Field Report (monday morning)

An hours labor.
There is no soil in New England like this. This clump of sod I am holding is a microcosm of organic productivity. It's what makes agriculture work here better than anywhere else in the world.
Dormant ground, compacted by months of rain and wind, is made vaible within seconds with a fifteen tooth chisel-plow towed behind the sizable machine pictured below.

"The future is Ethanol." Danny Meeker, Bug's distant cousin lectured me for a half hour this morning about the economics of corn fuel. He represents the new generation of farmers who are jumping into the renewable energy markets, ethanol and biodiesel, like ducks to water. Most of the farmers I've spoken with this weekend are a generation older than he and some see an end in sight. Here, I wish him the best on his investments.

Today is our last full day in Illinois. Reports back home in Vermont indicate more snow than when we left. Tua is slightly under the weather but very happy in the current surroundings.