A Place Called Hard Way
By Shayna Adams
Fifteen years ago my husband’s parents purchased an eleven acre piece of land. It was a piece of land that had apparently been forgotten about. Tucked between two hills, it disappeared amongst the few other homes and ranches on the dirt road. Luckily, my mother and father in law noticed the little parcel, and snatched it up. It was a blank slate. The majority of the property is on a hill side, and right in the front was a perfect spot for building a house. So they did.
After work on the house was complete, they began raising the barn. My father-in-law’s brother, Joseph, who lived with them on the property from time to time played a big role. Shortly after the barn was framed, however, Joseph passed away long before his time. After he lost his brother, my father-in-law spent day and night working to complete the barn, and especially the old western styled saloon inside of it. It was his therapy and helped him heal.
After work on the house was complete, they began raising the barn. My father-in-law’s brother, Joseph, who lived with them on the property from time to time played a big role. Shortly after the barn was framed, however, Joseph passed away long before his time. After he lost his brother, my father-in-law spent day and night working to complete the barn, and especially the old western styled saloon inside of it. It was his therapy and helped him heal.
Not long after they began developing the property they started calling it Hard Way Ranch. My husband said that when they started a project they would first do it the hard way. Then when that didn’t work they’d do it the easy way (which never works…). Then eventually they’d figure out the right way (“right way” of course being a relative term that meant whatever they were building stood straight, and no one got hurt in the process).
Fences were built in the middle of a sweltering summer instead of in the fall when it’s tolerable to be outside. Structural poles for the barn were erected, only to have a gigantic drilling truck with a faulty parking brake knock them down. Instruction manuals have been ignored, in favor of tinkering and designing one’s own path to completion.
They figured things out as they went, and they worked together. As a result they ended up with a 4 bedroom house, a barn with animal stalls, a work shop, and an old west saloon (complete with swinging doors), and fences surrounding the whole bit and dividing the pastures. Every square inch is infused with the spirit of work, and the love and family that inspired it all. The people of Hard Way Ranch have followed their heart and hands. They learned by doing. When they wanted something they made it. And now, when they look around their property they can say things like “I imagined that” “I created that” “I built that."
They figured things out as they went, and they worked together. As a result they ended up with a 4 bedroom house, a barn with animal stalls, a work shop, and an old west saloon (complete with swinging doors), and fences surrounding the whole bit and dividing the pastures. Every square inch is infused with the spirit of work, and the love and family that inspired it all. The people of Hard Way Ranch have followed their heart and hands. They learned by doing. When they wanted something they made it. And now, when they look around their property they can say things like “I imagined that” “I created that” “I built that."
In August of 2010, my husband, our 2 year old son, and I (5 months pregnant at the time) moved out here, as my husband's parents were preparing to move out of state. The last thing they wanted to do was sell their beloved Hard Way Ranch, so we live here now and will hopefully someday be able to purchase it from them and keep this land in our family.
This place inspires me. It makes me want to dig my fingers into the earth and work hard. It makes me want to create with my children, and give them a magical childhood. Our second son was born on this land, and with every day that passes our roots dig deeper and deeper. I want to be a person that works hard, uses my brain, cooks hearty meals, makes art, and explores nature with my kids. I completely believe in the philosophy of learning by doing, having by making, and living with simplicity and love. So that's what we'll be doing! This is an experiment in homesteading, letting go of consumerism, exchanging convenience for experience and responsibility, and raising my children with creativity, work ethic and an appreciation for what really matters in life.
Now that we are here, we have so many visions for what we want this place to be. So many projects and ideas. So many hopes and so many inspired dreams. We work this land with the goal of making it provide enough for our family and enough to share. For that reason we call it a homestead now. Whether we call it a ranch or homestead is of little consequence though. The name of our home is Hard Way. That is the true spirit of this place, and the code by which we live.