on the farm time

Begin again. And again. And again...that's been my experience, to start and stop many times over. The cold winter weekend, for it does feel like winter back stepped a bit and shoved Spring aside for a few days- visited my farm, my lettuces and sun thirsty beets- laying a bit of a frost blanket atop their new green tops. I haven't been out to see the damage if any, of course I hope that it wasn't permanent, that the new seedlings might shake it off, and begin again- to grow. We farmers are a stubborn bunch. We like to get ahead of the weather, the rain and snow- and put our little patch of earth into early production. And then there is April, a month that takes it's sweet time to warm up to it's place on the calendar. In my memory, though- it has proven to be always the month that first surprises us with the greens, the new bright greens, and also the snows. The big snows, and the freezes- like last year's fruit robbing ice storm, just about this time. And still, hopeful romantic farmer that I am, I still planted the seeds at a time that might place their growth in jeopardy. Perhaps the freezes, the frosts, the rains- will make my little plants stronger in their weakest parts. Perhaps if only sun would shine, and just the right amount of rain would fall- that kind of neutral balance would create boring produce- to nice, to bland, to non descriptive. "Here's some nice carrots- their orange and sweet, and the story behind them is a real yawner. I planted them and they grew. Period." Oh no, give me something to talk about, to show- to tell their story. "These carrots took three plantings before I could get a crop...you know the weather has been unrelenting." And then the real stories begin. Now my customer can relate, telling of their own trials with the weather. And now the carrot becomes a treasure, a trophy of sorts- that speaks of the beginnings, again, and again...Good day to you, I am off the clock and on the farm time. Beautiful busy day ahead. Good talking with you, take care-