An Old Farmer's Opinion
A One-Century Perspective from Roland Greene
I have been very blessed to know dozens of “old-time” Vermont farmers over my lifetime. As I have come to know 97-year-old Roland Greene of Craftsbury, Vermont, I felt his was a voice from the past that could still be heeded today. A former dairy farmer who can relate first-hand what life was like in Vermont during the Great Depression, old hands like Roland offer wisdom in short supply in modern times, but needed more than ever!
Earlier this year, when he was still a young 96, I asked Roland to share some of the stories of his early life. He does so in the audio attached to today’s Substack. Roland talks of milking cows by hand (the herd split between family members — a common tale from those times), feeding dead calves to chickens, working with draft horses, and his dad’s “privileged” wage of 25 cents an hour. Americans may someday soon wish they had listened better to their forebears. I am honored to have captured Roland’s story, albeit briefly and with background noise, while he is still here to share it.
It’s wonderful to hear his story. It was much like my dad’s time.
Brilliant. I wish our culture showed the proper reverence for the elderly. It is frankly my preferred group to be with because they have so much to teach and wisdom to share. Thank you for this.