Digging the furrows of time – Peppi Farrugia recalls past agricultural practices

Where has it all gone, wonders Peppi Farrugia, 85 year old retired farmer from Qrendi. Peppi used to till the land and remembers a time when the horse was the main help in tilling the land and a man’s experience  was seen in his ability to till a straight furrow. He recalls his scepticism when a more au fait acquaintance told him that the tilling of the land may, one day be mechanised.  He said that he was one of the first to introduce a tractor on his land, some 60 years ago. Looking at the back breaking work he used to do and the relatively easy life of his children and grand-children, Peppi  said that he worked hard, never complained and made a good return. “Today the work is much easier and the earnings are greater…and yet they complain…I made a good living, what do they do with it [the money] …fritter it away?” wondered the old gaffer with bafflement written all over his face.