FARMERS' HOURS

You should see Earle rise early, work and manage here. He insisted on harrowing the bean ground and using the big cultivator, etc., till it only took 4 1/2 days to lay by the 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 to son Vance, July 30, 1933

The harvesters worked at the neighbor's until about 10:00 last night. At 10:00 this morning they came over the hill and began working in June's field.

When I saw the harvesting operation at the neighbor's Tuesday afternoon, my immediate thought was that I should invite them to lunch, but that's probably the last thing they want. Today's crew comes to work carrying their food into the air conditioned cab of the combine, and I don't think they stop to eat, being highly motivated just to keep moving and finish the job.

Vance Dobson, 1961

But I thought of the old harvest days and how working for a farmer included a big meal at noon -- roast beef or chicken, plenty of potatoes, several vegetables, home-baked bread, and pie for dessert. I can just see Ina rising at 5:00 a.m. to start meal prep on her wood cook stove. In Grandma's day, harvest was physical labor for men and boys. As the process has become more and more mechanized, the job is mostly sedentary. 

Elmer and Myrtle Bell, 1963

And then in the '50s and '60s, when Grandma Ina was gone, my mother took over preparing and serving the noon meal, but things had changed. It was always a hot meal -- no deli sandwiches here -- and she cooked it in her modern kitchen in town and carried it to the farmhouse. No longer were many men required. The crew consisted of my dad, a family helper or two, and perhaps Elmer and Myrtle Bell when Elmer was hired to harvest our wheat. Myrtle told Mother that they were so tired at the end of the day that they just had a bowl of ice cream and went to bed. That noon meal was important.

We probably fed Elmer and Myrtle about three days -- and my! -- Elmer's combine looked huge, but today's machinery would dwarf it. The harvest crew doesn't come to work early, but they will work late, and those big lights moving in the field are a sight to see! We came in at night once when the harvesters were working, and I really thought aliens had landed in the field.

And as the machinery gets bigger and better, the process goes faster and faster. Grandma Ina would marvel that what once took 6 to 8 men two to three weeks now takes just a few  hours. 

We often miss harvest, so I feel privileged to be here today to see this awesome sight. Today's harvesters don't think it's awesome, but Ina does. KW

A buck stands on June's hill, watching the machinery below.

SMOKE AND DUST

A modern tractor "mows" the rape stubble behind the old barn.

Fall is on the way. Even if you don't want to hear it, it can no longer be denied.  And I'm okay with it. I'm a bit tired of the drill -- opening and closing windows, carrying water to vegetation that's struggling in the heat, breathing smoke and dust. And I look forward to decorating along autumn themes.

So, mornings and evenings are cool, but the midday sun can be downright hot. Not today, though. Today it’s smoky and windy and maybe even overcast. It’s so smoky that I can’t really tell if it's overcast or not. The forecast says it might rain today – or maybe tomorrow, but I watered my gardens anyway because whatever rain we get won’t be enough.

Parked in June's field

The photos here are mostly of our farmer doing whatever. We think he just made a wide fire break around the neighbor's field to the north. You would have to tell me what that piece of equipment is called. I know tractors and combines, and that's about it.

You just know the drifting dust is heading this way.

Since Mike was thoughtful enough to vacuum this morning, I followed his cue and dusted even though it felt like an exercise in futility. This is the dusty season in agricultural country, but I guess we have the dust with us no matter what. I should dust more, not less.

Just look at that dust!

Mike plans to grill hamburgers for dinner tonight. Unfortunately, we got here without the lettuce I bought (I hope I left it in the refrigerator) and the fresh tomatoes that I didn’t buy. (Does one ever buy a truly fresh tomato?) But we’re going to make do with spinach and the few “chocolate sprinkles” cherry tomatoes I picked this morning. (And they are truly fresh.) Mike will also make ice cream. I thought about baking a cake, but the ice cream is probably just enough for the two of us. KW

Smoke obliterates Little Canyon

PAPA'S BIRTHDAY PARTIES

After rapeseed harvest

Once again, Mike and I were up early in order to pack the old Silverado and get on the road while it was still cool(ish). Arriving at the farmhouse, we discovered that rapeseed harvest has indeed concluded. The fields are shorn of their long pod-locks. It’s over, and I missed it. We may see harvesters again this season, but they won't be close to the house.

Post-rapeseed harvest, 2017

Today being July 30, I couldn’t help but think of the birthday parties we used to have here for my Grandfather Portfors (Papa). His birthday was July 31, so the last Sunday in July, we invited friends and family to the Gilbert farm for a mid-summer celebration in his honor. The time frame: the years around 1960.

“Why did you have the party at the farmhouse,” you might ask because, after all, Papa was Mother’s father and this is my dad's place. Well, I don’t know how it evolved, so I’ll have to guess. It was a good time for a summer picnic, and folks still liked to get out of town to enjoy the breezes of the upper country. This was a group that had been friends for years, including Vernon and Lolita Kalbfleisch, Hez and Una Evetts, Wayne and Psyche Johnson, and Chuck Johnson. My sisters and brother came with their children, if possible, and sometimes others brought grandchildren as well.

1959

The mid-day meal was a potluck with fried chicken and plenty of salads and finger foods. The cake was simple, baked in my mother’s kitchen. And we had homemade ice cream courtesy of my dad. I don't recall that they made extra to accommodate the crowd. You got a sliver of cake and if there was any leftover, you might ask for another piece. We didn’t worry about planning games and activities or what people would do. Attendees just visited, enjoyed the fresh air, and went home before it got late. Was it boring? I probably thought so even though I looked forward to it.

Mother, Daddy, and I would clean the farmhouse a week or two in advance of the party. Remember -- we had no electricity or indoor plumbing, so we worked the old-fashioned way. My dad had installed a propane “hotplate” unit so that we could heat water without starting a fire in the old cook stove -- and that was a boon! He dipped water out of the cistern, heated it, helped wash windows, and mopped the floors. Mother took down all the curtains (sheers) and took them to town to launder them. Eventually, at Mother's insistence, they bought a small generator so that she could run a vacuum. And she thought that was a boon!

1961

Well, my dad was still farming in those days, and during harvest, Mother and I (and other family) would stay here at the farmhouse to provide support. The house had to be made ready, so I think the party gave us extra incentive.

 

But – I’m glad we’re not having such a party today because I don't think we'd find as much relief from the heat as we did in those days. I hate to say this, but we're talking almost 60 years ago. I always marveled when my parents talked about the old days and wondered if the time would come when I would think back to the "old days." Hmmm -- seems like yesterday.  KW

OH, THE PLACES WE'LL GO!

First day of rapeseed harvest, July 26 (Grass burning is actually some distance from us.)

Harvesting near the canyon, July 26

The harvest “crew” worked fairly late Wednesday, the first day of harvest, but Thursday (yesterday) we didn’t see them. We didn’t know what was going on until Mike took the dogs for their late afternoon walk and ran into Farmer Kyle where he parks above Plank Pitch. He said the work was delayed because a deer antler punctured a tire. They were harvesting June’s place but on top where we couldn’t see them. Bummer! We left the homestead this morning at 9:00, and they had just started working again.

Soon we'll reestablish our trail here

Rapeseed in the north field

I suppose harvest will be over when next we return, and I’m sorry to miss it, but it’s okay. Frankly, we’re looking forward to having the crop gone so that we can re-establish our circuitous walking route and come back to the farm yard through June’s field. The stubble may be fairly high, but Mike says he’ll make us a trail. And Hallie, reading my mind, posted this comment on the previous post: “Oh boy! Freedom! Can you imagine all the places you'll walk? Across that field, then across that field. Maybe across that other field. Wheeee!” Not to mention that our views will be unobstructed.

Machinery in June's field this morning

Farmer Kyle says he’ll plant wheat this fall, and in the past, he’s planted about the time deer season opens. He said he committed to rapeseed because at the time he planted, the price was high. Now it’s dropping every day, he says. Gotta be a gambler if you farm for a living.

So, yes – we’re back in town. For one thing, I didn’t tell you about this, but last Saturday, as we attempted to take the dogs to the river for exercise, the Dakota wouldn’t start. We’ve had an intermittent problem for several months. Mike was all set to replace the alternator, but fiddling under the hood after we arrived here today, he discovered a loose connection. So, that was a quick fix and he’s relieved.

The burned trees have to go

So, we made this last trip to the farm in the old Silverado, which was the plan anyway. I helped Mike load firewood from our stash of pine in the barn, and he also loaded the chokecherry. (That lovely chokecherry tree in the draw died as a result of the fire two years ago, and he cut it down.) Then yesterday, I guess he needed more to do on a hot afternoon, so he obtained our neighbor’s permission to begin cutting that stand of burned trees right above our lane. For our neighbor, it’s out of sight and out of mind, but we have to look at it. It’s past time for it to be gone. Mike only had the small saw, but he managed to cut down one tree and load the wood.

Dress for Elizabeth

I don't do well in the heat, so I find indoor activities. Yesterday I finished this cute dress for Elizabeth, Emmy’s doll, once again modeled by Shirley Anne, American Farm Girl. The characters on the fabric are “Shopkins.” Emmy has quite a collection of Shopkins, though I understand she no longer buys them.

We had waffles with serviceberry syrup for breakfast. Oh – I still have to tell you about the serviceberry jelly, don’t I? KW

RAPESEED HARVEST BEGINS

Harvesting on Little Canyon

Cut -- and uncut

Monday evening (July 24), we noticed a combine and truck parked at the top of Plank’s Pitch and just a little cutting in June’s field. No one was there. Tuesday morning we noticed a little more cutting had been done -- just a little. 

Harvest equipment from Pete's Pond

Yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) we found Farmer Kyle there, too, and he said he was ready to start harvesting the rapeseed but the header wasn’t working right. He estimated it would take three days to harvest our place, once he gets started. 

Combine without header

I love to watch them harvest, but many years it happens when we aren't here. I kept watching for the big combine to come around the corner of June's field where the road meets the lane. Nothing happened. But after lunch, as Mike and I were sitting on the porch, I happened to look south and lo and behold! -- there they were clear out at the canyon rim. 

So, harvest is happening NOW. KW