September 15, 2009

Note: This is a condensed, updated version of an article that was first published in the January 2005 Clay News.

“Is there any of that left in Clay?” A question a Clay resident asked when responding to a poll about whether preserving agricultural or rural land was important in Clay’s future.

The answer is in how agriculture use is defined. In the proposed amendment to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan for Clay, the Agricultural / Forestry classification is defined as “establishments that grow crops, raise animals, harvest timber, harvest fish and other animals from a farm, ranch, greenhouse, nursery, orchard, hatchery, or their natural habitats.”

Of course, as many of Clay’s “old timers” testify, there used to be much more of this type of land use in Clay.

Danny Keith, whose family has a long history in Clay, said that Clay was never known for “row crops”. He said the soil being rocky and clay loam instead of sandy loam was not good for growing vegetables. And the steep slopes in Clay were not good for that either. Keith said that grass grows well in Clay. He said that most of the farming history of Clay consists of dairy farms. In the Clay area, McCrory’s Dairy Farm, between Trussville and Clay on Trussville Clay Road, was the last in operation. All the silos are gone now.

While there is still some agricultural use in the city limits of Clay, most of the larger parcels are outside the present boarders. Much of the agricultural land use in Clay is for hay, small head of cattle and horse stables. The Clay area has two stables in operation: Mountain View Stables between Self Road and Cavern Road and Dreamweaver Stables at the end of Self Road.

But, there are others that are using land for muscadines, chickens, blueberries and horses for personal enjoyment.

Most people lounge on their back porch for some time of peace from the modern-day, hectic pace. The breeze, grassy aroma and birdsongs satisfy the soul in a way that housework, ballgame wins and job promotions can't.

But in my backyard, there is war. We have four hummingbird feeders that my animal-loving husband keeps full of human-made nectar. For such a small area, four would seem to be enough. But the hummingbirds are not into sharing.

Sitting on my back porch is like sitting in a lilliputian battle front with miniature helicopters humming overhead.  I have even seen a female perch on a limb watching guard over one feeder, chasing off any perceived enemy. The scene was exhausting and stressful just to watch.