Having the name "MacDonald" almost precludes that I'm from a farming family. In fact I grew up thinking that the familiar children's tune was about my grandfather. In my mind, he embodied "Old MacDonald". He had a farm. And animals. And amazing tomatoes, strawberries and apples. My Dad got a piece of land from the farm and we built a small cottage on it (to vacation near our relatives). It was right next to one of the large crop fields. I remember having my Dad explain that you couldn't plant the same crop on the same field year after year. Some years you let it rest. To be honest, I don't remember all the details. But the huge lesson has always stuck...