Season of Discontent

You know, I 've been thinking.... Pre-Spring is a dangerous time on the farm. I just can't bring myself to describe the recent weather as Spring just yet. Even though temps get above freezing every day (and sometimes don't dip below freezing at night) and the robins have been singing.

We're not in farming 'shape' physically or mentally. Ok, yes, we always do work on the farm - but there is far more desk work and less work that involves moving around during the Winter. And, whether this should be the case or not, the urgency level is much lower. It takes a completely different mental approach to handle growing season than it does 'planning season.'

We have the least information regarding how things will grow and how our production will fare. So, that leads to the highest levels of uncertainty. Things usually work out in the end. But, there is always a nagging doubt in the earliest stages.

The college school term is approaching its end - with all of its incumbent pressures. While R is not teaching this term, the school calendar still impacts him through T. We should be used to this sort of thing by now - but it always seems to sneak up us (well, maybe just R).

And, everything we set up now becomes a foundation for the rest of the growing season. No pressure there. :)

As a result, we end up with two people who will be fighting physical and mental fatigue. It always seems to get better as the season progresses. But, that may be because we have no time to analyze how we are feeling? But, more likely it is because we are of one mind once the season truly gets going. Right now, we are anxious to get moving - yet hoping for a bit more delay before we get moving - all at the same time. It's a feeling that ranks right up there with fingernails on the blackboard - ick.