The Great Plains stretch to the foothills of the Ashen Mountains on either side of the northern half of Homestead Lake and keep going north until the southern banks of the Red River. People make good use of the Great Plains. Along the Little Red, which cuts the Great Plains in half, and the big Red River, farmers plant crops that were brought from Earth. The farmers plant next to the rivers for easier access to water and to allow spring flood waters to carry nutrients from the rivers and into farmland. Ranchers have green pastures near the banks of Homestead Lake and near the ponds and streams that dot and criss cross the Plains. Ranch animals include cows, goats, sheep, and horses. There are usually a couple of houses and three or four barns/workshops per farm or ranch.