Why I Could Never Be A Farmer. . .

Beyond all the obvious reasons like I have no knowledge of crops, would not know how to work farm equipment, don't know anything about season, crop care, etc. I could never be a farmer because I find the look of a freshly harvested field purely depressing. Tyler told me harvest time is positive, the crops are being harvested, people are able to cash in on their long hard work, but for me it is just depressing.

I'll explain. Barbados is beautiful. You think Caribbean and of course you think beautiful, but part of what I find beautiful about this island isn't the typical beauty. Don't get me wrong I love the turquoise waters and white sandy beaches, but I also have come to love the more rustic beauty that can be found on drives through the countryside here. I love the narrow winding roads surrounded on either side by the sugar cane. They might be dangerous narrow roads, but there is something so mystical feeling about them. I love driving through the cane fields with the breeze blowing and watching the cane rustle and dance. This is one of my favorite views of Barbados:

I love the palm trees on the horizon, the cane rustling on either side and the beautiful clear sky overhead. To me it is so beautiful.

So what's the problem with this? Sugar cane is a crop. It is not planted to make the narrow roads feel beautiful or to appeal to tourists. Quite simply the sugar cane is planted to make money. This naturally means as with all crops there comes a time when the cane must be harvested. This is good, it produces sugar and helps to sustain that sector of the economy. But it is just so depressing and ugly! This is what my beautiful field looks like after it has been harvested:

They were harvesting the fields right next to Emily's preschool today. This was great for the teachers, the kids spent most of the day pressed to the gate watching the cane harvester do it's job. The boys couldn't get enough of this HUGE machine. When I came to pick Emily up the field I always parked beside was half harvested, half not:

So I am happy for the cane farmers. I am so happy they had a beautiful crop this year and that they can support their families and the economy. But I am so sad to see the beautiful full fields go! I hope everyone replants soon, I don't know how long I can bear to look at the bare pillaged looking fields!

So thank you empty sad fields, I now know I can never be a farmer. That and the fact that I couldn't grow a crop of sugar cane to save my life. . . . Thank you also empty field for making me feel like I need to get going on my photography class, these pictures don't seem to do it justice!