Notes on the land
From the Shannon Miles Group. A look inside this renovation, a guide to buying Texas acreage, and what makes Italy and nearby Ennis worth the drive.
October 28, 2026
November in Ennis and Italy, Texas: events, race weekends, and the calm before Christmas
Veterans Day on November 11, Texas Motorplex race weekends November 7 through 15, the last of the pumpkin patch, Thanksgiving on November 26, and the December start of the Christmas season.
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October 26, 2026
Planting winter cover crops in Ellis County: timing, species, and soil benefits
Late September through October is the planting window for winter cover crops in North Central Texas. Which grasses and legumes grow well in Ellis County, how to seed them, and when to terminate them, with Texas A&M AgriLife guidance.
Read the post October 23, 2026
First frost in Ellis County: when it arrives and how to protect your garden, pipes, and livestock
The average first frost around Ennis and Italy lands in mid-November, and the week before it arrives is the time to protect plants, pipes, hoses, and livestock water, with Texas A&M AgriLife guidance.
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October 21, 2026
Halloween 2026 in Ennis and Italy, Texas: Autumn Daze, pumpkin patches, and country nights
Autumn Daze on October 24 and 25, the Ennis Pumpkin Patch and Hay Maze, the haunted hay maze October 29 through 31, and what Halloween looks like out on Ellis County acreage.
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October 19, 2026
Preserving the fall harvest in Ellis County: canning, freezing, and drying basics
How to safely preserve the fall garden harvest in Ellis County: water bath versus pressure canning, which foods need which method, blanching times for freezing, and drying and cold storage, with Texas A&M AgriLife guidance.
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October 16, 2026
Planting garlic in Ellis County this October: timing, varieties, and harvest
Mid-October is the garlic planting window in North Central Texas. Which varieties grow well here, how deep and how far apart to plant, and when the fall crop comes out, with Texas A&M AgriLife guidance.
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October 14, 2026
Creeks and ponds on Ellis County acreage: what to know before you buy
Surface water rights, creek bed ownership, FEMA flood zones, and the stock tank exemption for ponds: what to verify when the acreage you are looking at has a creek.
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October 12, 2026
Planting fruit trees in Ellis County this fall: varieties, timing, and soil prep
When to plant fruit trees in Ellis County, which varieties grow well in North Central Texas, and how to prepare soil and site, with Texas A&M AgriLife guidance.
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October 9, 2026
Raising goats on Ellis County acreage: a starter guide for small herds
Space per goat, fencing that actually holds them, breeds that do well in Texas, health basics, and what to check before you buy goat-ready acreage, with Texas A&M AgriLife guidance.
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October 7, 2026
Christmas lights and holiday events in Ennis and Italy, Texas
The Lights of Ennis Christmas Parade on December 3, downtown tree lighting, the Mach Christmas Display in Alma, and holiday happenings in Italy, Texas.
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October 5, 2026
Planting bluebonnets in Ellis County, Texas this October
When and how to sow bluebonnet seed in Ellis County: October timing for North Texas, soil prep, scarification, planting depth, and the spring Ennis Bluebonnet Trails bloom.
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Driveways, county roads, and FM roads: what to know before you buy Ellis County acreage
Who maintains the roads around Ennis and Italy, how driveway permits work, and what to verify for legal access before you buy rural acreage.
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September 30, 2026
October garden in Ellis County: what to plant before the first frost
Cool-season crops you can still plant in October, first frost timing around Ennis, soil testing through the Ellis County AgriLife office, and Texas Master Gardener resources.
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September 28, 2026
Fencing for Ellis County acreage: types, costs, and Texas law
Barbed wire, woven wire, high-tensile electric, pipe and wood fencing compared, with typical installed costs per foot and a plain-English read of Texas fence law from the Shannon Miles Group.
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September 25, 2026
Composting in Ellis County: a fall starter guide for acreage
How to start a compost pile on Ellis County acreage this fall: the right mix of browns and greens, how to build and turn the pile, and when it is ready, with Texas A&M AgriLife guidance.
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September 23, 2026
Raising chickens on Ellis County acreage: a starter guide for small flocks
Coop space per bird, water and shade in Texas heat, the fall molt, winter prep, and what Ellis County actually requires for a starter poultry flock.
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Wells, septic, and rural internet: what to know before you buy Ellis County acreage
A practical guide to private wells, septic permits through Ellis County, rural internet options, and road access when you buy acreage in Ellis County, Texas.
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September 18, 2026
Why fall is the best time to plant trees in Ellis County
September through December is the ideal planting window for trees and shrubs in North Texas, and now is the time to test your soil through the Texas A&M AgriLife office in Waxahachie.
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Fall events in Ennis and Italy, Texas
The Bluebonnet Market, Stars of Texas Music Festival, Ennis Autumn Daze and the Pumpkin Patch. A guide to the season's community gatherings around Ennis and Italy.
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September 12, 2026
Inside the renovation at 917 Goodwyn Rd
New sheetrock, updated kitchen and baths, fresh flooring. What was actually redone before this home hit the market, and what it means for a buyer.
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September 12, 2026
A buyer's field guide to Texas acreage
How to read pasture, water, fencing and improvements when you are comparing small-acreage tracts like this one.
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September 12, 2026
Why Ennis? Small-town life near Dallas
The Bluebonnet Capital, the National Polka Festival, historic downtown, and a 35-mile drive to Dallas. What to know about this corner of Ellis County.
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September 14, 2026
Interactive 3D walkthrough of 917 Goodwyn Rd
Move through the renovated interior on a large, interactive Zillow walkthrough, or watch the property's own guided video.
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September 14, 2026
Fall homesteading in Ellis County
What to plant in the fall garden, how to preserve the summer harvest safely, and how to ready your acreage for cooler weather in Ellis County.
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