Monday, June 20, 2011

I Am So Glad I Am Not a Truck Farmer!

When I was growing up in the foothills of the Appalachians, some of my friends' parents were "truck" farmers. That meant that they grew extra vegetables to sell on a truck. Before my time, those trucks sometimes went door to door and were called peddlers. There were also gatherings in all the little towns of the area on Saturday where folks would sell their produce.

When my father was young, share cropping was common. Though there are variations on this theme, it involves some agreement between a person or more likely a family who has no land, farming land that belongs to someone else. The proceeds of the crop are divided between the land owner and the share cropper.


SALAD BED

SAD, COLD, LITTLE SQUASHES
The history books I read as a child carried an idea that sharecropping was one way for destitute people to rise out of their poverty. In my lifetime, it appeared that truck farmers were able to earn money also. So here's my point. My family would have long ago been evicted if I were a sharecropper. Even if you adjust for climate, soil type, etc. My gardening efforts are so pitiable! If I were a truck farmer, a Tonka truck would do for hauling the produce!

As it stands, I am not a truck farmer, nor a sharecropper. I do have hopes of selling a few things at our local farmer's market if the weather and my garden will cooperate. For now though I would be excited to just have enough lettuce to build a salad! Perhaps I would do better at hunting and gathering. If God would just let cilantro, lettuce and spinach grow in the forest, I would be set.
THE LONE TOMATO BLOOM!
As it is, it might be wild greens and berries for our family this year.

Enjoy your gardening and if the Lord blesses, could somebody send me a Jalapeno or maybe a yellow crookneck squash?

PEPPERS? MAYBE.


AT LEAST, THE GARDEN HAS A VIEW!
 Lawana

Temperature at my house this morning at daylight: 50 degrees.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

I should have some peppers and squash to share, planted lots of extra squash for the pigs and goats, you can have first pick though.

Anonymous said...

If you can make it this Wednesday, you can have all the lettuce and spinach you want.

JH

*Reading Between the Lines* said...

Ummmmm.....
with the weather we have been having...
the salad bed might need a blanket.
8-)
Take care,
Mommy 2