Heirloom peas, which John collects from everywhere, openly pollinate. This just means that when a plant survives, its seeds can be saved and planted the next year. Not like those we buy at a garden center which have been treated (think genetically engineered by Monsanto) to produce for only 1 season.
For me, the shed itself is a great place to sit and observe the activity. For Doris it's a perfect setting for her to participate and ask questions as she pores over ---she even likes his washtub basin and had me take a picture for her to recreate in her own garden "shed" near her kitchen garden at Full Circle Ranch.
Drying beans and pea pods hang from the ceilings. Old-time tools are everywhere. A comfortable hodgepodge of a place that is really like a working laboratory.
Spread across the workbench are bowls of peas of unusual names like Turkey Craw and Siddlin' (a pea that grows well in the foothills of Tennessee, according to John's friend, Weavie Stevie, who has since died)
Doris spent much time at the shed and left with an envelope of Calico Crowder seeds (buff-colored peas w/ splashes of vibrant maroon) & other heritage samples as well. Directions included were written in John’s distinctive script. That alone made them a treasure for her.
Having both seen and tasted some of the freshness of the peas which John and his staff have coaxed to fruition, I appreciate all the effort that is taken for preserving the ""pea."
I appreciate Doris' enthusiasm for "pea" preservation as well.
Doris returned home inspired---often doning her straw hat, rolling up her pants legs when necessary, slipping on her croc gardening shoes---ready to spend an entire day with her "peas."
She, who takes her stand for the Lord every Sunday morning at Berlin United Methodist Church as she worships with faithful folks from her small community, can be found taking a "stand in her garden" on weekdays.
Her diligence reminds me somewhat of Shammah, one of King David's mighty men. Shammah "stood." He resolved in his heart that he would fight for a pea patch....and he won a great victory. (2 Samuel 23:11-12)
As it was for Shammah, sometimes there is a time to "take a stand"----to fight for what is right, even if it's just pea pollination. The resolve of folks like John Coykendall and friend Doris benefit all of us---enabling us to continue to have "real" peas in our lifetime and for our future generations to be able to say, "More peas, please" .
Drying beans and pea pods hang from the ceilings. Old-time tools are everywhere. A comfortable hodgepodge of a place that is really like a working laboratory.
Spread across the workbench are bowls of peas of unusual names like Turkey Craw and Siddlin' (a pea that grows well in the foothills of Tennessee, according to John's friend, Weavie Stevie, who has since died)
Doris returned home inspired---often doning her straw hat, rolling up her pants legs when necessary, slipping on her croc gardening shoes---ready to spend an entire day with her "peas."
She, who takes her stand for the Lord every Sunday morning at Berlin United Methodist Church as she worships with faithful folks from her small community, can be found taking a "stand in her garden" on weekdays.
Her diligence reminds me somewhat of Shammah, one of King David's mighty men. Shammah "stood." He resolved in his heart that he would fight for a pea patch....and he won a great victory. (2 Samuel 23:11-12)
As it was for Shammah, sometimes there is a time to "take a stand"----to fight for what is right, even if it's just pea pollination. The resolve of folks like John Coykendall and friend Doris benefit all of us---enabling us to continue to have "real" peas in our lifetime and for our future generations to be able to say, "More peas, please" .
