Finally nature provided a near-perfect weekend – a relief after so much rainy weather. All kinds of outdoor activities were possible but it was the gardeners who were happiest. Planting is probably a little late, but from experience it is usually late planted produce that grows the fastest and soon catches up to what was planted the minute frost no longer threatened. We had some very successful gardens in past years and growing things are affected by how much rain, how much heat, and a lot on the soil in the garden, in addition to when things were planted.

I particularly remember the year we planted three times the number of peas, because my husband said he had never had enough in the past. As soon as the seeds were planted – three long rows of them – he staked them with brush and they got plenty of TLC along the way. They were along the edge of the garden next to the road and when they were in full bloom, they were quite a picture. It was hard to imagine how embarrassed a couple of lady gardeners were when they stopped to inquire one day where we bought our “sweet pea seeds.”

The crop of peas flourished. I was the one who was assigned to picking them. I canned them – it was before freezers were common possessions. I gave them away. I invited friends to come in the evening to pick.

I made sure a bountiful bowl of peas found their way to almost every meal except breakfast. It was the year I learned how to make pea soup. Handfuls of peas found their way into salads (after being cooked), and I made several meals from peas and chicken in cream sauce, a change from just plain peas. We got used to the moans and protests from the rest of the family but my husband never complained.

We had a “corn” summer, too. There was some kind of a problem at the Stevenson CL&P powerhouse and great numbers of small fish were found outside the river after a storm. The men picked up fish by the basketful and used them as fertilizer in their gardens. We put ours in the hills of corn as we planted a large area. The corn flourished and we decided the Indians knew what they advised when they told the early settlers to use fish to grow corn. We had a bumper crop. After I had canned all I could use, and given away some to relatives, I finally put a pile on a table by the road, to sell. It was during the war years and people were happy to get food that didn’t use coupons from their ration books. That was the summer I learned when corn was ripe and ready to pick, and when it wasn’t.

The only other over-abundant crop I remember was yellow squash. Those lovely little morsels grow at an amazing rate – almost overnight, when the weather is right.

We had an affable vendor who came along with his truck full of produce, twice a week. He was quite surprised one day as he drove in the driveway and I met him with almost a full bushel of squash as a gift. He laughed about that for some time, and a few weeks later presented me with the gift of three nice winter squash. That was the year I learned to make pumpkin pies from squash. I continued to use squash for that autumn favorite food and never did make a pumpkin pie of the real kind!

Not too many children growing up today have the opportunity to grow food and prepare it and enjoy it. They are missing something but they probably don’t realize it.

Last week the column’s quote was by Yogi Berra.

Who said –

“That friend who serves, and seeks for gain,

And follows but for form,

Will pack when it begins to rain

And leave you in the storm” ?