Work til the Work is Done

The past couple of weeks, our days have been cooling off, the winds have gotten more 'nip' in them but the job still has to be done.  Bill and I took on a part-time job as potato farmers.  He does all the field work, I answer the phones and make the contacts for loading and unloading.  I guess that would make me the ' loading Doc!'  Hmmmm, I always wanted to be a Doc.

 This morning we woke to an inch of snow and it's still falling.  The boss told us that it doesn't matter when the fields get prepped, just so they are ready for spring planting.

That worked fine today cause of the cold wind and snow.  No one likes to work in those conditions outside, especially for 8-9 hrs. straight.

 I asked Bill if he's still liking what he's gotten himself into.  His answer is always yes.  He never has been one to sit still for long.
I find that ironic, as he doesn't do much moving around and does take a day off once in awhile due to what he calls, ' tractor seat.'

John the John Deere tractor gets a rest today.  We all do.

The fields that are being prepped now are being disced a few times and plowed, disced again, fertilized with 'dehydrated chicken poo', disced again and then planted in winter rye seed that will be turned under in the spring as natures nutrients for the potatoes.  

All of the fields we are working will all be organic.  Being the first year for some of these fields, the production cannot be labeled organic until the ground is certified.   It takes 4-5 yrs. for potatoes to earn that name along with the nutrient rich ground they grow in.  

We are sure learning a lot.  There are absolutely no chemicals or pesticides used.  Even the winter rye seed used, is from organic farms, this case, the seed is coming from Iowa.  The seed company we work with have generously given us the fertilizer and winter rye seed we need for our own gardens.
  
For those of you who have followed since spring, our field did produce some beautiful potatoes, but the problem is what nature dropped us millions of years ago when the glacier slid through....lots of rocks, and so many the same size as the potatoes. 
For that reason, our field did not qualify to proceed as a potato field.  The rocks slip the tracks off the potato picker, making for more maintaining than either Bill or Greg wanted to deal with.

Anyway, no matter the weather, the work must be done.  Bill has been 'hard at it,' but today we are both taking the day off.
We are going to our tiny town hall to vote and to the bank and the general store.  

You all have a wonderful day and remember to ' VOTE.'
This is probably my most important vote yet!

BlessYourHeart