Gravel Roads

There is a lot you can learn from gravel roads… I mean a lot..Did you know that roughly 60% of Iowa’s public roads are gravel? How often do you hear someone say they don’t take gravel? Think about that for a minute. That means that they have a 60% chance of missing out on some great treasures that happen to be placed on one of those very gravel roads.

Our farm happens to be off a gravel road. There is actually no way you can get to our farm unless you take gravel. Now there are routes that offer you less gravel travel but in some way you will have to take gravel to get to the farm.

I use to be one of those people that if I could avoid a gravel road I would. I just never realized what I was missing until I came back home to Iowa. These Iowa gravel roads have taught me quite a bit in just our short time being back home.

I have learned that when a road sign states unmaintained you definitely do not want to take that road after a heavy rain or snow storm.. I have heard stories about those unmaintained roads where I will not mention any names but are often the locals to the rescue with their tractors pulling out the brave souls from their mistakes of taking a path less traveled… literally..

The consequence of taking that path is having to call your spouse or parents to let them know of the poor decision you made but not to worry because the locals of these gravel roads are amazing human beings with a sense of humor saved you the cost of an expensive tow bill and got you out of the sticky situation you put yourself in. For the record… I have not made that mistake yet. However, it is likely coming because I am one of those individuals who often times is up for the challenge.

But don’t worry here at the farm you got some options, there is a route right off a paved road that leads directly to our farm with about a mile of gravel on a maintained road. See what I did there 😁.

I have also learned on these gravel roads that when someone drives by you wave regardless who they are or if they waved back or not. I literally will wave at everyone and feel bad if I don’t now. I can’t make this up. It has now been instilled in me that you wave at absolutely everyone. It has become such a habit now that I find myself waving at people on the paved roads and highways and at times will get puzzled looks! I don’t mind at all, and realize that the wave represents acknowledgement. I often say to myself as I wave to anyone that drives by I truly hope they are having a good day and say a little prayer asking they be lifted up. I have those kind of days myself and could only hope someone takes a brief moment in time to ask the same.

In the spring these gravel roads become like an expressway of semis and tractors. This is how the community makes a living and puts the very food on your plate. I have a new found respect and have learned to have patience for these vehicles. I will move over a little extra on the road paved or gravel to wait for them to pass by. I will give a little space between us so they can see I am behind them and wait to pass until I know it is safe. These folks spend a lot of time on these gravel roads to assure they can provide the resources they have committed to for the year and it is the least I can do to have a little patience and give a friendly wave as they pass by.

Another thing I have found is that these gravel roads lead to some pretty cool small towns. For example we live next to a small town in Iowa by the name of Lincoln. There is a paved road to Lincoln and the history runs deep. The population of this town is under 200 people. There is a sign that says Lincoln next 5 exits. It basically covers all the roads in this little town and I absolutely love that sign as it makes me smile every time I see it! 👇

This small town also has a post office that I have learned a lot visiting it every so often. One thing that I have recently learned is that we need to get a better quality rain gauge because you may be asked how much rain you got and if you were like me I didn’t have a clue.

I have always been so use to going into places and not saying anything to anyone and just handling my affairs. Never looking up or acknowledging people, just living the day to day. Boy… was I missing out. It is still a learning process for me to pause and live life a bit and take a moment to talk about the weather or talk about how much rain we got out at the farm and hear about how the postmaster is preserving her eggs she got from the farm and utilizing the comfrey we shared with her. Living here has taught me that it is okay to slow down, it has actually provided me a little more clarity on what is important in life.

This small town also has a little bar tucked away by the name of Larry’s that has some pretty great pizza that we were introduced to by one of our neighbors. Like most people we may have never knew about this place if we were not told by the locals. If you haven’t heard of this little joint I would recommend you make a point to stop by. You would be supporting local and likely hear some history about the little town while you wait for your pizza. You also would have the chance to take a photo of the road sign I was talking about and post it on your socials, which of course gives the ability to put this little treasure on the map and make for a great story!

We get the privilege of living among some pretty amazing people who are the absolute treasures of rural Iowa. I have never met a group of people who are so humble and caring and it is truly genuine. We have lived in different parts of the country and have been blessed with great people in our lives but the amount of support that we have received coming back home from the locals has been such a blessing. These amazing people have taught us a few things about rural Iowa.

I could go on for days about these gravel roads… so much I have learned and so much left to still learn. What I do know is that if you are not willing to travel somewhere because there is a gravel road you have a 60% chance of missing out on what Iowa really has to offer.

Moral of the story… take the gravel road. We did and it was the best thing we have ever done.

-✌🏼Jamie

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