Childhood Insult

[Nyboy]

When in my early 20s my best friend stop by my house. He was going on and on about the most fabulous chairs curb side. I could not believe he was to em-brass to stop for them.I said come on if still there I will get them for you. They where still there, he bought them in and had them redone dark green silk. He didnt ask price till picking up and was shocked at $600 bill a fortune for someone in their 20s.

 

[seedcorn]

Farmer is insult? Ok? Yes, I remember in 60's being called a "pig" or "dirt" farmer was an insult. Then in 70's-thanks to John Denver-it was a statement of honor. We are a funny people. Pick weeds in 60-70's you are too poor for food, now you are an environmentalist or progressive.

 

[Pulsegleaner]

My little pecadillo is roadside grain harvest. Each year, I make note of any grain plants (wheat, oats, rye etc.) that have sprouted up on the sides of the roads (I assume mostly from straw the road crews have lain down) and when they become ripe, I take samples (I have this idea that doing so will eventually leave me with a feral grain grex that is sufficiently adapted to this area that it can be sown and harvested without any further effort on my part.)

I also make note of any fruit bearing trees, since I am interested in any feral plum trees as well (haven't seen any down here, but there is one on campus back at Cornell (or was I think It died of black flask my senior year)

 

[Nyboy]

Seed that is so true, eating roadside weeds is now being very green.

 

[aftermidnight]

Comfrey, I made the mistake of planting that in my garden, once you have it it is nigh on impossible to get rid of it, I managed, finally. Across the road from us there's a lot of clumps mixed in with wild blackberry vines. Comfrey makes the best although very stinky tea for your plants, I made it for awhile when I was younger and more energetic, great for tomatoes.
Annette

 

[ninnymary]

Mary I have push people out of the way on a crowed NYC street for good garbage find. Of course I said excuse me when shoving them.

Oh my! I can't believe you would do that Nyboy! You seem so sweet and nice. haha

Mary

 

[ninnymary]

I'm sure I've embarrassed my DH at times, I've made him hold up traffic so I could jump out and pick up a roadside treasure, if you snooze you loose . Someone was moving and they had a perfectly good aluminum bistro set sitting on the curb with a free sign on it. You betcha, I'm not proud, I hopped out of the truck almost before it stopped and snagged that while hubby was crouching as low as he could behind the steering wheel.
Annette

That is so funny Annette! I have made my husband go around the block to see what I missed as he speedily drove by the first time. Once he saw some short metal fencing and he drove around the block because I hadn't seen it. When we got there someone had loaded some up and was leaving. Luckily for me he left 30 pieces. I would not have left any!

Mary

 

[thistlebloom]

Mary I have push people out of the way on a crowed NYC street for good garbage find. Of course I said excuse me when shoving them.

"Always, always, use your best manners when shoving people aside for dumpster treasures. This will usually keep you from getting shot or stabbed by the hardcore divers." Emily Post in Guide to Impeccable Manners for Dumpster Diving.

 

[Nyboy]

 

[aftermidnight]

Talk about dumpster diving, yep done that too, with permission of course.
Now don't laugh, this is serious business, when we were putting in one of our garden pools we went to a carpet shop and asked if they had any underlay scraps available.
They said sure and they're free, he pointed at their dumpster out back, several trips from the dumpster to the truck and we had enough to line the hole we dug before we laid the rubber liner in, worked like a charm .

Annette