Per the Milwaukee, WI., article below about the heat ravaged veggies up here... it doesn't take a huge mind to figure out that food prices will continue to go UP! Supply and demand-- ev er since I learned that on our small beef and grain farm near Waterford, WI., and blessed me with a strong, steel trap brain, when I used it... lol.. so I remember many things from my childhood that my siblings never knew, or cared about, I guess...Ha! I MIGHT get into that some other time when I feel brave...
Laws of physics, common sense, finance and trade dictate that we are living in such times that everything/ all nations are intertwined, and the 'Domino Theory' is still very true -- and that is: the experts feel that out of [let's say] 5 terrible catasphrophies, we only need 2 or 3 to bring down the world, more/ less. The financial system is surely going to crash, and only being postponed right now-- as Europe will not make the tough choices concerning 'austerity' cushy pillow type systems from cradle to grave senerios -- and we ought to all know that the USA is never too far behind Europe, plus, we have huge investments in the Continent so -- if Europe's big industry fails, and we are investing/ backing them up -- we will suffer big time, too! We don't need numbers to understand -- just concepts.
OK, folks, we can do without all our 'toys' and most creature comforts, but we can't do without food, and that's where I am going today. Obama wants to move into a Socialist society, and commadere all the resources and dole them out to the poor, which will effectively be most of us, while obama, and his cronies, voters, and 'special people' at the top reap the lion's share of the goodies, of course.. what's new ? But simple Simple Simon has not studied his history, and Socialism doesn't work so good!! And it also boils down to, many do not want to work, but want welfare! Now we are seeing 5th generation welfare queens. Do you think I loved working in an un-air conditioned, sweat shop, dangerous, dirty, auto factory for over 30.5 years. with crazy people, murderers, rapists, child molesters, and drunken bums??? The answer is, I was raised with a 'hard work ethic', some pride and self worth. The Bible even says: "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." ~ 2nd Thessalonians 3:10. Even the apostle Paul, who could have eaten freely, had a job of tent making! He led by example.
True, real, biblical Christians, are taken care of by the Lord, who makes it rain and shine, and even if people are poor, they will be sustained and survive, as David said in Psalms. I thank God every single day for life, substance, food, shelter, and His Son, Jesus Christ! I have also learned that contributing tithes/ financial offerings to a REAL, bible teaching church-- ensures that I will be OK, and taken care of too. In fact, the more I put in the collection bowl -- the more I get back!! Don't ask me how or why, right now... lol. What my pretty, Christian wife, Terri, doesn't know or understand, yet, she will in good time. God has also blessed me and filled my big desire to teach and share the Word with all who come in contact with me...PTL [Praise the Lord].
Please let me share something deep inside me... When I was a young kid on my parents' farm in WI., I dreamed of someday being a RICH landowner/ farmer, with lots of land, beef cattle and equipment , with enough 'hired help' [well paid] peripherals, and perhaps getting into politics... lol. But isn't if funny how circumstances develop to change our view points, ideals, desires and shape our future. I was very frustrated when I could not save enough money for college and was accepted by a few good ones in my State-- so I joined the Army. I was NOT running away from home or life on the farm, but I had an intense desire to do SOMETHING better in my life, besides being the oldest boy on the farm, the 'whipping boy', slaving away for peanuts, doing the lion's share of all the chores, etc.
But the Army, and 2 tours in Vietnam- flying in helicopters every day, as door gunner, hoping to be crew chief someday, if I didn't get Zapped, Wacked, Creamed and Steamed by the VC -Charlie, or NVA. Years latter, I found the Lord Jesus... or He found me, and everything changed in prospective, and having a lot of material things wasn't so important, although I had my toys, motorcycles, trucks and property.
Finding a Christian woman was another big adventure...lol. I believe that I finally have one now, and how attractive too! Her good looks and form are just extra-- but it's her mind and heart that 'hooked me.' Well, no body is perfect here on earth, but since all Believers have the Holy Spirit within them, we can and will win the Victory over Satan and his henchmen, get Raptured, and even be happy and content RIGHT NOW!
If some of you would like to visit or learn more about me, and my adventures... email: tschuckman@aol.com
Let's pray for all our combat soldiers and Marines in harm's way, especially my dear nephew Joe Erwin, in Aphganistan, and his pretty girl friend, Neela, so that they embrace the Bible and read it every day-- and grow close to the Lord.
Warm Regards, and Big Bear Hugs,
Tom Schuckman --living in the U.P. .. 'frozen tundra' -- but not in July... lol.
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The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Wisconsin
Growers and their vegetables wither in the heat
Michael Sears
Leona Robran of Waterford uses a blanket to keep her broccoli and zucchini cool at the West Allis Farmers Market.
Green beans curl like fishhooks, peppers suffer sunburns and squash leaves turn into tiki umbrellas.
Many vegetable farmers didn't show up at farmers markets in West Allis and East Troy on Thursday because either they - or their vegetables - couldn't stand the heat.
The West Allis Farmers Market was a ghost town, with only a handful of vegetable farmers setting out baskets of zucchini, pickling cucumbers, broccoli, beets and other early summer crops on long rows of benches.
Loyal farmers market customers - many who have been regulars for decades - dutifully ventured out to make purchases but quickly scurried back to air-conditioned cars.
Even the ice cream truck left early.
"Thank you for coming out in the heat," Cindy Chapman of Cindy's Greenhouse and Fresh Vegetables near East Troy told elderly customers. "You take care, and don't stay out too long."
"I've never seen it this empty," said Carolyn Faber of Brookfield, a regular West Allis Farmers Market customer for 30 years.
Chapman's husband, Joe, called her cellphone around 3 p.m. and said he was the only vegetable farmer who came to the East Troy Farmers Market.
She told him she had a good burst of customers. But the early green beans - what little could be salvaged from the field - weren't selling well.
Chapman predicted little canning will be done this summer because cucumbers and other crops are shriveling on the vine.
Across the aisle from Chapman, farmer Leona Robran of Waterford covered her pickling cucumbers and zucchini with blankets to protect them from the sweltering heat.
Cucumbers are resilient and might be fine if it rains, Robran said. "There will be some hollow ones, though."
Sweet corn ears likely won't fill out on top and will be small, she said.
"It's no fun when you have to sit there and watch your crops dry up," said Robran, who's been on her family's vegetable farm for 55 years. "It was dry in 1988, but this year is worse because we haven't gotten a good rain since we planted in mid-May."
Farms that sell weekly shares of produce to urban customers are hurting, too. Several farms canceled deliveries for this week and promised an extra week at the end of the growing season.
"The biggest disappointment for me is we were off to our best start ever," said farmer Tim Huth of LotFotL Community Farm near Elkhorn, which has 350 urban customers.
"I'm to the point of throwing my hands up," Huth said Thursday. "But our customers have been very supportive. They realize they take the risks with us. They get the blessings of great years and the curses of poor years. Being a farmer, you're always reminded of how little control you have over nature. It's very humbling."
Cucumbers were drip-irrigated but didn't make it, Huth said. "We can't keep them hydrated."
"We've planted beets, dill and cilantro three or four times," he said. "We can't get them to germinate."
Cabbage and lettuce are maturing early and small. Onions are skimpy. Carrots likely will be skinny, as they reach deeper into the soil to find water.
Huth said they tried dropping water on vegetables with a transplanter driven up and down the rows. But the water evaporated before it soaked in.
Not all is lost. Watermelons, which put down especially deep roots, look good.
And it might be a fine year for tomatoes if the rain comes soon, Huth said.
Many vegetable farmers didn't show up at farmers markets in West Allis and East Troy on Thursday because either they - or their vegetables - couldn't stand the heat.
The West Allis Farmers Market was a ghost town, with only a handful of vegetable farmers setting out baskets of zucchini, pickling cucumbers, broccoli, beets and other early summer crops on long rows of benches.
Loyal farmers market customers - many who have been regulars for decades - dutifully ventured out to make purchases but quickly scurried back to air-conditioned cars.
Even the ice cream truck left early.
"Thank you for coming out in the heat," Cindy Chapman of Cindy's Greenhouse and Fresh Vegetables near East Troy told elderly customers. "You take care, and don't stay out too long."
"I've never seen it this empty," said Carolyn Faber of Brookfield, a regular West Allis Farmers Market customer for 30 years.
Chapman's husband, Joe, called her cellphone around 3 p.m. and said he was the only vegetable farmer who came to the East Troy Farmers Market.
She told him she had a good burst of customers. But the early green beans - what little could be salvaged from the field - weren't selling well.
Chapman predicted little canning will be done this summer because cucumbers and other crops are shriveling on the vine.
Across the aisle from Chapman, farmer Leona Robran of Waterford covered her pickling cucumbers and zucchini with blankets to protect them from the sweltering heat.
Cucumbers are resilient and might be fine if it rains, Robran said. "There will be some hollow ones, though."
Sweet corn ears likely won't fill out on top and will be small, she said.
"It's no fun when you have to sit there and watch your crops dry up," said Robran, who's been on her family's vegetable farm for 55 years. "It was dry in 1988, but this year is worse because we haven't gotten a good rain since we planted in mid-May."
Farms that sell weekly shares of produce to urban customers are hurting, too. Several farms canceled deliveries for this week and promised an extra week at the end of the growing season.
"The biggest disappointment for me is we were off to our best start ever," said farmer Tim Huth of LotFotL Community Farm near Elkhorn, which has 350 urban customers.
"I'm to the point of throwing my hands up," Huth said Thursday. "But our customers have been very supportive. They realize they take the risks with us. They get the blessings of great years and the curses of poor years. Being a farmer, you're always reminded of how little control you have over nature. It's very humbling."
Cucumbers were drip-irrigated but didn't make it, Huth said. "We can't keep them hydrated."
"We've planted beets, dill and cilantro three or four times," he said. "We can't get them to germinate."
Cabbage and lettuce are maturing early and small. Onions are skimpy. Carrots likely will be skinny, as they reach deeper into the soil to find water.
Huth said they tried dropping water on vegetables with a transplanter driven up and down the rows. But the water evaporated before it soaked in.
Not all is lost. Watermelons, which put down especially deep roots, look good.
And it might be a fine year for tomatoes if the rain comes soon, Huth said.
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