As I have written before, in late spring we buy a share from our local farm as participants in CSA(consumer supported agriculture.) Beginning in late June and continuing through October we receive a bag full of the bounty. But we are well aware that in the contract it states:
“We are committed to provide you with the highest quality products but there are risks in agriculture (Mother Nature’s whims, disease, pests, etc) that need to be shared by the whole community.”
Last summer’s drought reduced some vegetable yields but produced an overwhelming number of hot peppers. This year’s flooding, seen above, will impact the farm in ways they can’t yet predict. Having a stake in the farm has made me more aware of the challenges facing the farmers each year. Additionally the seasonal workers are affected. The farms here have regular workers, treasured for their skill and work habits, that come each year to work the land. Being unable to provide for them deeply affects the farm owners. They know that the money earned supports families in Mexico and Central America. They are not faceless “migrants” but valued employees.
The Connecticut River valley has long supported farms, but flooding in July is a disaster for the record books. While the River floods each spring after the thaw it is before planting time. In this challenging time perhaps some fields can be replanted. Others are so contaminated by the flood water’s chemicals and sewage they will sit idle. We will continue to share our portion of the loss.
Saved By Words 
Your experience hearkens back to the time when most families had gardens and when one failed, they shared with those less fortunate. When a devastation covers a wider expanse, then the entire community suffers.
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Absolutely. We will all have to relearn sharing I hope.
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I hope so, too.
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Well done all of you that do share
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You make some great points about the wider effects of such natural disasters. We see flooding on the news and think of wet carpets and furniture, but rarely consider the impact on food production and jobs, both in the short and long term.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Before I got to know the farmers I never knew that the farms treasured their workers and knew them personally. It turns out getting good workers is priceless.
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Crazy weather all over the world. We must all share the blame, and the cost. Unfortunately, the greatest effects are felt by those least able to afford it and we are going to have to find ways of sharing that burden too!
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When mass migration occurs we will begin to get it. Even in the US parts will become quite uninhabitable. And that is where people continue to relocate! No water and searing heat.
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Oh dear, Elizabeth. Natural disasters are so overwhelming.
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I love the idea of consumer supported agriculture, and I’m glad you’re willing to share in both the bounty and the losses.
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It feels like this will become more commonplace as climate change rears its head more and more. Being a farmer is a tough enough life even when the weather cooperates.
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Yes. A gamble each year.
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Oh my, when Nature strikes like that flooding, we cannot save those produce. Yes, farmers are greatly affected. Here in our country, they sell their producecat a loss sometimes because the government is not focused on helping them. To think we are an agricultural country. These public officials prefer their pockets full than helping the needy.
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I continue to grieve at the lack of attention to regular people your government seems to have.
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Since the time of duterte until marcos now, every one of them doesn’t care. I am angry at the way this govt. is doing. Elected by 31M in SD cards. Our Commision on Election is part of the fraud. If the election was legit, Leni Robredo could have been our president.
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What enables that level of corruption?
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Greed☹️
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It makes grim reading everything there’s a natural disaster that feels like it could have been avoided if we’d paid attention earlier
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Too much carpe diem and too little thought for the future.
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A valuable cooperation
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The rain and flooding has been severe this year. As I type this comment, the rain is coming down in blinding sheets, and there is a tornado warning that is overtaking all other news. I think of the farmers and people like you who have a CSA and have a greater understanding of the impact of nature on the food we grow.
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It was awful again today.
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It was!
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Sad for the entire community. Here summer disasters generally come from hail damage. I have been relatively fortunate but have seen beautiful farm gardens wiped out in minutes. Just devastating.
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Yes. Hail is less common here in the summer.
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It must be terrible. Here too due to continuous rains paddy growers are having a really difficult time. In the first three weeks of June there was no rain, so there was no sowing. Then when the rains started, sowing was done, then excess rains happened.
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What a terrible combination.
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