You will see no field burning this year. Last year was the last year farmers were allowed to purify their seed through traditional burning...like the Calapooyia Indians did. I find it quite sad, as it was a thrilling season for me as a child. I love the smell and the sight of those plumes of smoke. I would think with more and more people feeling passionate about organic foods, harvesting heirloom seeds, buying their beef from local farms etc...that maybe the agricultural community and their lobbyists could persuade their adversaries that this is actually better than the alternative of increased pesticides and another hit for the Oregon economy. The Willamette Valley produces the purest seed in the world, along with the most. I hope we are able to keep this title up.
4 comments:
It is sad that we are no longer burning. I wish I could say farming is changing for the better, but I can't. This was a hard hit to many farmers, and it will be years before the real impact is felt.
Last year on my way home from my parents house I saw a field just being lit. I quickly drove down the nearest road to it and showed it to my oldest son, telling him he had better watch carefully because it was a sight he would not see again. Then I took some pictures because I would never see it again myself. It's so awful. There are side benefits to burning as well. The smoke seeds the clouds, helping the rain water the fields. The fire rids the valley of nasty bugs. This is information given to me by an seventy-something farmer who has lived and farmed the valley his entire life. I cannot imagine how not burning is somehow better.
Rachel, I did the same thing with my son last year, but I think at age 4 he will not really remember it. Strange how sentimental it was for me and emotional. It makes me very sad.
And Rachel P! I love your comments, but I must know you as you mentioned knowing my dad, yet I can't figure it out.
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