Chapter 12: Nomad

“Dallas? I certainly don’t want to sound ungrateful, but I’ve got a couple of problems. A result of our arrangement, you set out a requirement that I can only sell the land back to you and at a low fixed price. For the acreage, that’s fair since you originally paid for it. What worries me, we didn’t discuss any improvements I probably will make. Buildings and fences. Will you reimburse me for those if I sell you back the land in the future? Not being ungrateful or greedy, please understand that, but for planning purposes, if I am likely to lose any investment I make, I will not be inclined to invest in permanent structures. Sort of forces me into a nomadic existence, with wheeled outbuildings on trailers.

Another point just occurred to me. My six acres you generously gave me, might at most support two cows if it was all planted to pasture, but since it’s rough scrub, might not support even one cow. I’ve got a baker’s dozen head of cattle, and soon to have maybe double that number of head when the calves are born. I can’t feed them on six acres. Maybe you should take them. Makes your bargain sweeter.

One more imposition on your magnanimity I request. We want to leave our boats where they are. We, actually it was Gail, paid for that power pole our boats get our electricity from. We can’t afford to move it again. Also, we’re accustomed to taking meals with Dalisay, and moving half a mile further upriver would inhibit that, cramps our social life. Can we stay where we are?”

“These are some aspects I now see fell through the cracks alright. Didn’t any of them cross either of our minds. Now that it has, solutions can be worked out. Last item is easy. Stay in Freetown or near to it, for as long as you wish. Having you close makes it easy for me to imose on you for help with the project. We’ll consider the impositions cancel each other. Fir given, fair received, all winners.

You definitely need more land for livestock grazing and fodder. You need more land now, because I don’t want another herd on my place. Already, I have my private stock, and the ranch’s stock. A third herd is too much to keep straight which new calves belong with which herd. You keep them. and in the near future your herd will increase and your needs for pasture will undoubtedly increase. I’ll lease you an addition six hundred foot deep by half mile wide parcel, for an annual rent of a thousand dollars, due on the anniversary of today’s date. When you need more, another six hundred feet can be leased for another grand. And a third, or even a fourth piece, if needed in the future. Each can be leased for a grand annual rent. You only need one today extra parcel today. Is it a deal? Then shake on it.

Improvements? You will be tolerant and understanding if I’m reluctant to commit to buying pigs in pokes. Who knows what ramshackle monstrosity building you might build, that I would be contracted to buy just to demolish. On the other-hand, you wouldn’t want a requirement my approval be sought and signed off on, before you’re permitted to build.

I’m thinking you already have the right idea, and should use trailers for your sheep operation. What types of outbuildings are anticipated? How big do you need them, suppose them small enough to trailer?”

“We will need a milking parlor, a cheese room, a cheese cave, and a barn or stable for sheltering lambs and ewes in inclement weather.

Maybe, probably, I’ll want a tool shed, workshop, and tack room combo building too. Something similar to the shack you built, Dalisay is living in. Eventually we’ll want a private dwelling, too. Maybe one day a smoke house for making smoked cheeses.”

“Touche! My taste in shacks isn’t likely going to be featured in Architectural Digest. I already have a wheeled smoker you can use. When I’m not. What the hell is a cheese cave, and how is that different than a cheese room?”

“A cheese cave is where cheeses are cured under carefully maintained temperature and humidity controls. The cheeses must be flipped over every day, and some cheeses get washed in wine, herbal infusions, or whiskey. A cheese room, is where the milk is converted into cheese. Both have to be health department inspected as part of the qualifications to be licensed to sell cheese to the public. Trailers might not pass inspection.”

“Wait a minute, don’t jump to conclusions. Food service carts have health department inspection certificates, to serve food, so trailers obviously can be inspected and pass. Make life simple, buy a food service cart already certified and convert it to a cheese room.”