Six Words: Quality, Elapse, Effect, Agriculture, Power, Cover
Agriculture is not something that most of us city dwellers ever think about. Sure droughts or freezes affect the quality and quantity – and the price – of produce that is available, but a lot of time elapses between coverage of the impact of weather on farmers and when it effects us. Before the war in Ukraine, I had no idea that Ukraine and Russia were such major grain and fertilizer exporters that they affect the availability of food across the world and that people in sub-Saharan Africa are at risk of starving because of the war in eastern Europe. Press coverage of the attacks on electrical power in Ukraine continue, but it’s been quite a while since I’ve seen anything about grain and fertilizer exports.
In another month it will be Passover. When the Hebrews wandered through the desert after leaving Egypt, they found manna that kept them from starving. I had a friend who was expert on some aspects of life in ancient Israel. She had camped in the desert and eaten manna. It is type of honeydew that is secreted by aphids and other scale insects that forms on the underside of leaves during the night. It has to be gathered first thing in the morning before the warmth of the day causes it to melt or putrefy. It’s something like honey. Perhaps the hungry people in Africa have found manna again and don’t need grain from the Ukraine anymore? Perhaps the people are no more? Or maybe the truce, the truce that is supposed to give ships carrying grain safe passage, is actually working and so it isn’t in the news anymore?