Sunday 14 June 2015

Weather.

One thing I learned when I married the farmer twenty-two years ago is that for the farmer the weather is never right.   It is either not wet enough or too wet, not warm enough or too hot.   When it comes up to hay-time we need good damp days to help the grass grow, then a few days with a good breeze (but warm) to dry it nicely for cutting.   And after it is lying in the field, hot sun to bake it to perfection.   The same, more or less, goes for silaging.

Luckily we are not arable, but if we were I am sure the weather would be even more important.

But of course we never get what we desire weather-wise - and he usually ends up saying 'we have to take what comes' (true).

Our gardens have been parched as there has been no rain for a while and we have had a week or so of warm sun.   However, this weekend it has been cloudy, cool and damp.   This morning it is actually raining that very fine rain.   Not much in measurement but at least enough to encourage the plants to take it in.   Already the vegetable garden is looking receptive.   But the farmer has just come in and says we could do with a thoroughly wet day rather than it just 'damping' as it is doing.   

As I say - the weather is never right for a farmer.

14 comments:

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

A little sunshine on the flowers and a good rain on the veg would be about right for my garden this weekend!

Frugal in Derbyshire said...

As soon as we started smallholding we became obsessed with the weather. As they say "There's a lot of weather about"

Tom Stephenson said...

There is a rather irritating old man in my pub who often says, "There is no such thing as 'bad weather', just inappropriate clothing."

Rachel Phillips said...

Please tell the farmer the arable farmers in the east are happy to day. We had 24 hours of non stop heavy, raining cats and dogs rain yesterday. The beet leaves will be touching well before the Norfolk Show, the base line test for if your sugar beet are doing well.

jinxxxygirl said...

I can't help but wonder if the weather is ever right for any of us.. lol But its probably most important to the Farmer. It rained almost nonstop when we first arrived in Arkansas back in April. But now until yesterday afternoon we went two weeks with out a drop. Its either feast or famine..But hey its the one thing we can't control.... yet.... Hugs! deb

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

We had about 16 hours of downpour yesterday! Not so fun to cycle to and from work in, especially as I was already running late and got a telling off.

Barbara said...

Oh, yes...the weather.
Since we moved to the Valley nearly 20 years ago, I'm pretty sure we have not had one conversation that didn't include weather in it somewhere.
Our entire livelihood is affected by the weather and there's not a thing we can do about it. That fact alone demands a great deal of faith and commitment to our way of life.
The farmer is so right in saying 'we have to take what comes'!
Here's hoping for a good, rainy day for you and a good growing season.

Joanne Noragon said...

My granddaughters took an unexpected interest in vegetable and herb gardening. They enlisted Uncle Tom to till them a patch and they have cabbage, peppers and tomatoes, as well as a row of herbs. The weather has been spotty, too dry, then too wet. They even had Tom set up the garden sprinkler, water from one of the cisterns.

Heather said...

Our weather is unpredictable even if you listen to the forecasts. Weather can be so localised that only a mile away very different conditions may occur. For farmers and market gardeners it must be so difficult to plan for a particular job. It is never right for me either - too hot to sit outside or not warm enough. Or too dry for the garden or so wet I can't go to an outdoor event! We are never satisfied, but whatever the weather, we survive and so do the weeds!

Jennifer said...

It's forecast to be 104°F here today. Talk about bad weather for farmers! We've had very little rain, too. Given the terrible drought in California this year and our local heat wave so early in the summer, food prices are likely to skyrocket this year on our side of the pond. :(

Cro Magnon said...

Storm here last night. Torrential rain, very strong wind, lots of thunder, and spectacular lightning. Today warm and sunny again. If it ain't one thing it's t'other.

Maureen @ Josephina Ballerina said...

Weather is calling for some hum dingers in the thunderstorm dept this afternoon and evening. Still sick in bed, so it might be sort of a diversion. Although, Josephine does not like them.

angryparsnip said...

We watch the weather in the desert. Our monsoons are starting (hopefully) and many of us are reading the sign. Hoping for the summers rains much like your Farmer.

cheers, parsnip

Frances said...

I continue to learn so much from your posts. I do hope that you and the Farmer will be receiving the sought for rain soon.

Here in gritty NYC, we had thunderstorms forecast for several afternoons in the past week. I took my trusty umbrella with me. The rain never arrived, breezes seemed to blow those rain-filled clouds eastward, bypassing us. Perhaps some of that stored up moisture might reach your farm early this week.

xo