This one simple thing was sufficient for Prairie Tuesday.
Green runner beans. They grow well in a little kitchen garden. All they need is something to climb on. They are also easily found in the supermarket.
Ignore the summer heat and the pesky mosquitoes and pick a bowl full. Or go to the farmer’s market or the supermarket and buy a bag full.
Little hands do well learning to snap and string beans.
Prior to “Prairie Days,” but interesting nonetheless. From Early American Herb Recipes
Fresh vegetables and fruits were in scant supply except in season, for ice houses were relatively unknown until just before the American Revolution; even then, it was only the most luxurious homes which possessed one. In general, items considered perishable were placed into the well where they could remain cool.
Actually, many fruits and vegetables were not raised or eaten at all. The usual vegetables which served as staple items of diet with fish and meat were beans, turnips, carrots, and cabbage.
The food situation in Philadelphia and its environs was different from many colonial towns in that from the bginning Penn’s city had excellent markets. There, one could find a huge supply of all kinds of privisions–vegetables, meats, poultry, fruits, and many foreign delicacies, available because of that town’s active trade with all parts of hte world.
An interesting rabbit trail: how much did the average American diet change between the early 1700s and the mid 1800s?
Happy Prairie Tuesday.
for you to leave a comment, but you can also e-mail me at lynn AT thehealthyhomeschool.com
Hi Lynn,
i am home for a bit and stopped in to visit. i have read your posts and thoroughly enjoyed the time spent.
Fresh green beans are a summer favorite. I have a wonderful recipe for a salad i will email.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Diane M
Dear Lynn,
Oh, I’m glad you have lots of green beans! I’m not sure we’ll have many, since the buggies and cold weather have not been kind to them. That is an interesting fact about the food markets of Philadelphia; I find the history of food very fascinating, and wonder how well we’d do on turnips, beans, carrots, and cabbage? Probably a lot healthier!
Love,
Marqueta
Lynn,
your green beans look delicious
Mine have not started sprouting yet…maybe it has not been hot enough.
the info on the food is quite interesting…I agree with Marqueta, we will probably be much healthier!
Also, the platano plant, I have them growing all over my garden, but I had no idea they were edible. My husband doesn’t like them, but I think the leaves are quite nice and large. Thank you for posting about them.
Oh dear friend, so much to learn…
lady m
Louisa is growing runner beans this year… some variety that she says has lovely red blossoms and can be eaten fresh or dried… I haven’t a clue what that variety might be tho, lol.
and i very much liked you rabbit trail;)
Hey, I hope you are going to put the answer (or at least where to find the answer) to the question you put at the end of this post. Very interesting.
Thanks, Diane. I love fresh summer green beans too! I will look forward to the recipe — just when you get a chance. Thank you for stopping by and commenting!
Marqueta, we’re getting a nice supply of beans. I’m grateful. I didn’t think they were going to do so well this year because quite a few would-be plants didn’t even sprout!
LadyM, thanks for your comment. I’m sure we would be healthier if we ate more vegetables and herbs, but in studying a bit about agriculture this week, I know we would not enjoy the “plenty” that we have now if we had it like they did back then. It’s all very interesting, what I’m reading about. I’ll definitely share more in a future post!
Oh, Diane, sounds exciting! I do hope we’ll get to see pictures! I plan to give you some follow-up on the rabbit trail.
Ken, my curiosity was definitely piqued after reading that. I am looking into it. I can say that what I read from Britannica is that prior to the scientific era of agriculture (which I’m gathering hit roughly around the mid 1800s) a family of six could produce barely enough food for themselves and four others, whereas after the application of agricultural technology as a science, one farmer could produce enough food for 100!
Of course, there’s much more to read. Many acts were introduced in the 1800s (including one by Abraham Lincoln) to grant land to colleges and states to study agriculture as a science. This thinking seemed to be going on in Europe and North America at the same time. As far as trade and exactly what people were eating and where, it’s a most interesting rabbit trail! I know people were sending plants from here to Europe in the 1700s and vice versa, and there were plants going to and from other countries and continents as well. Some did well. Some did not. I will definitely post a follow-up on this rabbit trail.
Lynn
Please do the homework on the differences for us! Then share!
Are you able to freeze your green beans?
For the first time ever, I’ve successfully grown snow peas….with the intent to freeze them…but we’re eating them freshly picked…no will power to save them!!!
Comfrey rash is almost gone…last steriod today.
exhale.
michele/ivy