EMERGENCY RISK REDUCTION

Farm life is busy life. Always something to do. As with any activity that becomes consuming, the hours go by quickly. The days seem even more so. But it is a good kind of busy. Here on Rosemeade Farm, a berry and fruit U-Pick, we have 5 acres and is half in ‘production’. A couple of acres should be doable, you may say. But the land is fertile, and usually crops are plentiful. Of course, there is seasonality to the work, but always something going on. Repairs and catching up in winter. In spring, summer, and fall days, I may be planting, watering, weeding, pruning or picking…sometimes all in the same day.  There are always several projects going at the farm at the same time….I will spend time on one, pull myself off for a time (get more material; a problem to ponder; something urgent came up, etc.)    Later I am back and keep plugging away. Eventually there’s the satisfaction of completing it.

However, some jobs are never complete. An example is weeding. Although our farm is not officially organic, we don’t spray to kill those darned, ubiquitous plants. My vote is that the most tedious task on the farm is weeding, especially strawberries, of which we have 17 rows (each approx. 100 ft.) this year. You could say it’s a never-ending task…after finishing, just start over. And this doesn’t include the other berries, fruit trees, or vegetables. The latter is mainly for our own consumption, and is a learning experience. This year, the successes have been snap beans, onions, cucumber, squash, and tomato. The failures are kale, spinach, and broccoli. In 2018 the successes were kale, spinach, and beans…which seem to do well every year! I have given up on corn, and buy it down the road of $1/ear at a stand called Silver Rill. Wendy Fox, the owner, earns more in a weekend than we do in a season!

Our vegetables are hit and miss. As with all of farming, the effort to plant, water, and weed, but with no guaranteed result. I confess to often being too tired after the berries to weed and keep up with the vegetables. Hit and miss is also true with the fruit trees. We have several fruit types, with about half being apples. In 2018 most fruit was laden to the point of limbs breaking.  This year some fruit just didn’t happen. No cherries or peaches, and very few plums and pears. A couple of apple varieties with some fruit but other trees with nothing. The cold spring weather may be the culprit, or fewer bees to pollenate, but my hunch is that the trees are resting…dormant for 2019.  And will come back strong in 2020. Stay tuned!

It isn’t news to anyone that farming is work and full-on busyness, sometimes for a reward; sometimes not. Although a career to which few wish to aspire, it is an essential life for human survival. I have mentioned in past blogs that it’s a genuine life, a wholesome life, a fulfilling life. When reduced to its core, it also is a timeless life – healthier, more satisfying, and less stressful that most.  As a person of faith, I find it meditative (even while weeding!), and honorable. Goodness knows we need more of these qualities in our 21th century world.

Thanks for reading.