Ready for Rain

In our backyard we have a black mission fig tree which was probably an ill-advised choice this close to the coast. During most years we get a light round of beautiful, ripe primary fruit in spring, and then all of the secondary fruit just sits there through our foggy summer days and into fall–hard, green nubs that never ripen and eventually fall to the ground in winter. This year we are enjoying an abundant fall harvest thanks to this strange cycle of short heatwaves followed by low-pressure troughs that bring high winds but no rain.

To keep them from jumping over the fence and into our fields, we’ve been having to feed the goats on a daily basis now–the 11 acres of grassland that normally sustains them is barren and dry. It’s way too early to be alarmist about it, but it feels much as it did during the drought around here. Day after beautiful sunny day and no rain in sight.

I really have no right to complain. Dry fields mean we are able to get work done around here without disruption. And the strawberries are still going strong. The turnout at our Sunday farmer’s market has also been phenomenal on these nice warm days. None the less, I have to admit that I am ready for rain. Ready for the peace and quiet that comes when all of the farms around here (including ours) are shut down after a rain storm. Ready for the trees, bushes and outbuildings to have the layers of dust that now coat them washed off. Ready to not be constantly worried about getting water to the plants that need it. And perhaps most of all, ready to shift gears and take some down time without the nagging feeling that I should be out doing something on the farm.