I have already mentioned that my grandfather would plant a small patch of sugar cane.  He would also plant some popping corn.  After the corn matured, the ears were removed and the corn was shucked.  The kernels were removed from the ear and stored in glass cars with lids.  The corn would then keep for several months.  Some of the kernels would be kept for planting the following year.  There were no such things as microwaves.  The popping corn would be placed in a metal pan that was mesh, a little salt would be added as well as lard or butter.  The metal basket or pan had a wooden handle.  The pan would be placed over the fire either an open flame or the cook stove and continually shaken until no more pops were heard then you knew the popcorn was ready.

All farmers planted a garden.  Vegetables were grown such as  carrots, okra, green beans, blackeyed peas, sweet peas, tomatoes, sweet corn,  potatoes., cucumbers, turnips, cabbage and onions.  The ground for the garden had to be plowed and prepared for planting.  After that usually a hoe was used to create a trough into which seed were placed.  Then the hoe was used to cover the seed.  Seed from the prior year had been saved and that was what was planted.  Often there was not enough rain at the proper time so water had to be carried from the creek or well, bucket by bucket, to water the plants as they came up.

Almost everyone had a favorite recipe for something called chow chow.  Chopped tomatoes, cabbage, spices and vinegar was used to make chow chow.  This was a relish used on pinto beans, blackeyed peas, etc.  It was canned.

In the case of turnips, the turnip itself was canned.  The tops or greens of the turnips were boiled and some canned., I remember going into the garden and digging up a turnip, taking a knife and peeling it and eating it raw right in the garden.

The garden was large, as enough food was raised to last an entire year.  Gardens in town were not as large as those on the farm.  When the vegetables were ready for harvest there was real work.  For example, beans were picked and washed.  Then the strings were removed from the beans and the beans were snapped into pieces.  The beans were then cooked on the wood stove in the kitchen, pot after pot.  Then they were canned.  Actually, no cans were used.  Mason jars were used with screw tops.  The cans were then allowed to cool.  Similar processing was done for other vegetables. 

Not all the vegetables were canned, as some were eaten right away.  Fresh grown and cooked vegetables always tasted better than canned ones.  Even the farm canned vegetables tasted better than you can buy in the store today.

Almost all farmers had a storm or fruit cellar.  This was a hole dug in the ground fairly close to the house. Steps down into the cellar were also dug.  Boards were placed over the hole and two or three feet of dirt was placed over the boards.  A slanted door was placed over the steps.  In bad weather, when a severe storm came up, the family would go into the cellar.  Before going down into the cellar it was inspected to make sure no snakes had entered.  A lantern was usually kept in the cellar.  The cellar was also where all the vegetables that had been canned were stored.  Some potatoes and onions were canned.  Some were just placed in the cellar.  It was cool in the cellar so they would last a long time before spoiling.  Some leaf lettuce was grown but that was not canned. Just eaten fresh.

I cannot remember anyone having fruit trees, except peaches.  Peaches were also canned.  Very little fruit was eaten then.  Watermelons were planted.  Some had red meat inside and some yellow.  I always thought the yellow tasted better.  I don’t think I even saw a strawberry until I was 18 or 20 years old.  The cucumbers and watermelon rinds were pickled and canned.  Farmers wasted almost nothing, as can be seen by pickling the rinds. 

Many people in town also had gardens.  Watering them was not as much work because in town there was running water.  A hose was used to water.

Nuts were also gathered, primarily pecans.  Pecan trees were naturally around.  My uncle Frank worked for the railroad.  There were many pecan trees on the railroad right-of-way.  We would go on the right-of-way and pick up pecans.  The shell of the pecan was cracked and the meat inside removed and stored.  Homemade pecan pie is sooooooooo good.  The city park in my home town of Coleman, Texas had many pecan trees.  People would go to the park and pick up the pecans.

In another note, I will write about cooking and meals.