2576 Eldridge Ave NW: Q&A with the Sellers
- What compelled you to buy THIS land?
- Firstly, it met our basic requirements:
- On tar road
- Internet access
- Near a town with most amenities (stores, hospital, great schools, restaurants, library)
- Secondly, it had unique features and great potential for our vision:
- Pond, trees, and wetland in back that is hidden from other people; we call this Hidden Haven
- Large, centuries-old oak tree in Hidden Haven
- Space and perfect soil for homesteading; growing vegetables, having chickens and other poultry, planting an orchard
- Potential for alternate energy sources in the future; southern exposed slope for solar panels, open space for wind turbine
- Thirdly, it invited us in, and it felt like a place we could call ‘home’. We felt we could live here in harmony forever.
- What was your inspiration for / objectives in building the house the way you did?
- Pole structure allowed a unique design that fit our lifestyle
- Wanted a home that is functional, practical, and low maintenance
- Desired high-efficiency; Extra-thick walls allowed for extra insulation.
- Built it as a two-story structure for the height; can store any type of equipment in the garage (14 foot door height) while allowing for high ceilings on both levels of the living area.
- Put in 5” concrete floors throughout rather than the standard 3”. This allows for heavy equipment in the garage while creating thermal mass in the living area for the sun to warm in winter. As a result, on sunny winter days, it stays 70 degrees and the furnace does not run.
- What is it about this house / this land that makes it better than other homes / land? What can other properties NOT match?
- It is our own private park
- land has special features found, in combination, nowhere else:
- Poplar lane trail leads to the labrynth
- Continue on the trail to the Eastern tree line and find a path down to grandmother oak
- Continue along the Eastern tree line until you come to the whispering willows
- At the whispering willows, you find a path leading to Deer Pond
- Walk along the whispering willows until the trail wanders back into the prairie. This is the north border of the property.
- Prairie to your left and semi-treed ridgeline to your right, wander the trail until you come to the ridgeline hollow, another contemplation spot.
- The main trail wraps along the treed ridgeline and comes to the sugar maple (we have tapped for syrup) before the ridgeline fades back into the prairie.
- Point yourself south towards the poplar lane in the distance and the house. This trail will take you through a low area we call the Duck Pond. Prior farmers tiled this area. In fall 2015, the tile plugged. Consequently, we had a large pond form and remain for several years. Ducks loved this shallow area thus the name. Then one day in spring 2017 it suddenly drained and the pond disappeared back into the prairie.
- Continue on this trail back to the house. Or turn right (West) at Duck Pond and continue on the trail around the front 20 acres of the prairie. This wanders along the farmland and the road for a much different feel than the rest of our tour.
- South-facing large windows with simple roof-lines allow sun to come in and warm floors in the winter while keeping sun out during the summer
- Comfortable; warm in the winter (no cold spots) and cool in the summer (no need for air conditioning except on the most humid days)
- Structurally solid for country living; 26-gauge steel withstands most hail and high winds
- Height and depth of garage along with the 5” concrete allows for any large vehicle; RV, semi-truck, ag tractors, etc.
- Pine trees planted to the north of the house block the cold winter winds. In 2014, we extended the windbreak further West which will shelter the driveway and the gravel yard in future years.
- In 2016, sugar maples were planted just off the lawn East of the house giving easy access to this ‘sugar bush’ for future maple syrup production.
- What unique activities did you do in this house / on this land?
- Gardening; 2 large gardens await the new owners
- Raised poultry; turkeys, chickens, ducks, and laying hens (with rooster for asthetics)
- Planted trees; this was all farmland with a few trees scattered where plows could not reach. We planted poplars, pines, red maples, oaks, sugar maples. We allowed the native trees and shrubs to grow on the property boundaries. All in all, this now looks completely different than it did in 2005.
- Planted an orchard and perennial crops: angelica, asparagus, oregano, horseradish, Jerusalem artichokes, strawberries, raspberries, pears, apricots, and apples
- Planted the prairie (CRP)
- Built a labrynth
- Enjoy daily prairie walks
- Found an old oak tree “grandmother oak” and a sugar maple big enough to tap.
- Collect a bit of sap and make maple syrup
- A friend had bee hives here for a few years. Fun to watch, learn, and receive honey as a ‘thank you’ from them.
- Enjoy fires in the outdoor firepit
- On cold, damp days, enjoy a cozy fire indoors in the wood stove while baking bread, cookies, or a roast in its oven and simmering a broth or cider on its cooktop
- Birdwatch; birds love the pine trees for nesting, and the prairie is one big bird feeder:
- Hummingbirds nest nearby and love the feeders on the patio
- Song birds (almost every Minnesota bird is here)
- Birds of prey (all the usuals as well as unique hawks like Harrier, Cooper’s, Kestral, and nighthawk)
- Prairie birds (pheasant and snipe)
- Water birds fly over as they travel between lakes
- Large magestics who live nearby fly over regularly (swan, crane)
- Enjoy quiet areas to contemplate: Labrynth, Grandmother Oak, Deer Pond, Ridgeline Hollow
- At dusk, watch the deer gather at Deer Pond
- Watch the breathtaking sunsets; wonderfully open western views
- Watch the fireflies in the prairie, on the lawn, and in the meadow near the orchard
- Star gazing in the dark night skies
- Watch neighboring town fireworks from upstairs windows
- Full moon walks at midnight
- Experience complete silence in the dead of winter
- Winter nature walks in below zero weather
- Snowshoeing in the prairie
- Mud booting through the low areas to reach the NE corner of the land, just because
- In the spring, enjoy the frogs singing joyfully for a mate
- Listen to rain on the tin roof; in the garage especially and upstairs if the window is open
- What have been your favorite activities to do / places to visit in the neighborhood and surrounding areas?
- Many lakes in the area have public access allowing for a variety of activities: Ramsey Lake, Maple Lake, Buffalo Lake (boat rentals), Twin Lakes, etc.
- All the small towns in the area have their own unique festivals and celebrations:
- Maple Lake – St Patrick’s Day
- Buffalo – mid-June “Buffalo Days”
- Annandale – July 4 celebration
- Delano – July 4 celebration and Christmas time festival
- Buffalo hosts many events:
- Triathlon
- Rodeo – on the national circuit for PRCA competitions
- “Concerts In the Park” – Sturges Park on Buffalo Lake every Thursday night during the summer
- “Occasional Sales” – stores with unique finds located in downtown open one weekend a month; the weekend of the first Thursday of the month.
- Farmers Market – every Saturday during summer months (near the movie theatre). First Saturday of the winter months (in the community center)
- Pink Street Party – fundraiser for breast cancer hosted by local hospital
- Let’s Go Fishing – free fishing for kids including fun and festive activities
- Buffalo has many clubs and organizations available for membership; the usuals as well as unique opportunities:
- Master Gardeners club
- Buffalo Art Guild
- Buffalo Community Orchestra
- Crow River Food Council
- Movie theatres, bowling centers, fitness centers, and indoor walking tracks are available in both Buffalo and Monticello
- County Road 9 is the road to this property. It has wide shoulders perfect for riding bike. Go West to Ramsey Lake’s public access and fish for a while. Go East into Buffalo for an outing; a community event, some quality ice cream, browse the independent bookstore, or enjoy a relaxing lunch.
- Local Restaurants provide a variety of options. Our favorites include:
- Buffalo = Bugambilia’s Cocina Latina; Evelyn’s Wine Bar; Bamboo Village; Buffalo Books and Coffee; BJ’s Deli; Norm’s Wayside; Sakura’s
- Maple Lake = Madigan’s (the Irish Pizza is a must)
- Hanover = River’s Inn
- Montrose = Jacque B’s; Lino’s Mexican Grill
- Cokato = Bait & Hook
- Grove City = Hog-n-The-Road (take a leisurely weekend drive through the countryside for dinner. It is worth it)
- What do people say when they come here to visit you?
- It is so peaceful
- It is hard to believe you are only a few miles from town because it feels so remote
- I could stay here forever
- Your home is so inviting, it has such great energy
- This is such a wonderful contrast to my city home
- 74 acres?! WOW
- It is so quiet here!
- There are so many birds
- Why would you want to sell this place?! And we answer “We thought we’d be here forever, but now the Universe has a different plan for us.”
|
Equal Housing Opportunity
Request More Information 
Schedule Showing
Email to Friends and Family
Print Flyer 
