with all the charm of a small town and all the amenities of a larger city. Designated the “Coolest Small Town in America” in 2011, fine dining, arts and entertainment flourish in the Lewisburg area while “big box” stores like Walmart and Lowes are also available along with the Greenbrier Valley Medical Center and other medical services.

Lewisburg is also home to Carnegie Hall, Greenbrier Valley Theatre, the WV School of Osteopathic Medicine, a community college, and is the county seat for Greenbrier County. The Greenbrier Valley Airport with daily flights to Atlanta and Washington, DC is located just outside of Lewisburg.

The world famous Greenbrier Resort is 1 hour drive and Snowshoe Ski Resort is within a 2 hour drive as well.

Within an hour to two hour drive are located some of the finest recreational facilities in West Virginia. Snowshoe Ski Resort, whitewater rafting / fishing on the Greenbrier, New River and Gauley River, 2000 acre Bluestone Lake, 919,000 acre Monongahela National Forest and the 80,000 acre New River National Gorge National Park. Five other area state parks and state forests offer unlimited hiking, horseback riding, ATV riding and rock climbing opportunities.