Harvest Happenings

The harvest season is a very busy time at our farm. From August to November we have a variety of crops being harvested. In early August we begin cutting our 60 acres of dark and burley tobacco.This task calls for all hands on deck. It's a very tedious job that has many stages: cutting, spiking, picking up, putting in the barn, firing, taking down and stripping. Tobacco is definitely the most labor intensive crop we grow, however it yields the best returns.
               Combining beans and corn is another phase of the harvest. My role in the row crop harvest is helping move equipment, bringing lunch to the guys, and often making trips for equipment parts when we have a breakdown. Combining with dad is very popular at our house and among the neighbor kids. Everyone wants a ride in the big green machine.
               In September we set out our strawberry plants. The whole family participates in this event; willing or unwilling. Sometimes it a takes a few bribes... Each of the 23,000 plants are set out by hand, this year we had eighteen people out in the strawberry patch. The following weeks I set up fences to keep the deer out, get my irrigation running, pick off runners and apply the row covers, putting the plants to bed for the winter.
               The Last stage of harvest is stripping tobacco. Our migrant workers usually have our dark fired tobacco stripped by mid to late November. This year, my brother and I decided to save some money and strip the 10 acres of burley ourselves. This could potentially drag out until February making for some cold work days. My boyfriend, Logan, has been roped in along with a couple of friends to speed the process up and help pass the time. Although the work is long, cold and fatiguing, I enjoy the time and memories made; singing along to the radio, sharing stories, talking about what we'll do on payday and arguing over who's stripped the most.
              Towards the end of the harvest we celebrate Thanksgiving. This holiday is very special to our family. It's a time when we're all together and we reminisce on all the blessings and fruits of our year. The Lord has given me so much and shown me grace in countless ways. I have a wonderful family and friends. The crops have done well and I find so much joy in the small things, even if it's working on a quilt or drinking a hot cup of coffee on a cold morning. Life can throw many difficulties and challenges but God continues to show me how to be content in all things large or small, and how to enjoy life and the opportunities He gives.