One constant of the vast prairies of Illinois and Indiana has been the wind that blows restlessly across the fields of corn and soybeans. The bucolic landscape is changing, in that the little family farms are, sadly, slowly disappearing. On the recent trip to Illinois, I was amazed to see hundreds and hundreds of wind turbines, their gracefully turning blades harvesting the prairie winds and turning them into electrical power. There are arguments pro and con for the wind farms, but it's obvious they are to be a part of our future. They seem not to affect the agriculture about them, and are certainly a boon to the income of armers, who have been struggling to make ends meet. The rural Illinois of my early childhood had no electricity at all, no indoor "facilities", and a crank wall phone! My father caught the daily news every evening, sitting in his rocker beside the console floor-model radio. I wonder what he would think of wind farms.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN'
One constant of the vast prairies of Illinois and Indiana has been the wind that blows restlessly across the fields of corn and soybeans. The bucolic landscape is changing, in that the little family farms are, sadly, slowly disappearing. On the recent trip to Illinois, I was amazed to see hundreds and hundreds of wind turbines, their gracefully turning blades harvesting the prairie winds and turning them into electrical power. There are arguments pro and con for the wind farms, but it's obvious they are to be a part of our future. They seem not to affect the agriculture about them, and are certainly a boon to the income of armers, who have been struggling to make ends meet. The rural Illinois of my early childhood had no electricity at all, no indoor "facilities", and a crank wall phone! My father caught the daily news every evening, sitting in his rocker beside the console floor-model radio. I wonder what he would think of wind farms.
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Yes, wind farms ARE definitely a sign of the times in many parts of the world. Some people consider them a blot on the landscape and oppose them but, like them or not, they are a part of our future.
ReplyDeleteBev, your picture is superb and your story is touching and definitely food for thought.
Funny, as I go up to NW Illinois once a month, there's an area I drive through where I swear, each time up, there's another 20 or so of these in the distance. Not to mention signs in front of peoples farms denouncing the fact they are they and keep coming.
ReplyDeleteI haven't stopped yet to listen, but imagine the give off quite a hum.
I saw a broken one a few weeks ago. Should have stopped to take a picture, but the 6 hr drive is already too long to get back.
When I lived in Texas they had the big wind turbines there. Glad to see these alternative forms of energy!!
ReplyDeleteConsidering the bad oil habit that we as consumers have, it seems the only bad effect the wind turbines have on the environment and landscape is that of being aesthetically offensive. Indeed, the times are changing, Bev. Here in the northeast we're peppered the landscape with microwave towers posing as faux trees. Hugs, Terri xoxo
ReplyDeleteWhat a great picture, Bev! Don't know that I'll get to see any part of Illinois other than Chicago when I go to visit my mom in about 2 weeks time, but I could suggest we ring Chicago with wind turbines. BTW, anyone know why Chicago has the nickname "Windy City"? LynnF
ReplyDeleteI think your Father might have quite liked them Bev, a great source of income, beneficial to the environment, and just think he might have had an electric shower, a real live non-wind up phone, a digital radio, an HD 42 inch digital TV and ........ :O)
ReplyDeleteI just love their grace.
The first time I saw them was in rural Australia and I thought they were quite majestic. They are a wonderful, clean source of energy but they do change the landscape. Better than a whole lot of oil rigs though!
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