I remember as a child my parents didn’t have extra money for new shoes or the new Barbie doll I just thought I needed, but I don’t ever remember feeling hungry. My belly was always full and our cupboards were always stocked.
It wasn’t until I was an adult that I understood that my parents knew the secret behind “food independence.” My parents grew up in the era where providing food for your family was an everyday occurrence…not one that could be fulfilled by running to the grocery store.
I was born in 1962 and raised on a small farm in rural Northwest Pennsylvania. I was born at the onset of fast food and prepackaged meals, but it was way into the 70’s before I ever saw my first TV dinner. For us, supper always consisted of meat, potatoes, bread and butter, and a vegetable. Once in a while Mom would surprise us with a big pot of pasta, but for the most part every meal was grown, canned and frozen right from the fields that surrounded our farm. Saturday night always meant a big bowl of popcorn that we husked ourselves and Sunday always meant roasted chicken and dessert. To this day roasted chicken reminds me of my mother in the kitchen with her apron on.
There were four of us kids, plus Mom and Dad so there were always plenty of hands to pull weeds, peel potatoes, feed animals, chop wood and gather eggs. Our farm was not big, but there were always chickens, geese and ducks running around, cows in the pasture and pigs in the barn. We grew sweet corn, picked apples and plums off the trees in our yard and forged the woods for wild blackberries and strawberries every year.
I can’t remember having store bought vegetables in the house since we always ate what was in season. Spring greens and fresh radishes in the spring, new potatoes and peas in late spring, sweet corn and fresh tomatoes in the summer and pumpkin pies and acorn squash smothered in butter and brown sugar in the fall. A smorgasbord of wonderful flavors to look forward to every year.
Every fall Mom would scour the garden for the last of the green tomatoes and apples from the trees to make her famous mincemeat pie filling. I don’t like mincemeat, but I can still remember the wonderful aromas that filled the kitchen when she made it.
Fall also meant Dad would have grapes fermenting into sweet grape wine. It wasn’t until I was an adult before I could enjoy the sweet flavor of those fall grapes, but I vividly remember him and his friends enjoying it quite often sitting around the kitchen table.
My parents no longer plant a garden and rely on my brother to share his garden with them, but they still live in the same house and they still know the importance of food independence. I never have to worry about my parents going hungry. Their pantry is still always stocked and they always have plenty when any of us kids stop by.
I am very thankful my father taught me how to garden and my mother taught me how to can…where would I be today without these basic skills?
Oh that’s right...I would be relying on the grocery store and not striving for food independence.
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Great post! I’m a regular reader and I just wanted to leave a note to let you know how much I enjoy your blog. As a fellow SC resident attempting to set up a little homestead, I especially love when you share specifics about our region.
Food independence is something I strive for. Some times I’m more successful that others. My garden never seems to be big enough! But we do rely on it all summer long.
We have chickens which provide us with eggs. I looking forward to getting my first dairy goat in a couple of weeks! (husband is not thrilled)
Thanx for sharing your memories. I enjoyed them.
I think that no matter what size your garden is, if you can at least grow something it helps us take care of ourselves.
I, too, was raised by parents of the Depression and WWII, and we always had a garden. I remember many a summer afternoon shelling peas, lima beans, or October beans. We strung and snapped bushels of green beans as well. Then there were the tomatoes and corn, plus all the other wonderful vegetables that rounded out our table through the year. My husband and I raise a garden now, and can and freeze a lot of our food. Can’t imagine buying it all from the store. Visiting from Roses of Inspiration.
I am with you…I don’t know what t would be like if we didn’t have a big garden every year. I would hate to think I would have to buy all those fresh veggies!
What a blessing to have parents that taught you wonderful skills that would help you throughout your life. There is nothing better than fresh produce and there is joy in being able to can it and enjoy it during the Winter months.
Thanks for linking up with Roses of Inspiration.
I consider myself pretty lucky now, but at the time I am sure I was not being very grateful. I am sure I did my share of complaining out weeding the garden and doing barn chores!
I love hearing about living like this, wouldn’t it be great if we could do it today? I’m working towards it, I don’t think i’ll ever get this far, but it sure is fun to try. 🙂
What a blessing! This is what our desire is to pass down to our children! Thank you for sharing this week on the Art of Home-Making Mondays Tracy 🙂
What wonderful skills and ideals that you got from your parents. Thank you for sharing at Good Morning Mondays. Blessings
Tracy, we have several similarities, our age and I am also from rural NW PA. I live in NC now and am too close to the city but we have chickens and garden. My husband hunts but it’s getting harder to find the land to do it on. We try to be as self-sufficient as is possible in suburbia.
It sure is a small world. Where in NW PA did you come from? I am from a small town called Waterford about 15 miles south of Erie.
I lived within the “triangle” of Titusville, Meadville and Franklin until 1985. I’ve been in the Raleigh area since then.
What a small world. After I got married my husband and I lived in Saegertown and Meadville for a short time before moving to SC!
I loved your post.. and visit your blog often. I live in town and have a small garden but my dream is to one day live out in the country and be self-sufficient.. You blog is an inspiration and a blessing.. thanks so much for sharing parts of you life with others!!
Thank you Patty I needed to hear that today!
That’s a precious story, Tracy. Thanks for sharing. Your parents must be proud that you’re following in their footsteps.
Hi Tracy,
I adore you and your lovely blog. You truly inspire and excite me. We’ve moved to a run-down, foreclosure farm. We’ve been here one year now. I’m excited to start our garden but am not expecting great success. We have added mulch, manure and covered the garden with straw for the winter. Unfortunately, this land has been terribly disrespected and neglected for many years. It’s going to take some time to build it back up, but we have high hopes and desires to make it work.
Although I didn’t grow up on a farm, I’ve learned so much from you. I truly appreciate the time and effort you put into your blog to encourage and inspire others.
You are definitely a blessing to my life and wanted to let you know. I don’t usually comment, but couldn’t stop myself this evening after reading several of your posts. I stop by often and read a few posts at a time. Please keep posting as I’m sure there are many very appreciative readers out here that appreciate you as much as I do.
Happy Day To You ~ Bobbie
Bobbie thank you for taking the time to let me know you like what you are reading. I understand where you are at with working your farm…ours was in the same shape when we moved here. It’s been a lot of hard work but it is just now starting to pay off so don’t give up or get discouraged!
I found your blog accidentally while searching for something else. I have since gotten way-layed in my search and have been enjoying your blog immensely. You are living my life’s dream, though I do live in the country, in central PA nonetheless, have a 3000 sq foot garden and do live a considerably simple life style. But hubby and I still work and rely on ‘walmart’ for a lot of our needs. Some day I pray I own a ‘tiny home’ and we can live off the land and be off grid. Love your blog.