Written by Edna Blair and illustrated by Laurence Blair
Copyright 1943
You might think it’s too early to start planning for next
year’s garden, but I am already arranging our future crops in my mind and on
paper. For various reasons, we decided
not to have much of a vegetable garden this year. At the same time, I’ve come to a greater realization
of the health and amazing taste of fresh from the earth produce.
Previously, I’ve purchased peaches from the store and tried
to serve them to my daughters. Neither
of them cared for the taste or texture.
Then, early this August while in West Virginia, they were able to enjoy
peaches straight from the tree. I think
it was weeks before my youngest daughter stopped talking about and dreaming of
peaches. In fact, when she reads this
post, she’ll probably start salivating over the warm, juicy, fresh from the
tree peach she first tasted recently.
Personally, I can’t bear to eat a tomato that is purchased
at the grocery store – especially in the winter. Only a tomato that has been vine-ripened and
recently picked actually tastes like a tomato.
The rest must be made from some sort of plastic.
This book, published in 1943, details the basics of growing
your own food in a clear and concise way.
Black and white illustrations throughout detail methods of
transplanting, staking, and composting and also depict the pests that may
attack your harvest.
The original purpose of this book was for those
inexperienced citizens who wanted to aid the war effort by growing their own
Victory Garden. Some quotes from the
foreword, though, are still so true today.
“Authorities in the
field of nutrition and experts in the United States
Department of Agriculture
tell us that for years the people of this country,
notwithstanding its wealth
and resources, have not been getting
enough of the right kinds of food.”
“Finally, to many who
have not had a food garden before, will come
the real delight of eating fruits
and vegetables as they are picked
– fresh, crisp and delectable, instead of
bruised by many handlings,
wilted by the sun during long journeys to market,
and with much of their
natural goodness lost before they finally reach the
family table.”
There is nothing like
enjoying fresh fruits and vegetables straight from the earth. I can’t wait until next year!
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| A garden at Nazareth Farm in West Virginia |
MOM, WE NEED TO PLANT A PEACH TREE!
ReplyDeleteAnd Peach trees can look so pretty when they flower so an added bonus. It is spring where I live and because I had my new flower garden ready before I finished the no dig vegie garden I planted out my first tomato seedling in with the flowers because like you I don't like store bought tomatoes. Actually I ended up planting a few veg with the flowers and a few herbs, things I just can't live without in the kitchen.
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