The Good Fortune Harvest
The months turn into a year and already rituals get established. In the evenings, my mother and I harvest what we want from our cornucopia and give what we don’t use away to neighbors and charities around town. We snap and chop, saute and stew, and then sit down at the family table – just the two of us or whoever else comes by to eat that day. We never cease to be amazed at our bounty.
Before each meal, we turn our heads in silence toward the window that looks out over the farm. We close our eyes and give ourselves and the land thanks. We are lucky women. Each crop has been a success. This year we intend to start selling produce to small markets who have agreed to carry our goods as specialty items. Word of mouth is helping us to gain popularity around here. (Word of my mouth that is, along with a well placed sign at David’s deli on First Street stating he uses nothing but organic.)
Last month, a young man came around and interviewed me from the local newspaper. He wrote a nice article in the Living Section about the benefits of organic farming, calling me a local visionary whose time had come. Imagine that. This same reporter now comes by twice a week to buy his vegetables from me. He has a bumper sticker on his car that says Support Your Local Organic Farmer and a handsome face which wrinkles into a sympathetic smile when our eyes meet.
And last week, the anniversary of my Father’s death rolled around again, but this year, my mother decided not to celebrate it. She told my brothers and sister that she was staying home to help with the late summer harvest at the farm (which fortunately promised to be an abundant one). They all turned to look at me as if her not going to the grave was my doing, but frankly I was rather surprised myself by her decision.
She confessed to me later, when we were by ourselves, how when my Father died she was happy for him because he had finally found peace, but that now she’s just glad he’s dead and gone. I know it took a lot for her to say this aloud.
THE END
The Good Fortune Harvest by Rachel Dangermond
Copyright ©1998 by Rachel Dangermond