This is my Granddaddy John Lee and Granny Trese Lee. Granddaddy Lee always planted his Irish potatoes in February. He and his brother would compete to see who could get his garden planted first. It has been reported that early one morning Granddaddy Lee even got out in his housecoat to work in his garden. He would check with the "Farmer's Almanac" to see what the signs were in before he planted his vegetables. The reason he's holding the Bible is because he was a Baptist preacher.
Planting Potatoes
It's tater planting time
in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Get them out in February,
they'll pop up early spring.
In the Blue Ridge Mountains,
plant taters in the signs--
they'll pop up early spring.
The rain crow is cooing on Joe Knob.
Plant taters in the signs.
Granddaddy Lee set the example.
The rain crow's cooing on Joe Knob.
Work the garden before it rains.
When the Full Snow Moon wanes,
get root crops out in February.
The earth's calling the farmers,
it's tater planting time.
--Brenda Kay Ledford
9 comments:
Lovely photo, poem and memories, Brenda. My grandmother always planted according to the Farmer's Almanac too.
Love the photo of your granddad with his Bible. What a wonderful poem to remember his ways of gardening. Beautiful!
What a grand photo. John and I were discussing the Farmer's Almanac at lunch today. Wishing you a lovely afternoon.
Memories are stirred with this one, Brenda. Planting potatoes isn't too bad, it's the harvesting that calls for a strong back and knees. By the way, my daddy was a Baptist preacher!
Oh I love this Brenda. Beautiful poem as well. I remember my dad always thought he had to get them in the ground in February too. I'm afraid this year like a lot of the later years it's iffy to put them in the ground. The seasons sure have changed. That Farmer's Almanac was the key to the signs. Great post. I love all of your poems.
Lovely poem, Brenda! I remember being further south and people planting in February. It was such an odd thing to us, who don't get to plant even potatoes until May! That's a wonderful photo!
Thank you for stopping in at Cranberry Morning. I see that you like books about the Amish. You might enjoy this Amish post - and other posts that have to do with the Amish, including the barn raisin' we went to. There are a lot of Amish in Wisconsin.
I think I'm going to purchase a copy of Farmer's Almanac!
My grandfather (in Mississippi) always said that if he planted watermelons by Good Friday, we'd be eating watermelons on the 4th of July.
what a great story about your grandfather. :)and a great photo.
Great poem for sharing about tater planting, Brenda! Thanks for sharing the memories.
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