Garden Break

Posted Monday, June 22, 2009, at 11:36 PM

By Charlie Crow

June 22, 2009

Homegrown tomatoes, homegrown tomatoes
What'd life be without homegrown tomatoes
Only two things that money can't buy
That's true love and homegrown tomatoes
--Song by Guy Clark

We're just back from two refreshing weeks of relaxing in the crisp, dry air of New Mexico and Colorado, with only sporadic glimpses of newspapers, television or the internet, and out of cell phone tower range much of the time. It has been our practice to have our papers held until we return, in order to catch up on what happened while we were gone, and I am usually anxious to get caught up on the news. But this time I was tempted to just skip the back editions--probably because the issues are so weighty and the public anxiety is so deep and the political divisions are so wide, it would feel good to prolong the break with a little slice of static-free, uninformed ignorance. Besides, the world's troubles will still be there to stew on, so my subject this time is written in the spirit of extending a respite from the worries of the world.

We live in a typical suburban neighborhood, with the usual trees and shrubs and flowers. Although our yard is really too shady to be suited for a proper vegetable garden, we created a small space--about 5' x 8'--for a few vegetables, and had already successfully harvested Bibb lettuce and a few broccoli. So before we left we planted a couple of small tomato plants in cages, along with several green onions, garlic and some Swiss chard among a panoply of savory herbs and bright annuals in other beds.

The combination of the unseasonably cool temperature--in the 50's--and the nitrogen-rich rains soaking straight into the soil, gave those tomatoes a great head start on the torrid Arkansas summer. It is amazing what two weeks of favorable growing conditions will bring. The two tomato plants, too small to tie up when we left, had cascaded out of their cages and were sprawled five feet in every direction but up, dangling dozens of little green orbs and blossoms on every tendril, defying any attempt at confinement--caged or otherwise, covering the entire garden plot. A lone volunteer potato, which had started from some of our buried kitchen scraps, held down the last remaining corner. It was at that moment that I was grateful that we had only planted two tomato plants...at the rate these dudes are growing, we will be supplying the neighborhood, which we will happily do.

My father often wrote in his column about his ongoing love affair with the soil, and was pleased to display in the paper's front window any oddly-shaped vegetable or oversized fruit that anybody brought in to the newspaper, and often ran a picture and a story about them. He seemed to favor big watermelons and grotesque sweet potatoes, which for some reason had a tendency to turn out resembling some famous person or peculiar fantastical object.

Thinking about the bounty of the garden, Guy Clark's song, "Home Grown Tomatoes," quoted above, says it all for me. His final lines go:

When I die don't bury me
In a box in a cemetery
Out in the garden would be much better
I could be pushin' up homegrown tomatoes

I can hardly wait to pluck the first ripe tomato from our tiny patch.

A while back, a friend remarked that when she was a youngster her family's garden had never been more than a few steps away from their back door. That got me thinking about how we have drifted so far away from the land, and how much we gain when we respect and cultivate it. This simple poem was the outcome:

Reflections on the Garden
By Charlie Crow © 2004

Not long ago a friend of mine
Pondered thoughts of long-past time,
Recalling in her childhood's day
How close to their door the garden lay.
Her inquiry urged me on--
Triggered memories not yet gone;
Brought forth yearning long suppressed
To savor tastes I loved the best.

Of succulent, tender white corn sweet,
Dead-ripe tomatoes with bacon meat,
Green onions smaller than your finger--
Who cared if on your breath they'd linger?
Icicle radishes crisp and hot,
Banana peppers, which were not;
And who among us was not pleased
To crunch the pods of sugar-snap peas?

Now it may seem a strange aside
To note the veggies oft-decried:
Unsung eggplant, oh, so tender;
Buttered beets in earthy splendor--
And okra fried or as slithery slime
With tomatoes simmered so sublime!
Who would complain of the parsnip's sweetness
Or of watermelon's lack of neatness?

My father loved the soil's tilth,
Found virtue in manure's filth,
Respected nature's hidden myst'ry
Beyond any man-made history.
Abundance meant we would be sharing
Brimming baskets of neighbors' caring--
Gardens meant more than just subsistence;
Affirmed our very life's existence.

We are stewards of bounty deep
As we sow, so shall we reap.

By Charlie Crow © June 22, 2009

Comments
Showing comments in chronological order
[Show most recent comments first]

This put a smile on my face first thing this morning.. Hope everyone has a good day.....Even you Preacher Man ....GRIN.

-- Posted by sherrymoseleywallace on Tue, Jun 23, 2009, at 8:00 AM

Sherry,

I have a good day everyday and I hope you do as well. Apparently Charlie had a good day and gave us some garden variety ruminations that will only cause us to salivate for some home grown victuals. That's better than politics any day of the week but just to stir up a little controversy, I prefer squash over egg-plant. Let the debate begin.

RAH

-- Posted by razorback on Wed, Jun 24, 2009, at 8:44 PM

Razorback:

Who said you had to choose eggplant over squash? Some folks feel the same way about boiled okra or mashed turnips. If you don't like eggplant, all the more for the rest of us.

Charlie

-- Posted by Charlie Crow on Wed, Jun 24, 2009, at 11:03 PM

RAH,

So glad you have a good day everyday. I've been foolish thinking otherwise. Bless your heart.

Mijo

-- Posted by Mijo on Thu, Jun 25, 2009, at 7:17 AM

Charlie,

This is a pleasant controversy and I might add that fried okra supersedes boiled any day of the week. Of course, the gut may prefer your choice over mine.

By the way, do you prefer organic soil? What about a rear-tined tiller over the front-enders?

Whatever the case, there's few things in this life that exceed the pleasure of going out into the backyard early in the morning and gathering up the victuals for the evening meal.

The way things are going in the U.S.A. it may again become a necessity instead of a luxury.

Furthermore, in reference to your post, you may have all the eggplant you can gather into thy stomach as far as I'm concerned. I'll stick with the squash, sliced, breaded and fried that is. We always called it garden crappie growing up. I prefer the less healthy approach I suppose in my eating habits.

RAH

-- Posted by razorback on Thu, Jun 25, 2009, at 4:14 PM

Mijo,

What a blessing to be blessed by thee! Keep it up, I prefer it over your strange reasonings. Planting a garden may assist you in the matter.

Which do you prefer, squash or eggplant? Let the voting begin. Sherry, you're also invited to cast your vote. Make sure as to not leave a hanging chad. Touche', smarty pants!

RAH

-- Posted by razorback on Thu, Jun 25, 2009, at 4:23 PM

Well the vote coming from this born, raised and will die Democrat, cast her vote for fried green tomatoes...OOOOPS I guess that wasn't on the ballot... Just throw any garden fresh veggie on a plate and I will thank THEE !!!!!

-- Posted by sherrymoseleywallace on Thu, Jun 25, 2009, at 6:37 PM

Sherry,

You just never play by the rules do you, always pushing the envelope? Now we'll have to settle for a plurality instead of a majority.

By the way, we're betraying our age when talking about enjoying our vegetables. It use to be the opposite not that long ago. Remember? "Eat your peas and carrots or you'll sit there for the rest of the evening."

RAH

-- Posted by razorback on Thu, Jun 25, 2009, at 9:23 PM

i still feel the love down this way. how 'bout that late friday vote rah? sorry, just had to stir sompin' up!! there's one thing about it.....guess we can't blame it on just the dem's this time. i really can't blame al for the billion he's gona make on this, we are the dumb one's i'm guessn'.

i think we should start a blooming grove party.

sorry to spoil the love vest!! ;-)

-- Posted by arebyrd on Sat, Jun 27, 2009, at 2:42 PM

i think we should start a blooming grove party.

sorry to spoil the love vest!! ;-)

-- Posted by arebyrd on Sat, Jun 27, 2009, at 3:44 PM

whups, sorry 'bout the double post! at least i don't say as much in two like post and charlie and roy do in one.........:-)

-- Posted by arebyrd on Sat, Jun 27, 2009, at 3:48 PM

Ronnie,

You are a real meany, disturbing our present peace on this blog.

But since you asked, are you surprised? Next is coming the sin tax for smokers and consumers of too much sugar. The nanny-state is on the way and we're going to be paying for it.

And the controversial Gore tax on carbon emissions may bankrupt what's left of business. Of course Gore will be richer for it, though now more scientists than not around the world believe the Global warming issue has not been proven by valid evidence and is a gigantic hoax. Some are even saying that it is an attempt perpetrated on capitalism to equalize third world nations and economies with the U.S.

The foreign policy of reaching out is apparently ineffective as well. Iran, N. Korea, Venezuela are spouting off against the USA more than during the Bush years (in just 6 months, which validates the ineffectiveness of dialoguing with tyrants who slay their own people in the streets simply because the people want free elections) and I don't think they're afraid of our present administration's fortitude.

We'll see in the future how it turns out along with the present administration's push for union consolidation and their re-empowerment (viz. GM, etc) goal, I guess it is coincidental that most of those union participants vote democratic. I'm not convinced that a hundred generations will be able to pay for the deterioration of American life as we've known it in our lifetime. I hope I'm wrong.

Apparently, slowly but surely, the President's numbers are starting to catch up with him and I've read that the Senate will not pass what the House passed yesterday, though the Democrat's have the vast majority of votes. Tells me that they're beginning to fear a backlash to President Obama's overreaching.

By the way, is it squash or eggplant?

RAH

-- Posted by razorback on Sat, Jun 27, 2009, at 6:44 PM

i had squash for lunch. boston market didn't have eggplant i don't think!! does anyone serve eggplant on the menu? so many of those breaded veggies kind of taste alike to me after deepfrying anyhow.

i used to get so mad at my dad. we would work in his large garden for hours in the hot sun, only for him to give it away to friends and family. cucumbers were the pits to pick!.........

-- Posted by arebyrd on Sat, Jun 27, 2009, at 7:04 PM

Ohhh, yes! I picked my first full-sized tomato today ... I've been getting some of the little grape tomatoes. They never make it into the house ... I just stand right there & devour 'em! Now THAT'LL make your tongue dance!

I made two 4'x4' raised beds in the back yard, and I'm gonna add at least 4 more. I think they're great, and there's less yard to mow -- always a plus! Right now, my tomatoes are dukin' it out with a lone eggplant, some peppers, dill, leeks & oregano. I totally overplanted, but since it's mostly potting soil & compost, they seem to be pretty happy!

The next ones I make will be home to squash, pumpkins, melons & beans. One really industrious bird made it through the chicken wire that encloses my gardens, & got first crack at a nice Arkansas Traveler tomato. They already had most of the strawberries, greedy buggers! I feel so smug, I'd be tempted to write a poem about veggies, but I have some acquaintances who might think it was about them, haha.

-- Posted by YellerKitty on Sat, Jun 27, 2009, at 8:15 PM

Oh, I may as well contribute to the eggplant/squash debate, I suppose. I may have to vote a split ticket on this one. Squash in soup or a casserole, but eggplant all kinds of ways -- to me it's the meat substitute of the veggie kingdom. Ratatouille, of course, and moussaka. Lasagna loves it, although it cost me a boyfriend once. He was adamantly anti-veggie, and I tricked him. He was on his 4th helping when I started laughing. When I told him he'd been eating eggplant, he jumped up, threw down his napkin, said, "I'll never trust you again", and stomped out.

One of my favorite things to do with eggplant is to cut it into 'planks', brush 'em with a mix of a little olive oil & either soy sauce or Worchestershire sauce, put 'em on a rack on a baking sheet in a 225 degree oven and just let 'em sort of dry out. It concentrates their flavor, and really turns 'em into a very tasty, meaty delicacy. Let 'em cool, cut 'em to size, & toss 'em in a salad or put 'em into a sandwich. Toss 'em with some pasta along with some capers, olive oil, olives, chopped, sauteed lemon slices...

sorry, gotta go cook something!

Peace, namaste, and bless yore little pea-pickin' hearts (NOW have I aged myself? I even remember the commercial song for Pamper Shampoo, Tennessee Ernie Ford's sponsor!)

Pamper, Pamper new shampoo!

Gentle as a lamb, so right for you,

Gentle as a lamb? Yes, ma'am!

Pamper, Pamper new shampoo!

It was really funny when Ernie Ford sang it!

Off to the kitchen!

-- Posted by YellerKitty on Sat, Jun 27, 2009, at 8:37 PM

One last submission ...

RAH's rant re: global warming is so fantasy-based as to defy any attempt to speak about it in any meaningful way. And does he really think that Iran's already-scheduled election had squat to do with us? Neither Gore nor Obama had anything to do with the global economic meltdown. That was a legacy of those who forgot that a 'free-market economy' without constraints is an anarchic economy, with the expected criminal looting and robbing. But the current economic crisis has hit the Iranian economy, too, and Ahmadinejad's been as reckless with their economy as Bushco was with ours.

Quit watching Faux Gnus and do a little reality-based research, Rev. Global climate change is not a left-wing conspiracy, it's simply the result of too many people in a closed system not designed to support this many. Unless real, dramatic changes are made, and made very, very soon, the system will clean itself, but we will probably not like the result. It's a shame that as a species we're gonna take so much of this lovely creation down with us in our greed.

And you can spend the rest of your days chasing down bible verses to support your hide-bound, erroneous positions, but even a blind man knows when the sun's shining on him and when he's in the dark. Finding scriptural 'evidence' to the contrary doesn't change a thing except to further erode respect for you and your religion.

-- Posted by YellerKitty on Sat, Jun 27, 2009, at 9:13 PM

YellerKitty,

As to you last post, I suppose all of us deserve to be reamed out periodically by those apparently wiser than ourselves. It seems that you are trained well in the practice of extravagant disrespect of others (viz: "rev", "Bushco") and their views that oppose your own.

You certainly articulated your convinced view of those who actually believe the Bible and prescribe to its precepts and practices. I do with deep conviction of heart and mind, yet I don't seek to constrain others to embrace it as do others by way of ridicule if not intimidation. By way of cordial respect to you and others, I believe you have a perfect right to such an opinion against the views I and many others hold.

Concerning Faux news as you put it, I have little time for TV dribble of any kind and have so stated it in other earlier posts. There are other sources as you well know and what of your sources? CNN!, MSNBC, ABC? I can't possibly know.

One last word. You probably need to save your indignation about global warming for your democratic controlled Senate. It will most likely undo last Friday's misdirected push of Al Gore's hoax that would make him one of the wealthiest people in America if it passes.

Respectfully,

Roy Hargrave

-- Posted by razorback on Sun, Jun 28, 2009, at 8:55 AM

"GLOBAL WARMING" if the folk trying to force it down our throats would live their lives like it really was a threat, i might be more compelled to beleive it. as for now, i'll just set back and watch them live in their huge mansions and jet around the world telln' me to ride my bike and keep my temp set at 80.......

to put it bluntly, i'm really sick of this pc "do as i say, not as i do" crap!!

weren't we talking about tomatoes?

-- Posted by arebyrd on Sun, Jun 28, 2009, at 1:24 PM

arebyrd,

Didn't you hear about the soon-coming tomato tax?

RAH

-- Posted by razorback on Mon, Jun 29, 2009, at 5:47 AM

is that tomato or tomatoe?

-- Posted by arebyrd on Mon, Jun 29, 2009, at 12:40 PM

Arebyrd,

Is that a Dan Quayle question? It is tomato in the singular, tomatoes in the plural. What do ya know; we're both right at the same time. Miracle!

RAH

-- Posted by razorback on Mon, Jun 29, 2009, at 2:47 PM

ha! oh dan never got a fair shake did he? i would welcome his wisdom in these days!! at the very least his moral standings!

-- Posted by arebyrd on Mon, Jun 29, 2009, at 4:41 PM

arebyrd,

If Joe Biden, whose gaffe's are almost daily was presently put under half the scrutiny as Quayle in his day, could you imagine the outcome?

Remember? Dan Q.'s gaffe concerning the spelling of Potato was that he added an e, which is actually the plural addition with an s. In fact it was the exact circumstance of our tomato vs. tomatoes discussion. Certainly not a circumstance for the media and Unholywood to ruin his whole career. At least he knew to put the right governor with the right state unlike someone else we know.

Adios Texan!

RAH

-- Posted by razorback on Mon, Jun 29, 2009, at 7:13 PM

MATERS or TATERS who cares just call me when dinner is ready... Good night folks where ever you are.....

-- Posted by sherrymoseleywallace on Mon, Jun 29, 2009, at 8:46 PM

Blackcats and Yellow Dogs

Charlie Crow

- Recent posts
- Archives
- Blog RSS feed

- Comments RSS feed

- Login

Charlie Crow has had long-standing ties to Rector since 1954, when his family moved here to publish the Clay County Democrat. He graduated from Rector High School in 1958. After earning degrees at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and the University of Texas at Austin, and service as a US Army Intelligence officer, he pursued an eclectic career in management. He served in the cabinet of Governor Dale Bumpers. His career experience encompasses state and regional governmental planning, investment banking, executive leadership of recycling technology companies in Alabama and Tennessee, and nonprofit management. He is semi-retired and lives in Little Rock with his wife, Anne.

Hot topics

Short Honeymoon?
(445 ~ 3:57 PM, Jul 23)

An Icon Passes
(4 ~ 7:07 PM, Apr 3)

A healthy (?) pause for reflection
(15 ~ 1:15 PM, Sep 19)

The "Wise Latina"
(1 ~ 1:43 PM, Jul 17)

Garden Postscript: Gardener, 3; Horned Devils, 0
(1 ~ 6:24 AM, Jul 5)