Simpler Times

by Jerry D. Young

  Suddenly Glenn sat up a little straighter. “Contaminated food… shortages of food, bad weather… And I like to eat,” he muttered. “And I need a permanent home… And something to do.”

  He saw Brittany arrive and go into the restaurant. Glenn got out of the car and followed her in. When she saw him, she headed for a booth. Glenn joined her.

  Brittany didn’t look hopeful when Glenn started to speak. “I wanted to tell you face to face that I wasn’t going to go for the deal.” Brittany’s face fell further.

  “Not really much to say…”

  Glenn cut Brittany off. “But I am having second thoughts. I want to hear more about exactly what you plan to do. And how much it would cost me.

  They both ordered bowls of chili when the waitress came over.

  Brittany’s face brightened a little, but not much. “It’s much as we told you yesterday. An organic farm to test out the best of various crops, refine procedures to maintain the organic label, that sort of thing.”

  “Tabitha seemed reluctant to include farm animals. Would you do organically raised meat, too?”

  “Tabitha is a vegetarian, though not a Vegan. I think she would like to be, but… Well, that’s her business. But, yes, we would want to try to raise organic meat animals.”

  “Why the hard core refusal to consider making a profit?”

  Brittany sighed. “Several of us don’t want the pressures to make the operation a large commercial success. We want to be a trend setter. Learn to do it better, more efficiently, and cheaply, to provide a showcase where people can come and learn.”

  “Well, wouldn’t it be a better showcase if it was profitable?”

  “I suppose so,” Brittany mused, “But we have so many in the group opposed…”

  “I see,” Glenn said. Something suddenly came to him. The farm operation, and especially the ranch side of it, had been very self-sufficient when Titus’ family first started it in the 1880’s. “Are there plans for biodiesel production? And how about methane and alcohol?”

  “A couple of the guys are into biodiesel, but we don’t have funding to pursue that line of research. And we don’t want to spread ourselves too thin. Taking on too much is a sure way to fail.”

  “I can’t argue that,” Glenn admitted. “Were you planning on greenhouses?”

  “Yes. We have funding for a small one with which to do research.”

  “Thomas mentioned three hundred acres. Tabitha said you needed it all. I don’t see the need for all three sections.”

  Brittany sighed. “Tabitha wants us to try and get an experimental hemp growing permit. We need acreage for that.”

  “Why hemp?” Glenn said, but then quickly added, “Never mind. Better if I look it up on the internet on my own.”

  Brittany looked a little annoyed. “I wouldn’t lie to you about any of it!”

  “I know. It’s not that. I just do better researching on my own. I’d have a million questions and I’m sure you have something to do today besides talk to me.”

  “I’ll take as long as needed, if there is a possibility we’ll get to use the land.”

  “I’m beginning to lean toward it,” Glenn said. “But don’t get your hopes up too much. There are going to be some stipulations that you and the group might not like.”

  “Oh,” Brittany said, calming back down after hearing Glenn’s initial words. “If they are reasonable…”

  Glenn grinned. “I think they’d be reasonable. You might even. I’m not sure all your group will.”

  “I can only take the proposal to them and let the majority decide.”

  “It will take me a couple or three days to do some research and think this over. I’ll let you know in three days.”

  Brittany nodded. It was still better than nothing. She was sure that Glenn was right about one thing. Several in the group weren’t going to like Glenn setting conditions. It didn’t sit real well with her. “But beggars can’t be choosers,” she said to herself as she finished her chili.

  Glenn had his laptop with him, but found it easier to go to the county library to do his research. The telephone line for the farm, with DSL, hadn’t been turned on yet. He e-mailed himself many articles and complete web pages to study when off line. He found a Wi-Fi spot in town and downloaded his e-mail and went back to the farm to read up on several things.

  He was ready for the meeting on Friday. Glenn gave Brittany his proposal and sat back to let her read it. She would look happy one moment and unhappy the next as she read. Glenn couldn’t get a real feel for what she was thinking when she set the papers down.

  “I really like some of these ideas,” she finally said, looking earnestly at Glenn. “They go further even than some of ours. But we’d loose our grants if we did some of them. Even if we didn’t, we don’t have enough money to even start on some of these projects.”

  “How much are the grants?”

  “One is for $25,000, one for $35,000, and a small one for $10,000.”

  “$70,000 total,” mused Glenn. “Okay. I can cover that if you lose them. And I’d be footing the bill for everything I’ve suggested that you weren’t planning on doing.”

  “Do you realize how much that would be?” Brittany exclaimed.

  “I do. I think. My Uncle wanted both the farm and ranch parts of the property to be successfully passed down the family line. I’m willing to risk my retirement, and my family’s legacy, on the chance to see that come to pass, and the chance for some pretty good profits, relatively early. I had something of an epiphany the other day, while listening to the news. I want to be sure I’ll have food available when I get old. The way things are going in this old world, that could be a problem.”

  “I suppose so,” Brittany said, somewhat absently. She was thinking of all the good things her group could still do with the property, despite the things that Glenn wanted done.

  “I’ll take this to our next meeting. That’s this Sunday. I’ll get back to you on Monday. Is that okay?”

  Glenn nodded. He went back to the farm and found the phone company waiting on him. He was doing more research on the internet by the end of the day.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Thomas and Tabitha were with Brittany Monday afternoon when she arrived at the Steak & Shake to meet with Glenn. None of the three looked very happy.

  Again they didn’t order anything except tea and water. Glenn ordered a BLT and looked at the three expectantly as he waited for his order.

  After long moments of silence Brittany finally spoke. “We can’t do it. There are too many provisions that don’t have anything to do with our project.”

  “I see,” Glenn said. “Okay.”

  “That’s it?” Tabitha asked. “Just ‘Okay’?” She was definitely angry, Glenn decided.

  “What else is there to say? You don’t want to do it. I’ll just do what I want to do. It’ll be harder, and a little more expensive, but it is all still doable. Organic food is a big business now. I’m sure I can find other people interested in it to help me.”

  “That’s not really fair,” Thomas said.

  “This is our project!” Tabitha said. “You can’t take it away from us and use it for your own selfish ends!”

  “I thought you’d be pleased,” Glenn lied. “Your project being expanded and taken to new levels. Isn’t the fact that it will be done more important than who does it?”

  “You’re just twisting words!” Tabitha cried and scrambled out of the booth. Thomas followed, without saying anything more.

  “You did that deliberately!” Brittany said, accusingly.

  “I don’t like her high and mighty attitude,” Glenn said slowly. “It was a rotten thing to do. Tell her I said I’m sorry. But I do stand by what I said. You guys are on the right track. I do want it to succeed. I don’t see anything wrong with incorporating other ideas and trying to make a profit at the same time.”

  Brittany sighed. “I’ll tell her, though you should do it yourself. It was close… the vote
… Several people really liked some of your ideas and the fact that you are willing to foot the bill. I didn’t know you were that wealthy.”

  “I’m not,” Glenn said. “I’m risking my entire retirement fund, plus quite a bit more. I’m selling my house in St. Louis and will be using that money, too. And I’ll borrow against the farm and ranch as it gains value. I believe in this. Greening the planet is a noble cause and has its place. But I think it should be integrated into existing ways of life.”

  Brittany sighed again. “I guess I can’t really argue that. Some of us, like Tabitha, just take this so personally.”

  “I take what I’m going to do personally, too.”

  “I guess you would. I wish we could work this out.”

  “Give it another shot,” Glenn said. “Take the proposal back. Talk it over more. One thing I might not have made clear is that the profits will be shared. Whatever group entity you set up will get twenty-five percent of the profits.”

  “Oh. That wasn’t really clear. But I don’t know if it will make a difference. It really is a matter of principle. I’ll talk to them again.”

  They set another meeting date and time and Brittany left. Glenn left as well, and went looking for a regional phone book. The local office of the telephone company had one. He took it and went back to the farm to make a few calls. “This is going to work, one way or the other.”

  Two days later a salvage crew showed up to start dismantling all the buildings on the farm and ranch. Glenn had made a deal to sell the highly sought after old lumber, particularly that in the barn. The company would do the dismantling and clean up, and pay Glenn for the wood. They already had a market for it.

  With the house coming down last, Glenn had time to find a used travel trailer and get it delivered to the farm. He would live in it until the new house was built the next summer. The other buildings would have priority.

  When the crew was done, Glenn basically had virgin land. He’d even had the old, unreliable well and septic systems removed, as well as the concrete slab for the old house. Only the power and telephone lines were transferred to the trailer. He had water delivered and sewage pumped out of the trailer holding tank.

  He had a general idea of what he wanted the farm and ranch compound to be like, but wanted to wait until he knew if he would be working with Brittany’s group, or another one, before he finalized any construction plans.

  Glenn had given it two weeks between the meetings. He sighed when he saw Thomas and Tabitha with Brittany when they came into the Steak & Shake. Tabitha looked stony. Thomas actually looked a little pleasant. Brittany was smiling and Glenn began to believe she bore good news.

  “Well?” he asked when the others had taken their seats and more orders for water and tea were given.

  “There was a shift in the new voting,” Brittany said. “The majority agreed to your terms.”

  “Excellent!” Glenn said.

  “It was only by one vote,” Tabitha informed Glenn coldly.

  “That’s democracy at work for you,” Glenn replied. “Okay, then. When can everyone come out to the place and tell me what they need in the way of structures, equipment, and etc.?”

  “Structures?” Thomas asked. “Aren’t we going to be using the barns?”

  Glenn shook his head. “I razed everything. We’re starting fresh. You can get exactly what you need.”

  “Such a waste,” Tabitha muttered.

  “Had a timber recycler come in and take everything useable,” Glenn said in a normal tone of voice. “It’s already headed for a new home.”

  Tabitha just frowned.

  Before that conversation could go any further, Brittany spoke up. “Everybody has different schedules. It might take a week or two to get everyone’s input.”

  “That’s fine,” Glenn replied. “I’ll be available whenever anyone can get loose.” He gave Brittany his cell phone number. “I take it everyone knows how to get there?”

  “Well, no. But the ones that don’t can go out with those that do,” Thomas said.

  “I want to have everyone’s needs down on paper before we lay out the place. Anything we can dual use or even triple use, I want to do.”

  “So we’re going to be limited on what we can ask for.” That from Tabitha.

  “You can ask for anything,” Glenn said, his voice taking on a bit of chill. “It’ll be up to the group as a whole to verify actual need for each person’s requests.”

  “You’re going to let the group decide?” Thomas asked his surprise evident.

  “Oh, I maintain veto power, but yes. You’ve all been planning this for some time. I imagine the group as a whole knows approximately what each person plans and needs.”

  Tabitha looked startled, but said nothing.

  “As soon as we have the basics, we’ll finalize a plan and you can take it to your grant people and see what they will still do. I need to budget things and I need to know how that money will be spent.”

  Ever angry, it seemed, Tabitha said, “That’s not your money to do anything with. The group will decide how to spend it.”

  “Actually,” Thomas said, “The individual grantees will do that, since they are individual grants for their special projects.”

  “The group will be giving advice and help, but yes, it will be up to the individuals or teams that applied for the grants to spend the money within the parameters of the grant,” Brittany said.

  Tabitha looked annoyed that her friends had contradicted her, but she said nothing else.

  “Well, have them let me know as soon as possible. And if additional outside funds can be used to add to or improve what the grant actually pays for.”

  “That I can answer now,” Brittany said. “The grant money has to be used for specific things in all three cases, but there is not a limit on how much additional funding can be used.”

  “That’s good,” replied Glenn. “Okay. If there is nothing else, I need to get going. I’ve got a ton of work to do now that I know which group I’ll be working with.”

  Brittany moved out of the booth and then Glenn did as well. Unlike the other meetings, Glenn was leaving and the others seemed to be staying. “To talk it over,” Glenn thought with a small smile.

  Glenn was eager to get on with his research. He was coming up with some very interesting things on his internet searches. One never knew quite what would pop up, with even some of the simplest word choices. But he was learning quite a bit more than he set out to learn, and that was good. Plus, it was interesting, to boot.

  It was nearly a week before anyone called to come out to the property and submit their list of what they would need for the project. Then there was a flood, with two or three coming out together, one group after another. He began to get a clear idea of what they wanted, and how it would mesh with what he wanted.

  Except for the fact that he wanted to profit from it, there really wasn’t that much difference between what the group wanted and what he wanted. It was going to be expensive. It wasn’t that he wouldn’t be able to do it. But it would take all he had. Glenn smiled. “Should have some good eats, though.”

  When he was sure the last person that was involved with the group had been out to see him, Glenn went back to St. Louis to meet with a former client of his. An architect for whom he had handled the regional advertising. With his notes and a general drawing of the property, Glenn described the plan he had in mind.

  “A bit out of my field,” Clay Montgomery said. “But I think I can handle it.” He grinned at Glenn. “Get a little of my own back from the rates you charged me.”

  Glenn laughed. “Add a line item for that. “Payback fee.”

  “I may just do that. Give me two weeks for a preliminary set of drawings.”

  Glenn shook hands with Clay. “Okay. Thanks. I really appreciate this.”

  Clay waved his hand negligently and Glenn left.

  Two weeks later, with plans in hand, Glenn went to his bank. They were not at all interested in finan
cing a farm operation, so he went shopping for a new bank. With the thought that one of the banks in the Cape might be more used to agricultural loans, he tried there first.

  Sure enough, the second bank he talked to was more than willing to deal with him. Glenn closed his account in St. Louis and transferred all his funds to the bank in Cape Girardeau. They were just a little unsure about the unconventional structures he was planning, but Glenn put them onto several websites and asked them to consider the earth sheltered construction he wanted.