Most of my family did not inherit that deep love for garden soil, but I certainly did. No matter the problem, it cannot be so huge that it cannot be put on a back burner while I play in the dirt.Â
I remember it well when the Glenwood home was bought, and I went out and dug into the rich soil. As a longtime gardener I could tell a lot by the color and smell of that rich soil. I instantly proclaimed it would be “good garden soil.” Unlike some of the new homes where dozers and landscaping had moved and misplaced the top soil, this home still had the original soil from what once was an old cattle farm.Â
Year after year as I tilled and planted it never once let me down. Far more than even the soil was the great neighbors who would come over to chat, and we shared our bounty. Even though I had my own bounty, one kind neighbor left corn, tomatoes, and any surplus in a paper bag on my shaded side stoop. My grandson and I always referred to one kind neighbor as “Joe on the hill” as all in the little neighborhood aged together.Â
When Joe was no longer able to plant, I would always make sure I saved some of his favorites, and either my grandson or I would run these up the sloping hillside to his home.Â
In her last years, Mom loved my garden and enjoyed shelling the beans. I would actually get her in the car and drive around the house so she could stand near the garden with her walker.Â
I was once the youngest in the neighborhood, and I watched through the years most of my neighbors and my mom left for that “better place.” It seemed overnight I was suddenly the oldest surrounded by younger neighbors on three sides.Â
Working the soil has kept me going, and it gives me exercise, food, neighbors to chat with, and an opportunity to feel the sunshine and hear the birds. Yes, that dirt rewards me year after year in so many ways, as it lifts my spirit and keeps me grounded.
—PinnacleCreek
The beautiful warm day we had yesterday made me anxious to plant this year’s garden, even though I know it’s still too early. Like PinnacleCreek I find gardening to be very rewarding.
The weather had the same affect on Granny. As I drove her to a doctor’s appointment she said she sure was looking forward to the first mess of fresh green beans and new potatoes straight from the garden.
Last night’s video: How YouTube Changed Mine and My Husband’s Life & the Blind Pig Turns 16.
Tipper
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Our radishes are up too!! I got cherry bell this year. We have a raised bed with cedar posts around. My husband planted the onion sets a while back. I hope to get some lettuce growing in a few pots. I also want to plant sugar snap peas. We need to get our taters in too. And I’m looking forward to setting out some blueberry bushes this year. Our Lenten roses haves been lovely so far.
I have my grandmother’s quilts and the singer sewing machine she made them on! Such treasures. She says words like idee and okree and gimme some sugar when I was little like you have mentioned . Very fond memories of those times. Sure appreciate you reminding me of times past!!!
Hi Tipper: I sure enjoyed your rich history last night, congratulations on 16 years of your vlog! I read it every day. I am so glad you stared a You Tube channel as I look forward to all you put on. I also love the Presley girls videos! Thank you to all of you, I also like watching Matt as he cooks, works, etc. Thank you and God bless you and yours❤❤
Well Tipper, you’ve done it again! Inspired me and my husband to try our hands at having a little vegetable garden along with a flower bed too. My oh my, I checked on the little green English peas that I planted the other day and they are peeping out from the soil. I’ll let you know how they do. Our onions are greening up out of the onion bed that my husband made for them. We’ve got the potatoes ready to go in when the ground dries out a little bit more. I sure do hope that we have a nice bounty this year so we can enjoy some fruits of our labors and share with others. People at church shared lots of vegetables last year and I want to be able to share some goodness back. The only thing that we don’t seem to have any good luck with is tomatoes even though we sure do try. Thank Goodness, one of the Deacons can grow prize tomatoes and he’s very free hearted. I just love people!!!!! What a blessing to have good people in our lives! Thank you and Matt for sharing your lives with us. You just don’t know how much you and your family mean to us. May God bless you all real good.
I just can’t wait to smell the soil and feel it in my hands too!
In the past when many of us were young and living in the country, a large garden was a “necessity,” not a hobby or the “ in thing to do.” Our families depended on a garden for most of our food. Unlike today, deer wouldn’t have been tolerated for long, they would have died from a dose of lead poisoning real quick, people couldn’t afford having them eat up their garden. A dose of hickory tee would soon encourage many unwilling children to work and help in the gardens. I speak of this from experience!
I once saw this quote somewhere, “One is nearer the heart of God in a garden than anywhere else on earth.” Jim said much the same idea with the single word “elemental”. But it isn’t just in the garden, Pinnacle Creek reminds of gratitude and sharing that come from and are also garden products.
Tipper, you gave me much to think about in your video. I will be mulling it over for awhile. Of several items, one was about the feeling of not deserving. People who give by their nature by the same nature discount the value of what they give. It is a sweet thing but also sets up the undeserving feeling. But as you told us, the good Lord keeps us neither too high nor too low. He makes trials blessings and makes people into blessings also (whether they know it or not).
For some reason this article reminded me of my dad. He always tried to put a garden in each year. I remember going out and eating very beautiful fresh tomatoes off the vine, just like an apple. Still makes my mouth water. Sweet thoughts always. Congratulations on 16 years Miss Tipper. Your hard work has certainly paid off for you. Thank you for your labor of love. Jennifer
Congratulations again on 16 years of the ‘Blind Pig’ blog, Tipper. I grew up with a mama who gardened – and even our home was filled with house plants. She had what is often called a ‘green thumb’ as all plants thrived under her care. Gardening – ‘playing’ in the dirt, the tending to plants, watching new life come from our efforts – nothing brings more peace to a person’s soul. May ‘bounty’ be the word for your & Matt’s efforts this year.
PinnacleCreek touches on something that is elemental and elevating no matter what your situation or circumstances–closeness to the good earth. That’s been a part of my being all my years and obviously the same holds true for her.
One of the finest compliments I’ve ever had came when, not long after I started my first career as a university professor, I was buying some some plants and “starts” from a local woman who earned a meager but meaningful livelihood by way of a sprawling backyard nursery. Through chats we had become good friends and I was actually able to share a gardening tidbit or two that was new to her. Anyway, I was browsing while she dealt with another customer nearby and that individual said, nodding my direction, “You know he’s a professor, don’t you.”
The reply was the compliment. The plant lady said, “Oh, he’s just an old dirt dauber.
I’ve been a dirt dauber all my days and it’s a badge I wear with great pride and even greater satisfaction.
Mr. Jim, among foresters there is an earned title “dirt forester”. As you say, a compliment to be wore with satisfaction.
I inherited my love for gardening from my Daddy. I’m the oldest and only child who did, the other four prefer to buy their vegetables from stores. While growing up I watched Daddy get the neighbor up above us come down every spring and plow and disk the land for another garden. He usually planted about two acres. All of us kids were expected to help plant the seeds and hoe out the weeds. I wasn’t thrilled about it, but I did it. I always enjoyed going out there, picking a sun-kissed ripe tomato and eating it right there in the garden. He also planted strawberries and I would go out in the evening, pick a big pan of them and eat away as I watched tv. Daddy left us unexpectedly, four days after his 75th birthday, in June 2000. In fact, when he began to get sick, he had been in his strawberry patch getting ready to sell them. I just reached my 75th birthday and am thinking a lot about Daddy as his birthday arrives in June, the same day I was married 56 years ago. I thank God that he instilled into me the importance of Faith in God, values that have been with me all my life. Also to be persistent and don’t give up, which I was born with. I am looking forward to another garden season, “the rewards of dirt.”
Beautiful post from PinnacleCreek. It reminds me of how daddy couldn’t wait to get the garden started. Growing a garden is what kept him going. This time of year makes me think of him even more. Those were hard times but so rewarding and there is just nothing like being outside in the fresh air, sunshine and hearing the birds singing. It doesn’t get any better than that except I do wish I was back in the country when I could smell the dirt being turned again.
Congratulations Tipper on sixteen years of Blind Pig. That’s a major accomplishment. I wish I had found you sooner because I have enjoyed every post, and I also am so happy you can do what you love, and you family can work with you. That’s just wonderful!!
There really is nothing like working garden beds, and I think that things that quiet the mind are truly important these days as are the harvests and teaching children and grandchildren about sun, soils, water, and seeds. I always remember that God’s first people were created in His garden, and that our connection to gardening is both primordial and heavenly. I can no longer do the physical work of gardening, and I miss it so.
The only thing better than new green beans and potatoes is new peas creamed with baby potatoes! I remember at the height of summer, my mom would often make almost our entire supper out of the garden: green beans and potatoes, sliced cucumbers and tomatoes, fresh squash or corn on the cob, and either biscuits or white bread with gravy. Still one of my favorite meals!
PinnacleCreek’ s post today was so enjoyable to read. When you’re outside digging in dirt, feeling the warm sunshine or just piddling, it refreshes the body and soul!
Everyone have a great day. Be kind and help someone today!
Have you heard from Norman Chester?
Papaw-not in a few days. I hope he is okay.
I cherish the daily harvesting of beans , kale, beets, carrots, collards, spinach, or tomatoes. It makes me so grateful to God for His power. The miracle He placed in each seed is awesome and to nurture that tiny miracle into fruition is humbling and inspiring. Gratitude flows like a river.
In the Fall it makes me a little wistful to say goodbye to the plants. Each time I pull out the remnants of the once bountiful miracle, I give thanks for the nourishment it provided. I bless the soil and ask God to pour His generous wealth back into it for next year’s prosperity. I am truly grateful!
Thank you Tipper for the opportunity to share thoughts and love.
Yesterday’s video on your journey was lovely and inspiring. I wrap you in a thick pink blanket of love.
God is good!!
Lovely, Tipper. Thank you. Aging, like each season of the year, is a gift.
My Pappaw on my Mom’s side always planted a good size garden. As he got older and it was more difficult to walk, he had a chair that would sit in the middle of the garden row he was working on. When he got to it, he would take a well deserved break. Now grass covers the area that once was a beautiful garden. I sure miss him and that garden!
Tipper, is this from a book or a blog? My Google search for PinnacleCreek left me confused.
We’re itching to get stuff planted, too. So far- carrots, sugar snaps, cucumbers, lettuce, luffa, and nasturtiums.
Melanie-PinnacleCreek is a long time Blind Pig reader and this is a comment she left a few years back 🙂
That was written beautifully and probably ever gardeners thoughts on how working in the ground makes us feel. I’m older and can’t get down on my knees like I use to but I still enjoy going out and digging in soil even if it’s in pots, tubs or raised beds. I missed it last year because my husband wanted to do all the garden by himself. He determined he didn’t like it as much as he thought he would, nor did he realize all the daily work that goes into maintaining it so it would have maximum production. He has happily turned the full time gardening back over to me this year for as long as I’m able to do it. He also sees the need for raised beds, so it looks like I will be getting some of them too. I’ll be in one of my happy spaces again!
I am made from dirt (Genesis 2:7-9). Everything I eat was once dirt. Getting a little on me or in me is not a problem but rather a joy. I got out in yesterday’s sunshine and got some dirt on me, too!
I really enjoyed today’s post. I love the smell of fresh turned dirt and fresh cut grass (even if it has wild onions) and fresh cut hay…..well you get my drift. Some days I get home from work and just sit a minute and smell the air and listen to the birds. I too am finding it hard to wait for planting time. Randy, I love the idea of a “frost” garden. Love and prayers to Granny and Little Mamas and all of you too.
Thank you for sharing the writing of PinnacleCreek this morning. It was just beautiful. I can imagine her home and garden and her surrounding neighbors. We, too, used to be the youngest couple in our newly-built home long ago. When we first dug our little garden, my husband found a horseshoe. The dirt was so black and rich that we decided maybe there had been a barn there sometime in the past. We have a couple neighbors who like us, are in their sixties; but mostly there are younger folks that have moved in, as older ones have passed on to heaven or moved away. My mama loved her vegetable gardens and especially her flower gardens. She loved getting her hands in that dirt and planting and weeding. She and Dad moved to an apartment several years ago, as they couldn’t take care of their place anymore. She still says that she hopes God needs someone to tend the flowers in heaven—and that she will get that job someday.
A mess of the three sisters: beans, squash and corn. A bigger mess of fresh greens. I’m hankering for them at the end of winter. Berry picking too.
Tipper……Congratulations on your success and your 16 year Anniversary! You should be proud of what you have accomplished. You are a joy to watch . Keep it up…. Your family are a blessing you share with all of us. ❤️
Like Granny, I always looked forward to the first mess of string beans and new potatoes from the garden of both of my grandfathers. Planting a garden was as essential for them as breathing!!! My father always planted a garden; but, he wasn’t nearly as passionate about gardening, so he didn’t spend hours every day working in his garden like my grandfathers always did. After I left home, I became more accustomed to buying vegetables at the supermarket. I sometimes pick up fresh items from the produce aisles and sometimes frozen or even canned—depending on what I want and also the season I am shopping. I would like nothing better than to have a few raised beds of my own so that once again I can taste really good vegetables from grown in my own ground. I hope to work on this by starting small very raised bed garden sometime soon. I am planning to try my hand at planting a few grow bags this year.
Growing up, I always associated my Granddaddy with gardening, it really was his identity. He was many other things of course, a dentist, a hunter, an expert fisherman, but it was the garden where he truly came alive. He was born and raised on a farm in Towns County, GA and wanted nothing more than to be a farmer like his daddy, granddaddy and great granddaddy before. But a case of rheumatic fever as a teenager put an end to that dream. As a young person I had no interest in gardening. Now I love it so much and wish I could go back and learn from him, so much knowledge and experience gone. I try not to dwell on it, but it does make me sad sometimes. I’m sure he would be happy though, to know that his granddaughter and great grand children are gardening on the same land as he did ❤️
I remember the smell of the fresh dirt in my grandpa’s garden. I didn’t appreciate it back when I was a kid and had to fight the bugs and snakes in the garden. I would love to have some of his wisdom now and my dad’s.. he passed in November and I can’t call and get advice from him now.
That story just tugs at your heart. once he was the youngest, now the oldest. Time sure flies.
I am itching to get in the garden. This time of year I just start chomping at the bit. Our garlic is coming up good and the winter rye I planted to break up the clay is looking thick and lush. I just can’t wait.
what a beautiful story, hardens are an example of how land should be used and cared for.
I visited my sisters in Indiana and helped them with their garden while I was there. I had been watching Tippers channel so I wanted to get my hands in the dirt like my parents before me. I had been struggling with what to do when I retired. I loved it and thought THAT’S IT!
We had to take out some trees in our back yard as they were deseased a while back which opened up our backyard to full sun North to South. When I retire in June we will build raised beds so that I can do a Florida winter crop. I can’t wait!
I won a homesteading book from Holman’s Homestead (another great channel) which I have read.
Thank you Tipper for your channel and blog! It has helped me more tha you know! God bless!
Oh Tipper, I can just see those two little grandsons now, in their high chairs, each with a green bean in their hand holdin it up to the camera, as proud as granny…..green beans were one of the first ppl food my grandson ate.
Had to pop back on here to tell you…. my son gave me a wrapped gift at lunch, just for being Ma’am to his babies. It was a photo of his 28mo old and 15 mo old revealing the sonogram of baby number three, who is coming in six months. In no time we’ll have three tiny green bean eaters in the house, yay! I’m so excited I just had to tell someone, and since I can’t tell family quite yet, you get to be in on the secret.
Lorie-how exciting! Congratulations 🙂
Working in his large garden-a couple of acres, was one of my father in law’s biggest joys especially after he retired. He couldn’t wait to start each year, when the weather begin to get spring like, he would plant a small garden off to the side of his main garden, that would likely get killed if the weather turned off cold again and there would be frost. He would call this garden his “frost” garden. No matter how much he wanted to start, he would not plow his garden if the soil was wet, plowing wet soil will cause the soil to get hard and have clods you can never brake up. Like it was said in this article, I passed by a place yesterday that is going to be another housing development, all the good topsoil had been graded off down to the red clay.