We have some land just across the river in PA, near where John grew up. It's the land that remains after the 500-acre farm his great-grandparents and grandparents farmed was split up and sold, so it's kind of special. John and Justin hunt deer there and for several years Justin has been trying to provide better habitat for those deer. There is a creek on the property that we have cleaned up, he's providing better cover for wildlife by selectively cutting down a few trees but leaving them piled up, and he has also been planting food plots for the deer. The property hasn't been actively farmed in decades, so he's had to test the soil, apply lime and fertilizer, disk, till, plant, culti-pack, and hope for rain.
He was there this weekend, mowing the summer food plots (a mixture of clover, sunn hemp, cowpeas, mung beans, guar beans, soybeans, wildlife grain sorghum, forage collards, black oil sunflowers, safflower, buckwheat, okra, and Egyptian wheat) in preparation for planting some fall food plots in the next few weeks. I took some diesel fuel over for the tractor and Justin must have seen me looking longingly at the tractor. He asked if I wanted to drive it, and of course I did. Justin gave me a quick run-down of the clutch, low, medium, and high range, the shift pattern, and then sent me down the row. (John hopped on, I think in fear that I was not going to be the stellar tractor driver that I turned out to be.) It's really kind of fun, and I even managed to turn around with the mower hooked on the back.
Farming is a family affair!
I am going to be smiling all day long, thinking about you driving that tractor! You're a total natural. :-)
ReplyDeleteI also love the whole story of your family farm. Truly a labor of love. XO
How cool is that? and you do look like a natural Bonny. What fun! I love that Justin is providing such a good habitat for the deer (even if he does hunt them).
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts are very similar to Kym's -- I think I'm going to have that mental image of you smiling and steering that tractor for a while!
ReplyDeleteI applaud Justin for being such a good steward of the environment. I get the sense that a lot of hunters do it for sport and don't really care much about the impact on the ecosystem. But I know that all of you use the meat from the deer, and it warms my heart to think of all the deer who are going to discover this bit of land filled with yummy things to eat!
That looks like great fun to me! Yes, I notice John is giving instructions while you are smoothly driving along - LOL! I love the story of the farm, and I hope it is in your family for a long time. If you like translations of Chinese Tang dynasty poetry, you should see if you can find a copy of The Orchard by Peter Heller. I very much enjoyed this book, and it is full of poetry. Happy Monday, Bonny!
ReplyDeleteYou are so adventurous!! I do love rural living and miss my old town somewhat :)
ReplyDeleteI am with Kym... I have a grin from ear to ear, Bonny! What fun! I love this history of the land... how amazing that you can help Justin preserve it!
ReplyDeleteYou look like you are having fun... and are perfectly dressed for the part!
ReplyDeleteLook at you go on that tractor! I love that you are planting food for the animals, too.
ReplyDeleteYou look like a pro driving that tractor! I think what you are doing with the land is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteIt was a lot of fun, but it probably wouldn't be nearly as much fun if I had to make a living that way. I have a better appreciation for the hard work that goes into it!
DeleteFarming IS a family affair - and you look like you were made to ride that tractor!
ReplyDeleteRight off the bat you're a pro! Naturalizing your land and making it a better habitat would be so rewarding!
ReplyDeleteOh how fun, Bonny!! I'm wanting to sing GREEN ACRES for some reason! :)
ReplyDeleteI love your story about land that has been in the family for generations. Look at you on that tractor. Of course you would be a stellar tractor driver. Thank you to Justin for being such a good steward of the farmland.
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