November 11, 2012
To comment on my blog, go to
paulafhill60@gmail.com
Sorry I didn’t have the
chance to post this yesterday…the internet thingamajig was up in the office and
it was pouring rain so no one had the motivation to retrieve it for me. So it
is a 2 for 1 day!
The elderly hens are not
laying eggs. They continue to “sing” their tribal chant yet it proves to be
unproductive. A fine timing juggles the chicken that no longer earns her keep
and the youngsters who are just shy of their effectiveness. Yet another dilemma
for the dependent farmer. Three past their prime African dessert red hens
tossed into the dense back fence, ordered to clear the area for the new brood.
I fear for their safety since the back lurking incline holds promise of snakes
in the grass as I was warned my first week here. Each time one of the seniors
cackled in earnest I scurried out on the dry gray slate verandah to peek in on
the imprisoned trio.
Half a loaf, even a steamy
buttery slice is better than no bread at all. Sigh. The “girls” are committed
to a strict diet. Each meal proves to be a new pronouncement since that bound
and determined day. Potatoes, pasta, beer, crackers, thin dried mostly
tasteless bread which requires loads of butter, requeijao (cream cheese like
product,) veggies loaded with olive oil, cheese and spaghetti with crème de
leite (sweet heavy cream like condensed milk) throne the kitchen table. In the
dreaded days of boredom and isolation I contemplate chips of any flavor even my
least favorite “barbeque” come to mind, rich dark chocolate enveloped in a thin
foil surrounded by a bold paper wrap that crinkles with pleasure as it is
peeled apart, crisp Gala apples, crunchy sesame sticks in bulk and a pint of
Ben and Jerry’s Chubby Hubby ice cream. Hm.
Sweaty beastly hot day.
Tortured with indecision as to what to do, what to do! I long for the days when
hours seemed fuller and longer, sleep better earned as I worked in the fields
and weighed and packaged fresh vegetables traipsing up and down the mountain.
Took the lives of many
mosquitoes and contemplated my navel..what did you do today?
In a final note, I want to elaborate
a bit about my blog and my observations about the complex and integral life
here on the farm. I have the utmost respect for, relatively speaking, small
organic farmers. Ana and Dario have confirmed their hard work, devotion and
determined dedication to the fertile land and its colossal value not only to
them but the community they serve. As with any business, the harsh reality of
wearing all hats and doing well by all of them is nearly impossible. How to
plan, grow, cultivate, maintain, prevent infestation and disease, protect
(there have been some thefts of the produce which can go undetected for a
period of time) not to mention market and manage the financial aspects of the
business. I do not want to display any criticism of the fruits of their effort.
It is clearly a labor of love and a life-long journey for a successful endeavor
and embraced way of life.
No comments:
Post a Comment