Third in Series of blogs about our family’s relocation from California to Tennessee.

In January 2007, life continued as usual for us in California. Our little town of Kerman lies in the San Joaquin Valley, (about 20 miles west of Fresno) which is in the southern half of the Central Valley home to many of California’s most productive agricultural efforts. The Central Valley stretches approximately 400 miles from north to south and is around 42,000 square miles, making it roughly the same size as the state of Tennessee.

Typically in January and February, the yearly cycle would start again with pruning and tying vineyards. In almond orchards, bees would be placed for pollination. By March and April, the landscape would be dotted with farmers on their tractors driving long hard hours to nowhere in particular.

If fortunate enough to have had an abundant rain year, irrigation water would begin its long trek through the intricate canal system originating at Pine Flat Lake in eastern Fresno County. Pine Flat is an artificial lake with a storage capacity of 1,000,000 acre-feet. On dry years, irrigations from Pine Flat could be delayed up to May, making farmers dependent on pumping water from wells strategically placed throughout vineyards and orchards. It is important to mention that the average rainfall in the San Joaquin Valley totals about 10 inches a year (rainfall years being measured July 1st to June 30th); therefore irrigation water is crucial to the survival of farm land in Fresno county.

Summer would arrive with long, sun-filled days, cloudless skies, and beautiful, cool desert nights. Every so often record breaking heat waves would encompass the Valley with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees for weeks on end. The months of August and September would bring the stresses of harvest, and the reminder of just how dependent a farmer is on the graces of Mother Nature..

Regardless of the weather, the land always demands the dedicated attention of the farmer. Whether it is the 2 a.m. changing of irrigation water, or the long-awaited day of harvest, the farm is ever present in the mind of the farmer. But we cherished our life on the farm and were blessed with many things, among them our health, friends and family and the realization that we made a difference in the world with hard work and perseverance.

Next - August 2007 and never say never

Read Part II of this post here.

Posted By: Christine Nale

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