Monday, June 23, 2008

Going for the gold


Admittedly, I shy away from international issues.
Perhaps because I feel there's little I can do to effect change, where change is needed.
Or, perhaps, because my comfortable home, out of harm's way and buffered by woods, allows me to feel insulated from the troubles of the world.
As if somehow the world's crises will respect my land's boundaries.
And resolve themselves without any impact on me.



Frustration calmed by distraction.
I immerse myself in what is beautiful.


But, even here, removed from it all, I sense a difference.
The farmer's fields usually planted in the green of corn or soybeans, this year are covered in wheat.
Acre upon acre of golden grain, as far as the eye can see.
Standing tall, swaying as the breezes pass over them.
A more beautiful scene, there is not.



Distraction leads to wondering--for this is more than a coordinated rotation of crops.

What I see in my small rural community and unfolding across the landscape is a response to the international food/fuel price crisis.
For in the last year, the price of corn is up 31%, rice 74%,
and wheat...130%.





The crisis on the far side of the world has reached my home.
This year the fields' harvest will be gold.

Wheat





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26 comments:

Pat - Arkansas said...

Beautiful photos and thought-provoking commentary.

Beth said...

I enjoy all your posts, Nina. Your pictures are beautiful and your words are meaningful. Like you, I try to insulate myself--when my husband watches the news, I get on my laptop and read nature blogs--but like you said, sometimes even in our imposed isolation we recognize changes that are the result of the economy and worldwide events.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Yes Nina, prices will go higher too. They say that 90% of the crops in our area have been descimated by the flood waters. I find this a scary thing. Food prices will mount creating more of a hardship on those that have so little already.

Ruth said...

The price of grain has risen alarmingly. Each time I buy flour, the increase is very noticeable. I can afford it but unfortunately many in third world countries cannot. I hope your local farmers get a good dollar for their crop. I think the speculators and commodity sellers benefit most unfortunately.

nina at Nature Remains. said...

Lisa--Is there time to replant? Perhaps a crop that doesn't need a full season's growing time?

Nature is such a great escape (sometimes TOO good) that when I become engrossed in what I have here, I almost forget, that on a globe, we're all connected.

NCmountainwoman said...

Well said, Nina. No matter how hard we try to insulate ourselves from it, it affects us all. It's frightening and unpleasant, but a reality we must face.

Thanks for giving us pause to think.

Petunia said...

Very beautiful shots of the wheat filelds. The colour is so great:)
A very nice choice!

Petunia's ABC

Reader Wil said...

Nina, you are not only a good photographer but also a good writer! It's difficult to think that there is a great deal of our world where people are starving, you are right about that.

Texas Travelers said...

Nice photographs and good commentary.

Our "W's" are big today.
Come visit,
Troy and Martha

Anonymous said...

wonderful W shots

Please visit mine also in here Thanks

Juliana said...

excelent w series

Mine in here at My Imaginary Travels. Thanks

Shelley said...

Very thought-provoking post - perfect w/ the photos.

esnorway said...

great pics and story werry good

EG CameraGirl said...

Yes, we're on a downward cycle of greed here in Canada too. That's something none of us in North America can truly avoid, I'm afraid, since greed is what powers western economies.

Now I'm stepping off my soapbox.

Anonymous said...

Loved all your wheat photos!

me ann my camera said...

I enjoyed all of your photos of the beautiful fields of gold.
varying seasons

Unknown said...

Wonderful wheat field shots.

Great ABC post.

Gary
Bodge's Bulletin

Kyanite said...

What a good, thought provoking W.

Anonymous said...

I just caught up on LOTS of your posts... This one is especially poignant. One could just scroll through and look at the beautiful agricultural scenes... But your words make one think!

bobbie said...

I hope no one does just scroll through looking at your pictures - beautiful as they are. I find I do that in magazines. Not with blogs, however, and I'm grateful for your words. They always make me stop and think.

MojoMan said...

I take this as a hopeful sign. I'd much rather see farmers growing wheat to feed people than corn to feed V-8's.

Maybe it's just me and wishful thinking, but as I look around, I think I see some people finally starting to think about the way we live and how we can make changes that will save energy and save our world.

mrsnesbitt said...

A thought provoking post Nina. Well Done!

Anonymous said...

Wheat, rye, etc. are topics that are often forgotton, when we start talking about subjects for photography. Nice to see that someone thought about them as well.

Profile Not Available said...

I love wheat fields! I love the waves they make when the wind blows over them, and they way the gold sets against a really blue sky. Yours are just perfect!

Tash said...

Beautiful photos of wheat, really lovely in simplicity & meaning. Long time ago I great wheat in a pot on my mini balcony in Northeast Los Angeles. I think there is something nurturing about it beyond its nutritional value.

Jerez Sherry said...

Beautiful fields of 'gold'.
I'm curious, ever get any crop circles there?
I had to ask.
A local baker went out of biz due to increase in wheat prices, and I've noticed rice has more than doubled in price, as you say . I should buy my 100 lbs now!