You wouldn't think that the subject of lighting would be part of the cultural conundrum of city to country living, but sure as heck, the yard light is part of my culture shock!
In the city everyone has a light on their porch or above the doors. Perhaps you are fancy and have learned to admire the esthetic value of good lighting. Maybe you've installed uplighting on a particularly lovely River Birch or Corkscrew Willow in your garden. Some even uplight the perennial beds that skirt the house because their visual appeal against the backdrop of a pretty house is as alluring at night as in the light of day. City folks keep the lights on to make the world think someone is home. In the city, a home's lighting is both esthetic and protective.
City streets, managed by the city, are lit as a function of utility and protection. Some cities invest in charming nostalgic lamps that harken to days past, but many street lights are meant not to distract, just simply serve a purpose. If the city has a vocal membership, city managers have likely been asked to find that sweet spot between luminosity for safety and esthetics. Too bright and I bet people might start complaining.
Out here in the country we don't have lights that glimmer and shed light above the roadways and streets, but you can bet your bottom dollar that every farm has a big yard light set up high on a pole with luminosity enough to light a small village. These lights are never esthetically attractive, but serve their purpose of providing light when needed. Additionally, farmers have automatic lights mounted to each shed, building or barn. They illuminate the moment the sun dips below the western horizon. If you stand outside at night and turn a circle, you can see where every neighbor for miles around is perched. During the day, you don't notice the neighboring farmsteads far off in the distance.
After moving from the city, where light infiltrates one's being twenty-four-seven, and light pollution is a thing, I was very purposeful about the outdoor lighting (well, indoor too, for that matter) I included on my farm. Yes, I'd want a light or two to guide me home if I returned after dark, but in general, I wanted to see the dark skies, stars above and not need window treatments in order to sleep. I wanted the lights to emit low lumens, to have a yellow, not white tone, and be easily shut off from the house. These low-intensity lights offer just enough light at night to gather provisions, see my way indoors, and then to switch off the minute I am inside. I love the peace and quiet of this darkness.
This time of year, when darkness arrives early in the day, I find myself increasingly irritated with lighting. I'm particularly perturbed by the popular high lumen LED lights sold in the hardware stores. Their shockingly brilliant white light has been popping up all around me in the countryside exciting the peaceful energy and graying the dark black skies. Neighbors that once shimmered off in the distance the next forty over, now have floodlights so bright that I can easily see the valley between us as night.
"Why do folks out here like such bright lights outside?" I asked William one time. "Don't they appreciate being able to see the stars and Milky Way?"
"No, they want to see so they can work. They don't want to stumble around with a flashlight. Both hands are helpful when work needs to be done. You understand that, Flossy." I do. I love listening to audiobooks so I can "read" and still work with my hands.
When I ponder William's words for a moment, it dawns on me. Of course! I'm imagining everyone inside after dark sharing a meal together, watching tv, reading or perhaps playing a game. How easy it is for me to fall back on old habits. At 5:00 pm when darkness falls, that does not signal the end of the work day out here in the country. There's still a couple hours to get things done. These folks born and raised in the country tend to keep the body moving, going, and doing whereas a person like me, likes to start in on a good long sit about the time the sun says goodnight! When I first moved out here, a neighbor's daughter told me, "You can find my dad outside until 9:00 pm every day of the year. He'd be embarrassed to come in before that. He didn't allow us kids to turn on the TV until he came in. Not much on for kids at 9:00!"
When the sun goes down, I'm done for the day, but D-O-N-E doesn't exist in the farmer's vocabulary. Work is never done, so they need bright lights all over the farm to light their way.
I'll forever be inclined to include the esthetic in any lifestyle decision I make because I've come to learn that many humans are unsettled by things we've invented to help us. This time of year, I'd prefer to turn the lights down low, build a fire and head to bed at 7:30 or 8:00. It's what my body wants. Quite. Slow. Low Vibrations. Darkness.
Light a fire. Turn the lights off. Get some rest. That's what this season is all about.
The Farm Store has a few new goodies this week: Lemongrass Crinkle Cookies, Raspberry/Cranberry Jam (good on toast and turkey!), Green Chili Chicken Soup and Hand-Felted Wool Hats. The weather looks to be cooling, but still no major freeze or snow in the forecast. Don't forget we have straw if you still need to bed your gardens. We'll be open daily 9-6 for as long as it's not arctic.
With a low-lumen "Edison" bulb tossing out lovely buttery quiet light as I write, I'm sending love to you all from the farm!
Sarah
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