Wednesday morning, June 24th. Just took a walk around the farm to see how things are growing. There is an old saying that the best fertilizer is the farmer’s footprints across the field. The implication being that by walking the fields the farmer is able to observe what needs to be done. On this particular walk as my foot lifts off the ground, each footprint rapidly fills with standing water. I have observed that some of the crops are in puddles inches deep. A few growing beds have small rivulets moving across them. Weeds are everywhere and we can’t do anything about them. There are plug trays full of plants still waiting to go in the ground and the main crop of potatoes is yet to be planted – their intended home is a sea of mud. I could go on, but I will spare you from my dower mood. As for what to do? As far as I can see there is not much we can do except hope for sunshine and at least a week without rainfall. Both are remedies out of my control.
I have often been accused, and perhaps rightly so, of being a melancholic – a quality certainly reflected in the previous paragraph. However, the scene I have described is certainly the reality of the moment and I don’t know how to paint it in prettier colors. Despite my meloncholia however, I do still live in Hope, literally and figuratively, and so I have also observed some bright light shining in the morning’s fog. We have just finished our first week, in which things have gone relatively smoothly. We hope that you have enjoyed the greens that you received, and we have noted that the corn and squash seed planted before last Friday’s deluge have germinated despite the wet soil that they are sitting in. So far, the insects usually prevelent this time of year have been apparently discouraged by the damp cool weather. Tomorrow, Thursday, it is predicted that we will see the sun again and that the emperature will soar. We are looking forward to tonight’s potluck gathering. We’ve cleaned up the barn in order to accomadate the expected overflow crowd.
So, that’s the summer solstice news from the edge of Hope. Looking forward to seeing you this evening, so that we may toast to the coming warming and drying trend.
Best to you…
Your “melancholic” farmer,
Tom