Monday, August 2, 2010

Golden August



In many parts of the world, summer is the time of verdant greenery, lush foliage and bright flowers. Here on the Canadian Prairies, we're waiting for everything to go yellow - more a colour associated with autumn. But, here on the Prairies, we grow grain. Lots of grain! Grains that get shipped virtually every place on this Earth. We are the bread basket of Canada! Wheat, rye, oats, barley - we grow it all. It's a major part of the Prairie economy. And grain's time is now - it must ripen now, be harvested and stored before the rains of autumn. Farmers are anxiously watching their fields, watching the weather and praying that there is no hail. Grasshoppers would be really bad right now, too. Fortunately, they don't seem to be much of a problem this year. Within the next few weeks, Aagaard Farms will be surrounded by miles and miles of gold. And then, chaos will set in. Weather permitting, the farmers will be busy like little bees. Swathers and combines and large trucks full of grain will be up and down our dusty gravel road. They will go from before first light until well after dark; day after day without a break, as long as the weather holds. Farmers' wives and families will be taking care of the other chores around the farm, and packing large lunches and dinners to drive out to the fields. And then, there is almost a palpable sigh of relief, a bit of serenity descends on the Prairies. And the farmers start thinking about upcoming curling bonspiels and Hockey Night in Canada!

7 comments:

  1. That's wheat in the picture. If you eat bread - chances are good you've eaten Canadian wheat! It was a very cloudy, foggy morning yesterday when I took the picture, so it is not exactly 'glowing' gold!

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  2. When we were in Germany we saw many fields full of wheat and barley and corn, some of it already harvested. Did you know that in Germany they don't eat corn-on-the-cob? All the corn they grow is used to feed livestock, which I thought was very interesting. No matter where you are, though, a ripening crop in a field is a beautiful sight!

    Cathy

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  3. I guess Germany would be on about the same schedule - they're Northern Hemisphere, just like us. They're just a little farther east (or west, depending on how you look at it!)

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  4. Beautifully written! Looking forward to the drive across the prairies and seeing those golden wheat fields as we go.

    Keltie

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  5. I love seeing fields of golden wheat, nodding in the breeze. I admire those that farm it, and the hard work involved. That reminds me...I need to get my sourdough starter ready for baking in the morning! With as much bread as we bake, I'm sure we've probably eaten Canadian wheat.

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  6. What a wonderful ritual! Picturesque for all while growing and then delicious when transformed into our daily bread. I love my local wheat growers too.

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  7. I love love love harvest time. The sight of combines out at dusk with their lights on & the hazy quality of the air around them as they harvest harvest harvest!

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