How country am I?
Some people think that country and farm life is the same. But living in the country isn’t synonymous for living on a farm.
A farm is land devoted to the production of one or more of the following: produce, grains, livestock, or other commodities. A lot of country folks don’t even plant a garden. They like buying their vegetables at Walmart and other food stores like city residents.
Today, more city dwellers are growing plants in pots or small spaces in their yards. It’s a way to increase physical activity, which is also a form of exercise. Having a green thumb can boost self-esteem and improve one’s mood or attitude.
In fact, many believe gardening decreases stress and a sense of hopelessness; both are problems for many people during this pandemic.
My grandfather was a farmer. He had acres of land dedicated to corn and other produce he sent to the market.
Dad was a gardener. He planted peas, corn, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and the sort. I helped Dad with the garden, but I’ve never experienced farm life.
Although my parents were gardeners, I’m not a gardener. Even as a child, I didn’t play in mud puddles or make mud cakes. dirt on my hands and under my nails feels icky.
But my husband loves scooping and mixing peat moss and soil like cake ingredients. He likes growing stuff and doesn’t mind getting a little dirty.
He tells me I enjoy the harvest but don’t like the work. And he’s right.
I did try to milk a cow once.
And it’s not as easy as you might think. I placed my hands on the cow’s teats and pulled downward. Needless to say, I couldn’t get the hang of it—no pun intended. Not an ounce of mild appeared in the bucket.
There’s an art to milking a cow. Trust me, if the inability to milk a cow or gardening disqualifies me as a country girl.
So be it!
There’s more to a country girl than vegetables and milk!