The old farming photos are from the University of North Dakota's photo archive. Only the photo of my mom's family and my mom our ours. But they DO tell the tale, that is for sure. The real treasure, of course, is the taped interview of 75-year-old Katy that keeps her voice and her story alive for us.
Another great Katy story, Sharron. Thanks for sharing. Baling hay was always what I dreaded the most. Not the same as harvesting wheat but pretty close. I would chose bouncing around on that rack and stacking versus working in the barn loft. You could not breathe in the barn. - Jim
am all a wonder .. ‘haying was serious $ seasonal ‘expectations.. my baling hook & gloves wintered - eye level to ladder up & into the hay mow.. where the feral kittens were found ..
‘the art of haying in the 50’s & 60’s & 70’s .. to the HarvestStore ‘Blue Glass Silos !
that was the farm - but it’s red roof is a new ‘pole barn - Erin Township (& high school), Ontario .. near Rockwood & University of Guelph & Veterinary College - this is The Grand River watershed headwaters.. & leads south to Lake Erie
One thing to live a story. Another to tell with feelings. A few years from now photos will fade, tales tossed. People gone, dust bowl not many remember. Winds blows . What will kids tell children 100 years from now. I know many destroyed photos left in boxes. No idea who the people were. What a plow and horse did. Pitch hay, milk and cow. Farm life is now looking for eggs in a box. Scarce these days. Must be a new story to tell. How the bird flu stopped the egg mc muffin.
I had two very good friends in H.S. (1 guy and 1 girlfriend)who lived on farms and our town was mostly rural anyway. So for about 3 years. Year round. There was always something to be done on a farm. Always, haha. - Jim
That state along with Iowa literally helps feed the world. In U.S. state rankings for corn producers = #1 Iowa, #2 Illinois by far / soybean producers = Illinois #1 (they set a record last year) Iowa #2. Billions upon Billions of bushels of each year. Try to name a food product that doesn't have a variant of those two commodities.
And she didn't even know it. Her family were very abusive to her, and as soon as she "escaped" and got out on her own, she blossomed like a rose. Thank you, Joan, for reading my Katy stories. I am grateful.
I picked cotton in Texas as a teenager….. I am so grateful for the lessons learned and having learned to appreciate the privileges of being born later than Katy.
Wow! I never imagined you working on a farm, Wade. I picked blueberries, myself, for a couple of summers. It taught me to prepare myself for other ( ANY other!) employment. Lesson learned.
more more ! Most excellent ! Lovin the photos too ! Lived my very own experiences of essentially the same - though almost at the level of Mork pre Mindy.. 12/13 year old big city feral orphan - dunked in the middle of ‘same exact scene.. albeit south western Ontario eh .. circa 1963 or so.. & sputnik had flown overhead .. Kennedy shot .. but horses were still transitioning to ‘all tractor
One may see this ‘life of Katy via ‘Days Of Heaven’ of course .. the DOP was my patron saint Nestor Almendros.. of course he was ! .. “shockers ! We need shockers !” (Katy smiles .. 🦎🏴☠️
psst - they shot most of it in Saskatchewan last I heard .. I’ve a slayer fam photo for you.. just been hyper swamped .. So enjoyed this.. & have a related ‘Artist .. link can tag you into..
I hope some day you will write and post on the Salamander Horde, your story of being a "... 12/13 year old big city feral orphan - dunked in the middle of ‘same exact scene.. albeit south western Ontario." That sounds like a very interesting tale.
It's fascinating to hear about how much work was required and how it was done before machines took over the grunt work. I guess this is why farmers had such large families in those days. Hell, I could never even get my boys to help me rake the yard for a couple of hours. Anyway, great to hear from Katy again. Thank you Sharron.
Well, my grandfather had a great "work incentive program" for his children -- it was called the leather strap. Brutal, but probably not uncommon in those days and among those people.
She had such a vivid memory at 75. How lucky your family is to have these recordings. Thank you for sharing them with the rest of us, especially this one. Makes me yearn for a bowl of farina right now ... with a big pat of butter. The kibbutz kitchen would make farina for the breakfast buffet in the dining hall and the kibbutzniks would sprinkle cocoa powder on it and a little cream from the kibbutz cows. YUM!
I have another little short tale about the cooking and meals on the family German-American farm. I will report it soon. As for farina with cocoa -- I'm in!
Another wonderful Katy story. I was surprised the children got paid, but it is a good lesson in the value of money. With my childhood asthma, I wouldn't have made it on a farm. Any fresh-cut grass, hay, straw and I'd be struggling to breathe.
What a treasure to have this pictures in stories she remembered so well!
The old farming photos are from the University of North Dakota's photo archive. Only the photo of my mom's family and my mom our ours. But they DO tell the tale, that is for sure. The real treasure, of course, is the taped interview of 75-year-old Katy that keeps her voice and her story alive for us.
Absolutely!
Another great Katy story, Sharron. Thanks for sharing. Baling hay was always what I dreaded the most. Not the same as harvesting wheat but pretty close. I would chose bouncing around on that rack and stacking versus working in the barn loft. You could not breathe in the barn. - Jim
am all a wonder .. ‘haying was serious $ seasonal ‘expectations.. my baling hook & gloves wintered - eye level to ladder up & into the hay mow.. where the feral kittens were found ..
‘the art of haying in the 50’s & 60’s & 70’s .. to the HarvestStore ‘Blue Glass Silos !
Another farm boy? Golly! And where was that farm, Tinder?
that was the farm - but it’s red roof is a new ‘pole barn - Erin Township (& high school), Ontario .. near Rockwood & University of Guelph & Veterinary College - this is The Grand River watershed headwaters.. & leads south to Lake Erie
Thanks! Good to know.
One thing to live a story. Another to tell with feelings. A few years from now photos will fade, tales tossed. People gone, dust bowl not many remember. Winds blows . What will kids tell children 100 years from now. I know many destroyed photos left in boxes. No idea who the people were. What a plow and horse did. Pitch hay, milk and cow. Farm life is now looking for eggs in a box. Scarce these days. Must be a new story to tell. How the bird flu stopped the egg mc muffin.
Yeah! That last one, Richard. You could write it.
Wow! I never pegged you for a farm boy, Jim. Where was that farm?
I had two very good friends in H.S. (1 guy and 1 girlfriend)who lived on farms and our town was mostly rural anyway. So for about 3 years. Year round. There was always something to be done on a farm. Always, haha. - Jim
Central Illinois
The Good Old Prairie State! Okay!
That state along with Iowa literally helps feed the world. In U.S. state rankings for corn producers = #1 Iowa, #2 Illinois by far / soybean producers = Illinois #1 (they set a record last year) Iowa #2. Billions upon Billions of bushels of each year. Try to name a food product that doesn't have a variant of those two commodities.
Right you are! And imagine how much these growers have to lose, if large countries boycott US wheat and corn... looks like we can watch and wait.
Uh oh... was that political? Sorry.
If your parents saw you lazing about or looking bored, I am sure they could always find work for you to do!
She was beautiful at 18!
And she didn't even know it. Her family were very abusive to her, and as soon as she "escaped" and got out on her own, she blossomed like a rose. Thank you, Joan, for reading my Katy stories. I am grateful.
I always love Katy stories. I can picture her leaning in as she tells of her life on the farm.
Thanks, Joel, for reading about my mother's life. I write about her often -- just to keep her alive and in my life.
We are so spoiled!I love the hard work, the memories etched into the tissues of the body, as well as the emotions and intellect.This is precious.
Thank you, Jill. Your comment is exactly right. Happy day to you out there wherever you are.
A grateful day as we travel through our lives. Wherever you might be (Michigan for me- in the snow storm-walking with a friend).
A Wolverine!
I picked cotton in Texas as a teenager….. I am so grateful for the lessons learned and having learned to appreciate the privileges of being born later than Katy.
Wow! I never imagined you working on a farm, Wade. I picked blueberries, myself, for a couple of summers. It taught me to prepare myself for other ( ANY other!) employment. Lesson learned.
more more ! Most excellent ! Lovin the photos too ! Lived my very own experiences of essentially the same - though almost at the level of Mork pre Mindy.. 12/13 year old big city feral orphan - dunked in the middle of ‘same exact scene.. albeit south western Ontario eh .. circa 1963 or so.. & sputnik had flown overhead .. Kennedy shot .. but horses were still transitioning to ‘all tractor
One may see this ‘life of Katy via ‘Days Of Heaven’ of course .. the DOP was my patron saint Nestor Almendros.. of course he was ! .. “shockers ! We need shockers !” (Katy smiles .. 🦎🏴☠️
psst - they shot most of it in Saskatchewan last I heard .. I’ve a slayer fam photo for you.. just been hyper swamped .. So enjoyed this.. & have a related ‘Artist .. link can tag you into..
I hope some day you will write and post on the Salamander Horde, your story of being a "... 12/13 year old big city feral orphan - dunked in the middle of ‘same exact scene.. albeit south western Ontario." That sounds like a very interesting tale.
People now use that farming equipment as ornaments.
I wonder how many of us today could survive that life?
I think you do what you have to do, but it certainly would not be my choice! Yikes.
Wish I'd been raised on a farm.
Are you sure about that? Where, exactly were you raised, Ron? Louisiana, was it?
Yes, Louisiana until 21. Still wished I'd been raised on a farm.
The Pelican State, and Sportsfishers paradise!
It's fascinating to hear about how much work was required and how it was done before machines took over the grunt work. I guess this is why farmers had such large families in those days. Hell, I could never even get my boys to help me rake the yard for a couple of hours. Anyway, great to hear from Katy again. Thank you Sharron.
Well, my grandfather had a great "work incentive program" for his children -- it was called the leather strap. Brutal, but probably not uncommon in those days and among those people.
She had such a vivid memory at 75. How lucky your family is to have these recordings. Thank you for sharing them with the rest of us, especially this one. Makes me yearn for a bowl of farina right now ... with a big pat of butter. The kibbutz kitchen would make farina for the breakfast buffet in the dining hall and the kibbutzniks would sprinkle cocoa powder on it and a little cream from the kibbutz cows. YUM!
I have another little short tale about the cooking and meals on the family German-American farm. I will report it soon. As for farina with cocoa -- I'm in!
Looking forward to reading it. And yeah, farina with cocoa is a little slice of paradise.
Fascinating. Thank you.!
Thanks for reading about Katy’s life, Yael. I am so glad you like it.
Another wonderful Katy story. I was surprised the children got paid, but it is a good lesson in the value of money. With my childhood asthma, I wouldn't have made it on a farm. Any fresh-cut grass, hay, straw and I'd be struggling to breathe.
Yikes! That must have kept you indoors a lot - in every season.