You know it's Fall in middle TN, when they start "firing" tobacco. To my understanding: They do this by hanging the large tobacco leaves on a long stick, then hanging the stick inside a barn. Then they start kind of a smouldery fire in the bottom of the barn. This causes smoke to fill the barn, and leak out ALL over the place. There is definitely a particular smell to it, which folks that grew up here enjoy as a herald to Fall. (Makes me think of how my former pastor used to put down the windows when we came into Decatur to smell. I think soybean processing? It stunk to me, but it meant home to him.)
For some reason, my 4 year old decided "tobacco" was just too big of a word. So they've now been labeled "taco barns". I told her that "taco" means something else, but she's very stubborn and insists that "taco" should be an acceptable short version of "tobacco".
Oh, since this seems to be a location specific industry, I had never seen a tobacco barn before I moved here for college. Yes, I thought there was a fire when I saw smoke billowing out of a barn. Yes, hubby got a really good laugh out of my ignorance. To be honest, I sometimes startle a bit when I see barns smoking even now. It's not normal.
Five on Friday (February 12, 2021)
3 years ago
3 comments:
We recently went to Land Between the Lakes Kentucky and toured an 1800s settlement where they had a "taco" barn. It was hanging in there and it smelled GREAT! However it wasn't on fire. I'm not sure how that would smell. Just drying it smelled like a really sweet, musty old pipe.
Oh yeah, if I never smell Decatur again it will be too soon!
Dad still does that! I get so sick when I smell it. I remember one year at state competition I had the flu and had to smell that stinkin factory. It made me more sick. Ugh! He's a crazy man, that's for sure!
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