GRANDPA'S FIGS

GRANDPA'S FIGS, a photo by Louise001 on Flickr.

GRANDPA'S FIGS

MIXED MEDIA PAINTING

My grandfather raised his family in the 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, and 60's, in Oakdale, California, where I was born.
He started with nothing but land, and by the end had built two houses, barns, packing sheds and other buildings on the property where he planted almond and fig orchards.
They survived the depression, and added more land and orchards in this perfect climate for his crops.
He picked and packed the figs in the packing sheds he built...with the help of others, and was one of the founders of the Valley Fig Growers Assn that is still operating, where took his figs to ship.
The women of the family packed the figs he and others picked. He eventually had to hire other helpers. He had three almond orchards and he and his son built their own almond huller and the family knocked the almonds and hulled them before shipping.
He raised four children and all grew up working on his farm.

I painted this for my mother who is 94 and the only remaining child of his children.