Recent statistics show that just 1% of the U.S. population considers farming their primary occupation. Since John & I fall into that 1% group, I believe it is important to share about our work in food production. Since 100% of American’s eat, every Friday I write to those who may wonder: Where does my steak come from? What does a farm look like? Who are the farmers and ranchers? What do they do?

This weekend…

We did a lot of canning & freezing – including this big ol’ pile of sweet corn.

We also made a few pickles. This was my first go around with pickle making. We will see how they turn out.

Ron and John started working on two of their small sheds. They are going to put tin on the roof of this one. The current roof is leaking a little, but the rest of the building is in good condition. Grandpa Bob hauled in most of the buildings on this farm place during the 40’s and 50’s. They were probably free.

Just after the Depression era and Dirty 30’s, folks were pretty hesitant about spending money… on anything. These sheds are a good example of the lasting mental and emotional effects of that incredibly hard, lean time. Rather than building a new shed, thrifty farmer’s just hauled in an old one that another person was ready to get rid of.

Thankfully, we are in a much different era of farming and agriculture today. Unlike that decade, it has rained recently in the midwest!

I call it “the gardening shed.” I am hoping they let me use it!

It’s wheat harvest time around here. John doesn’t have any wheat this year, but several of our neighbors do. He has been baling up the wheat straw. We will use the straw for bedding for the cows this winter. It is much warmer for the cows to lay in a nice clean pile of stray, than in the snow.

Tonight, the pretty wheat field across from our house will probably be ready for combining. Farmer’s cannot simply drive out into the field and start harvesting any old time they want to. That would be like picking a green tomato off the vine too early. The tomato wouldn’t be ready. They have to wait until it is ready. Of course, waiting on nature is hard to do sometimes. Who knows if it will actually be ready tonight or not? I’ve been hearing that it “almost ready” for days now.

The old timers say, “When you think your wheat is ready, wait a week and then try.”

Our kitten Moda has gotten wacky lately. (Is wacky still a word?) No wonder the flowers in my hanging pot died while we were in Missouri for our wedding! She squished these, too!

It’s like her own personal hammock – gently swaying in the breeze. Crazy cat.

Thanks for reading! Have a great weekend!