EMERGENCY RISK REDUCTION

It’s winter here on the farm. I suppose it could be categorized as quieter days, more restful days — but this is all relative.  The plants are resting, and so I feel justified to relax a bit more also. This is the lull before the spring push of new growth, blossoms, and fruit.  Yes, daylight is shorter and cooler, so there’s not as much actual fieldwork being done. But there is still plenty to keep me busy, whether outside on mild days or inside on cold days. In British Columbia, Canada, we have both.

It seems most of these days in the fields is spent pruning plants and cleaning deadwood. You might not think this would be a small task, because we only have five acres, and only half of this is being farmed. But a lot of fruit trees can be packed into an acre…and they all need pruning and trimming. This takes literally weeks. Less time consuming is thinning out the many rows of blackberries and raspberries, but this still takes several days. All of this is time-sensitive, and needs to be done before springtime comes.

The other task that I’ve been engaged in is maintenance and repair. You can imagine that there’s always some needs on farm equipment, that get delayed during the rest of the year. “I’ll get around to it eventually.”  Winter is usually that time.   A small sample of the equipment with engines that I have been tinkering with are: rototiller (2), chainsaw (3), weed eater (2), hedge trimmer (2), wood chipper (1), leaf blower (1), and farm tractor. Some of the engines are working fine, and only need a checkup. Others are more stubborn, and need some TLC, or my tool of choice – a big hammer!  Of the list above, to date I have been unsuccessful to crank a: weed eater, chainsaw, and wood chipper.

So this is how I spend these winter days. Yes, it’s more relaxing, as I pour a cup of coffee, turn on the radio, and putter about. It’s also quieter. For instance, I have neither talked to nor seen anyone today. It’s a different lifestyle, because contrary to popular belief, I do like social interaction. I jokingly tell friends in town to come looking if they don’t hear from me for a couple of weeks at a stretch.

I keep reminding myself that this is the calm before the storm — when in a few months, all the plants will be blooming from this rich soil and jumping skyward, baked in the warmth and sunlight of a Canadian spring. Then I will be longing for some of the quiet of these tranquil and relaxing days.

Thanks for reading.