Tag Archive for: Farms

Stories and Foundations

Old houses and outbuildings dot the rural landscape of eastern Ohio where I live.  Some of the structures have been rebuilt or at least maintained for present-day use.  Others have been left in various states of disrepair.

Driving by these buildings, I sometimes wonder about their past.  Thoughts of the pride of the family that built one of these places may come to mind.  

I can see a couple who are proud to own their own home.  Maybe in that moment of imagination, I can envision a family gathered around a meal table, or parents tucking their small children in after bedtime prayers had been said.  Perhaps one can picture adult children coming back home to visit with their own families.

An old barn brings thoughts of a farmer doing his evening chores.  One can almost hear the conversations that are happening between a father and his son or daughter.  Topics could range from an afternoon spent fishing in a local stream to what’s inside the latest Sears catalog.  Or the man may be talking to his wife or a neighbor about last Sunday’s sermon or the most recent livestock market prices at the local sale barn.

I can understand some of the reasons why these old buildings are left to slowly crumble into oblivion.  They can be a financial burden to maintain, and perhaps have outlived their usefulness.  

Yet, there’s a portion of me that is also saddened.  They were part of a family’s life.  Not just that, but houses, barns and other buildings also tell a story about a community.

That these old structures are still standing, even in rough condition, is a testament to their sturdiness.  Often constructed from locally-sourced lumber, and built with the help of family and neighbors, they speak to a time when people truly cared about one another – and had a sense of deep community pride and service.

These old buildings are from a different time.  In a world that is filled with faux replicas and cheap imitations – take it from someone who delivers building materials, structures from another era help remind us of the value of people and community.  Built to hold up against the storms of life, they help us recognize our own need for a solid foundation – one that can withstand any weather we may face.  

In life, I’ve found that the perfect foundation can only be found in the Heavenly Father.  Every other belief, person and item is temporary.  If we place our hope in them, our footing will eventually erode and wash away.  Yet, God has promised to never leave or abandon us – and He has continually proved to be true to His Word.  

Next time you see an old building, consider the stories that it could tell if only it were able to talk.  Then look at its foundation and see what’s holding it up – and don’t forget that buildings and people both need to be built on solid rock.

Have a great day! 😊

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Milk Cans and Memory Lane

A trip down memory lane could describe this picture. This farm once was a stop on one of my grandfather’s can milk routes more than fifty years ago. When I showed my father this picture, it brought back many memories from his childhood. The farmer that used to live here would bring his cans of milk to the end of the lane to be picked up.

Over the past half century, the elements, time and changes have all joined together as this farm slowly fades away. The muddy lane and overcast atmosphere of a midwinter day matches the condition of the old barn that’s slowly falling down and succumbing to nature – fading into another story of a past era.

It’s important to remember the past. Memories and pictures help link us to our heritage and our loved ones who have gone before us.

Have a great day! 😀

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What Way to Go?

I had driven almost a mile back the lane to make a delivery when I came to this sign.  At this “fork in the road”, the private drive split to go to neighboring farms.

If I went to the left, then I could visit a little variety store and basket maker.  Turning right, sweetcorn and pigs laid ahead.  Oh, the choices!  Perhaps, at this point, some may ask if you met both farmers in the middle, could you get a picnic basket to go?!

Just like this little junction, you and I face countless choices every day.  Most of the time, our decisions seem to be inconsequential – like what we’re going to wear for the day or have for breakfast.

Then, there are those times when we must decide on something that can have long-term consequences.  Thoughts of marriage, careers and homeownership all come to mind here.

Often our choices have no vital outcome that affects our lives.  Yet, as a truck driver, I’m also aware of how many decisions can be life-altering – for me and others.

Yet, the biggest choice that you and I can make is whether or not we will follow Christ.  That one simple decision is the most life-altering that anyone will ever make.

Everyday you and I are going to be tasked with making hundreds of choices.  Let’s give careful thought to each one – and in case you were wondering, I chose to visit the farm with the hogs and corn patch!

Have a great day! 😊

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Oat Sheaves

Oat sheaves are a common sight on many Amish farms in east-central Ohio during the middle of summer. Commonly used as a source of horse feed, the cut oats are bundled and stacked in the fields to dry. After a few days, they will be hauled off to a barn where they will be run through a thrashing machine. From there, the oats will be separated from the chaff – which may be baled into straw for livestock bedding.

While oats are grown in many countries, perhaps it’s fitting that they’re still grown here. For just over an hour away by highway in Ravenna, Ohio, the Quaker Oats Company once milled oats. Known by its logo consisting of a man in simple, plain clothing, Quaker took a crop that was largely used as livestock feed and promoted it as a healthy, wholesome breakfast cereal.

In a world that seems to be constantly changing, something as traditional as oats and real horsepower helps to remind us of our roots. In fact, a simple crop can teach us lessons for life.

For one thing, we usually harvest what we sow. If we plant good seed, barring no drought or other natural disaster happens, we will often get a healthy crop. Planting, caring for and harvesting a crop takes patience and work on our part. Ripe crops don’t just happen!

We can also relate to this field. Just as the Creator provided the right conditions for the oats to grow, He also provides what you and I need to be the people whom we’re meant to be.

Like every oat seed, each person has great potential locked inside. Let’s be careful to allow God to cultivate our lives and relationships in ways that benefit everyone we meet.

Have a great day! 😀

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Contour Guidance

It may be a little hard to tell, but part of this field is being farmed using the contour method. You can see the one row going off in the middle of the picture. Another row follows along the tree line along the right side of the picture.

Here in the Appalachian foothills of eastern Ohio, contour farming is common. Unlike flat land where all of a field can be cultivated, farmland on the side of a hill has to be done like this. It helps to control and prevent water runoff – allowing the crops to get much needed moisture to grow. This type of hillside farming also minimizes erosion from plowed fields.

This picture is also a great image of how our Creator sometimes guides you and me. If we didn’t have His guidance to help us navigate the ebbs and flows of life, how would you and I survive?

As another growing season takes place, these fields allow us a unique glimpse into how the Father takes care of each person.

Have a great day!

(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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A Scottish-Type of Spring

On my way to a recent delivery, I passed this farm. In a pasture near the road, nearly a dozen head of Scottish Highland cattle grazed.

Separated by a vast ocean, these animals were thousands of miles from their native homeland. Yet, they seemed content eating the fresh, green grass of an early Midwestern spring day.

Like those head of cattle, we often find ourselves in places that may seem foreign to us. Do we adjust to, and perhaps even thrive in, our circumstances? Or do we make them a place of hardship and grief?

You and I may not always have a choice in where we’re placed. But, we can decide to allow our Creator to help us make the most out of each situation.

We may not find grass very appetizing. However, there’s always something that can help us grow in every situation if we’re willing to look for it.

Have a great day!

(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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A Longhorn Perspective

Recently, I saw these three head of cattle in a pasture that I was driving past.

From the intent look of the closest animal, I felt fortunate to have a fence between her and me! It was as if she was protecting the other cow with its calf.

How often do we show concern for others around us? After all, we’re all created by God.

Each individual shows the Creator’s love in unique ways. Perhaps, we could take a lesson from these animals and show concern for each person who comes into our lives. In the end, we will experience God’s love in ways that may not have been possible otherwise.

Have a great day!

(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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Spring Lambs

Lambs come to mind for many people when they think about spring.  They’re fun to watch as they play and run around open pastures near their mothers.  The docile, gentle, defenseless animals have come to represent Easter.

Yet, young lambs running about in pastures also have a significant religious meaning.

For the Christian, these animals represent the people who Christ came to die and come back to life for. As the Bible tells us, people are like sheep. We are prone to get entangled in problems and make bad decisions – just like those four-legged critters. Jesus is also referred to as the Good Shepherd. Just as a farmer or rancher who cares for and protects his sheep from danger, Jesus came to save us and protect us from the consequences of our sins.

In other passages of scripture, Jesus is referred to as the Lamb of God.  In this, He is likened to the young sheep that were continually offered as sin and fellowship sacrifices to God.  Through Christ’s death and resurrection, He paid the ultimate price for all who would place their trust in Him.

As the weather warms and becomes mild, it’s fun to observe the newness of life that’s happening around us.  Lambs are one of the many signs that God has given us showing that He still makes all things new.

Have a great day!

(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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Signs of Spring

It’s that time of the year when tree buds and early spring flowers are starting to appear like what is seen in this picture. One can imagine the young livestock – calves, foals and lambs, that are enjoying their first days of new life in many of the nearby pastures.

As the cold nights give way to warm days, there’s a faint earthy smell as farmers begin to work the soil. Of course, the last loads of manure are being hauled out of barns as livestock are beginning to find their way to green, spring pastures. So perhaps, there’s a chance that what I’m smelling is some “fresh country air”.

Spring is a time when the world awakens all around us.  It’s as if everything comes alive after a long winter’s nap.

We look at all of the signs of new life that surrounds us and see an orchestrated beauty there. Even when the world seems out of control, the newness of life shows a certain order. But perhaps there’s more, as that gentle rhythm allows us to see the delicate designs and intricate patterns of a loving Creator. In these moments, we have the ability to be awed by such beauty and grace.

As this new life returns, gone are the cold, dark, damp nights of winter.  In their place, are the warm, fresh, invigorating days of spring.  With the weather changing, take time to enjoy the new life that is appearing all around us.

Have a great day! 😊

(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

 

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Drawing Water

At one time, the sight of a windmill was a common sight on many farms.  Used to power a pump, it was an integral part of helping to draw water out of the ground for both the people and animals that called the place home.  Rising above the house and other outbuildings, the metal framed structure stood like a lone sentinel guarding the property.

Windmills are still found in many places but aren’t as common today. They are still located on old farmsteads and also at Amish farms in place of electric power. Miniature reproductions can also be seen as part of landscape displays.

Just like the water that comes from the ground, there are emotions, attitudes and thoughts within us – beneath our surface. What comes out, when we find ourselves facing different situations, is a reaction to what’s inside.

How you and I respond to others is a reflection to what – and Who – is in us. Let me encourage you to trust the Savior – drawing deeply and finding satisfaction from the well that will never run dry.

Have a great day!

(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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