THE WAY OUT HERE

Family farming for all

BY HUNTER HILL
Posted 6/22/22

You ever feel like that famous race between the tortoise and the hare? Either you got lots of things done really fast and then, after a quick nap, you realize you still didn’t meet your deadlines. Or maybe you’re trudging along steadily, unsure that you’re even getting anything done until finally it all comes to fruition. 

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THE WAY OUT HERE

Family farming for all

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You ever feel like that famous race between the tortoise and the hare? Either you got lots of things done really fast and then, after a quick nap, you realize you still didn’t meet your deadlines. Or maybe you’re trudging along steadily, unsure that you’re even getting anything done until finally it all comes to fruition. 

I’m fairly certain I played both parts in the past week. After putting in the hours and breaking my back to get a few things done around the farm, I was blindsided by one of those sneak-attack naps that seem to go after grandparents at Thanksgiving time. 

Granted it was following an abnormally large lunch at a family barbecue, but all the same, that nap hit me like a three-year-old grabbing a cat’s tail. 

In fact, our three-year-old has made his own contributions to my ever-growing need for a nap. I shan’t complain, though, because with every ounce of terror he develops, he seemingly finds an ounce of good nature to go along with it. 

This week’s assortment included a subtle arrangement of temper tantrums and sweet singing to his younger brother Walker in the car.

Speaking of Walker, he finally got to go out with us to get a glimpse of our life out here. 

Over the winter my wife and I had purchased a plastic mulch layer and bed shaper, which is designed to shape raised beds by gathering up soil and wrapping it in a protective layer of plastic. The reason for this tool, part of what is referred to as plasticulture, is to prevent weeds, maintain moisture in the soil, and add heat to the growing area to promote plant growth and productivity. 

By preventing weeds in this way, it drastically reduces the amount of time and resources spent maintaining our field crops. What’s more, in an area like ours where water can be inconsistent, it helps the soil weather dry spells. 

While Walker isn’t big enough to help with the farm work yet, we love being around him and watching him observe the life we lead as farmers. Even just a few days shy of six months old, Walker’s eyes dart all over, watching his poppa (grandpa) on the tractor, his daddy shoveling dirt around the plastic, and checking in with mommy, who was there to secure his vantage point and attend to his needs.

As we worked our way through the few rows of plastic, he watched it all and bounced and kicked with excitement at the prospect of all the activity around him. His grandfather and I made quick work of the chore, with relatively few issues as we made the maiden voyage of the new plastic layer. Soon we’ll be back out with the transplanter, poking holes in the plastic beds and planting a litany of fall harvest crops, like cauliflower, broccoli and more.

After a year or so of using this thin plastic, we will either cycle out the field to be grazed upon or pull up the beds, re-work the soil, and reshape it to be planted again. To Walker, this means lots more hustling and bustling and people to watch. 

To his grandfather, this means lots of tractor time. And while tractor time is normally much anticipated, he may have to wait, due to his current day-in and day-out chore of putting in the hay. Fortunately for me, this has been mostly round bales, which are handled using machines, as opposed to wagons of square bales. That  would require my involvement, restacking them in the barn. 

For those of you thinking I’m getting out of the work, don’t worry; I feel the hour of putting in the hay is approaching soon.

The way out here, we work as a family. We use equipment where we can to save our backs, but we keep each other just as close whenever possible. 

Farming isn’t a 9 to 5 job. It takes many hours outside the normal workday, during what would otherwise be considered family time. For a family that loves this way of life, family time is like a constant field trip, emphasis on the field.



farming, race, story

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