"Runnel's Farm" by Jacquelyn Noyes





Runnel’s Farm was once a functioning farm, producing dairy products from the cows that roamed the pastures, home grown vegetables in fields overlooking the barn, and gallons of syrup from the forest that dominated most of the property. It was maintained by James Runnels, but as he grew weak with age and medical bills increased, the farm was abandoned for more profitable means of work. Today, the farm still produces maple syrup in the winter as a way for extra money for taxes, but overall, the other productions of the farm have stopped. Fields go untreated, only hayed when the need for money drives ambitions, and the barn that once held an abundance of animals has gradually fallen apart. The only remnants of the once functional farm are the rusting equipment and run down sugar house.




Each winter, we collect gallons of sap from the maple trees that dwell in the forest dominating the acres of farmland. This sap is preciously gathered and boiled each night in hopes of producing enough syrup to cover the tax payments. We spend much of our weekends following tap lines to maple trees that bear the scars of past drillings. In the perfect tapping weather, sap runs quickly through the miles of tubing to a collector by the sugar house that holds it until we are ready to boil. The sap must be kept moving to avoid burning and the boiler must have a steady supply to keep up the process. Boiling is long, tedious work and we often work late into the night.




The brook runs all the way through the property and is the easiest way to navigate through the woods. It runs downstream to the sugar house which is situated near the dirt road that leads to both my uncle’s house and to the main farming road. On many of our tree tapping trips, the brook has led us back to the sugar house when we strayed from the usual path. The brook also provides a mice place for maple trees to grow along its banks. Most of the trees we use to gather sap from are situated along the brook, making it easier to navigate back to the sugar house when we are done.
The aesthetics in this picture consist of contrast between texture and color, motion, and lines of perspective. The contrast between the rough texture of the rocks and the soft texture of the moss make the two aspects stand out. The contrast between the dull browns of the leaves and the vibrant green of the moss draws attention to the brook. The motion of the water is captured in this picture, giving it a sense of life. Finally, the twigs work as lines of perspective that lead the eye to the focal point of the picture, the brook.




Another way that the farm can still make money is in the logging business. The wide expanse of wooded area provides thousands of trees not only for sugaring, but for firewood to sell. Occasionally, when money is needed, we go through the woods and pick out trees that are either of no use to the sugaring business or are overpowering land that maple trees could thrive in. We then cut them down and chop them into logs to sell as fire wood. With the extra income and constant demand for firewood, increasing tax prices are easier to pay throughout the year.


Most of the machinery that was used when the farm was fully functional has been since discarded in the woods and is rusting from non-use. As we walk through the woods, we find many abandoned cars, machinery, or old furniture that had been abandoned. This particular piece of machinery, a once functional tractor, has been left on the outskirts of a field and has since rusted. Finding pieces like this that could have been put to use in some way, but instead has been left, can be found throughout the property.

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