Farming in the shade

We are winding down on the strawberry season. It's been cool (except for one nasty hot week), and that seems to prolong the season. We only have 2 short rows of berries, but they have produced well this year. Last picking we harvested 16 quarts. We have to share a bit with the birds, as they love sweet, ripe fruit. We place these noise makers (made from stakes, twine and aluminum pie pans) throughout the patch, which helps a little. Mostly we just learn to cut away the part of the berry that is bird pecked. When picking strawberries, you really have to get up close and personal. They try to hide from you. Any ripe (or overripe) berries you leave behind will turn nasty by the next time you pick. We typically pick even the yucky ones and throw them out of the patch, to avoid the spread of rottenness. My favorite food in the whole world is fresh strawberry shortcake. Here's the recipe for the shortcake: 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup shortening 2 eggs 1/2 tsp. salt 2-1/2 tsp. baking powder...

Gotta be careful when you're cultivating corn. Drive between the rows... A little carelessness can tear out the corn, instead of the weeds... Steady hand on the wheel... Keep looking ahead (looking back can be disastrous)... It's a tedious job. Long hours driving back and forth in the field. Those who long for a taste of the "simple life" can apply between the hours of 5 and 7 a.m. (It's cool then.) We'll put you right to work...

Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He springs up like a flower and withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure. --Job 14:1-2 Just as man is destined to die once and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. --Hebrews 9:27

Hamburger meat from a single steer (castrated male cattle) will make about 720 quarter pound hamburger patties. That's enough for a family of 4 to enjoy hamburgers each day for nearly six months. Americans are eating about 14 pounds of turkey a piece each year, more than double the rate 20 years ago.

Last night we had more rain. I was thinking earlier in the week about how when it rains, our normally frenzied pace slows a bit. We can take the time to fix things that have been put off. We can catch up with the laundry. We can sit a bit longer after gulping our meals. Even the dog gets it... However, sometimes the rain brings more work. You guessed it. No power. A lack of electricity on the farm means that anything automated doesn't work. Some of these automated systems are very important. Our generator ran very well all night long... And then broke this morning. There was lots of rushing about by everyone, trying to diagnose the problem. Eventually, we got out the small generator and hooked it up, just to buy ourselves enough time to make a parts run to the major city an hour away.  So, while rain usually brings a bit of rest to us in the summertime, this time it brought us more work.  I'm happy to report that we are now fully enjoying the electricity the power company provi...

Over 70% of the U.S. cherry crop is grown in Northern Western Lower Michigan. Yum... It's getting close!