Hog's Heaven

Category: Childhood Memories | Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 12:12 am

Mom always started her own plants from seed. I was probably the most interested in helping her with them and helping in the flower garden. We were all required to help in the vegetable garden. When I was really small I don't remember the process of seed starting. I know we had a wash shed with a boat shed attatched to it. She started the seeds under the boat shed and if it were going to freeze we brought them into the wash shed. Then Daddy built us a lean-to greenhouse off of the side of the boat shed, a big one too. Mom and I were in hog's heaven, no more having to put the seeds out in the sun during the day, bring them into the washshed if it were going to rain or freeze, we had our own greenhouse. Mom saved everything to start seeds in, cardboard eggcartons, which I still use, tin cans with holes punched in the bottom for drainage, waxed milk cartons, cut longways, any and everything that would safely hold a seed to germinate. We had flowers everywhere and vegetables too of course. I never tasted canned vegetables until I started school. I can remember they didn't taste the same as our veggies at home. That's just one more thing I love my parents for, instilling the love of growing things into me. Of course, as a teenager I saw it more as a punishment then love, but I know different now. Even though Dad is now gone, I am so thankful for this knowledge and the 2 people who taught it to me.

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eileen wrote on Tue Jan 23, 2007 12:22 am:

You were very lucky to have parents like yours Sharon. Your mum and dad certainly did a good job raising you to love growing things. Does your mum still save seeds in all those different containers? I know I do - even the corners cut out of old envelopes work for me.

pondlady wrote on Tue Jan 23, 2007 1:30 am:

Sharon, how could we ever know that that gardening drudgery they forced upon us could serve us so well all these years later. Mine are both alive and at 92, my mother is planning her new garden at the new house they are moving into at the end of this month.

Gardenstew wrote on Tue Jan 23, 2007 1:37 am:

>>> I never tasted canned vegetables until I started school.

I really wish I could say that. Maximum respect to your parents for teaching you to love growing stuff.

>>> Of course, as a teenager I saw it more as a punishment then love, but I know different now.

As with most things we are forced to do as a teenager ;)

glendann wrote on Tue Jan 23, 2007 2:09 am:

I raised a big garden veggie
before I got interested in flowers .It turned out great
as mother had a broke leg and wrist and I would ask how to do things and she would tell me how and my Aunt Mary would come help me and tell me how on lots of things.Not many thing that you can't start seeds in.I did not care for flowers as I saw no purpose in them you couldn't eat them.But the first greenhouse I started was in moms front yard,with a clothsline streched in two
different directions with a fence runing down 2 sides I put plastic over it and around it with cloths pins holding it down .I had a trouble wired to the line dropped low.to keep the plants from freezing.It was ugly and everyone made fun of it until I had fresh tomatos for Christmas.I had really pretty pretty flowers
and they bloomed early .Mom had to have oxyogin all time then but she had a long line to go out on the porch to watch me when it was warm enough.She enjoyed watching me work in it so much.

reggaefan wrote on Tue Jan 23, 2007 2:13 am:

Unfortunatly Mom is no longer able to do any gardening. She has a degenarative bone disease and arthritis so she is pretty much in a wheelchair all the time. She can walk short distances inside on her walker as long as someone is behind her. She loves spring and summer when we can tour the yard and she can see all the flowers.