Northshore Living: Forest Primeval

by Karen Gibbs

For decades, residents south of Lake Pontchartrain have migrated to the northshore. Drawn by towering pines, the pure air quality and the slower pace of living, the “come heres” indeed came in droves. The economic boon was a mixed blessing, however, as towering pines were replaced by subdivisions and malls, and congestion all too often prohibited slow-paced living. So what do the “come heres” do now?

Some are on the move again, seeking and finding homes in the northshore’s unspoiled “country.” Although development has taken its toll, there is still a vast amount of “forest primeval” acreage for those who want to live surrounded by beautiful woods and quiet—except, perhaps, for the singing of birds and the rustling of branches as a deer passes by.

Biff Jones grew up in such a place, five miles north of Goodbee. His dad chose the serenity of the forest as the ideal place to raise his family. “When we moved here, it was considered far away from everything,” explains Biff. But now, he adds, he’s only 12 minutes from the grocery in Covington and 15 minutes from the Covington 190 exit. Biff lives on the same land where he grew up. He’s renovated the old farm house, preserving the natural beams and heart pine walls. A catfish pond is loaded with fish. Grazing not too far away are Biff’s polo horses.

The place is idyllic, a legacy passed on with love and reverence for the land. Spurred on by the same reverence and love of nature, Biff has created from this wooded paradise and adjoining acres home sites that respect the land, trees and wildlife. On polo farms and playing fields, man and horse coexist in a beautiful setting of ponds, rolling hills and forest. Densely wooded lots from two to 15 acres in size hold private homes.

One of Biff’s favorite pastimes is driving along the winding roads of a verdant area aptly named “Heart of the Forest,” which he says has an amazing history. General William Carroll used the high ridge that crosses the section to transport his troops, cannons and supplies back to Natchez after the War of 1812-15. Also on this road, Indians walked to the market in Madisonville, their ox-carts laden with produce and hand-made goods.

“While preparing cattle pastures for planting, we found many arrowheads,” says Biff. Although one of these artifacts dates back before the birth of Christ, most are hundreds of years old. Biff treasures the history of the land that he loves. He considers himself the guardian of this piece of ground and takes that responsibility seriously. In order to preserve the beauty of the land for future generations, all houses must allow for at least a 50-foot front buffer of trees and 25-foot buffers on either side of the lot.

To Biff, every tree is important. When landowners are ready to remove trees for a driveway or a house, he assures them that no other trees will be damaged in clearing these areas. To prevent damage, he purchased a special piece of equipment called a “Bell machine” from South Africa. This unusual machine grips the tree to be removed, saws it, then carries the upright tree away from the site, leaving surrounding trees relatively untouched.

Fortunately for the northshore, many other developers share Biff’s passion and are committed to preserving our wooded paradise. If you envision your children or grandchildren playing in the shade of live oaks and pines, or if you see yourself going through the woods atop your favorite steed, drive out to the “country” to see what they are doing to make your dream come true. As an example, explore what Biff Jones and his Louisiana Polo Farms have accomplished along Highway 1077 north of Highway 190. Stop and listen. You just may hear the beating of the heart of the forest.