Dry land farming here at Sunnyside

Most of you know here at Sunnyside we dry land farm.  This means we have no irrigation for our crops - in fact we rely on God for every drop of water that comes onto this little patch of land (including what we use in the house).   This is good in years when the climate co-operates with the needs of the crops, but as you know we've had 10 years of drought here (2 for us since we have only been country folk for 2 harvests so far).  Although we had a harvest those years, it was well below average.

Our barley paddock 2010


Well I've shared before that this year is different (Praise the Lord) - this year we have had rain - lots of rain.  So much in fact that the dams are overflowing after being dry for many years, the gardens are flourishing (if only, only I had more time to put into them - I should say here the weeds are in fact flourishing :)  ).  And the crops are looking beautiful.  

Harvest started with a bang as it always does in late November.  The anticipation as the farmers prepare is intense - the machines are ready, the grain is matured & the fields are ripe.   As usual is was the canola crops that were first harvested - the farmers had "wind rowed" them previously to allow them to dry without smashing the delicate seed pods & then it was time to harvest those precious seeds that are used in so many products.  Most farmers were done with their canola & and had begun their grains (wheat/ barley/ triticale etc) when it happened - the rains came.  Now at any, any other time of the year we LOVE rain out here - as you know I've asked you to pray many times for rain.  Well that is we LOVE rain EXCEPT when it's harvest time - then we chant "rain, rain won't you stay, but in December go away" (OK maybe not, but you know what I mean).

As you can see the weeds flourished alongside the grain!


  Well in the last week we've had 2 inches of rain and what I didn't know before a couple of our farmer friends educated me is that with each day of rain at harvest time, the quality of the grain decreases which means less profit for the farmer, less grain for the consumer, less grain to export etc.  Well praise God we haven't had rain for the last few days (although people less than an hour south of us sure have been in the thick of it) so I'm sure the farmers will be out on their headers once again harvesting as soon as the ground & crop dries out enough which hopefully will be tonight or tomorrow if this good weather continues (thank you Lord).  I'm not sure when our little barley crop will be harvested as we contract in our neighbours to do it, but I'll keep you informed...

As we sat  last Sunday listening to the rain beating down on our little country church (such beautiful, Christian  people who  have opened their arms to us & now hold a special place in our hearts),  one of our deacons challenged us to be thankful to God in everything - rain, hail or shine. So we all set our minds to Thank Him for all He provides for us - for in fact we are incredibly blessed - we have so very much & so many people have so very little.   

Praise God that this year there will be a harvest  - that this year we have roofs over our heads - that this year we have food , abundant food - that this year we have the freedom to worship Him  - that this year we have clothes to dress our children - that this year we have the freedom to of a Christian education for our children- THANKYOU LORD!

" Give thanks in all circumstances; 
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

Let's make sure this December we have an attitude of gratitude!

What are you thankful for?

Blessings,