Dirt Farming and Politics
by Tao Oliveto, Amherst, MA
We woke early the next morning, anxious to see the farm in daylight and meet our host and self-proclaimed, “dirt farmer”, Jim Pitts. We headed down the long dirt road that led to the fields where Jim was working — a lone, tall, straight-backed figure pushing a tiller across a field.
He strode over to us and within a few moments, challenged me to name the big leafy plants I was looking at. Being the city kid I am, I hesitated - but then surprised him by guessing it — rhubarb! He broke off a thick red stalk and handed it to me. In my excitement, I munched it straight down. As he led us on to the strawberry field, this time he asked me to describe the difference between hay and straw. I flunked that one, although I knew horses ate hay but not straw. I now know why - straw is the inedible dried grain stalks after the grain has been shorn and hay is the still nutritious, dried grass. We also learned that strawberries were named because they grow on top of straw, placed alongside the fruit to keep it from getting dirty before going to market. As Jim told us more farmlore, I asked him if he went to school to learn all of this. He shrugged his shoulders and said, “Sometimes schooling can get in the way of your education.”
Yet, it turns out, “dirt farmer” was only the most recent of Jim’s accomplishments. Growing up in the Deep South and an African American, he wasn’t allowed admission to Georgia Tech University. Yet, he still managed to shoot up the ranks of corporate America and become a top tech-industry executive. He also became enmeshed in politics, serving as a delegate and addressing the Democratic National Convention on the death penalty while negotiating with George Wallace on other platform issues, and working as MA manager for Shirley Chisolm’s historic presidential campaign. As we listened with growing interest, Jim began tossing out one memorable chunk of wisdom, information or history after another. When Jerry mentioned that a key flaw in the Constitution was its absence of land protection, he explained to us that one purpose of the constitution was to ensure people’s right to own land, which, as the Native Americans have always known, is an “absurd” idea.
This former editorialist recently wrote a piece for the Amherst newspaper in support of Barack Obama. Jim explained that the entrenched culture wars that have dominated post-Vietnam politics are keeping us stuck and divided. He feels Obama represents the way to finally transcend these divisions, whereas Hillary seems both trapped and defined by them.
As we reluctantly allowed Jim to get back to his plowing, he told us that he was going to be moving to Cambridge soon. Aghast, Jerry said “you’re leaving your farm!?” Jim, who was bending down to make an adjustment on the tractor, turned around and said with a wry and wise smile, “Every thing’s got to end sometime.”
Back at the house, we heard his 5-month old baby crying and were subtly reminded that with every ending comes a new beginning.
April 26th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
thanks again, for the capsule education that you are passing on to me. This farmer does spell wisdom to me. i am quite familiar with the shirley chislom platform, she was the first woman who tried to be president. how good this is for you to see the farm and ask questions and learn and the best part to pass it along to your blog readers, can’t wait for me. thanks again!