"If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day." — E.B. White

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Fields of gold



I love my country roads this time of year... 
(Although I'll admit to taking these pics several weeks ago.) 
Fields of gold everywhere. 
Some farmers get in some double crop soybeans after they harvest wheat. Those fields are later to harvest than the regular early soybeans and benefited from the later heavy rains. They actually colored up nicely  into gorgeous green n gold.


These neat n orderly fields of straw bales mesmerized me after harvest this summer... 
Straw is the leftover stems of wheat. (or barley or oats) It's baled after the grains have been harvested with a combine. Now that cooler temps are here I love to see my critters nestled into deep fluffy stalls and nest boxes full of bright gold straw. 

Here you can see how farmers stagger their crops; rotating the heavy feeders, like corn, with soybeans which help fix nitrogen in the soil. The strips of hay, barley or wheat are woven into this tapestry to both conserve nutrients and minimize soil erosion from water run-off. Here in Maryland the state has a big focus on "nutrient management" to try to ease the pollution into the Chesapeake Bay. All horse and livestock owners as well as farmers must submit paperwork on their manure disposal and field  management. If you ask me, which nobody does,  getting suburban homeowners not to pave paradise and dump more concentrated chemicals on their lawns n flower beds would do far more good! I'm all for organic and less chemicals, but at least the farmers are producing for the rest of us. Chemicals just to keep yards pretty kinda bothers me. 
Just sayin'. Don't hate.




I cherish bright yellow flowers that I took for granted earlier in the year as more n more tan, brown n grey are creeping into my world...


Hope you're enjoying these last golden days!

9 comments:

MamaMonki said...

Gorgeous pictures. Now that I'm a town girl it kind of makes me homesick.

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

These are great....this city girl so enjoyed them.
Oh no chemicals on my small, small garden this year, but those grasshoppers sure enjoyed their meal and I was left with nothing. LOL Any hints to get rid of grasshoppers? I hear chickens, but can't have them on this postage size lot....sorry I can't borrow yours for a day. :)

I am going to have my fourteen year old read through this and let him see another part of our beautiful United States.
Blessings to you all...enjoy your fall and you are still in my prayers!!

Mandy said...

stunning!! Can I visit?

Mary, Windy Meadows Farm said...

I've always loved fall...and your snapshots capture it beautifully!

Jayme Goffin, The Coop Keeper said...

Oh my heavens girl - those are some gorgeous pictures!! I love fall so much it hurts. I will not use any chemicals in my yard to make it look pretty. My lawn is a crime, but, whatcha gonna do? Pour chemicals all over it to make it grow more so you cut it more? Don't think so.

Unknown said...

No chemicals here either, in fact, in our area they are banned out right. Thank goodness!

~Andrea~

Melinda said...

I'm trying to soak up all the color and warmth I can - I miss it all winter! Great pictures!

Lori O'Brien Photography said...

Awesome tapestry! I've never seen anything like that here. Don't think MI cares much about our land or lakes.
I am NOT ready to loose fall n slip into endless months of gray, gray, gray.

Shannan Martin said...

Gorgeous fresh-air pics!!