My land ain't for sale

Someone seems to think I'm the dumbest land owner in Iowa... maybe in the US or possibly the world.

He thought I would accept a cash offer on my land.

(Truthfully, I would if the price was right)

But not at a loss.

Land values have increased since we bought the place. Record breaking land sales, in fact, of well over 10,000/acre. (My moderate CSR rated land is not worth that, I'm not crazy.)

But someone thought I was.

I looked up this guy and he seems like a land speculator, gobbling up land on the cheap stating, "high seller satisfaction."

Maybe gullible, cash-trapped sellers but for me? Hmmpf, I don't think so.

Offering up a price of about half of what it's worth and about a twentieth of what I "might" consider.

I don't really care to be insulted and my squatters, like this doe, don't like it either.

To anyone listening, my land ain't for sale.

 

Shoe drop

One of the rules that I live by: Life Must Balance

Which is when I've bragged a little, reality comes along to smack that haughtiness back where it belongs.

In a previous post I mentioned that sales were good, only a few days later to have my worst sales day --- ever.

Then a friend asked if my popcorn looked good this year, I started to say, "It looks really goo...." when I realized that I said too much.

Two days later, half was laying on the ground. Kaput. Flat, broken stalks that won't recover.

This is a bit of superstition that I really don't play into. It's just a reaction to the moment.

Because if I truly believed that G*d reacts this way when someone takes a little pride in their efforts, then I really should be dead from His vengeful wrath. Truly...

Iowa gets storms (remember the derechio a few years ago?) so why should my little operation miss out. Acres of oats were also laying flat on the ground just up the road from us. Another lost his sweetcorn to hail.

Weather --- ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The best I can do is shrug.

We planted an additional plot this year which will soften the loss and hope I can come up with some additional income for next year because much of what I grow now is for next year's sales.

I show this pic, not to generate sympathy but to show how fragile our plans and efforts can be, although I'm sure there's someone out there enjoying the bit of schadenfreude at our expense. (I see you)

It's about how, in a single moment, all of one's work, or their lives, can be swept away. Just ask those in floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. Some people lost much more than a few stalks of corn.

Plan, Prepare, Execute, Reevaluate, Adapt. 

I'm in the Reevaluate stage right now and next year might still be a good year. 

In the mean time, I'm keeping my mouth shut about this year --- just in case another shoe drops (again) and the wrath of the gods never run out of shoes.

 

Yes, it's been awhile...

Take a break - you might miss something.

This past week was three long days turning ground, planting, and interruptions to run for replacement parts.

You know that a drive belt never breaks until you use it, right?

And a planter plate doesn't turn if it's jammed.

I was rushing to plant the early crops before a rain on Thursday and another all-day job off the farm on Friday.

This is the time of year that if you get into a hurry, you miss things.

Like a sunset at the end of a long day, where the shadow cast along the bottom half of a soft maple tree but the sun illuminates the crown.

You can find your own metaphor in this but I find it one pauses once in a while you may capture a memory or two. I would have liked a better camera/skills to capture it for others.

Stay safe out there and give the farmers a little leeway while they move equipment from field to field.

It's planting season.