Amish, Before and After the Drought

It rained yesterday!   We had over four inches (and still counting) of slow drizzling rain!  I declare the drought over!

Before the rain arrived, I griped, complained, and whined every second as I stood and watered my garden in the blazing heat.  However, there are those who suffered more than I.  My livelihood doesn't depend on my farm. This was my local Amish community earlier this summer right before the drought began.

One-room schoolhouse

Then the rains stopped and the drought began. It has been a month since I last visited.  The farmer from whom I purchase milk had a sick cow, the others were hardly producing so my orders were canceled until yesterday.  This is how the land looked. 

It was misting as I traveled and no one I met seemed to mind getting wet or standing in a puddle.  The rain was a welcomed relief.

We haven't had any frosts or even one cold night.  The devastation was caused by high temperatures and no rain.

This was a productive pumpkin field earlier.  Now it is barren except for weeds and an occasional lopsided pumpkin left to rot.

Their tomato plants looked as bad as mine.

Few houses were selling produce.  It was being kept to feed their big families. 

I suppose I can sigh and say what all gardeners say after a dismal season, "There is always next year."

Additional Links

Amish, My Adventures

Amish, Buying Fresh Milk
Amish, Summertime