I grew up 40 miles away from 5th Avenue NYC.
You might not envision this site was
anything close to being rural, but 70 
years ago, it was rural.  Throughout my
childhood & youth it gradually transferred into
a suburb of Manhattan.

Across the street from my house were 
Fields as far as the eye could see.  By my
youth these fields were abandoned by the 
farmers to become housing developments &
accommodate the urbanizations seeking a more
rural home.  Throughout my elementary
years, the famous L1 potatoes was planted in
the spring and dug in the fall.  A few years the 
farmer planted cabbages in the field; the discarded
cabbages laid to waste for several weeks until
they were plowed under for the winter.  Have
you ever smelled acres upon acres after harvest of rotting
cabbage?  Talk about stink.

     It would take your breath away.