Feeding America, Day 20 & 21 of Harvest 2011

Family written in drift wood

The life of a farmer is centered around our crops and their cycles.  When it is time to plant, tend the crops and harvest, that time frame takes precedent over everything as the crops and Mother Nature wait for no one.   It is just the way of life for farmers, and yes, sometimes it’s hard especially when there is a fun family event or a family emergency arises.  There have been a couple of times in my farming life that I’ve sat in the hospital waiting room by myself when our daughter or another family member were hospitalized because my sweet farmer had to leave (Joe was at  my side and did not leave until the crisis had passed, they were in the recovery room & were okay) as he had to get the crop in the ground.   So this past Labor Day week-end found us waiting on the ripening of the spring wheat and Farmer Joe was able to head out of town with the rest of my family for a lake get away at a house we rented.  While he was only able to stay just a little over a day before having to head back to take his seat on the combine, he did get to help celebrate middle grand-angel, Natalie’s 3^rd birthday.  Am I complaining?  No, for us and the rest of America’s farmers, it is a fact of life, but one we cherish.    If you have never seen the YouTube video titled, “So God made a farmer” and narrated by Paul Harvey, it is worth a view to see what I mean. http://www.youtube.com/embed/QuzhwkaNC40?rel=0

Natalie all smiles

As for how harvest is going?  Well a quick update, Farmer Joe had a minor breakdown yesterday (Monday) and had to head to another combine dealer about an hour away to get a part so he would be ready to go on Tuesday.  This harvest has plagued us with breakdowns and flat tires on the semi trucks as well as Farmer Jay had two flat tires on his combine from running over antlers.  The deer and elk like to graze (grrrrr) in farm fields.   Farmer Jay finished the spring wheat at the Tammany farm and is now harvesting garbanzo beans.  Farmer Joe is still working on finishing the spring wheat before he starts on garbanzo beans at the Genesee farm. 

Semi trucks in line at the warehouse waiting to be unloaded

Tracks of past activity.  A newly harvested wheat field

As for this farm wife, I’m gearing up and getting ready for our 3^rd Dinner on the Farm that will start this Saturday.  I will be blogging about that too and hope you will stay tuned to read about it as well.

The menu for the farm dinner

As always, thanks for stopping by and email me at idahofarmwife@gmail.com if you have questions. All my best, Gayle.