Live Status
UPDATED MAY 2025

Where We Are

OVERALL STAGE
Pre-Land Phase
Land not yet acquired. Active search underway.
LAND SEARCH
Active
Upstate SC foothills. 15–30 acres target. Properties being evaluated.
TARGET ACREAGE
15–30 ac
Zone 7a/7b. 700–1,200 ft elevation preferred.
TARGET OPENING
2027
Nursery sales first. Orchard fruit from 2029+.
LIVING LIBRARY
Live & Growing
Cultivar entries, research notes, seasonal data available now.
TOOLS AVAILABLE
2 of 9
Soil calculator and What To Plant guide live. 7 in development.
HEARTBEAT STATE
Late Spring
Simulated seasonal data until 2027.
INFRASTRUCTURE
None Yet
Awaiting land acquisition. Designed and planned.
What's Happening Now

This Month

The land search is the primary work right now. Properties are being evaluated against the Site Selection Framework — slope, water, soil depth, frost behavior, and zoning are all being checked on every visit.

The Living Library is expanding steadily. New cultivar entries are added as research is completed, with priority given to varieties with the strongest case for Upstate SC conditions — disease resistance, climate fit, and market demand all weighted.

Two tools are live. The remaining seven are in various stages of development. The chill hours tool and harvest window planner are next in the queue.

Daily observations and field notes go to Facebook — not here. This page updates when the stage changes or significant milestones occur.

CURRENT FOCUS AREAS Active
Land Search
Properties evaluated weekly. Site Selection Framework in use on every visit.
Living Library Expansion
New cultivar entries added on rolling basis. Priority: disease-resistant apples, figs, pawpaws.
Tool Development
Chill hours tool and harvest planner in active development.
Variety Trial Planning
Trial orchard list finalized. Awaiting land to begin propagation.
Infrastructure Design
Water, fencing, and nursery layouts drafted. Adapts to final site.
Conservation Baseline Protocol
Measurement framework ready. Deploys day one of land acquisition.
The Phases

Where We've Been. Where We're Going.

COMPLETE
Research & Preparation

5 years of production experience. Variety selection. Framework development. Tool building.

NOW
Land Search

Active search underway. Site Selection Framework in use. Target: 2025–2026.

3
NEXT
Acquisition & Setup

Land acquired. Baseline established. Fencing, water, nursery zone built.

4
2027
Nursery Opens

Propagated stock available. Locally grown trees for sale. Orchard blocks planted.

5
2029+
First Fruit

Early-bearing species producing. Conservation metrics live. Living Library data real.

LATE SPRING SIMULATED
Heartbeat State

The Farm's Current Pulse

The Heartbeat reads late spring — active growth phase, bloom window open, strong push from the warm conditions of May in the Upstate SC foothills.

These readings are simulated — the Heartbeat knows what month it is and reflects the correct seasonal phase, but it isn't pulling live sensor data yet. That changes when the land is acquired and the weather station goes in.

Once live, the Heartbeat will track soil moisture, temperature, chill hours, bloom progression, and conservation health indicators — all feeding into the color and rhythm you see on the homepage.

The Honest Version

What We Don't Know Yet

Land acquisition timelines are not predictable. The right property may come available next month or not for another year. The 2027 target is realistic if land is acquired by end of 2025 — it gets pushed if the search runs long.

The tools and Living Library exist and are useful right now, regardless of when the farm opens. Those aren't contingent on the land. That work is happening regardless.

The opening date is a target, not a promise. This page will be updated honestly as the situation develops. If the timeline shifts, that update will appear here — not buried or softened, just stated plainly.

The Facebook page carries the day-to-day reality of the search. This page carries the structured status. Between the two, there's nothing hidden about where things stand.

Land Search Criteria Read the Journal