THE WONDERFUL DAYS OF AUGUST

 

Using the big harrow, it took Earle only 4 ½ days to “lay by” 62 acres of beans. In former years it would have taken a crew of 6 to 8 men two or three weeks at big wages to do it. – Ina Dobson, July 1933

“The big harrow,” writes Grandma Ina. She would be in awe of the big combines, hopper, and trucks that do the job now. In fact, I’m in awe!

Now that harvest is over, it’s lovely to be able to hike all over the farm again. The machines have left some decent trails. Even though it’s warm, I wear jeans to protect my legs, and I have new “every day” shoes – light hikers with firm soles and good tread. 

Harvest these days just isn’t the same as it was back in the days of my youth. This was a community of small farms, and the grain harvest happened mostly at the same time for all the farmers. They were doing essentially the same thing at the same time. August still reminds me of the old harvest days – lengthening shadows, back to school, Octoberfest, Halloween, and gratitude for nature’s bounty. (Sounds like a visit to JoAnn’s!) August just has its own unmistakable ambiance.

But – the small farm couldn’t last. The first machines were small, but as the years passed, they kept getting bigger and bigger – and more expensive – until finally the small farmer couldn’t afford to farm. A farmer had to have more land – and even more land – in order to make farming pay.

Today, those of us who hold land here have leased to one or two farm operators. Harvest still happens, but instead of all of us working at the same time, we watch the operation move from place to place over the ridge. When they get to our place, they finish in a day.

Harvest in the old days meant hard work for everyone. The men worked in the fields. The women made a big noon dinner, including baking bread and pies on a wood cookstove on a hot day. The farmer fed his workers at his table, and that was a pleasant social aspect. Today, the operators don’t stop to eat or even pass the time of day. They carry food with them and eat in the air-conditioned cab of the combine. The most we get is a wave and a smile.

The evening meal, at least in our family, was a light repast, and we were in bed with the sun to arise early and do it all over again the next day. It was tough if you were a night owl, and I was.

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for our region. Last week was cooler and pleasant, but we brace now for temps in the 90s here at altitude, possibly even reaching 100 on the hottest day. The predicted high for the Valley is 110. Mike picked up a few supplies for us yesterday so that we can stay here at the farm for now. KW