Einkorn Harvest 2015

For the seventh time, we have arrived at harvest time in our einkorn fields. When we first started growing einkorn, there were many unknowns. There were many beautiful surprises, and what seems like more, unexpected difficulties. Most of the beauty came from the plants themselves, tall and slender, we could sit in the fields for hours and watch them sway like the waves of an ocean. It was special beyond words to think we were growing the most ancient grain again.

Farming is like life, vulnerable. When times are good, you feel grateful, especially if you've experienced hardships. As it is with every farm, the force of nature can humble quickly. A few years ago, it was extremely hot and dry in the summer and the grains were so tiny, we decided to wait an extra week for harvest. Einkorn is very close to how it grew in the wild hundreds of thousands of years ago, so the grains dislodge when they are very ripe. A higher percentage of grains dropped to the ground during that harvest and our yields were lower than what we expected. If you've been with us for a while, you may even remember how flat and small our wheat berries were that year.

Last year, it rained constantly during the month of June, and at a certain point, we feared we might even lose the crop. Einkorn proved to be very hardy, and when the sun finally shined again, the wheat found a way to ripen very quickly. Yields were low again, two years in a row. It's not easy to find farmers that will grow einkorn because of all of these unknowns. Why take a risk? So, we pay them well each year, even when things go wrong, but if this year was to be the third bad one, we feared some would become discouraged. I still feel very emotional when I visit the einkorn fields. I took these pictures late one evening at the end of June at Stefano's farm, which is just about one mile from my home. We were leaving Italy for the summer, and instead of packing, I decided to run out to check on things for the last time. I drove my car down the dirt road that travels through the farm. The weeds in the road were so high, they thumped loudly on the underside of my car. Even though I knew where the einkorn was planted, I drove by the field thinking I must have made a mistake. That can't be einkorn, they must have planted emmer for some reason. I kept driving and driving, my heart began to race as I scanned the fields.

It was getting late, the sun would be setting soon, so I turned around and went back to that field. I got out of the car and as I approached the edge, the panic I was feeling subsided. The field was einkorn, but I immediately noticed that all of the plants were drooping, something I had never seen before. I then noticed that a recent rain storm had caused many sections of the field to lodge, or bend over. As I looked closer at the plant, it became evident that the grains were the plumpest I had ever seen. No wonder why they weren't growing toward the sky, the plants couldn't support the weight of the grains. I knew the weather had been perfect all year- a snowy winter, an early spring with intermittent rain, and a very hot and dry start to the summer. But I had just been at Leonardo's farm in mid-May and the wheat was still green grass. Einkorn surprised me with joy this time.

I started to think about how happy the farmers would be this year. Finally, an abundant harvest, after all of these years. I took out the camera, the light was magical. It was so peaceful there, just me, the butterflies and a field of einkorn wheat. As the sun began to set, I wished I could stay a little longer. I also wished I could have shared this evening with everyone who uses our products. 

The harvest is over now. We should celebrate our bounty, like farmers have done for thousands of year. Yet, we only have a few months to decide how much seed we will set aside for next year, calculate the acres, check on how many acres will be in rotation, find new farms. The cycle will begin again before we know it, and we need to be prepared. We certainly are grateful, especially that the love of einkorn is growing strong.