Want to be a Farmer

He can hardly help it, there are generations of farmers in his genes. My dad owns a tractor, and has fields and likes to pretend he is a farmer. My dad was driving his tractor home from the yearly tune up one spring and decided to stop by and impress his aunt. She looked up and asked him why he needed a tractor, he wasn't a farmer. I come from a long line of very sensitive women. So really, I should have expected this.

I have been dreaming of having a garden ever since we finished college, but every spring something comes up, and I don't mean plants. Our current property has a hefty slope, is mostly solid clay, and has 18 feet pounding pretty much every square inch of it. I started dreaming of gardens again this spring, and realized that there are several friends with gardens within walking distance of my house. They have beds that are prepped, fences, tools, all the stuff needed to successfully grow a garden, what I have to offer them is man power. I contacted one friend and asked if we could help. She was very happy to help me out, and has been a great teacher. We walked over last week and planted some seeds to get started since the last frost around here is still a couple of months away.

I wasn't sure Soso was quite ready for the job, but what he lacks in skill he more than makes up for in enthusiasm. He actually did a very fine job. He kept the dirt where it should be and has been very diligent about carefully watering his little plants. He woke us up bright and early on Sat. morning to let us know that the sunflowers had sprouted. He was absolutely gleeful. He now raves about his future as a farmer. He is going to grow his own vegetables so we don't have to buy them. He is going to work in the dirt. He has planned his garden fence, with a gate, so intruders will not ruin all of his goods.

I'm very pleased that he is excited about this. It makes me sad that we aren't closer to our parents. They both have huge gardens, of course, what else would you do in retirement? I'm still hopeful that we will be able to help them some this summer, but if not I have a fall back plan in place. Thank God for neighbors with green thumbs.