Relieved of its load of several tons of fabricated steel, the big Chevy flatbed seems to yawn and stretch as it leaves the restricted confines of the paper mill and heads out to open road. The delivery complete and with time no longer of the essence, I decide to forgo the interstate and head home via highway 99E, cutting through the farms and small villages that fill the Willamette Valley. Turning off the radio, I consciously take a deep breath, holding it for several seconds before slowly letting it out and allowing my shoulders to release any accumulated tension. The tires on the wet asphalt intone a guttural, buddhist chant as my awareness drifts to the open fields.
It's a fairly typical Northwest winter day, where the moisture hangs in the air, not as rain, but a perpetual mist. Little lakes form in low lying areas where the ground is thoroughly saturated and unable to absorb another drop. I still marvel at the expansive fields of green - grass grown for its seed or a Winter cover crop. The farms here make me think of a race horse, pressing against the gait, eager to run at the first hint of Spring weather. I wonder how the owners of these farms are spending their "down" time.
At the beginning stages of developing my own farm, I am some years away from being able to make a living by farming only. My few acres require minimal care during the winter months. With no animals to care for, there is little to do but plan and wait for warmer, dryer weather. I am already following the trajectory of many established farm families - the wife works to provide a steady income while the husband farms and works part time jobs as needed to make ends meet. My wife's (Denise) full-time work as a nurse is the financial backbone that makes the farm possible. My goal for the farm is not only to provide our family with quality foods, but for farming to provide a living as well. Big dreams, perhaps, but one I feel is achievable, and necessary. I feel a sense of importance and urgency in this undertaking that I have never felt about any other job or previous projects that I've been a part of.
Before the village of Shedd, I pass a sign indicating the location of the town cemetery. The arrow points down a narrow lane which makes its way through the middle of a field. It seems appropriate somehow, that the road ends in the fields that are the focal point of the community. My thoughts drift to more personal losses - my mother, aunts and uncles, school classmates. The memories, while tinged with a sadness, give me clarity on the importance of living from my vision, and not being a pawn in the world dream. Our time on this planet is short, no matter how long we live. I don't want to waste my existence chasing the values of the mass culture only to come to my final moments with someone else's life passing before me and regretting the life not lived.
I may not always be able to choose the road that lies before me, but I can choose how I travel it.
"On the highway of life, we most often recognize happiness out of the rear view mirror"
- Frank Tyger
(May 2011)
New residents were added to the farm in April. Ten Barred Rocks chicks and two Chinese Geese. The residents began their stay in a large tupperware storage box in the house. After adding another storage container after a week, it became necessary to build a bigger wooden box and move them all into the garage in order to salvage the air quality inside. Due to their rapid growth, the large tupperware container came back into service to insure they had adequate space and weren't constantly pecking at each other. Another three weeks and they'll be relocated to their permanent home in the orchard which has been fenced for their protection.
The chickens are primarily for eggs, though theyare a dual breed (also good for meat) and will likely make their way to the pot when they stop laying. The geese are to provide security for the hens. (You don't want to make a goose angry!)
**********
The transition from hobo to farmer continues as I switched jobs in April, leaving the highway behind to begin working for the Department of Agriculture as a commodity grader. Having more of a set schedule will make it easier for me to plan and execute my farm duties.
At the beginning stages of developing my own farm, I am some years away from being able to make a living by farming only. My few acres require minimal care during the winter months. With no animals to care for, there is little to do but plan and wait for warmer, dryer weather. I am already following the trajectory of many established farm families - the wife works to provide a steady income while the husband farms and works part time jobs as needed to make ends meet. My wife's (Denise) full-time work as a nurse is the financial backbone that makes the farm possible. My goal for the farm is not only to provide our family with quality foods, but for farming to provide a living as well. Big dreams, perhaps, but one I feel is achievable, and necessary. I feel a sense of importance and urgency in this undertaking that I have never felt about any other job or previous projects that I've been a part of. Before the village of Shedd, I pass a sign indicating the location of the town cemetery. The arrow points down a narrow lane which makes its way through the middle of a field. It seems appropriate somehow, that the road ends in the fields that are the focal point of the community. My thoughts drift to more personal losses - my mother, aunts and uncles, school classmates. The memories, while tinged with a sadness, give me clarity on the importance of living from my vision, and not being a pawn in the world dream. Our time on this planet is short, no matter how long we live. I don't want to waste my existence chasing the values of the mass culture only to come to my final moments with someone else's life passing before me and regretting the life not lived.
I may not always be able to choose the road that lies before me, but I can choose how I travel it.
"On the highway of life, we most often recognize happiness out of the rear view mirror"
- Frank Tyger
****************
(May 2011)
The chickens are primarily for eggs, though theyare a dual breed (also good for meat) and will likely make their way to the pot when they stop laying. The geese are to provide security for the hens. (You don't want to make a goose angry!)
**********
The bees are buzzing. I lost three of the seven hives I had going into winter. The good news - one hive's growth has been so explosive that I had to add another super even after I created a split - taking out four frames that had larva (and queen cells) with honey and bees to start a new colony in one of the hives that had died out. Hopefully we'll have enough warm dry weather over the next few weeks to allow the bees to forage and expand their colonies.
The transition from hobo to farmer continues as I switched jobs in April, leaving the highway behind to begin working for the Department of Agriculture as a commodity grader. Having more of a set schedule will make it easier for me to plan and execute my farm duties.
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