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A little snow day artwork Can we talk about the weather?
My kids are home from school today due to freezing rain and snow. Maybe yours are too.
Snow definitely wasn’t on my bingo card for today and it isn’t convenient. It’s so easy to curse the weather and wish it away. But snow is moisture and so I will take it.
I was planning to write about my favorite fried chicken recipe today but the weather is weighing on my mind and so Fried Chicken will have to wait for next week ;)
This weather isn’t convenient. It could even be dangerous for those who have to be on the roads. But dang do we ever need the moisture.
Iowa has been in a drought for more than 190 consecutive weeks. That’s 3 years and 8 months since we’ve had adequate moisture in our soils.
Really think about that.
We have been in a drought for almost FOUR YEARS. The last time we had a drought like this was in the 1950’s.
It's easy to forget we are in a drought when water flows freely from our taps and water restrictions are distant memory from last summer. We never forget it here on the farm though. We depend on a well and we see the effects of too little moisture first.
We need water for our vegetables to grow. We also need water to clean those vegetables up and bring them to market. We need water to quench the thirst of our animals as well as our own. Water is necessary to clean ourselves and our clothes and our dishes. Our kids love to play in water and I yearn for a time when I can let them do that without my chest clenching with worry.
I have a hard time holding my tongue when someone says "man, I wish it would stop raining!" or "gross! It's snowing!" And it happens Every. Time. We. Have. Rain or Snow.
I know it's inconvenient. I know gray skies dampen moods and mess up plans.
But without rain and snow, crops - FOOD - will eventually cease to grow.
Nathan has videoed dust-nados in neighboring fields. I’ve witnessed tumble weeds blow across the road in front of my vehicle twice in the last week. My stomach flips upside down every time I see a swirl of dirt rise from the ground. I can’t help but think of the dust bowl.
We have the tools today to avoid such a disaster but have we implemented enough of them? Or has greed and willful ignorance left too many fields ‘naked’?
Have too many trees been cut down?
Have we replaced enough ‘lawn’ with deep rooted, drought resistant, prairie plants? I fear not.
And so for right now, I don’t care if the moisture falling from the sky is rain or snow or if it means I have to cancel all my plans. I will take it. And I will be thankful for every drop.
Your farmer,
Emily
*Successful Farming Magazine & U.S. Drought Monitor
My kids are home from school today due to freezing rain and snow. Maybe yours are too.
Snow definitely wasn’t on my bingo card for today and it isn’t convenient. It’s so easy to curse the weather and wish it away. But snow is moisture and so I will take it.
I was planning to write about my favorite fried chicken recipe today but the weather is weighing on my mind and so Fried Chicken will have to wait for next week ;)
This weather isn’t convenient. It could even be dangerous for those who have to be on the roads. But dang do we ever need the moisture.
Iowa has been in a drought for more than 190 consecutive weeks. That’s 3 years and 8 months since we’ve had adequate moisture in our soils.
Really think about that.
We have been in a drought for almost FOUR YEARS. The last time we had a drought like this was in the 1950’s.
It's easy to forget we are in a drought when water flows freely from our taps and water restrictions are distant memory from last summer. We never forget it here on the farm though. We depend on a well and we see the effects of too little moisture first.
We need water for our vegetables to grow. We also need water to clean those vegetables up and bring them to market. We need water to quench the thirst of our animals as well as our own. Water is necessary to clean ourselves and our clothes and our dishes. Our kids love to play in water and I yearn for a time when I can let them do that without my chest clenching with worry.
I have a hard time holding my tongue when someone says "man, I wish it would stop raining!" or "gross! It's snowing!" And it happens Every. Time. We. Have. Rain or Snow.
I know it's inconvenient. I know gray skies dampen moods and mess up plans.
But without rain and snow, crops - FOOD - will eventually cease to grow.
Nathan has videoed dust-nados in neighboring fields. I’ve witnessed tumble weeds blow across the road in front of my vehicle twice in the last week. My stomach flips upside down every time I see a swirl of dirt rise from the ground. I can’t help but think of the dust bowl.
We have the tools today to avoid such a disaster but have we implemented enough of them? Or has greed and willful ignorance left too many fields ‘naked’?
Have too many trees been cut down?
Have we replaced enough ‘lawn’ with deep rooted, drought resistant, prairie plants? I fear not.
And so for right now, I don’t care if the moisture falling from the sky is rain or snow or if it means I have to cancel all my plans. I will take it. And I will be thankful for every drop.
Your farmer,
Emily
*Successful Farming Magazine & U.S. Drought Monitor
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