Carolina Farms & Homes Blog

New idea for BIGGEST LOSER Challenge... throwing Pumpkins....

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 15:32:03 -0700

On the way to Virginia to list some land, Debbie and I thought we had taken a wrong turn.. but then we saw the pumpkin patches and knew we were on the right road! There were migrant workers putting them in rows then a truck was following - they were throwing the pumpkins up to the guys on the truck.... and then i thought... wouldn't that be a great exercise for the BIGGEST LOSER? Like medicine balls but orange...

Ellen Peric

Stokes Arts Plein Air Event in Stokes County, NC

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 12:21:13 -0700

Carolina Farms & Homes helped Sponsor and several of us volunteered for this fabulous Stokes Arts Plein Air Event held May 5, 2012. The Stokes County Arts Council raised money for programming and raised quite a few eyebrows at this spectacular country setting! (Yes, a rain storm did pass through - but folks just cozied up in the Pavilion and under the Auction tent - enjoying the great food and the beverages!)

The owners of this fabulous 90 Acre Country Estate were so generous to let us use it for our event!

32 Famous Plein Air Artists came from all over the United States to"Painting North Carolina". This event was the culmination of a week of painting from the mountains to the coast.

The Pavilion is located on a peninsula in the 11 acre lake.... Moon Lake.

Chef Adam Andrews from the Old Fourth Street Filling Station in Winston Salem prepared fabulous food!

Cupcakes .... yuum! The Banana Split flavor was a hit!

Generous local wineries like The Germanton Winery and Autumn Creek Vineyards helped us out with beverages.

An interesting fact: I sold this property to the current owners! They have become a wonderful asset to our community.

The Martha Bassett Trio performed!

Yes, it's true.... you could be in Paris or Sedona but WHY when Moon Lake is so close?

The Stokes County Arts Council is my favorite charity - and I serve as the current President of the Board. In a Rural County we've found that RURAL ARTS MATTER!

Ellen Peric

Small Farm Tour - Stokes County --- Woo Hoo!

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:31:47 -0700

End of March - Small Farm Tour in Stokes County... Randy Fulk, County Ext Office took us on a tour of folks getting it done on a small scale... I just love a pretty chicken tractor....

It's all in the details!

Just as you thought... it's a cistern. Located behind the High School Ag Office and connected to one drain - it holds around 600 gallons.

So, what did I happen to find at a farm auction that very weekend?? MY VERY OWN CISTERN~ not as preeety, I'll agree - but we can fix that... I called my husband and told him to bring the trailer.

At the High School, they also have rain gardens that take the runoff from the parking lots... very, very cool.

Right Again! Truffle beds! Yes, right here in Stokes County. These are new beds with trees that have been inoculated. Featured on Martha Stewart...

View from Plum Granny Farm -- Hanging Rock in the distance... absolutely gorgeous spring day.

March 29 and hot as the blazes already! This is Plum Granny Farm... see big greenhouse in the distance? These are garlic fields, they have strawberries, raspberries, asparagus and more.... All Organic.

Wow! Gives me inspiration....

Ellen Peric

The prettiest snowfall - here today and gone tomorrow!

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:59:29 -0800

Yes, the Jeep is ready.... our only snowfall this year fell Sunday afternoon while I was showing farms. I spun a little on the way home but my bigger concern was getting out on Monday to meet my clients at the office at 9am... OK - so it was only 3 or 4 inches, but we don't have the snow stuff down to a science here in NC. It usually takes me 35 minutes to the office - I achieved it in an hour... safe and sound.

Our driveway looked like a winter wonderland - *notice Boo Boo the cat in the lower center of the pic* -- she loves to go with me when I walk the dogs to get the paper. The next day the temperature rose to 51 - so the snow was mostly gone by Monday evening.

Our chics don't trust the snow - this one is giving a lot of thought to leaving the coop.

Donkey is concerned about his carrot delivery.

Ellen Peric

This is February? REALLY?

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:32:07 -0800

After last year, this is shocking! Every day 60 degrees and big beautiful blue skies like this? Well, it certainly makes listing this 165 acre farm a treat.... I walked the whole thing on Friday doing my Visual Tour... I had to take off my fleece jacket. We rarely get listings for this much land in our area - and this is unique because about 95 acres of it is cleared, fenced pasture! I love my job.

Ellen Peric

Turtle Creek

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:45:56 -0800

On Monday, New Years Day, my clients wanted to walk the acreage of this 68 acre farm just over the border in VA. It had been a while since i had walked it - but the owner said he had marked the boundary with red paint on some trees, so i shouldn't have a problem. I started along the side border, and quickly felt like it was not quite right. So turned back and headed a little south and sure enough - there were my red tree marks. From then it was easy, down a side of a huge hill to a creek, then back up a steep incline and ridge, then back down to the creek that flows beside the 1828 farmhouse, then back up almost to the main county road. We cut thru the woods to head back to the farmhouse and were crossing the creek when my client saw this turtle... it was a pretty warm day here - in the upper 50's... and he (or she) was chilling in the creek like it was the hottest day of the year. The next day of course the temperature zoomed down to a low of 22, high winds, etc. So i hope mr./mrs. turtle got all tucked into the leaves for a winter nap.

Ellen Peric

OOOPS!

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:57:09 -0700

I meant, Are you a FB FAN of the Stokes County Animal Shelter??? Friend them and spread the word!!

thanks,

Ellen Peric

Listed Land today and had a nice stroll through the changing colors....

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:42:53 -0700

I told the seller of this 17 acre tract that i needed to wait to take pics - when a property is completely wooded - a picture of all green is not attractive! But today was perfect - some leaves have fallen after that rain last week, so you can actually "see" the woods. The colors aren't as bright as in years past - but still pretty awesome...Fall and Winter are actually the BEST times to look at land - you can see the terrain and views!

On my way out, i saw some of my former clients out at their barn so i pulled in to see the new baby "Raleigh"! Adorable! He's a miniature donkey. We both bemoaned some of our hay that got wet before it could be baled, and the fact that their road is getting paved FINALLY after 6 years on the list and whined about the lack of cell coverage in our area. How do you call 911 when the power is out and your phone has no signal? Do they accept Text Msgs???

Then I stopped by the recycling center on Sizemore Road to drop off my stuff and dropped by the Stokes County Animal Shelter to talk to my friend Sarah... someone brought in this little guy while i was there --- what a cutie! The animal shelter is having a month long exhibit at the Arts Council in Danbury next year and we talked about getting invitations, getting frames for some of the photos.... adding a video that plays on a loop.... and what about getting some props for Sarah so when she takes pics of these babies, she can tug on more heart strings??? Like little bows, bow ties or like this guy - a big plush bunny! We are going to make them so cute - folks can't resist!!! Are you a FB FAN of the Stokes County Animal Shelter ??? Well, you should be... we repost all her posts so we reach a large audience.

Ok, then back to the office... gotta upload those pics!

Ellen Peric

Big Sweep - Cleaning up the Dan River

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 20:17:14 -0700

October 1 was BIG SWEEP day in Stokes County and i think across the State.... Carolina Farms & Homes volunteered to help clean up several miles of the Dan River.... a day on the river in a canoe - what's not to like?

Well, first of all it was CHILLY! I'm not a river rat so i had no neoprene... just waders. We got started at 9:45 am, loaded canoes and rode to the put in at Moratock Park in Danbury. There was a good group in canoes and kayaks helping. We found lots of beer bottles, plastic lawn furniture, fertilizer bags, a plastic port a potty (yes that led to a lot of jokes) and many, many tires.... one tractor tire we put on the canoe i was in - but then i couldn't see over it - so my canoe mate, Dale Swanson had to stand up and call out directions - we did ground on a rock bed twice - but Dale got out and pulled us over. We finally got out at 4:30 pm.

That evening, i couldn't keep my eyes open - totally konked out...

Ellen Peric

My hands were shaking....

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:38:14 -0700

I listed a 30 acre property last week and there was no established trail down to the creek... the folks are older and it had grown up. So i took off with my GPS unit and got some great pics of the creek, then headed back through the woods to the house. I saw a deer run off just on the next ridge, but i thought it was just me startling her from a nap. I slid down a ridge and looked left and the first thought (not a rational one mind you) was why someone would bring a baby deer statue and put it up in the woods.... Well it wasn't a statue, but it was perfectly still - i got behind a tree and fumbled with my phone to get a pic. Then i noticed the baby brother or sister lying just on the other side. The babies didn't move the whole time... I didn't get a perfect shot - i thought the mother might come back so i wanted to get out of there. But what an experience - to be that close!

Ellen Peric

Good for Cleaner Air in NC

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 17:06:41 -0700

NC won a landmark agreement this week to force the Tennessee Valley Authority to stop pumping pollution across state lines. TVA will reduce emissions from all it's coal-fired plants and will also pay $11.2 million to NC over the next 5 years to be used for energy efficiency and electricity demand reduction programs.

NC attorney general, Roy Cooper, argued that the pollution degrades water and soil, damages farmers' crops, and hurts the state's forest and waterways. They also cause haze and reduce visibility, especially in the NC mountains, a draw for the states $12 billion-a-year tourism industry.

Ellen Peric

Housing Trends e-newsletter for March

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:43:40 -0700

Great snapshot / or in-depth look at the local markets:

http://ellenperic.housingtrendsenewsletter.com/

Ellen Peric

Hanging Rock State Park - a jewel!

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:10:08 -0700

Three NC state parks saw increases in the number of visitors in 2010. They averaged an 81 percent increase!

This is our Park - located in Stokes County, NC... it's beautiful!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fcOOJNyiF0

Ellen Peric

Market News

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:19:42 -0700

NC's economy added 4500 jobs in Jan, according to the NC Employment Security Commission. And while that may seem weak, consider this: NC posted a total gain of just 6400 jobs in all of 2010!

NC Foreclosures filed in Feb dropped 14% compared to a month earlier and 27% compared to a year ago.

Ellen Peric

What happens when "Highest and Best" doesn't win the bid?

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 15:34:06 -0800

My clients bid was highest but they didn't get the home! In fact, their bid was $27,000 over the accepted bid. What do I tell my clients? That the bids for this foreclosure are reviewed by an Asset Manager who can accept any offer they choose. Perhaps they went with a cash offer - my folks were paying 40% down... but that could have been the difference. Still, I have trouble convincing myself - the difference in price is too large. My clients were disturbed to see that the winning bid was brought by the listing company - again I have to assure them that most agents who handle foreclosures go out of their way to be fair. Still.... I'm having trouble convincing myself.

Oh well - gotta move on!

Ellen Peric

Clients are always asking: What's that mountain with the weird shape?

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 18:26:42 -0800

Pilot Mountain is a part of the Sauratown Mountains, an ancient range named after the Saura Indians. Its knob, called Big Pinnacle, is part of a monadnock (an isolated mountain or hill formed by erosion). The knob is made of hard quartzite and the mountain around it is weathering away faster than the knob. Geologists believe the Sauratown Mountains were once part of the shores of an ancient ocean. Beach sands were made up of almost pure quartz grains. Through a series of continental collisions begininning over 460 million years ago, heat and pressure changed the sand into hard rock.

Thin layers of quartzite, inclined at different angles, can be seen today at the base of the knob. Other metamorphic rock, including mica schist, can be found on Pilot Mountain. Some of the rock is so old that it is difficult to determine its origin. A great book to read more: "Exploring the Geology of the Carolinas" by Kevin G. Stewart and Mary-Russell Roberson

Pilot Mountain and Pilot Mountain State Park is located in Surry County, North Carolina - next door to Mayberry (!)

Ellen Peric

Log Cabin Shed

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 15:44:40 -0800

Happy Holidays to all! We had our Annual Open House on Thursday the 16th... of course it snowed, sleeted, etc. So we rescheduled for the 20th Monday - it was a nice day - clear and cold. The forecast is calling for record snowfall this weekend...? My clients moving here from up North are NOT going to be happy with this - they came here for NICE weather!

Ellen Peric

Fishers Peak -Blue Ridge Mtns / Backdrop to my new listing at 1568 Bryant Rd, Mount Airy NC!

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 18:50:43 -0800

Ellen Peric

Who remembers this?

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:25:52 -0700

Yes, i have to say i do remember when mules pulled sleds through the tobacco fields.... even when we had tractors, mules were still used when it was too wet to put a tractor in the fields...they seemed so huge when i was small!

Ellen Peric

Amazing pic!

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:29:06 -0700

This is such an amazing picture! it looks like it was taken out west, but actually i took the pic in Lowgap, NC. The sky was a great backdrop - i had to stop the car and climb up a hill and lean over a barbed wire fence - but the horses were very curious so I had no problem keeping their attention...

This is the best part of my job - just seeing new things every day!

Ellen Peric

View of Pilot Mountain

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:23:22 -0700

Ellen Peric

Farmers Appreciation Night In Stokes County

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:19:01 -0700

Thursday night we had a great time being a sponsor of this yearly event. It starts at 6pm and any farmer and family can come out to have a great meal, win a door prize and listen to some great entertainment. This year they served about 800 folks! The folks at Farm Bureau Insurance gave away some cool tote bags (they always have the best stuff), we gave away some rain guages (always appreciated) and our new issue of the Farm & Home Journal. It was good seeing all our friends!

Some Stokes County, NC Farm Facts:

Number of Farms 963 / Total land in Farm Acres 91,014 / Avg Farm size 95 acres

Crops by Acres = Hay / Tobacco / Corn

Livestock = Poultry / Cattle / Goats

Ellen Peric

US Farms

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:59:23 -0800

Number of farms in the U.S.: 2.20 million; up from 2.09 million in 2006 Total farmland acreage: 921.5 million acres; down from 925.8 million acres in 2006 Average farm size: 418 acres; down from 443 acres in 2006 Texas leads the nation in farm acreage, with 130.4 million acres

Ellen Peric

What is an ACRE of Land Worth in NC?

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:49:01 -0800

.... IT DEPENDS... don't you hate that answer? The latest info from Chris Goss, Chief Appraiser for Carolina Farm Credit says that while it appears to be a straight forward question, developing the answer isn't.

Chris says that a recent study completed by the USDA states that farm values in North Carolina averaged $4,250 per acre / down 4.5% from 2008. While this information may be helpful in researching real estate trends, you wouldn't want to use this study to estimate the value of your property.

When developing an opinion of value, real estate appraisers identify and interpret social trends (population characteristics), economic circumstances, government controls (zoning and land use regulations), environmental conditions (climate, topography, soil, road frontage, and other physical aspects) for a specific property and the surrounding area. It is the interaction of all these forces that influence the value of each property in the market.

Ellen Peric

What Makes Septic Tanks Fail?

Ellen Peric (Carolina Farms & Homes) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:22:06 -0700

Everyone has an opinion on this - but what do the experts say?

The main cause is neglecting to pump out the tank every one to three years. This prevents the normal filtering of wastewater that enters the drain field and the whole system backs up.

Two other causes are excessive water use over short time periods (many laundry loads or showers in one day) and adding harmful chemicals.

What about Bacteria - Do I need to Encourage it?

No, you don't need additives, if you limit disposal of harmful products and harsh chemicals that kill the millions of naturally occuring bacteria.

Clog-Causing Materials:

Tissues
Feminine hygiene products
cigarette butts
Food particles
Grease and Oils
Lint (from clothes washer)

Bacteria Killers:

Paints and solvents
Pesticides and Fertilizers
Bleach, disinfectants and antibacterial soaps
Drain cleaners and acids
Prescription antibiotics and other medications

For more information, go to www.extension.umn.edu

Info provided by: "The Family Handyman" July/August 2004

Ken Olson, Septic System Educator

Dave MacDonald, Structural Engineer

Ellen Peric