Ha!
My brother in law lives in Poke county where all the farms are. He picked me up a bushel in the rain storm, then set them by my garage in the rainstorm. When I finally got around to shelling some of them this afternoon, they were soaked and starting to mold. I spread them out on the floor of the garage in the "redneck wind tunnel", as Carlos calls it to dry out
Taking a break now, I got cramps in my thumbs.
Man, you guys sure make a fellow want to get back into growing a garden. The wifey and kids wanted to grow a garden this year. I told them that it would be just like the swimming pool... I'd be the only one doing the work in it and that I could go to the veggie stand for a hell of a lot less. A bushell of shelled zippers are like $25 I have bought 30 lbs. of squash and 40 cucumbers and 6 Bell peppers for $30 and haven't broke a sweat.
:taz
I won't disagree with you. Treefarmer's garden is very big, which makes it more worthwhile and more cost efficient. Plus, I am guessing he saves seeds from previous crops, so he has little to no money going into getting it going. Small scale stuff like I have, it's more of a hobby and something to keep me busy more than anything. With over 10'' of rain in the last week I can't even get out there to replant what I tilled up 2 weeks ago. Good news is I haven't had to water in 2 weeks either.
It took me a while to shell, wash, blanch and bag all those peas up. But I caught up on some TV watching while doing it!
Yeah I hear ya, I think if I go any more gardens it will be the smaller scale. 4 years ago was my last garden and it was out of control but a good one. I had 16 rows that was 70' long under plastic with a drip system. I would only have to water 30 minutes every other day with absolutely no wasted water, it all went to the plant. I would ferterlize with miracle grow through the drip. I had 30 tomato bushes 70 squash plants and 2 rows of cucs 10 rows of various peas/beans and the odd ball row like melons lopes and other. It just all became like to much work when I had to come home from work and pick 3-5 buckets (5 gallon) everyday. Made lots of friends though. Maybe I've just got to fat and lazy.
:tequila
