Today’s bike ride was the longest yet for Mom. We left about
8 a.m.…got back about 10:30. Just over eighteen miles…down to the end of
Picacho Hwy and back. Made several stops for water breaks and a much needed “I
need to rest my butt’ break on the way back.
Kim didn’t want to
take his time getting back, which was fine…I told him to go for it and we’d be
along. He took off and quickly left us in the dust. We rode at a comfortable
speed with more pedal and less assist. However, when our butt’s started to
complain, we went full throttle on Pedal Assist 3 for about the last 2 ½ miles,
which had us running about 15 mph. Got us off the bikes sooner and since Mom’s
bike battery needed a charge anyway, figured we might as well deplete it as
much as possible. My battery was holding steady at 4 bars.
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I’ve
been looking online for information about crop rotation, specific to this area.
No matter what search criteria I use, what keeps popping up are interviews,
both in print and on the radio, given by Cassy England, a fourth-generation farmer.
Her family’s farm, Sierra Farming, is located in Pinal County and cotton is
just one of the crops that they grow. While I didn’t find anything specific to crop
rotation, I like the letter she wrote to elementary school students about her
background and what they do on the farm. Found these two paragraphs to be
informative:
Now, let's dive
into the exciting world of cotton! We plant it in the spring, usually between
March and April. First, we water the fields, and then we carefully plant the
cotton seeds in the soft soil. After that, we wait patiently for about 6-8
weeks without watering because the soil needs time to do its magic. But when
the time is right, we start watering the cotton every 7-10 days until
September. We also give the plants special things, like plant growth
regulators, fertilizers, and herbicides, to help them grow strong and healthy.
It's like giving them a boost! These things help us get big crops while being
smart about using our resources.
Now, let's talk
about alfalfa! We plant it in November or December, and it stays in the field
for a few years. It's a pretty cool crop. We water it every two weeks and cut
it every month from March to October. After we cut it, we make small bales that
weigh around 90-100 pounds each. Horses love eating them! In the winter, we
sell the alfalfa to a dairy. They chop it up, bag it, and store it for feed.
Did you know that alfalfa has really deep roots? Those roots help the plant
resist drought and prevent soil erosion. Plus, after growing alfalfa, it leaves
behind natural fertilizer for the next crop. Nature is pretty amazing!
Our operations encompass approximately 6,500
acres of cropland. We utilize a careful crop rotation strategy, primarily
short-staple cotton, alfalfa, wheat, barley, corn, and oats. This rotation not
only maximizes our yields but also preserves the health of our soil. So,
corn is grown in Pinal County.
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Both my mom and I took naps today on the
fake leather couches. Late night and early morning combined with the heat hit
me hard today. Mom doesn’t go to bed late but has been getting up very early,
so I guess that’d be her reason for stretching out.
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Spent the evening with Bryan and Linda
Schumaker, friends from Boyne City who are now full-time residents of Marana.
They plan to come to Michigan for a couple of months during the summer, so
hopefully we’ll get to see them again at that point.
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There is a wind advisory for our area from 5
o’clock this evening until 2 p.m. tomorrow. Had to prepare before we left for Bryan
and Linda’s: retract the awning, secure the lawn chairs, and move the e-bikes.
Kim even moved his telescope under the overhang of a nearby 5th
wheel camper that was being stored back near his little corner. Last year the
scope was blow over in a big wind…no damage was done to it but we’d rather be
safe than sorry in regards for what’s predicted. No wind when we at Bryan and
Linda’s…no wind on the way home…still no wind at 10:30 p.m. I’m thinking this may have been a drill.
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Too cloudy for Kim to pull the telescope out
of its protected hiding place. Plus, it’s not advisable, just in case the wind
should come up quickly.
