You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!
Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.
Login
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.
This may be a touch off topic,but I find that the Heirloom Forum is the closest to the spirit of the story.
It was the deepest,darkest days of the Great Depression.I'm not sure exactly the year,but there were lots of homeless and unemployed people all across the country.
My family had a small truck farm in Western Kentucky.They grew strawberries and other crops to be sold in the larger cities in the region,such as St.Louis.
There were a great number of children (11) who worked the farm,and it sustained their needs.
That spring,they brought in some migrant workers to help with the strawberry harvest,and as custom had it,my Grandmother prepared to feed her family and the workers.
They started at daylight,so she fixed a huge country breakfast,as was her custom.They had bacon,eggs,grits and potatoes.Huge pans of biscuits and homemade jelly and honey collected on the farm.There were large pitchers of milk,cold from the spring house and sorghum molasses.The family and the workers dug in and ate before going to the fields.
For dinner(you northerners read Lunch)They had plates of fried chicken,mashed potatoes,black eyed peas,corn bread,sliced tomatoes,milk gravy and most likely several other vegetables.Apple and cherry pie for dessert.
The family dug in again and heaped their plates.There was some whispering among the migrants,and finally a spokesperson came forward.The gaunt man sort of stammered the words out and my family was shocked at what he had to say. He wanted to know why a wealthy family like this actually made their children work in the fields with the laborers.
My Grandfather was taken aback by the statement and asked why the man thought they were wealthy.The man replied that the feast they were eating was proof enough to their wealth.
My grandfather was stunned.Feast? What feast?This is just farm food.
The thin migrant was nearly speachless...and his words have come down to us over the years.Related by my Dad and his siblings.
His exact words were..."You mean you eat like this every day?"
You see,the farm food sustained them for nearly every need they had.With proper management of the crops and knowlege of the market,they were able to have a good life and even be able to afford such luxuries as coffee,white sugar and white flour.
They worked hard, and luxuries were few.But no one went hungry,or was cold.
I just thought y'all would appreciate the story,I don't know why it came to me today,but it shows how important good management,hard work...and a little luck, can alter the perception of how wealthy someone can appear.
There are 15 replies. The replies of posts in this forum are viewable only by paid subscribers of Dave's Garden, and only subscribers can post new replies. We are a member supported website.
