As some of you know, I have been an avid gardener since the early '90s and have occasionally made a decent amount of money (as a side hustle) through market gardening to sell at farmers' markets while I lived in Delaware, Texas, and at the organic ranch in North Carolina. My heart attack in 2011 and my subsequent condition prevent me from spending long, hot hours in the field, but I still manage enough gardening to keep myself supplied with fresh or canned goodies year-round, saving quite a bit—just a little more elbow grease involved!

Anyway, sorry for the ramble, but it’s still frosty here in Indy this morning, so I’m killing time before heading out to move compost—ugh! I just wanted to share some humor about this year's gardening season so far. Every year, I buy seeds and various equipment. While shopping online, I thought I was almost done and went to review my cart; most people add or subtract from their orders at this point, right? Then I noticed the final total, including shipping and tax: $333.30! I know it’s not exact, but I’ll take it. I pressed the 'place order' tab without hesitation. It’s going to be a very fruitful season!

The next day, I received some seeds from rareseeds.com (also known as Baker Creek). I had ordered Creole Collards (You can take the man out of the South, but you can’t take the South out of the man.) The packet arrived, and the label says COLLARDS
Georgia Southern
(CREOLE). What the heck? Some seeds will never be planted; into the trash they go, and I won’t lament the $5 it cost me to discard them.

Happy Spring Mountaineers enjoy every minute.

Collards from Georgia Southern? That explains the stench.

That's why I don't eat those.

biggie wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 01, 2025 10:16 am

That's why I don't eat those.

I use to not eat 'em either but unless I want to need a new heart and kidneys in the next few years. I'm vegan, (almost) since Dec 2023 Dr's. orders. It's an interesting pickle if my heart gets worse I'll be on the list for a heart and kidney if the kidneys go then it's a kidney and heart. Whichever comes first Not looking forward to it, so I'm doing everything to delay the inevitable. c'est la vie Toxic exposure is no joke, it will put me in my grave yet but not today. So Eat, Drink, be Merry for t........... Trust me all this I just told you I'm OK with. I woke up today and the King of Kings is still on the throne and that gives me peace from worry.

I will pray for you from time to time..no one should be inflicted with vegan-ism..

The only collards I would eat were my grandmas.

pollen stopped me from doing much gardening. I did used to grow heirloom tomatoes from seed. Was always fun watching them grow in Jan and Feb. But the last time I did it, I had 3 pots I was putting out in the days just to get some sun and get used to the breezes.

One day was on the phones, looked out at the patio and the sprouts had been eaten!!!! I was livid. Found out it was a rat. My windowed neighbor had a shed in her backyard and the rats had a next in there. Took a while to figure out where they were coming from. But I did n't go quietly into the night.

No I came up with rat trap in a cage so cats couldn't get in. Killed 9. No kidding. Eventually her son figured it out and tore down the shed. That stopped the problem.

Now I've got 2 local food stands that get them ready to sell in April. Won't be long

GreatAppSt wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 01, 2025 12:20 pm

biggie wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 01, 2025 10:16 am

That's why I don't eat those.

I use to not eat 'em either but unless I want to need a new heart and kidneys in the next few years. I'm vegan, (almost) since Dec 2023 Dr's. orders. It's an interesting pickle if my heart gets worse I'll be on the list for a heart and kidney if the kidneys go then it's a kidney and heart. Whichever comes first Not looking forward to it, so I'm doing everything to delay the inevitable. c'est la vie Toxic exposure is no joke, it will put me in my grave yet but not today. So Eat, Drink, be Merry for t........... Trust me all this I just told you I'm OK with. I woke up today and the King of Kings is still on the throne and that gives me peace from worry.

My dr making me go vegan is a nightmare, my "sugars" keep me away from enough stuff I want, at least meat isn't too bad for me currently.

You are missing out. Those collards are good. Put a tad of sugar in when cooking. Plant the GS collards with some space cause they grow big. I cut down on my garden this year (from about 1500 sq feet to less than half) because it’s going to be a dry summer and I’m too old to be toting water or moving water pipes. But I did not cut back on tomatoes, green beans, collards and sweet potatoes. My favorites.

GreatAppSt wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 01, 2025 12:20 pm

biggie wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 01, 2025 10:16 am

That's why I don't eat those.

I use to not eat 'em either but unless I want to need a new heart and kidneys in the next few years. I'm vegan, (almost) since Dec 2023 Dr's. orders. It's an interesting pickle if my heart gets worse I'll be on the list for a heart and kidney if the kidneys go then it's a kidney and heart. Whichever comes first Not looking forward to it, so I'm doing everything to delay the inevitable. c'est la vie Toxic exposure is no joke, it will put me in my grave yet but not today. So Eat, Drink, be Merry for t........... Trust me all this I just told you I'm OK with. I woke up today and the King of Kings is still on the throne and that gives me peace from worry.

Right there with you on the kidneys. Unless there's a big change in labs I'll soon be on that list myself. Unfortunately, like you, that's not the only thing wrong. You hang in there and I'll do the same. Thoughts and prayers for you brother!!

Cro-Magnon App wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 23, 2025 9:49 pm

You are missing out. Those collards are good. Put a tad of sugar in when cooking. Plant the GS collards with some space cause they grow big. I cut down on my garden this year (from about 1500 sq feet to less than half) because it’s going to be a dry summer and I’m too old to be toting water or moving water pipes. But I did not cut back on tomatoes, green beans, collards and sweet potatoes. My favorites.

Where collards are concerned, ^this^ can make all the difference.

Bootsy wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 24, 2025 5:41 am

Cro-Magnon App wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 23, 2025 9:49 pm

You are missing out. Those collards are good. Put a tad of sugar in when cooking. Plant the GS collards with some space cause they grow big. I cut down on my garden this year (from about 1500 sq feet to less than half) because it’s going to be a dry summer and I’m too old to be toting water or moving water pipes. But I did not cut back on tomatoes, green beans, collards and sweet potatoes. My favorites.

Where collards are concerned, ^this^ can make all the difference.

Sugar is the answer to most things