Monday, 17 March 2014

Our Farm at Hofuf in Saudi Arabia

English 013
March 13,2014
Our Farm at Hofuf in Saudi Arabia
The tropical climate with two hot and dry seasons, with moderate warmth and some occasional showers during the winter is what welcomes one to the Hofuf area in Saudi Arabia. Hofuf is the host to our humble country home that has a rich farm with an extensive and spacious environment that could be an ideal gets away for a weekend or holiday. The history of Hofuf is well explained as it has very interesting monuments and buildings that have over time been the best Saudi Arabic tourist attractions. Our family moved to Hofuf when I was twelve years old and although I was not okay with the idea of moving to a new place, I actually made a deep connection with this place. It ended up being in this place more often than I expected and  even when I joined school in another city, I would visit the farm every weekend.
The farm is located in the suburbs of the Hofuf area in Saudi Arabia. It is a large farm that has numerous attractions that range from the animals reared to what is grown in the farm as well. The natural methods of living in this farm endear me to it even more. The farm houses a wide variety of animals; we have rabbits that have been reared for years now. The rabbits are a multipurpose venture: they are subsistence as well as for commercial. Our neighbors do come in from time to time for the slightly sweet rabbit meat with no fat and very high in protein. Others still come for some rabbits for rearing purposes. Rabbits mean occupy a central place in our diet; I relish the meat since I very sure it is from a healthy rabbit, which has been reared in the best way possible. There is a plan to have an extended section of the farm where we can have some horse riding area that is expected to make the stay at the farm more interesting and adventurous.
In the recreational lounge, we have a pool made from black rocks, what an interesting feature of the farm! It makes life more relaxing for us and creates something for you to anticipate when at the farm. We like to swim and play games in the cold water, especially when it is hot. We see that kind of water fountain that splashes and rolls around pool. Traditional water system springs water from a well that really makes us feel the pleasure of being in the farm. The water smells like coconut water, however, we don’t have coconuts tree in Saudi Arabia. My father always jokes about it that we may have a land under our farm. The water is cold in the summer time and is quite warm in the winter. Anyway, Cultural diversity and nature conservation is at its peak here because water is gotten from the source; not artificial taps have been placed for the water. Whatever, we see or hear in the farm resonates with the nature. Bards singing, chicken clucking all the time, the neighbor’s dog barking, and we can’t get way from the sounds of the machine that get us the water like a truck but under the ground all make it deferent from living in a house in the city.
In the farm we also take in a beautiful sight of date trees; we see that kind of all green environment flourishing in the farm. This creates some conducive environment to relax, some cool breeze, which we yearn for especially during sunny summer.  Every other season, there are nice smelling and tenderizing dates, which one can only enjoy eating. Every dates tree could have different taste, but the all have the natural taste of sweet sugar. At times, they could be in excess and we find the joy and pleasure to share with the neighbors. I am proud to be associated with this humble, elegant and luxurious home in its own special way. It has taught me to accept a humble background and most importantly to appreciate where I come from. I also value agriculture as it has been instilled in me since we own many other farms other than this one that have been involved in different agricultural practices as rice growing.
In addition, there is a small oasis that one feels is a rear site of the farm. We have been able to harness water from it for other uses in the farm as irrigating the dates right after planting. This oasis survives the farm especially with constant water supply since other parts of the farm are dry. Pipes crisscross the entire farm from the water source, supplying the water in the farm. The farm also has numerous storage tanks, as one measure of ensuring constant supply of water in the farm. At any given time, the tanks are full of water; they are a variety of tanks ranging from metallic to plastic ones farm.
As a way of creating employment and by extension creating some impact in the communities around the farm, the farm has employed several people who tend it. We have a farm supervisor who is in charge of everything in the farm and controls all the activities even in the absence of the owners, my parents. This has also made it easier for my parents as they are able to do other things without worrying much about the farm. Although responsibilities like such are difficult to it has showed me that at times, there has to be someone in charge so that there is proper accounting for all the activities in the farm. Our farmer has been with us for 15 years. He is one of the family now that we all miss when he is gone to visit his family.
The farm at Hofuf is one place I love to visit on a weekend basis as it offers, the best environmental comfort, and the natural landscape is an attraction that makes me feel the great attachment to this place. It is my wish for me to spend my entire life in the farm marveling at its beautiful sceneries. I always feel nostalgic whenever I have to always leave the farm after every weekend for my weekday duties, which do not allow me to be in the farm all the time 
Work cited
Farm Management Notes for Asia and the Far East Bangkok: Regional Commission for Asia and the Far East, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1965
Modeling Cost-Effective Farm Management to Improve Chesapeake Bay Water Quality ... Annual Report, Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 2010 Internet resource




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