We started the first step of harvest on our farm right about seven weeks ago. I’ll be honest, I had to look back at the calendar to confirm it had really been that long since we started swathing. But yes in fact we have been harvesting at some stage in some crop for a little under 50 days.
Somedays it felt like day 863. But when we finished up that last acre of grass seed combining it also felt like it had gone really quickly.
This summer has been different in many ways. For farming specifically we didn’t have great yields which always makes harvest a bit grueling and the pricing of grass seed is sort of in a limbo mess. We had rains that slowed us down, but not enough to hurt anything more just drag things out. We aren’t completely done with all our crops for the year but finishing grass feels and is a big milestone for our operation.
Personally it was a summer where our kids were gaining lots of independence and living their best (what I refer to as) “regular kids” summer life. Summer camps never tried before. Trips with grandparents to fish. Camping trip with friends. Wiffle ball days and fishing at favorite ponds. If Millie wasn’t with her friends on adventures you could find her here….living her best life.
The kids did find time in their (ahem….busy) schedule to get some mini bales & erosion bales baled up for their own continued business endeavor. Soon to be for sale for all your fall decorating and garden covering needs.
In future summers that will be here before we know it they will farm alongside us every day. I grew up doing that with my family; but I also know that we had time in the summer to just be kids. I also remember my dad calling the actual Nordstrom department store landline (because we had no cell phones) to find his baling crew (aka me and my best friend) because the grass had dried enough to start baling. “Yup, on our way dad! Just trying on one more outfit!”
This summer is going by quick, soon it will be back to school schedules and cooler days, but when I look back at what we have accomplished on the farm, the fun times we have had and are still to come, I just really love the balance we found this summer.
NuttyGrass 