Friday 4 March 2016

Country life.


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The big downside to a bucolic lifestyle is the continuous 'waiting'. It's at this time of year that I begin to get really BORED.

Everything takes a whole year before it comes around again. We spend a year waiting for the next crop of Cherries, we wait a whole year for the next crop of Tomatoes, and we wait a whole year for the next crop of Rhubarb. We spend our lives in annual anticipation and expectation.

I have known town dwellers who hardly knew what season it was, their lives were spent either indoors or in their car/train/bus. No chance of that here.

Farmers must feel it the most, as their livelihoods depend on it; but even folk like myself become obsessed with the never-ending seasonal cycle.

Ever since I grubbed-up my tomato plants last October, I've been looking forward to planting again, and I still have about 2 months to wait.

I'm getting really fed-up with having nothing to do at Haddock's. I need to get onto some soil.




37 comments:

  1. We don't have a fallow time here as the winters are so mild. I do enjoy each new season's produce as it comes around.

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    1. It's so tedious here at the moment. On and off rain, cold, dull, boring; I need to be doing things outdoors, but can't.

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  2. I've also noticed city dwellers have almost no interest in the weather, seasons; they accept tomatoes and meat comes in polystyrene packs in the supermarket. I have always lived in the country - here an in West, North and East Africa. Thanks for the anniversary congratulations. Are you on the 50th mark yet? Have a great day. Jo

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  3. I wonder if that's why the French farmers spend this time of the year blocking roads and burning tyres etc.? It's not that they are really protesting - just bored waiting for the planting season?

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    1. There's no point striking or rioting in Summer, they're all away at their luxury holiday homes in Guadeloupe or Martinique.

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  4. We had a tomato farm when I was a little girl, lots of hard work. I helped to make tomato boxes, slammed down nails during the "sleeping" months. I remember how my dad dreaded the red spider mite that could destroy a whole tomato crop. I live in the city now - with a husband and son who think a chicken looks like a soup stock, joking of course - a life lot easier. Greetings Maria x

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    1. Town life IS a lot easier, but I like having to do intemperate activities; it's what keeps me fit and active.

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  5. I agree that it can get a tad tedious at this time of the year.... Today, I can see from the radar, is going to be a "wet day"....'tis absolutely widdling it down outside....there looks to be a clear, dry gap coming up...cue madly frantic, headless chicken rush around trying to get some veg in for supper....chickens fed...village visited....et cetera, et cetera.... Then a recuperation with a cup of coffee and watch the grey rain steadily fall.
    Still can't plant aught...soil's like a muddy swimming pool....and t'goodwife discovered, yesterday, that the propagator is up the duff....it has done 30 odd years...it'll still work as an un-heated propagator....time to buy a new one....oooo! Summat to do this afternoon.... AmazonShopping....bleeeeh!!

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    1. I hardly like to cross my patch to pick some Kale for supper; I sink in, and make things even worse.

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  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  7. Your response about farmer's "summering" in Martinique, I think we obviously chose the wrong profession !

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    1. In Summer Martinique is filled with French striking air traffic people, farmers, and Romanians from the UK.

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  8. Seasons don't mean much to me here in Florida. Summer is the most important because I have leave the house as seldom as possible.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. And I suppose you have Summer all year round?

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  9. We 'tested' the dog's new waterproof coat this morning. His back, sides, front and a bit of underneath were dry but head, tail and four legs were as wet and mucky as usual. I do so look forward to a bit of dry summer.

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    1. He needs some Doggy-Barbour wellies, gloves, and hat.

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  10. It's what keeps us all going, having something to look forward to. Imagine if it was summer all the time, we wouldn't be able to look forward to cosying up in front of the fire on cold dark evenings. Likewise all the other things that come once a year.

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    1. That's the only way to look at it; ever the optimist.

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  11. My farmer is also champing at the bit. There are so many jobs on the land piling up and the fields are too wet to get on to. We are debating whether to keep our veggie garden going for another year - it is not well placed, gets far too wet, is subjecy to winds and apart from peas, beans, lettuce and raspberries - and onions - not a lot does well.

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    1. You'd probably be better off with a Poly-tunnel. I sometimes think I would too.

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    2. In Murcia, one of the main growing areas in Spain, they use Poly-tunnels, and get more than one harvest a year. Downside is that they cover the landscape for mile after mile and are not in the least bit attractive. Alas, they are a necessary evil for the good of the economy.

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    3. I was looking at a photo of these very recently. I was thinking of doing a piece about the area.

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  12. I like the seasonal cycles, because there is always movement forward, nothing stays the same, makes for an interesting life, and keeps me fit at the same time!

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    1. It's just stopped raining, so I'm off with the chainsaw.

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  13. It's funny how different we all are ...... I'm like Vera ..... I like the four seasons. They each have something special and none of them would be enjoyable if we had them all the time. For me, looking forward to something is nearly as good as the thing itself !!!
    Clear blue skies and sunshine here in Hertfordshire .... all day !! XXXX

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    1. Lady M flew back from Stanstead yesterday, and said that it was sunny; not so here.

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  14. I, like you, am impatient for the growing season; there are new tomato varieties to try!

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    1. I can hardly wait for my next crop of Toms. They're such an important crop.

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  15. People used to use the winter season to whittle away on some wood to carve little things. Since you have artistic talent, don't you want to do something like that during the downtime?

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    1. What would you suggest? A shed, clogs, a life-size copy of the Tour Eiffel? What I do whittle are logs to a size suitable to fit in the oven; does that count?

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    2. Well, I thought that you might like to paint something. But if 'whittling' it is, then a fat little woman like the 'Venus of Willendorf' maybe?

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    3. I do paint, of course. But a few more Willendorfs would probably help our museums.

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  16. Go out in search of junk shops and markets.

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    1. We don't really have junk shops here Rachel, which for me is probably a good thing. I only know of one charity shop, and it's never open.

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  17. I know how you feel, Cro. I am not a farmer, but grow my own tomatoes, herbs and peppers. My time is mostly taken up in the spring and summer planting my flower gardens. I may not feed the world, but I make my little spot on earth a little more beautiful. The colors and scents are food for my soul.

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  18. I love the seasonal rotation even in the city, though long rainy treks to the subway are not my favorite. Spring comes late in Boston - we are just hoping to have daffodils in the parks by Easter. What I'm looking forward to now is the seasonal opening of the Boston to Provincetown ferry in May.

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