Seems like every two years or so we hike along the 20 foot high dike that was built along the Connecticut river to ensure that the farmland (badly flooded in the hurricane of 1938) would stay intact. The Swawsloski potato farm has been here for 200 years. Many Polish immigrants settled and prospered well here- today the Swawsloski farm is a 2000 acre endeavor. The potato harvest was in full swing today. So was the fun of yet another Thursday hike together. Herbicides are used to kill the potato greens so the mechanical harvesters don’t get clogged up with them. We talked about that practice a lot, and recall Tony’s dismay over it, as we pass through the acreage. But those herbicides didn’t keep us from “gleaning” a few potatoes for tonights dinners from the piles of leftovers at the ends of the rows. There was still a tobacco barn, famous for Massachusetts grown cigar wrappers! The walk back to our cars took us through the prosperous and beautiful village of Hatfield where Sofia Smith, the founder of Smith College, once lived. Deb walked across that perfect lawn to read the plaque on the house. We had over 3 inches of rain recently! I hope you did too. Best, Penny 
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