In December, I contracted with Arcadia Publications to write my third book for them. I was made aware that there were people, who had missed inclusion in the previous books I had written. Although many of the Northern Macomb County townships already had the ‘Images of America’ books highlighting them, there were at least four of these townships, Lenox, Ray, Bruce and Armada that didn’t. While the population, seems to move forward and going north that seems to be the direction for that growth. These townships population is considerably smaller that most of the others in this area. But large or small population, there are still stories to be told and to be documented.
I realized my best option, was to make a chapter for each of the nine townships. While the usual and past books have included information on the complete area, from schools, churches, governmental building, shoppes as well as the early settlers, I found researching the farming life of these areas fascinating, so that became my focus.
While I have been asked if I had grown up on a farm, I would reply that I was surely a “city girl”! Then I came across this image of me when my family was living in Canada during the mid to late 1950’s, and it looks like learning to drive a tractor was something I had already accomplished. After that, the closest I got to a farming life was as a 10 years old, using an old bunkbed ladder to climb a stockade fence and drop down on to a fifty gallon oil drum to visit my friend Jane. Were we would go in to her parents garden and pilfer their kohlrabi. Today when shopping for vegetables and I see the kohlrabi in season, I still remember those days. But when you realize how many kitchen ‘tools’ you need just to get passed the leaves and stocks and skin on kohlrabi just to make it edible, how did two young kids do it straight out of the garden?
As you do the research, you are always on the look out for the perfect image to use on the cover. Although Arcadia usually asked for as many as 10 images for them to find the best, that will fit the cover, and they like a human interest aspect to it. This time, I remembered this image from the ‘Macomb’ book, and talking to the gentleman who met me at the archives to see what he had for a submission into that book. That gentleman, is the little boy on the tractor.
I don’t think I could have found a better image to use than the one showing a father on his ‘brand new 1953 Ford tractor’ with his little son adding his ‘opinion’ to the situation.
I have been very lucky to be able to meet some really lovely farming families, and be taught all about this very hard working way of life, from planting techniques, to farm machinery and how its used. This is a way of life that should give everyone a deep pause when we put these fresh foods on our tables. It is with great excitement and pleasure that this week, this book goes off to my publisher. Looking for an early fall publication date 🙂
On that ‘wee note’, till next week
Thank you for visiting and reading today. Be sure to share with your friends using the share buttons below. If you haven’t already please enter your email address in the form below to receive my stories by email.
Linda Osborne Cynowa 