THE FARM: A HAVEN OF NORMALCY
As we conclude this wild coronavirus week, let's remember how many things are completely stable and normal in this uncertain time.
We turned the first herd of cows out on spring pasture Monday. They danced sideways and relished the new tender grass. Every year this re-introduction of the herd to the fresh pasture is the harbinger of the new season. The grass and cows have no idea about coronavirus.
Tuesday night we took the first flock of 800 laying hens out to pasture. That's again a major signal of winter-to-spring conversion. Emptying the winter quarter hoop houses to make way for vegetables and getting the layers back out on pasture is an annual shift that screams "THE 2020 SEASON IS HERE!" The chickens have no idea about coronavirus.
Last night we took out a thousand pullets to empty the brooder so it can receive the first 3,000 broiler chicks today. If you need a balm for your troubled soul, we guarantee you that sitting in there with peeps will do the trick. Those chicks are completely unaware that the world is raging with a pandemic.
Dandelions are blooming and the crocuses are in full flower. Autumn olive buds are swelling and spice bushes in the forest understory have a green hue as new leaves begin their spring thrust. Our first calf of 2020 was born uneventfully this morning.
In the calamitous time, perhaps nothing is as calm as a functional farm. Immersed in the farm's caress all day, I find myself jarred with news reports. As I feed and water chicks, put away eggs, move cows to a new paddock, the world's craziness seems far away and almost surreal.
Here's my suggestion on what to do with the money Trump wants to give everyone that the government doesn't have. Why not do something really practical with it? How about giving $1,000 to any farmer willing to host an urban family for a week? That way we'd reduce the congestion and coronavirus risk in populated centers--this is real social distancing--and farmers who wanted to could leverage their nests for folks who want to get away and ride things out for a week.
What are we going to get for $1 trillion the government will manufacture out of thin air? Like so much help, my fear as that it's a fire, aim, ready situation rather than ready, aim fire. I'd like to see farms viewed as a real bulwark against this pandemic; clearly, the vulnerability is highest in population centers. I'll bet a lot of folks would like to escape to the country for a week.
Out here, birds, bees and blossoms are not being canceled. They're coming in all their spring vitality and abundance, right on schedule. I'm enjoying nature's embrace every day. Come on out. We have room for everyone . . . 6 feet apart.
Where's your calm place?