Keeping Our Agricultural History Alive

Over the past number of decades, there has been a moving away from the knowledge, history and heritage of our foodways. We as a society have become detached from farming, gardening and the knowledge of where our food comes from.

As more and more families moved away from farms and migrated to cities, we gave up on farming heritage and way of life. As we transitioned from family or small farms to industrialized agriculture, new generations became detached from what “real food” tastes like. People became accustomed to tomatoes with little to no flavor, and the list goes on.

As a child, I remember what it was like to pull a carrot out of the ground, wipe the soil off and eat it right there in the garden. What a wonderful treat to discover that fresh, sweet flavor of a carrot just pulled from the carrot row. I loved going out to the garden on a hot Summer day with nothing but a saltshaker. Then, I would pull a warm tomato from the vine and enjoy the full essence of a heritage variety’s heavenly flavor.

Another one of my favorites from the garden were what were referred to as “new potatoes.” New potatoes were the first ones to be dug early in the season. Those new potatoes were small in size and so tender that when washed the tender skin would almost wash off. When boiled and served with salt, butter, pepper and sometimes with finely sliced chives or broadleaf parsley, it was a tasty delight that remains one of my favorites.

Over the years as Master Gardener here at Blackberry Farm, I have discovered a number of changes of awareness in people’s attitudes concerning the food that they eat and where it comes from, how it was grown, the health concerns that are associated with how our food is produced, such as chemical input, and other issues that affect the overall health of the foods that we consume.

There are a number of good new trends that I am very glad to see taking place. All around the country, there are chefs who either have purchased their own farms or have “adopted” farmers to grow the produce that they require.

I am continually meeting people of all ages who have either started their own vegetable garden or want to learn how to start a garden. I am always glad to assist anyone who has the desire to grow a portion of their own food.

Heirloom varieties are also making a strong comeback as people begin to discover what real food tastes like. There is also a great interest in sustainable or renewable agriculture and regaining some degree of control over what they consume. When gardening with heirloom seeds, you are bringing the best of the past into today’s world. You are growing “living history.”

If your garden is large enough and you are growing more than you can consume during the growing season, canning beans, tomatoes and other garden produce is a good way to extend the garden harvest until the following growing season.

– John Coykendall, Blackberry Farm Master Gardener