It's that time again here in Smalltownland. The wagons are out and the barn doors are open.
Tobacco is being cut and brought into barns to dry. This will ready it for market in the coming weeks.
Truly a controversial product, I admit that we do not grow it here on our own farm. However, as soon as I leave my house, I see it everywhere. Even peeping out from the small side-doors on tobacco barns.
It continues to fuel aspects of Southern culture.
"I kissed my first girl and smoked my first cigarette on the same day. I haven't had time for tobacco since."
Arturo Toscanini
Tobacco still remains one the most profitable outcomes for farmers- Tobacco growing is embedded in the southern culture. The good, bad and the ugly. Love it. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe photos are beautiful.
Velva
My parents grew tobacco when I was 7. I can still remember the distinctive smell of it drying in the barn.
ReplyDeletedefinitely nothing i see here. :)
ReplyDeleteControversial or not, they are representative of your local agricultural community. That and they are really good too!
ReplyDeleteWell controversial or not, it makes for fantastic black and white photos!
ReplyDeleteNice b/w shots
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a real tobacco leaf... and I am glad to agree with Toscanini!
ReplyDeleteHow interesting!!!! No one grows tobacco around here, but I would live to see it!!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day
Hi Michelle, I don't use tobacco myself, but it sure looks interesting in your photo. Neat pics, as always. John
ReplyDeleteLove b/w when done right, as you did.
ReplyDeleteNice b&w shots.
ReplyDeleteGreat vintage looking shots! I have enjoyed a cigarette or two in my day, but not for years. People always have a choice. I'll bet it smells great drying. xx
ReplyDeleteno Tabacco growing here in Texas...great photos...love the black and white...
ReplyDeleteA wonderful mean to measure time and life. Great mood in the b/w. Please have you all a good new week.
ReplyDeleteJohn - No one here in my household uses a tobacco product either, but my 96 year old grandmother still dips powdered snuff everyday and has since she was around ten years of age.
ReplyDeleteWe took our first family vacation by car across country when I was 10 or 12 years old. We went through Indiana and visited a tobacco farm there. The farmer sent me home with a very large tobacco plant pulled directly from his field and I took it home to Iowa, took it on the school bus with me and to school for show and tell.. HA HA..... No one in Iowa had seen a tobacco plant before so everyone thought it was pretty neato!
ReplyDeleteSomeone has to grow it I guess. Might as well be American grown where we know it's real! My son is the only one in the family that smokes, and that's because his wife does. Wish they'd quit.
ReplyDelete((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Love that quote! It made me smile. Most of the former tobacco farms in southwestern Ontario are now growing another crop.
ReplyDeleteThere are tobacco fields and barns 15 minutes north of Hartford, near the airport. They are high quality shade grown tobacco, used for cigar wrappers.
ReplyDeleteI love the black and white photos here. I grew up in the 1940s in a house where both parents smoked. So, of course, I did too. I wanted to stop for nearly 30 years and couldn't. It's a horrible addiction. Fortunately for me, with the arrival of Nicorette Gum, I stopped just like that. Smoke free for 20 years next year. Well, this was probably more info than you or anyone else wanted. I wouldn't judge the farmers, they have to live too.
ReplyDeleteI love that last quote. I've never smoked but kissing's gotta be better!
ReplyDeleteI wish some smart person could make tobacco healthy. Yes, I was addicted, but I also really liked it. Nice choice of B& W.
ReplyDeleteMany years ago, I lived near Kinston, NC and can still remember the smell of tobacco drying.
ReplyDeleteHilarious quote... Grin!
ReplyDeleteControversial or not, one day I want to see this in person. Such a large part of our history in this country.
ReplyDeleteThat quote was definitely a good plan in all ways! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat shots- especially in black and white.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures! We don't do tobacco up in Iowa. At least not around here. I wonder what the barns smell like!
ReplyDeleteNice captures! Made me feel I was there :-)
ReplyDeleteTobacco fields in this area pretty much lay fallow. The government buy out brought tobacco growing to a stand still practically -- except for a few farmers that still grow it. There are enough growers left that one still associates this part of KY with tobacco. Excellent photos! -- barbara
ReplyDeleteLove your b/w shots....just great.
ReplyDeleteLove the quote too, made me laugh!
Classic shots of a fading cash crop...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful black and white story. My FIL was in the tobacco industry over 60 years ago. When the health risks became known he had to leave due to his conscience.
ReplyDeleteVery profound and humorous closing statement.
ReplyDeletethat quote cracked me up.
ReplyDeletelove the photos.
there is something wonderfully aesthetic about those tobacco leaves drying
nice site and great photos
ReplyDeleteLeRoy
Daddy Waddy Weeviews
My great, great, granddaddy was from Georgia and had a tobacco farm. I've heard stories but had never seen tobacco leaves. I'm so thrilled that you posted pictures. Makes it really special to read your post today.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures!
Gigi
It provides a living for so many Americans. Great images, Michelle.
ReplyDeleteOh these photos are awesome I love the black and white. Just awesome. B
ReplyDeleteI love almost all aspects of tobacco production. Of course the chemicals and end results, not, but the setting, growing, flowers, cutting, hauling, hanging, baling... Love to see the wagons full, leaf litter on the roads and even the smell of curing doesn't bother me. Nice shots of a declining way of life.
ReplyDelete