Pastoral Song

The Earth has always kept secrets that it only reveals to those who live in harmony with the land, such as farmers. There is a subtle balance between humans and nature, a kind of exchange of mutual aid, whereby humans dedicate their time and energy to the land and the land promises crops in return. 

Being a farmer, however, is a challenging job, which not only requires manual skills and a knowledge of agronomy, but also very strong faith in the harvest. Working the land takes immense physical effort, and it does not necessarily always pay off, because the harvest depends on many external factors, such as the weather, the temperature, rainfall, weeds, and animals that eat or ruin the crops. This is why working the land is also an act of faith. 

The farmer’s constant, daily tasks are like a prayer that the plants will sprout; the sunrise and sunset hold hope for a productive new day; and the harvest creates a sense of deep gratitude. A successful harvest is never a foregone conclusion, and working the land involves both simple and highly complex challenges, such as weeds that must be torn out before they steal precious water and nutrients from the crops. The crops must also be harvested at a very specific time, otherwise they will either not be ready, or will be too far gone.

The Earth holds the mysterious and beautiful secrets of the Universe, and for millennia, they have been revealed only to those who labour the land.