What is a Farmer?

What is a farmer....?

A commercial farmer is a business man.

A family farmer is a jack of all trades.

The Old Farmer was a mechanic.

   He had to keep the tractor running.

The Old Farmer was an electrician.

    Rewiring lamps and plugs.There was an electric fence 

   around the animal pens. A mild shock we used to play with. 

   But kept the animals inside.

The Old Farmer was a plumber.

   He fixed the water pump, he fixed leaks, he ran sewer lines.

The Old Farmer was a contractor.

   Repairs to the barns as necessary. Moving the shed. 

   Drywall and wallpapering.

   Fixing the double hung windows.

The Old Farmer practiced husbandry.

   He knew about farm animals. Breeding hogs, raising cows, 

   gelding piglets (some things don't oblige description! )

The Old Farmer was a hunter.

   He knew where the deer were, how to run a rabbit, 

   shoot a pheasant on the fly.

And of course The Old Farmer was a farmer!

   We had the family garden. He grew winter wheat 

   and corn and hay.

The Old Farmer was an accountant.

   He kept the records and filed the taxes.

The Old Farmer was a volunteer.

   A volunteer fireman. A volunteer at the church. 

   A good neighbor.

The Old Farmer was first and foremost a father.

   He hung the tree swing. Built a sand box. Taught the children

   his skills. The man in the moon. The cut worm. 

   Corn should be knee high by the fourth of July,

   Using tools. We tagged around after him learning 

   all these things and more.

In short a "farmer" took care of businss. No excuses.

Cutting Down The Tree

Once upon a time the Old Farmer and his brother 

found a big old two man saw in barn #2. 

They decided to see how long it would take to cut down
a really big tree with it.
Also providing the Old Farmer's children and the cousins
some entertainment in the effort!

There happened to be a really big old tree in the front woods
 (across from the house).
This tree must have been a good 4' diameter,
 but was largely hollowed on one side. 

Still sturdy but thought to be expendable as a future hazzard
 it was chosen for the experience. 

They started sawing mid morning. 
Continued sawing until lunch. 
Took a lunch break and came back to sawing.
And finally we were all told to stand back, and boom!




I guess it took about 4 hours  and several blisters laterto get through the treeand it gave us many years of fun afterwards, 
climbing up on it and running along the length. 

3  J's

For those who still live in the area, there was a tree towards the front
corner of the woods nearest the house. I have wondered if it has been
cut down with the building of new houses or is still in someones yard? 
Fairly high up the Old Farmer had carved the notation "3 J's".
I don't think it was that high originally, but grew higher as the tree grew.
(three J's referred to the three women in the family whose names began with J)


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