Gardening by Abagail Eldan

As we all know by now, we, in the United States, have been told to stay home. For some reason, this sent a panic-buying spree throughout many communities, not just for toilet paper (although we did discover most people consider that item especially essential during a pandemic), but also for groceries. 

I posted on Facebook that most farmers already practice social distancing, work in the fresh air, and do not plan to quit farming. Somehow, that did not resonate with the hoarders. They continued their hoarding. 

I further went on to say that if for reasons I cannot fathom, farmers quit producing our food, we can grow our own. Even city dwellers, if they have a small balcony, can grow at least some of their own food in pots.

Tomatoes we grew in pots. 

And after I canned the tomatoes I grew.

We've been growing some of our food each year, things such as tomatoes, peppers, collards, and turnips, all grown in raised beds near our house. 

Both my parents came from a long line of farmers. Working outside, watching vegetables grow, watching the miracle of food being produced by our own efforts with sun and rain from God brings a unique sense of satisfaction. Today, we think we need special tools, special fertilizers, and the right kind of soil. 

Not so with our ancestors. 

Almost all houses, even those in cities, had kitchen gardens. I remember my grandmother had one in the field across the red clay road from her house. Here, in the Deep South, she grew squash, cucumbers, watermelons, okra, black-eyed peas, and butterbeans plus turnips and collards in the early part of the year. Corn grew in the larger fields, and when it made, a portion of it was dried and taken to the mill where it was ground into meal or used as chicken feed.

The kitchen garden we had when I was a teenager was located in our backyard and was easy to maintain. The rows were short and easy to hoe. Besides the vegetable garden, fruit trees were also planted near the house—apple trees, peach trees, pear trees, and figs are those I remember. Most houses also had a few pecan trees. 

Figs are my favorite and easy to make into preserves.

A Three Sisters garden was popular in pioneer days. Next to the corn, pole beans were planted, and these used the corn stalks as a natural trellis. Squash was planted between the corn and beans. The large leaves of the squash plants kept weeds at bay and helped keep the soil cool in the hot summer months. 

https://www.almanac.com/content/three-sisters-corn-bean-and-squash

I’ve been wanting to try this for a while, and this year might be a perfect time. 

Farming, after all, is in my blood. 

Stay safe, stay home, and stay busy with gardening!

My latest Lockets & Lace release on Amazon.