Spinella Farm

Something happened yesterday that very few people take into consideration when they think of farming. 

My daughter Anna was helping my father put in some drip lines. I was busy fertilizing over in the same patch of ground. My ear caught bits and pieces of their conversation. Dad was passing on farm lore to my daughter. He was making light of how I was hand fertilizing the plants, telling my daughter about how my grandfather, her great grandfather, used to do it in more of a broadcasting motion with less effort. For once, I didn't mind being the butt of a family needle.

I got to thinking. I know Dad was doing this on purpose. He understands legacy. I have told a million of those farm stories to my kids. But, Dad, now approaching 78, feels that it is in his DNA to pass along what he knows before he leaves the Earth. That brought a tear to my eye and a shiver of pride knowing that our family understands something that most families do not attempt any more because they don't understand the significance of it. It's not instant gratification; it's built for the long run. If more of us could understand that, we would make this world just a little bit better and instill some pride in our youngsters today who in turn will understand that someday it will be their job to pass it along to their kids as well.

These are things us farm people understand. It's more than a job of growing food. It's a legacy of great pride and understanding which makes our families stronger.