three, in a particular order

And so we irrigate, seemingly endlessly. We pump water from the ground, which is completely the wrong direction. But we have no choice. A crop looks on the edge, we hit it with the magic water and it is alive, happy, and growing again. I think we can all agree that this is better than dead.

I’d rather water fell from the sky of it’s own accord. So dreamy.

We need three rains to be left in good shape after this season.

One rain, let’s say…and inch, perhaps next week. This is so that we can rush out there and prep every field that we can for 2022 and put in the remaining cover crops. Also, to give us an, I don’t know…48 hour break from irrigation?

Another rain, maybe…just another inch, maybe even just 3/4. I’m not going to split hairs. This is so those cover crops can actually grow some in the limited time left in the growing season. Also, to give us a, let’s say…72 hour break from irrigation (this rain is in September, and so it sticks around a little longer…in theory).

Then one more. This one will be for…mmmm…mid October…maybe early November. This is 4 inches over 3 days. A steady soaker. By this time all the irrigation will have been put away for the season, so no motive there. This rain is purely for 2022. This Netflix binge inducing gentle giant is just so farmers can sit back, look over at the window and see the rain coming down, and think to themselves, “yeah, I think I can do another season of this madness.”

So there you have it Momma Nature. My order is in and I feel like I’m paying the bill with my back. If that’s not good enough for you, then I don’t know what to do.

The crew brought in the onions and shallots this week to dry down for winter storage. The fall crops look rather fabulous, if I may say so. And August feels like a Concord Jet with no landing gear. I’m going to trust that it’s just a feeling though. I think we’ll get a smooth landing out of this thing yet.