Above, the Hagers have taken meticulous care to plant a variety of native plants, bushes and trees around the
perimeter of the house. At right, a newborn calf by one of the farm ponds, Pearl the mischievous cow and Granny the
patchwork cow.
Since they purchased the property, now called Honey Bee Farm,
just a year ago in August, they have done nothing but enjoy it.
Archie has been working hard along side just a few landscapers
to take out acres of Brazilian peppers and other invasive foliage.
It was hard work that seemed to go on forever, but just recently
they’ve been able to see what was hidden behind the overgrowth.
Several strangler fi gs can be found on the property, two that are
easily 100 years old. Their neighbors, who live in a quaint little
trailer park that was once owned by the same family who owned
the farm, have worked together with the Hagers, and they have
formed a friendship.
“They keep an eye on things when we aren’t here, and let
us know when the pigs are in the fi eld or there’s a new calf,”
Debbie said. Archie concurred, and said the people who live there
can now look far and wide at the property. Before the land was
cleared, the majority of what they could see was Brazilian pepper
trees.
“They’re thankful to us for doing all this work, yet for doing
nothing,” Debbie said.
When Archie and Debbie got to work after the sale was complete,
they knew three things: They loved the cows, they knew
they needed trees, and they knew they needed bees. They’ve
also started a little quail-raising project, and have a coop near the
house.
While Archie worked on the pasture land, Debbie got to work
on the house and grounds directly around it. She wanted to use
native plants that were salt and drought tolerant, and at the same
time looked beautiful. Ice plants grow from the ground like vibrant
green fi ngers ... and they grow quickly. They’re succulents, so you
just stick them in the dirt and they start growing. Around the house
there are lots of bromeliads, many of which they brought from
their Boca Grande home. While the new growth is just beginning
40 GASPARILLA MAGAZINE • July/August • 2020