Somethings Sacred: Tomato Harvest

The following description is taken from Wikipedia, which refers to this somewhat round, gloriously red, and very tasty edible food as a tomato.

"The word 'tomato' may refer to the plant (Solanum lycopersicum) or the edible, typically red, fruit that it bears. Originating in South America, the tomato was spread around the world following the Spanish colonization of the Americas, and its many varieties are now widely grown, often in greenhouses in cooler climates. The tomato fruit is consumed in diverse ways, including raw, as an ingredient in many dishes and sauces, and in drinks. While it is botanically a fruit, it is considered a vegetable for culinary purposes (as well as by the United States Supreme Court), which has caused some confusion."

When I agreed to grow a garden this Summer season at my Grandmother's homestead, I knew what she had in mind. Tomatoes tomatoes tomatoes. My Grandfather, Lucky, founder of the Grass Valley Growers Market, grew nearly a hundred of these plants in their suburban backyard every year. He was a dust bowl survivor, traveling from farm to farm from Kansas to California picking strawberries and whatever other work there was for him and four other children from the backseat of their station-wagon. As a high school shop teacher, my Grandfather supplemented the crazy NID (Nevada Irrigation District) water bills by selling tomatoes door to door throughout the Union Hill neighborhood and setting up a table on Saturday mornings at the local fairgrounds.

While at one time there had been three boys and a vegetable stand, the house had sat empty for over a year. So, when my partner and I began restoration of the garden with rich loamy soil created from years of home composting, the entire neighborhood was at the front hedge cheering us on.

My Grandfather liked to grow many things. There are flowers surrounding the entire property which pop up and begin blooming as soon as the previous variety begin to wilt. He also grew squash and mint and beans. But most of all, everyone remembers him for his tomatoes. Why tomatoes??? Because they were Grandma's favorite!