The Hum
SCORCHING SUN ON YOUR BACK, SWEAT SEEPING THROUGH YOUR SHIRT. THE BREEZE PROVIDES A LITTLE BIT OF RESPITE, BUT NOT THAT MUCH. YOU TRUDGE DOWN A ROW THROUGH THE FIELD, STEP BY STEP, WITH AN OLD, BEAT-UP SHOVEL RESTING AGAINST YOUR SHOULDER. YOUR EYES ARE PEALED, SCAN- NING THE PLANTS ON EITHER SIDE OF YOU UNTIL YOU SEE ONE. A PLANT THAT IS LIGHTER THAN THOSE AROUND IT, WITH CURLED-UP LEAVES UNDERNEATH. AS YOU LEAN DOWN AND TAKE A CLOSER LOOK, YOU REALIZE YOU’RE STARING AT THE PURPOSE FOR YOUR ACHING FEET.
16 Potato Grower | JUNE 2010