December at Hickman Hollow Farms
When we wrote our first welcome post in early December, it felt a little like introducing ourselves while standing in the middle of a whirlwind. That feeling did not really go away as the month unfolded. December on the farm was not quiet or cozy in the way people sometimes imagine winter to be. It was busy, messy, and full of firsts for us. We are still learning what it means to build a farm and a homestead at the same time, and December made that abundantly clear.
Building Our First Greenhouse
One of the biggest things we tackled this month was setting up our very first greenhouse. This thing of beauty is forty feet long and will eventually hold thousands of tiny seedlings, which feels like another project that is so far away. Building it ourselves was no small task. It was just Jamie and me, working through cold days, sore muscles, and moments where we had to stop and problem-solve on the fly.
There were definitely times we wondered if we had bitten off more than we could chew, but seeing the greenhouse standing at the end made it all worth it.
We still need to connect the roll-up sides, but this was a big accomplishment for us and a huge step towards our nursery goals. Plus, the greenhouse being complete feels a little like a sign that spring is coming, even when everything around it looks dead and dormant.
Reclaiming the Potting Shed
Around the same time, I decided to take on another project that had been nagging at me for quite some time. I started cleaning out the potting shed near the house. This space will be used for starting smaller seeds for our home garden, and it desperately needed my attention.
The potting shed - before
I can’t share too many photos because this is a work in progress (like everything else), but I can share one to show what was there when I began. This little project started as a simple cleanup but ended up turning into us completely gutting all shelves and most of the contents, plus some reorganization. Now that I have a blank slate to work with, I have many plans for this shed that I will share with you next month.
The potting shed - after and cleaned up!
This is one of those behind-the-scenes projects that does not look exciting from the outside, but it will make a huge difference when we’re finally living at the house full-time and my seed-starting season really kicks off.
Our First Load of Compost
We also received our first load of mushroom compost this month. Twenty yards showed up, and for a brief moment, I thought we had gone completely overboard. That feeling faded quickly once we started spreading it and thinking through how many beds we still need to build and improve.
It turns out that when you are building soil from the ground up, there is no such thing as too much compost. This is definitely one of those lessons I can already tell we will be learning over and over again.
Making Improvements One Space at a Time
As if that were not enough, we also began clearing out one of the tack rooms for the horses. This is probably a project I can’t dive into fully yet, except to start cleaning it out, but it’s one I am very excited about completing.
A quick pre-tour of the tac room as it was before we got started.
The plan is to clean it out completely and rebuild it into something pretty amazing. This will include all new shelving, relocating the saddle wall from the previous tac room, and including a new feed area. All of this combined into one new tac room is going to be important, since we will lose our current feed area to a new flower drying room.
Our boarders will be using it for their horses, but I would be lying if I said I was not also thinking about my own future needs. I hope to have my own horse one day, and that has me paying closer attention to how this space might work long-term. It feels good to slowly improve the infrastructure here, even when it is one project at a time.
Planting the First Flowers on the Farm
December also marked a really meaningful milestone for the farm. We planted our ranunculus corms after pre-sprouting them for just over 2 weeks. This is only my second year growing ranunculus, and last year was a tough learning experience. Planting them this year felt hopeful and a little vulnerable, knowing how things can go.
These are officially the first flowers planted on the farm, and I am rooting hard for them to thrive. Ok, technically, the tulips I have planted in crates in the coolers were first, but since they didn’t go into the ground, the ranunculus gets the claim to fame.
Progress Inside the House
Inside the house, renovations continued to move forward. New walls are up, the old AC has been removed, and a new electrical panel has been installed. We have a new master bedroom with a bathroom, a new laundry room, and a large walk-in pantry. The kitchen cabinets are going in soon, and I can’t wait to see it all come together.
There is still plenty to do, but it finally feels like progress. We are hoping there is about a month left before the house is complete, and I cannot wait for the day when the dust settles and things start to feel finished.
A Quiet Christmas and Meaningful Gifts
Christmas this year was quiet, and honestly, it was exactly what we needed. It was just us and the kids, no travel, no rushing, just time together.
Christmas Morning with the kids.
We were gifted two handmade wooden signs that mean more to us than I can really put into words. One is a round sign with our logo made by our daughter-in-law, Rebecca, and the other is a Hickman Hollow sign made by a friend and coworker of Jamie’s. The care, talent, and support behind those gifts felt incredibly encouraging as we keep moving forward.
Planting the Orchard Together
We also spent time planting trees this month, officially starting our small orchard. Apples, plums, pears, peaches, and figs all went into the ground, planted by my daughter Kira and me together.
It was a full day of digging and hauling, but it was also one of those days that feel so special. Planting trees that will grow for years to come alongside your child has a way of slowing everything down and putting things into perspective.
Holding Onto What Was Here Before
Another small but meaningful project came from realizing that a few cedar trees growing into the fence will need to come down. Before that happens, I took cuttings to try to propagate them.
I like the idea of keeping a piece of those trees growing somewhere else on the property. Even as we make changes, it feels important to honor what has already been here.
Thirteen Years Old
And finally, December brought a big milestone at home. Kira turned thirteen. I am still not sure how that happened so quickly. I swear she was only 3 yesterday, wasn’t she?
She is not one for big parties, so we kept it simple with dinner, a few friends, and a sleepover. Watching her grow into who she is becoming has been one of the most grounding parts of my life.
And can we talk about that cake and the blessing that my husband is in the baking department? Every year, for every person in our family, Jamie makes the birthday cake. They are always amazing, and this strawberry matcha cake was no exception!
Looking Ahead
December reminded us that we are still very much in the early stages of building Hickman Hollow Farms. Nothing is polished yet. We are learning as we go, making mistakes, celebrating small wins, and slowly laying the foundation for what we hope this place will become.
We are not meant to have it all figured out before we begin. We are simply called to be faithful with what is in front of us, to plant, to tend, and to keep showing up. This month has shown us that real growth happens through steady obedience and trust, even when the outcome is not yet clear. We are building with our hands, but we are leaning on God for direction, patience, and provision.
As we step into the new year, we are carrying a lot of gratitude with us. Gratitude for the work we get to do, for the people who support us, and for the chance to build something meaningful, one month at a time.
We can’t wait to see what January brings!
