Wheat: then and now, here and there

Tonight, the abuelos and I had our standard 1+hour dinner with conversations about politics, communism, how the corn is growing, various neighbors, and the history of their lives.

This conversation, however, took another twist, when we began talking about crops, weather patterns, and harvests.  I came to the realization talking to my favorite Mayan doctor lady (knock on wood... I've been without parasites and bacterial infections for 6 weeks... longest span in all of my time in Guatemala... possibly doubling the cumulative time spent healthy the whole time... (let's ignore the fact that in the middle of that 6 weeks, I had my appendix removed...)... anyways.. totally am grateful for her!)... knock on wood again) that Washington's climate is shockingly similar to that of Xela, the only difference is that our seasons are flopped and we have heating and insulation and indoor plumbing and all that jazz so the effects of temperature and weather aren't quite as painfully and drastically felt.

So, since we had established our similar climates, the next logical step was to discuss what we grow in our climates and who grows it and where (aka property ownership).  In that conversation, I explained the difference between land owned in the cities, land owned in the suburbs/random islands where my parents live, and land owned to grow wheat.


Then the conversation got interesting.  I guess that they used to grow wheat, trigo,.  A lot.  As in, some towns nearby only grew wheat and not corn.  That's saying a lot.  They would grow it in their own personal land, just like they do with Maiz now, and then they would harvest it by hand, separating the seed from the other stuff.  Then, they would take it home and grind it on the grinding stone with the grinding bar you push against stuff to make it into dust.  Then, they'd make it into bread somehow and then back it somehow in the wood-burning stove.  Wow!  Talk about having ownership in your evening snack.   


But, now, they don't grow wheat.  You can't make any money off it anymore because it takes so much time and without machines, the wheat here is "soft".  So, now people buy their wheat from the US because it's cheaper and it's "hard".  It seems slightly oxymoronish to me.  Anyways, they were talking about how that doesn't make sense to them, but they had heard of giant machines that harvest the wheat really quickly.  So, I grabbed my laptop, opened facebook, and showed them pictures of wheat harvest, storing, and shipping.

It was so cool to show them where their food comes from now, and the process of it all.  Comparing the different processes:  then and now, here and there, I realized how much I take for granted.  In the US, we buy a loaf of hot french bread at Albertsons at 5pm for 99cents.  Here, we can buy a personal piece of french bread for .50Q.  Both are incredibly cheap and incredibly easy.  50 years ago, these people were looking at their food from the seed before it hit the ground until it became a baked roll... (I may say now that they looked at it way too much for my liking - so much work!)... now, before I moved to Walla Walla, I couldn't tell you the difference between an onion field and a field of wheat.   I want to figure out how to "know" my food more.  Having this ounce of information was empowering, going to the fields with the abuelo to pick food and look at the corn is more empowering.  Knowledge is empowering and freeing. I need more of it regarding food.

It also told me that, although I'm not ready to go back to the States, I will be okay and I do still have a huge place in my heart for Walla Walla.   It will be great fun!

And, by the way:  Abuela Quote of the Day (I at times have lists of these) - "la gallena es muy feo al Snoof y el patito... (insert slight thinking pause)... ella es communista.  No quiere compartir con nadie."   I almost fell over laughing.  The reign of Castro and his brother is one of our many topics of conversation.