Fielder’s Choice

Gardeners are good at taking care of the Burlesons.

A couple of weeks ago we were given some tomatoes and squash. Last weekend, a bag of cucumbers came our way.

And good things like that from local gardens have been the been normal, thank goodness, for many years.

And we typically buy our share, too.

I haven’t had my own garden since the days of growing up in Marion County, Ala. But then I always reaped the benefits of a big one, thanks in large part to my mother.

Mother worked at a factory in Hamilton, Ala. She would have to leave for work very early, like 6:15 or 6:30 a.m.

During the summer, she would usually leave a list of chores that she wanted me to accomplish on a given day. It often included things like mow the yard, plow the garden (with a tiller), use the hoe to get rid of the weeds around the plants, pick the peas or dig the potatoes. Holding that tiller in the row was tough. But I think I actually turned into a pretty good tiller driver.

Mother did not push me when it came to the chores or say things like “do this or else.” But at the same time, I respected her and knew if she was putting in eight hours a day (and often overtime) at the sewing factory, the least I could do would be to tackle the “to-do list.”

I knew the chores would be waiting on me most weekdays, but I’d still dread it.

There were times when I came up with some excuses, but at the same time I knew I’d better get the chores finished first. Most days, I would try to get the tasks accomplished by lunch or a little after and leave for the rest of the day for good times with friends or baseball practice and such.

I recall it being hot almost every day I worked in the garden. And this was not a small garden at the Burlesons, about 12 miles west of Hamilton, Ala., on Highway 278. We had it all – squash, tomatoes, beans, peas, cabbage, cucumber, corn and more.

I guess my least favorite task was shelling peas. I didn’t have the patience. I recall having purple fingers a lot (from the purple hull versions). It seemed like Mother shelled peas non-stop in the summer months, and she enjoyed it.

All of my hard work and sweat proved to be well worth it during those July evenings at the dinner table. We had some wonderful meals together, and if we didn’t eat everything on a given night, we’d have the leftovers the next day for lunch. And of course, just like the good folks of Marshall County, my mother liked sharing the fruits of her garden with others, too.

I’ve long been a lover of homegrown vegetables. I was raised on them. They’re about all my favorite, but there’s nothing better than squash.

Tomato sandwiches, with salt, pepper and lots of mayonnaise, are wonderful, too.

I’ve eaten a lot of homegrown vegetables since leaving Alabama in 1986, but none ever match those we planted in the soil behind and beside our house in rural Alabama.

I’m not sure what Mother’s secret was but it worked and worked well. Her fresh vegetables from the garden were the best, no doubt about it.

And looking back to 45-plus years ago, I appreciate the chores, too, even the tilling.