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Aug
Wed
19th 
Llewellyn MERRICK.Part 4 Referring back to his ancestors, who were also farmers, Mr. Merrick said that when he was working in the field, he would often look up into the hills and think about how many times his ancestors had done the same. Every action—the planting and gathering of harvest, driving the tractor, throwing out hay—it was all in unison with his ancestors. The bond between these ancestors was particularly powerful for me because it not only bore a blood tie, but also signaled harmony between a human family and the natural world. The Merrick family had reaped the benefits from their land while safeguarding it simultaneously for generations. Mr. Merrick’s roots were a special kind, alive and unified in both human terms and in the natural realm. I used to assume that places like Merrick’s Farm, Rice’s Fruit Farm and Bennett’s Turkey Farm are landmarks of Wilbraham simply because they are old. After listening to Mr. Merrick for a few hours, I understood that there was more to it than that. These places are staples of the town because they are our deepest connection to an interconnected, sustainable lifestyle. They represent Wilbraham in its purest form. Ironically, I realize all this just as Rice’s Fruit Farm has closed and Bennett’s Turkey Farm has been sold. Of course, we still have Mr. Merrick and his farm, a few valuable resources, which Wilbraham is free to tap into for now. …. … .. Kimya HEDAYAT-ZADEH |
