digitS'
Garden Master
Making poor decisions . . . we must all make decisions that don't "pan out" or were just outright, foolhardy! I made some of the oddest choices as a young person and just count my blessings that I had the resources, mostly just youth, to get past them.
Some folks continue decision-making that seems oddly designed to not pan out.
I was reminded of this reading nittygrittydirtdigger's response to Pam's "Rain rain go away go someplace that needs you." It may well be that hiring helicopters for days on end to dry a cherry crop makes sense, financially. I really wonder, tho'.
A neighbor retired from farming a couple years ago. Just before he did, I talked to him about his work. His family farm is 100 miles from his home and he would stay over there during important times of the year when his help was needed. I could tell that some of his work was causing him some irritation, even anger.
He had just returned that time from putting in a crop . . . in March. I was totally surprised!! I don't now even remember what they had planted. March is incredibly early to be putting anything in the ground in this part of the world. So, I expressed that surprise.
He said, "Well, you gotta do it if you want the crop insurance." Then, he gave me the idea that he fully expected the crop to fail. They would then plant wheat in the fall on that ground.
What happened? I suspect that the crop failed to produce what would have given a profit. They might not have even attempted to harvest it - he suggested that would be the result. It became Someone Else's Problem because they had crop insurance for it.
How the heck did some insurance company get enuf resources to make decisions on farming in the Columbia Basin that was so far off reality? Why would they do it? Crap shoot? Oh yeah, just barely possible that it would pay off. And, the farmers were playing them on it - even farmers who could afford to live 100 miles off the farm, in a nice suburban neighborhood. You should know that some of the Washington State farmers were indicted for crop insurance fraud not too long ago but I didn't see his family's name in the story - this problem was/is extremely broad and not just 4 out of the several thousand WA! farmers are involved. Moreover, I don't believe there was a conviction. I mean, the US taxpayers were backing up those insurance companies - making decisions on farming many thousands of miles from reality.
We all know it doesn't stop here. The entire nation of finance has been involved in a casino mentality just about forever and it has only gotten worse.
The neighbor lady was out for a walk yesterday afternoon. With her, was the little girl who lives another door down and who often plays in her yard. Holding her hand was her own granddaughter - tiny little thing who has just begun to walk. I stared at them in surprise as they went past my place.
First of all, I have never seen my neighbor out for a walk, with children or otherwise. She is a widow in her early 60's and has lived there for about 3 years now. Moreover, she recently had surgery on her shoulder and has been wearing a sling for about a month.
Secondly, the Weather Service was reporting a line of thunderstorms advancing from the south. The rain had actually been predicted all day but was slow in getting here. A few drops had begun to fall and the wind was really picking up. So, here was an injured lady with a neighbor's 4 year-old and a toddler clinging to her 1 free hand, off to see the neighborhood!
I got busy getting plants under a roof anticipating the hail, the chance was given for that and I wasn't going to take a gamble on it destroying some basil and eggplants still in containers. My garden was a sitting duck but these, I could move. The 3 ladies from next door continued on their way.
Before her surgery, the neighbor's lawn began to be somewhat overgrown. I mowed it for her once last year but she had bought another mower since then. The father of the little girl was over in her driveway tinkering with it several hours one day - then, made a total mess trying to get thru the tall grass for the 1st time mowing. She reported that the mower was now useless and I've been mowing over there for the last 4 weeks.
Her family? Oh yeah, a son and daughter live not far away. I sometimes see her daughter sitting in the backyard. I'm always wondering about the chair . . . that lady must weigh close to 400 pounds! I honestly don't think she could navigate about the yard to get it mowed if she had a machine to use. The son? He could be as heavy but he is a foot taller than his sister. He works full-time, I guess. Grandma picks up his son at school and has the toddler all the time. She says that there's childcare but it doesn't seem to be working out real well for the family. His wife recently left him - Grandma had a "good riddance" story about that.
What's going on with helping Grandma now that she is incapacitated and needs lawncare? As best as I can tell, son & daughter were over the day she came home from the surgery. She said they prepared dinner for her. I haven't seen the daughter since nor the son's vehicle, except when he picks up the kids. I guess, Grandma's lawn is Someone Else's Problem.
I'm sympathetic, or at least, understanding towards the daughter. She is in a serious health predicament. Sympathetic towards the son, also. After all, he's trying to care for 2 small children and hold down a job. Certainly, he requires the benefit of the doubt. The grandmother, I'm hoping that she doesn't encourage another generation of people who gamble on lightening strikes but she requires my sympathy as she attempts to regain her capabilities. Those farmers and the insurance/finance guys - nope.
Steve
who has, at similar times, decided not to click the "Submit" button . . . let's see . . .
Some folks continue decision-making that seems oddly designed to not pan out.
I was reminded of this reading nittygrittydirtdigger's response to Pam's "Rain rain go away go someplace that needs you." It may well be that hiring helicopters for days on end to dry a cherry crop makes sense, financially. I really wonder, tho'.
A neighbor retired from farming a couple years ago. Just before he did, I talked to him about his work. His family farm is 100 miles from his home and he would stay over there during important times of the year when his help was needed. I could tell that some of his work was causing him some irritation, even anger.
He had just returned that time from putting in a crop . . . in March. I was totally surprised!! I don't now even remember what they had planted. March is incredibly early to be putting anything in the ground in this part of the world. So, I expressed that surprise.
He said, "Well, you gotta do it if you want the crop insurance." Then, he gave me the idea that he fully expected the crop to fail. They would then plant wheat in the fall on that ground.
What happened? I suspect that the crop failed to produce what would have given a profit. They might not have even attempted to harvest it - he suggested that would be the result. It became Someone Else's Problem because they had crop insurance for it.
How the heck did some insurance company get enuf resources to make decisions on farming in the Columbia Basin that was so far off reality? Why would they do it? Crap shoot? Oh yeah, just barely possible that it would pay off. And, the farmers were playing them on it - even farmers who could afford to live 100 miles off the farm, in a nice suburban neighborhood. You should know that some of the Washington State farmers were indicted for crop insurance fraud not too long ago but I didn't see his family's name in the story - this problem was/is extremely broad and not just 4 out of the several thousand WA! farmers are involved. Moreover, I don't believe there was a conviction. I mean, the US taxpayers were backing up those insurance companies - making decisions on farming many thousands of miles from reality.
We all know it doesn't stop here. The entire nation of finance has been involved in a casino mentality just about forever and it has only gotten worse.
The neighbor lady was out for a walk yesterday afternoon. With her, was the little girl who lives another door down and who often plays in her yard. Holding her hand was her own granddaughter - tiny little thing who has just begun to walk. I stared at them in surprise as they went past my place.
First of all, I have never seen my neighbor out for a walk, with children or otherwise. She is a widow in her early 60's and has lived there for about 3 years now. Moreover, she recently had surgery on her shoulder and has been wearing a sling for about a month.
Secondly, the Weather Service was reporting a line of thunderstorms advancing from the south. The rain had actually been predicted all day but was slow in getting here. A few drops had begun to fall and the wind was really picking up. So, here was an injured lady with a neighbor's 4 year-old and a toddler clinging to her 1 free hand, off to see the neighborhood!
I got busy getting plants under a roof anticipating the hail, the chance was given for that and I wasn't going to take a gamble on it destroying some basil and eggplants still in containers. My garden was a sitting duck but these, I could move. The 3 ladies from next door continued on their way.
Before her surgery, the neighbor's lawn began to be somewhat overgrown. I mowed it for her once last year but she had bought another mower since then. The father of the little girl was over in her driveway tinkering with it several hours one day - then, made a total mess trying to get thru the tall grass for the 1st time mowing. She reported that the mower was now useless and I've been mowing over there for the last 4 weeks.
Her family? Oh yeah, a son and daughter live not far away. I sometimes see her daughter sitting in the backyard. I'm always wondering about the chair . . . that lady must weigh close to 400 pounds! I honestly don't think she could navigate about the yard to get it mowed if she had a machine to use. The son? He could be as heavy but he is a foot taller than his sister. He works full-time, I guess. Grandma picks up his son at school and has the toddler all the time. She says that there's childcare but it doesn't seem to be working out real well for the family. His wife recently left him - Grandma had a "good riddance" story about that.
What's going on with helping Grandma now that she is incapacitated and needs lawncare? As best as I can tell, son & daughter were over the day she came home from the surgery. She said they prepared dinner for her. I haven't seen the daughter since nor the son's vehicle, except when he picks up the kids. I guess, Grandma's lawn is Someone Else's Problem.
I'm sympathetic, or at least, understanding towards the daughter. She is in a serious health predicament. Sympathetic towards the son, also. After all, he's trying to care for 2 small children and hold down a job. Certainly, he requires the benefit of the doubt. The grandmother, I'm hoping that she doesn't encourage another generation of people who gamble on lightening strikes but she requires my sympathy as she attempts to regain her capabilities. Those farmers and the insurance/finance guys - nope.
Steve
who has, at similar times, decided not to click the "Submit" button . . . let's see . . .
.
