Fire and Farming
This morning it is evident that the fire in the eastern most part of Napa County is less contained that it was yesterday morning this time. A large plume of smoke spreads across the sky at first light. The orangish light is alarming and reminds us to think about animals and evacuation plans, should that ever become necessary.
Living in the hills during drought and triple digit heat alerts us to how small we are in relationship to the earth and the elements. We work to increase moisture and health of our plants by spraying a lot of extra Barrel Compost (yesterday the grapes and orchard got it, moon in Sagittarius) and we prudently water to help drought-stressed plants along. Mulch helps hold in moisture. Drip irrigation economizes on water.
Stress puts us up against ourselves, gives us a chance to really pay attention. In this case, that uneasy “opportunity” is a 100° plus day, with a fire going, in the beginning of a fifth drought year, when water is short and everything is very dry. It creates a kind of third ear that listens to the earth, how we are in balance or not, correcting the illusion of dominion over.