Everything Old is New Again

I remember going with my mother when I was a child to purchase fresh chickens from a local farm. We didn't always have a garden, but I when we visited my grandma we always went out to the farm and brought back fresh produce.  Mom made jams, preserves and pickles.  The shelves of our cellar were lined with jars filled with the fruit of her efforts.

Finances were tight when I was a young married woman and sometimes the only ingredients I had on hand to feed my family came from the garden. In the fall I froze the surplus to last through the winter. I also had an herb garden and spent a lot of time learning about the properties of various herbal remedies. I baked bread from scratch.

Then life changed, I became a career woman, and convenience reigned supreme. Gardening? Baking? Who had time?

I'm a grandma now and it would seem that live is coming full circle.  These days my focus is shifting to the quality and the source of the food that we eat.  I buy organic produce and absolutely will not buy the feed-lot meat that I used to buy.

It was a beautiful, warm, and sunny day here in the Pacific Northwest yesterday.  The perfect day for putting together the new compost and sowing some seeds.  I even spent some time outside digging in the dirt cleaning out flower beds.

9 comments:

Janna Leadbetter said...

I've noticed my parents reverting to ways of old, too, in their retirement. The difference is it's not out of need, it's from choice. That's the beauty, don't you think?

Hill Country Hippie said...

It was right around 80 degrees here yesterday, and everyone was outside! Tomorrow the high will be 38, and they are predicting snow. That's Texas for ya! I did manage to get a few cool weather veggies planted though, and hubby just sent me a wonderful-sounding recipe for using some of the kale I planted - twice-baked potatoes with a kale, stout, and caramelized onion filling. Looks pretty yummy - even for those of us who aren't crazy about cooked greens!

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Jealous of your weather!!!

You are smart to go back to the "old" ways. Our grandmothers and parents knew best.

Twin XL said...

I must tell you that your posts always prove to be of a high value and quality for readers

Donna M. Kohlstrom said...

Sounds like a perfect day working in the yard. For me, it's a peaceful time. What are you planting?

Melissa Amateis said...

It all sounds quite lovely. I hope that someday, I will have a house again and can invest in a garden. :-)

Deb said...

it's nice to go back to a simple comfortable life...

Linda Hoye said...

Janna - I think that there are a number of us of a certain age making that choice!
Becky - 80 degrees and I am seeing reports of snow today. Now THAT's an extreme change!
JW - We do have much to learn from our parents/grandparents if we will be still and listen.
Twin - thank you for stopping by! I hope you come back often!
Donna - I've got all sorts of flowers started. My favorite is an heirloom hollyhock that reminds me of the church we lived next to when I was a child.
Melissa - I hope the same for you...meantime maybe you want to do some gardening in pots. I did that for years!
Deb - I agree!

Kathryn Magendie said...

I love the image of this - you baking and gardening, coming full circle *smiling*