An Interview with Farmer Naut
by Kassadee_Marie, HSM team writer
Good Morning, Mr. Naut and thank you for allowing me to visit your lovely farm.
Ya’ be right welcome, lassie and no need fer a thankee. Right glad to have ya’ here and ya’ be a sight fer these sore eyes. Ya’ ken come visit every day iffin ya’ wanna; never know what might be new here next time ya’ come callin’. And call me Jugger; Mr. Naut was me pappy.
I appreciate that. So, how long have you been farming, Jugger?
Been workin’ the land nigh onto three score years now, ever since I was a tadpole of five. Farming the land that me pappy farmed and his pappy ‘fore him and his pappy ‘fore him all the way back to the crossin’. Came over in ’55; that’s be 1755, missy. ‘Spect Jugger Jr. will be farmin’ here someday too, once he comes to his senses and gets over his city-slicker ways.
That is a long time; you must be proud of your heritage.
Farmers is what we is and always was, I recon’. It be hard work, but honest work and I be proud of it, sure thing.
The farmhouse is very lovely. How long has it been here?
Place was built by me great-great-great grand-pappy, Jugger the first. Me grand-pappy added the mill wheel fer grinding corn and I, meself, added the loft where we sleep. Right proper nowadays to have a special sleepin’ room. Do me some bathin’ there in the winter when the creek’s cold, too.
Do you do the upkeep on the house yourself?
I do the thatchin’ and the wood repairs, oil the mill workin’s, clean out the chimney every spring. Other than that-there, it keeps itself up. Stone walls are known fer that. Hur, hur.
Who named the farm, by the way?
I figure it named itself, being sitchy-ated in a nook of the Bramble creek and all.
Sitchy-ated? Oh, situated. I see. You’re lucky to have lovely views in every direction, Jugger. What crops do you grow here?
Well, now we grow food fer the table, food fer the animals and some fer the market. Corn seems to be our best seller this season. We also grow pumpkins, carrots, lettuce, beets and strawberries. Finest tastin’ berries in these parts if I do say so, meself.
In addition to crops, I see you have animals.
Well now, that’s right natchural fer a farm, now ain’t it? Hur, hur.
Yes, indeed. I notice the air is wonderfully fresh, except near the pigs.
Gotta slop the hogs twice a day to keep ‘em fat and happy. Rollin’ in the mud’s their way to keep their skin soft.
I see; I didn’t know that. Presently you have pigs, sheep, and chickens. Do you plan on expanding your animal menagerie?
I ain’t got no menagy thing-a-ma-bob, girly. But I may add to the animals here in time. Been thinkin’ ’bout getting me some cows or a horse. I recent-like took up bee keein’, so watch chur’ self by the dock. They dasn’t like bein’ disturbed.
Thank you for the warning. Speaking of the dock, I notice you don’t have a boat.
Did have. She took off in the flood of aught nine and hear-tell she made it all the way to the sea.
I’m sorry for your loss. The dock looks rather empty without a boat. Do you plan on replacing “her”?
Might, jess might do that one-a these here days. Farmin’s not so profit-makin’ as ya’ all might think. I take a turn at wood workin’ now and agin, too.
I’ve seen some of your hand-made wood items here, sir and I must say they are simply lovely. The trellis is especially beautiful and the rustic flower box is charming.
Thankee kindly, lassie. No need to call me sir, anywho. Be glad to make a few items fer ya’ to take along, as long as ya’ chop the wood fer ‘em.
Thank you. I think I may give that a try later. By the way, what is the wind-mill for?
Got me some plans fer that. Come back after a bit and I’ll show you.
Again, I’d like thank you for your hospitality and for agreeing to an interview, Jugger. It’s been a pleasure speaking with you and I’ve enjoyed my visit to your wonderful farm.
‘Welcome to ya’. Come back any time.
My thanks to Burbie52 and her friends for the photo opportunities.
March 7th, 2013 by Kassadee Marie | 3 comments
Home is endlessly entertaining to this California girl. Kassadee has been in Home for about four years, and loves almost everything about it (with a few notable exceptions). She spends way too much money there, and perhaps too much time... Someday she will travel the world and write about the people she meets and the places she sees.
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Your welcome Kass and I love the way you did this, much better than the other idea you had. This was a very fun read!
It’s nice to have an interview with someone and show show the way they really talk, not that faked out typing that some writers use.
Very much fun.
Good one Kass,I liked the way that you let the reader know what the place has, buried in your ‘interview’. Very good job.