There is currently a golfing iron sitting in the cab of the combine. No, it isn’t because my brother likes to take frequent golfing breaks to help manage stress. He found it in a field neighboring a golf course. Apparently, there was a golfer that wasn’t doing so well on his game and threw it into the field.
Over the years, we have found a lot of so-called “field treasures.” These are items that are left in the field by other human or animal activity. In other words, things that just aren’t supposed to be there.
We have found arrowheads and golf balls aplenty. Dad used to have a glass bottle collection from cool bottles he’s found. He also found old t-posts, which always seem to find our tractor tires, as well as car parts. Deer antlers have a tendency of finding our tires, too. We used to find a lot of arrowheads when we did vegetables. My brother also found a pitchfork, leaf springs, a PTO shaft, axle shafts, an air conditioning compressor, and countless chunks of random steel. Coins have also made an appearance. Of course, when we find abandoned articles of clothing, then we really start to wonder what is going on…
Growing marijuana is also something we find the in the fields quite frequently. No, we don’t take it home with us.
Our farm dogs have benefited grandly from the treasures. We often find balls and other outdoor toys in the field. These get brought home for the dogs to play with and enjoy. Currently, farm dog Mischa has two basketballs that she thoroughly enjoys chasing after when we kick them around for her outside. Our white lab once inherited a kiddie swimming pool, though she wasn’t extremely fond of it.
Of course, not all of these finds are quite so interesting, including a lot of trash. I once mowed over a square of plush carpeting someone threw out at our farm market (dad had a lot of “fun” getting that one out…). We routinely find plastic grocery bags and fast food garbage. These things get really annoying because don’t have time to stop the equipment, climb out, and pick it up. A lot of times, we have to just keep going. The trash can cause problems by clogging up the equipment and killing crops.
We would prefer not to find these field treasurers. While some of it is quite benign, many of it can cause problems with the equipment or plants, and even cause injury those working in the field. We already have to keep a look out for rocks and roots in the fields; looking for trash just adds to the burden. Please take care to throw away trash, bottles, and clothing in the proper garbage receptacles.
Unless it is diamonds, then feel free to always throw that into the field.
