July 28, 2016 Update

It's been a quiet month for our Creekside Farm Project. A million things to do, no money to do any of them. . .  Same old story. Anyway, the project is still moving forward and we will eventually win the day. Here is what we are working toward:

1. We are in the permit process. What we think is the best way forward is to get our property removed from the 100 years flood plain. 
1. Step one: Get an elevation certificate from a surveyor. 
2. File with FEMA and get a LOMA.
3. File the LOMA with the County and get off the flood map
4. Everything is simple after that.
2.  Alternatively:
1. Stay in the flood plain.
2. Suffer the County's desire to keep everything small and unobtrusive.
3. Pay the extra fees and variance costs.

 We are also working through the trash removal process, this is a big thing and so has taken a bunch of time and money. There is still the problem of thirty yards of trash and a bunch of trees to remove, and also the raking of the property to remove the last bits from the dirt. These few remaining things represent a bunch of cash we would rather spend on the permit process, but one without the other isn't going to work. My thinking is that the trash will probably get done before the flood plain thing, but that the flood plain thing must be done first. But both must be done before building. This sounds absurd, but getting the elevation certificate comes first, then the trash, then the permits. Still, this is all expensive and must happen as the money shows up. We are hoping to get the trash up before October rains, but building won't happen before Christmas this year as I had hoped. Perhaps June of next year.

We are still getting ideas, and many people are helping by supplying us with places to go and people to talk to. This weekend we will go out to Joy Creek Nursery in Scappose. I hear they have a place much the same as the one we are planning. It'll be a good diversion.

Other than these few things, we are on hold for cash. If you find yourself having thirty thousand extra dollars laying around in a drawer and not being used . . .