Linda
Wordless Wednesday
14
Linda
Category Archives: Life on a Colorado Farm
In Spite of the Weather
I still saw a Rainbow!
Linda
Spring Time in the Rockies
We live on a mesa, which is one of the foothills of the Uncompahgre Plateau
We are an arid land, but made rich and green by melted snow rushing its way through the Black Canyon, then into Gunnison tunnel, and finally through a complicated canal system which irrigates fertile farm and ranch lands.
You can see Delta in the valley and Eckert all the way to Cedaredge going up the side of Grand Mesa (the largest flat top mountain in the world)
During WWII farming was America’s’ biggest war industry. On more than six million farms, something like 30 million people-men and boys, women and girls-worked.
Today less than 2% of America’s industry is farming.
The Uncompahgre Plateau is in the background with one of the apricot trees in the forefront
Twenty two million American workers produce, process, sell and trade and … live on farms– slightly less than 2 percent of the total U.S. Population
It’s a good life.
And that’s all anyone can ask for.
For the last in the series about the bank robbery head over here.
Linda
We Opened the Corn Ground
I know this story is getting old, but here it is again… wind, rain and spitting snow and wind, and wind, and wind
The wind makes a huge mess with trash. We opened the head gate to start the water in the corn field. Tally was all excited to start helping dig out the roaring water and trash (she really couldn’t help, but she wanted to)
Too much trash! The trash cleaner catches most of it, but still some comes through
It takes all of us working together and fast to keep the water from flooding into the other fields and the road
Trash gets stuck in the pipe so much of it have to be pulled through the gates
All the end have to dug out, since the marker can only get so close
All along the way the trash collects and has to be removed
The girls walked the water, making sure there weren’t any clod/dams in the way.
(When the grandchildren have company spend the night– the company still has to come ‘help’ while everyone works. The company LOVES it…such a neat way to spend your days!)
The goal is to keep the gates clean so the water spills freely
water makes it clear to the end of the field and subs over to the middle. The water is starting to sub (the darker soil) in this photo.
It’s more than exhausting to work in the wind, but add in COLD and spitting rain mixed with snow then you are more than tired at the end of the day.
Linda
We’ve Started Irrigating for the Season
After making the ditches
Of course once the water is turned down
Along with it comes the trash
There is a reason the farmers in our area call it “fighting the water”.
It is still cold here. And sticking your hand in ice water to dig out trash lets you know just how cold it is.
The wind is also (still) blowing. Terry takes one field and I take the other, 
between the two of us we are able to get everything set before dark.
Tonight we start the water on the corn ground. I d.r.e.a.d. the corn ground…oh well, it must be done.
For more excitment on the Delta Robbery in 1883 go here: http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com/
Linda
Now if I Did This……..
Well, I’m sure I would hear about it. But if you are the guy who made the ditch and rolled the field and you knew you still had to level the field….
Then I guess it is okay. LOL 🙂
Linda
A Call on the Ditch
The Onion farmers placed a call on the ditch—meaning that they are wanting water. The Ditch Company sends out the ditch rider and some helpers for this first ‘call’.
Winter is always hard on the canals and ditches… so when the first water comes it’s always full of trash
The water pushes all the trash before it
Cleaning itself as it flows toward California and ocean
The ditch riders and thier helpers will wait until that water gets to a ‘slow’ spot
Using forks, rakes, and a back-hoe they will lift all the trash out into a great big heap
We, and all the other farmers, will fight trash—all year long.
But nothing like the guys who open the canals for the very first time.
Linda
More Spring Work
Ground that was in pinto beans last year does not need to be plowed (in our neck of the high mountain desert). Therefore, the ripper goes through and opens the field up.
Misty did part and Terry finished it
Everywhere Misty goes…goes Hank (the cowdog)
Back and forth. He is always one tired pup when the day ends.
The apricots are starting to bloom. I wonder if we will have any this year. Seems like we get apricots every 5-7 years. They bloom so early the freezes get them.
I still enjoyed seeing thier lovely bee-feeding blooms poping out.
Linda
The End of March
The last storm left us and we have a lovely cool spring like day today.
The spitting snow and splattering rain is bringing on the green
Sure looks good for sore eyes.
At sunset the clouds were leaving so the dogs and I had a delightful walk
This morning I noticed that the cottonwood was getting warmed up enough (thanks to the wind) to start thinking about sending out leaves.
Pretty exciting..Spring is on it’s way!
Linda
Winter is Still Hanging Around
Terry and Misty are taking what breaks they can and trying to get the farming done.
They finally finished leveling.
Misty finished marking out the alfalfa, while Tallen spent time with Grandpa. They didn’t go to John Deere this time, but they did sit by the fire and read books.
Her rows are straight…that’s a big deal. You don’t want to have someone drive by and make fun of your rows!
It’s raining and snowing and the wind is blowing.
Still.
I’ve always heard if Easter is late, then Spring is late. Sure is proving to be a truth!
Linda
