News of the Farm
Little
do we know as we dream over colorful seed choices and spring garden
plans what's happening outside. Water may be changing from rain and
melting snows to ice overnight, making havoc with building foundations
and formerly dry animal barns.
This may prove a
dramatic surprise for some inexperienced hill farmers. If those
drainage pipes are not kept open as they flow under hillside buildings
and out the lower side, the upper field runoff will spread out like
children freed from chores.
This rush begins
when deceptively soft snow gathers to cover the drain opening. A prior
owner made that drain to guide rambunctious water fast approaching
from a steep hillside and slide quickly thru the drain to the lower
side of the barn. Along comes freezing rain overnight and that "soft
snow" is soaked thru to fill up the opening with what? Ice. Such is
the caprice and cleverness of water.
We appreciate
water's nurturing attributes as it quenches the thirst of loamy fields
by way of worm burrows. The soil is aerated by worms that politely
avoid each other as they deposit their waste products throughout the
organic fields and give free run to the rain. This is behavior we
could do well to encourage.
As shepherds of
land we must be on guard against errant water. Quick to take advantage
of the one time we take a shortcut thru a hill pasture and leave an
opening in the pasture sod (a perfect imprint of a truck wheel
spraying mud). Rain water quickly pours into the cut eroding it
further. This is a worthy opponent.
Some people say
water will be the next gold. We will either waste its potential or
keep it within our chosen bounds. If we do the first we might not have
it when and where we want it. If water is allowed to meander or rush
where it will, it's sure to find paths that not even Lewis and Clark
could navigate.
So, while outside
checking the drain pipes and animals, enjoy that fresh winter air.
With a sense of satisfaction we can head for home and hearth and
planning for spring.
“Mary”
Winter 2010
