Our Farm Essay - 2839 Words

I woke up before my alarm. A distant square of eerie half-twilight from the window held the familiar outline of the locust tree. In the dark, I fumbled to dress without waking my parents. I slipped outside. The sun was still below the horizon but the clouds above the mountains were tainted the color of pomegranates. Around me the shadows seemed empty. I tried not to look into the brush as I walked down the driveway. I had stopped before, looking to see the back of the shadows; staring hard, only to have them retreat from my eyes indefinitely. Invisible birds called from within. Their sound followed me down the driveway and onto the road. As I walked I let my eyes close and my feet feel the groove in the gravel. My mind, still†¦show more content†¦Dad had planted more lentils this year. I had rolled my eyes when he told me: 300 acres. He had laughed, That should be nothin for the prettiest swather driver around, Munchkin. I was only prettiest because I was the only girl. The swather cuts crops to dry before they are harvested and lays them in long rows that snake around hills in endless spirals. In eastern Washington state we swath lentils in late July and early August. My father did the swathing when my grandfather owned the farm. My brother took over when he was twelve and then it was my turn. Swathing is to the farm kid what mowing the lawn is to a suburban kid; just multiplied by a few horsepower. But its that kind of job. There is the same certain thrill of learning to use the machine for the first time; a new vibration of power connected to your fingertips and devouring whatever comes before you. But after a while it loses its edge. If you dont grow to hate it your mind is free to wander. Thats when the suburban kid clips the flowerbed and when the farm kid veers off and makes a crooked swath. It took me a whole summer to get used to the feeling of running a machine that big. I was thirteen. I felt more important than ever. And a little scared. It was so loud and powerful that I didnt dare let up on my concentration for fear I would break the sickle or slide off the hill. My father had patiently told me what not to do. Dont push it.Show MoreRelatedThe Food Industry And Its Impact On The Society1490 Words   |  6 PagesHalf a century ago, farm animals were raised on open fields, breathing fresh air, and grazing on pastures. Today, over 99% of farm animals in the U.S. are raised in industrialized factory farms, which focus on profit and efficiency as opposed to the animal’s welfare. The industry has forgotten the importance of the animals’ health and wellbeing and has become obsessed with profit to the point that it is negatively impacting the animals in the industry. The food industry needs to be reformed to returnRead MoreBallad Of Hollis Brown By Rise Agai nst A Long Overdue Call For Action1405 Words   |  6 Pagesand has remained overlooked all this time, even in today’s culture of mass internet activism. 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