“When the going gets tough … the tough get going.” While WWII was devastating the world, 1939-1945, everything got pretty tough for all the people in our world.
While factories that produced for both domestic use and exports were being bombed and farmers fields that produced nourishment for the old world were turned into battlefields leaving millions either low on food or starving, on this side of the ocean many everyday items like gas, rubber, sugar, butter, nylon stocking and even leather boots were a few of the rationed articles.
Factories that produced cars, trucks and tractors were switched over to . . .
manufacture tanks, airplanes, guns, ammunition and wartime trucks to move everything at the front.
Shipyards were working overtime to produce frigates and submarines. Luxury liners were converted to troop carriers and most other ocean going vessels became part of the merchant marine, moving food and supplies from North America to the old country.
People who had a few dollars were buying war bonds to help our governments finance the money hungry war. Even old farm machinery and other scrap steel were donated to be melted down into guns, tanks, and other metal items needed to fight the war. The unemployed and unnecessary workers were the first to either sign up or be conscripted to fight for our freedom. There were a few non-believers who hid and said, “It’s not my war.” (We still know a few like that.)
The war we are fighting today is with an invisible foe. After only ten months it looks like the world will lose more people before we win than were killed in WWII.
Many years ago, there was an author Hiram Drache who while addressing a group of farmers said “Until you walk down a dirt road kicking stones and wondering where the next dollar will come from you will not know how resourceful you can be.” Some people have not been there yet.
This year we have had some time to read, play video games and think. Some have replaced some time playing computer games with looking at free apps like the one that lets you compare the costs of heating your house by checking costs of wood, oil, propane and electricity. Another neat app lets you compare total costs of different vehicles using fuel cost, kms. driven per year, residual value of the vehicle, carbon emissions, etc. It also asks the question “When a non-renewable resource is expended then what?”
One of our best hockey players of all time, Wayne Gretzky was once asked, “What is your secret?” He calmly replied, “You don’t chase the puck, you go to where the puck will be.” The Gretzkys of the world are already looking ahead to see what the people of the world will need or want in the future. It looks like this COVID-19 virus will be affecting us for some time yet depending on many unknowns including the unpredictability of man.
Our dairy producers have predicted that next fall and winter, many people will still be wanting to eat good food like cheeses, home baked goods like cookies, fruit cake, and pies that use butter and cream. Since cows give the most milk only after having a calf, and a cow is pregnant nine months before having her calf then if we need more milk next fall to make all those dairy products with, the dairy farmers must get cows bred now for next fall.
When travel slowed down last spring it caused a big decrease in fossil fuel consumption. Scientists also observed a rapid increase in air and water quality, song birds and pollinators began to return. People became more concerned about pollution and climate change. Focus changed rapidly to developing less polluting cars, trucks, airplanes and even tractors. There have also been some signals from the stock market that have some investors starting to think more like Gretzky.
I grew up in an age of specialization in doing only one thing really well. Now people are starting to think more like grandpa, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” and “Watch your step.”
Chris Judd is a farmer in Clarendon on land that has been in his family for generations.
gladcrest@gmail.com
