USDA Wish List
USDA personnel who assist with helping us maintain the beautification of the estate
(Reggie, Mary, and Brandon)
(Reggie, Mary, and Brandon)
Listed below is the letter Lillie sent to USDA on October 09, 2018. She will keep the family informed of USDA's response:
Dear Mr. Shorter,
As a follow-on to our last conversation, you requested that Estate of Ed Smith provide USDA the overall vision for our 258.92 acres of farmland.
Below are our proposed ideas...
In addition to maintaining our hunting efforts, our final vision is to develop a Country-style resort that will contribute to the preservation of Mississippi’s natural resources and help stimulate the development and adoption of innovation and technology. The resort will consist of a park surrounded by beautiful landscaping and log cabins for the visitors, fishing, camping, biking and walking trails, strip mall, restaurants, gas station, apartments, parking lots, and a hotel. All efforts are to maintain the beauty and reputation of Mississippi by creating a fun-filled atmosphere for all walks of life (nature, animals, and people of all ages).
To get started, we request USDA’s assistance to continue the removal of the erosion throughout the land. In the process, we need to cut down at least another 5 acres of trees to help clear road paths from the land to best access HWYs 552 and 61. The cut lumber will be used to build our first log cabin (Estate Information Office) at the entry of the land. The information office will be used to receive our mailings and will be equipped with necessary means for emergency efforts (i.e. phone line, computer, television, etc.). The remaining lumber will be used to build furniture, whiskey barrels, park benches, etc.
We would like to extract the gravel from the land to help build the roads, check for silica sand to use for multiple resources (i.e. construction material, electronics, water filtration, agriculture, industrial processing to make glass, etc.)
As for the innovative technological idea, we would like to utilize 5 acres to develop a hydroponic farm that will tap into our 14 acre water stream and feed into the hydroponic system. This will contribute to healthier eating and expand our farmland (vertically). Another vision for our stream is to sell our own bottled spring water from environmental safe containers.
The area of land that is difficult to access will be used to plant desired crops that Mississippi is known for (i.e. sweet potatoes, wheat, rice, scallions, etc).
We would like to install another 2-acre pond; however, we have not decided on the new location.
In the process of the development and the final completion, jobs will be created for the Mississippi residents and Alcorn students (i.e. maintaining the grounds, working at all areas of the resort).
USDA’s Incentive Program(s) would help the Estate’s vision come to fruition and fulfill the legacy of my Grandfather, Ed Smith Sr., pass along the his dreams and keeping his family together and maintaining the richness and beauty of Mississippi and southern hospitality.
We appreciate your time and effort to assist and we hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
Gladys P. Downs
Administratrix, Estate of Ed Smith
GPD22441@aol.com
(937)237-7028
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Items proposed to the USDA that we would like for them to fund:
1. Erosion cleanup *
2. Massive debris cleanup
3. Stream cleanup
4. Tree replacement
5. Soil replacement
6. Grass seeding & fertilizer
7. Install 1-acre pond *
8. Landscaping near pond consisting of river rocks, perennial flowers, and shrubs,
9. Sprinkler system
10. Build a secure fence around entire property
11. Entry gates **
12. Heavy duty locks for the gates **
13. Pesticides and traps to rid of unwanted critters, rodents, and snakes
14. Hunting equipment (stands, food)
15. Posting signs: No Tresspassing --No Dumping --This Property is Under Surveillance at All Times **
16. Build a road from Estate to HWY 552 and HWY 61
17. Two ATVs
18. One 50 or 55 horsepower frontend loader tractor
19. One bushhog
20. One power saw
21. Rot iron barrier to cover the well-opening
22. One lumber truck
23. Large containers for the scallions and garlic
24. Surveillance cameras at each parcel entrance **
25. Protective gear for erosion and debris cleanup
26. Professional camera to take historical pics for record keeping
27. Build stores, Restaurants, Gas Station, Hotel near Alcorn University
28. Check for silica sand
29. Gravel pit options
30. Marble extraction
31. Check water stream quality
32. Check for oil
33. Clean out some of the vines and thorns
* USDA completed
** Hunters completed
Items proposed to the USDA that we would like for them to fund:
1. Erosion cleanup *
2. Massive debris cleanup
3. Stream cleanup
4. Tree replacement
5. Soil replacement
6. Grass seeding & fertilizer
7. Install 1-acre pond *
8. Landscaping near pond consisting of river rocks, perennial flowers, and shrubs,
9. Sprinkler system
10. Build a secure fence around entire property
11. Entry gates **
12. Heavy duty locks for the gates **
13. Pesticides and traps to rid of unwanted critters, rodents, and snakes
14. Hunting equipment (stands, food)
15. Posting signs: No Tresspassing --No Dumping --This Property is Under Surveillance at All Times **
16. Build a road from Estate to HWY 552 and HWY 61
17. Two ATVs
18. One 50 or 55 horsepower frontend loader tractor
19. One bushhog
20. One power saw
21. Rot iron barrier to cover the well-opening
22. One lumber truck
23. Large containers for the scallions and garlic
24. Surveillance cameras at each parcel entrance **
25. Protective gear for erosion and debris cleanup
26. Professional camera to take historical pics for record keeping
27. Build stores, Restaurants, Gas Station, Hotel near Alcorn University
28. Check for silica sand
29. Gravel pit options
30. Marble extraction
31. Check water stream quality
32. Check for oil
33. Clean out some of the vines and thorns
* USDA completed
** Hunters completed