Today marks the first substantial rain we have seen since May. Over two months. Less than 1/4 of an inch of rain has fallen. Around here, that is unheard of. Still doesn't qualify as a drought. My yard has never been brown before. Even the weeds have given up the ghost. The clay soil that comprises the bulk of our soil has cracks wide enough to push a finger into. My yard has cracks. Where we should have grass... we have dust.
When I stare into this platter, I am reminded of how fragile our landscape is. Islands that have stood above the sea long enough to develop oral histories of their settling, are now in danger of subsiding under the rising seas. Parts of our own countryside, known for the most varied crops of apples anywhere, this year will produce virtually none. No apples. That means no cider. First world problem? Maybe. But I think it is really more of an indicator of what we have to expect for the near future.
Last year we were inundated with flooding from multiple hurricanes. Fall was torn apart with tornadoes. Winter brought us virtually no snow and warm temperatures. Grass was bright green in March this year, when it should have been buried under a foot of heavy snow. How long until our vernal island between these massive lakes dries up and crumbles? My guess is that the frakking for natural gas (scheduled to begin VERY soon in NY state) will accelerate that process and perhaps even be the tipping point.
