Pear Tree Farm : ME? A FARMER'S WIFE?

Pear Tree Farm : ME? A FARMER'S WIFE?: Me? A Farmer’s Wife? abayles01@snet.net

By Conni Partridge


Mud from the
rains in the spring of March, 2013 presented sticky problems for a woman
whose father had been a wholesale florist during the 1940s. The
caladium farmer had prevented Conni from working on the floral acres in
Central Florida with his male Chauvinistic view of girls on the farm.
Conni
and Sam were married in January of 2013 and closed on the farm in
February. Trying to become a Farmer’s Wife, she plunged into the
intricate planting of tiny seeds in little cups, learned how to cut up
seed potatoes, Swept dirt from between the ancient floorboards of the
old farm house and learned the music of a college student’s rooster,
which crowed in a squealy, Bantam shriek.
A graphic designer and
writer, Conni began to pursue the market for work in advertising and
publishing to supplement farm expenses. Since job hunting requires the
seeker to dress for success, Conni wore a dress and heels.
One rainy
day, she returned to the farm and turned in the driveway. Stepping
quickly from her little Volkswagen Golf, she squished into a loblolly of
mud so deep, her high heel shoes made suction noises when she tried to
walk out of the quagmire.
The Partridges and Bertha parted company
that summer, leaving Conni with the responsibility of harvest. Sam
bought her a gardener’s go cart with big plastic wheels and a tool
chamber under the seat. Setting all crutches and walking canes aside,
Conni tackled the gardens Bertha had planted. She weeded, mulched and
watched the bees as they pollinated various blossoms. These minutes
outdoors with something to sit on gave Conni the incentive to press on.
Minutes became hours, hours became all day harvesting; she waxed strong
and brought fresh produce into her kitchen, marching across the acres
with less effort each day.
Conni picked and pickled: beans,
cucumbers, pattipan squash, beets and green tomatoes. She made apple
butter, dug potatoes, yanked turnips and carrots plus clipped various
gourds and squash, dill and basil.
Sam stayed on in Connecticut keeping up with his excavation business, visiting their farm on weekends.
He
plumbed a new kitchen sink, salvaged and installed an antique wood
stove in case the grid goes out, put new toilets in both bathrooms,
finished the closets so Conni can hang clothes on something besides
bungie cords and set up power in the garage/workshop.
The barn now
has power and the newly-built back porch will store wood for winter.
Come spring we will introduce our black Lab, Bud to a herd of pigs, a
flock of baby chicks and some heifer calves. The new greenhouse will
nurture the seedlings we will plant.
The Wooly Worm told Conni and Sam there would be a severe winter in 2013-2014.
The story continues.
You may contact Conni Partridge at abayles01@snet.net.