I've been through at least 4 upscale food and wine magazines tonight...and all of them are paying salutation to those chefs and others raising their own vegetables. In some cases, it is just herbs. While in a world of convenience stores, I love the movement, I really don't see what all of the fuss is about. That is likely because I spent most of my summer days growing up with my grandmother, Mary Jane (yes, really)-- the original farm to table chef. While most housewives (including my mother) were opening canned veggies and making fake cheese concoctions-- she and my Papa grew, harvested and made their own gourmet fare before it was even recognized.
On a simple 10 acres in Signal Mountain, TN, they had several apple trees along with peach, cherry and plum-- as well as their own grape vines for homemade vino and jelly. Papa kept bees for fresh honey and the fences were lined with blueberries and blackberries. In the side garden there were cucumbers, corn, squash, beans, beets and peppers along with my favorite red fruits-- tomatoes and strawberries. Almost everything we put into our mouths came from the land. While I love having my own (small) garden now and relish the tomatoes I pick up at Whole Foods-- nothing has ever been as delicious or as sweet as it was then. I was lucky to be a part of a very original slow food movement.
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