Farmers have a hard row to hoe

Farmers endure droughts, storms, insects and disease, as well as the uncertainty of supply and demand.

They are not alone. I had gorgeous hibiscus surrounding my front yard when the microscopic mite struck. After spending a lot of money and time fighting a losing battle, the garden shop recommended something else, which also didn't work.

After Hurricane Iniki, my back yard was a mess of toppled apple-banana trees. When the keikis grew up, they supplied friends with beautiful bananas for years until the bunchy-top virus arrived. A man from the state injected the infected trees with poison and told me to spray aphids in the remaining trees with soapy water. The detergent killed the aphids -- and the trees.

The ring-spot virus got the papayas, white scale attacked the sago, black mold covered the areca palms, whiteflies took over the bromeliads, a strangling vine wrapped itself around the mock orange, termites felled a huge Norfolk pine, the rats got the avocados and the birds ate the tomatoes and chili peppers. Recently, I got attacked by hornets that had commandeered my back yard for their condo project.

Farmers deserve more respect. If you don't believe me, try growing something yourself.

--Charlotte Phillips

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