Pleasant Valley Plant Farm

Once upon a time, in every avid gardener’s lifetime, mother nature smiles kindly down on them and permits them to grow a crop of such abundance that friends and neighbors alike, can’t help but ask; “ What will you do with all that produce ? “  Well, one warm and sunny late summer’s morning, I was dragging hoses from one garden patch to another, setting up the sprinkler for the ‘ump-teenth’ time. Pausing to catch my breath and leaning backward to stretch my aching, stiffening back, I peered out across the Healthiest, most Vigorously Growing ‘CORN-PATCH’ that ever have I seen in all my days on this good earth.  As I wiped the beads of sweat from my brow, I began contemplating the various good uses I would put this payload of produce too, so I could have a proper reply to the afore mentioned question.

I will eat some of it fresh,  that’s the way I like best,  but what will I do, with all of the rest ???

I will can some for sure, and some I will freeze.  I’ll let some dry for seed, in the hot summer breeze.

I could sell some for money, that would be fun.  No, I think I’ll just give it, to someone with none.

I could host a big party, and feed all my friends.  The farm’s pig, likes the cobs, and so do the hens.

I’ve got recipes for salads, and varieties of soup,  casseroles, goulash, and other such goop.

For breakfast; corn mush, and piping hot fritters,  or cornbread so light, it will give you the jitters.

There’s lots of good ways, to prepare it for dinner.  As vegetables go, corn is always a winner.

Corn on the cob, is my favorite, still.  Whether, boiled or roasted, or cooked on the grill.

I serve some corn cream style, but usually whole kernel.  The ways to consume it, seem almost eternal.

Corn muffins, corn custards, corn chowders, souffl’es ,  bet I could eat corn, for the rest of my days.

I just had a thought, that gives me the giggles.  I’ll preserve some corn relish, and baby corn pickles.

Corn liquor sounds good, but takes special gear. If I could process corn sugar, I’d brew me some beer. 

There’s corn syrup, corn starch, and oil, what ‘utility’.  To bad making those things, are beyond my ability.

Whoosh !!!  Suddenly, a refreshing cool breeze whisked it’s way through the ‘gardenscape’.  Feeling like I had just awakened from some sort of trance, I wiped my brow again and stretched my aching back one more time, before turning  my attention back to the garden tasks at hand, feeling confident now, knowing that my bumper crop of corn would not go to waste.  After pulling up a few stray weeds, I turned about to make my way back and turn on the water spigot.  As I exit the near perfect corn patch, I gaze out upon the next section of my garden.  Suddenly, almost in shock, I’m stopped dead in my tracks. I can’t help but say out loud, to nobody there, “ Oh My !!!  What will I do with all that !!! “.                   “ THAT MAGNIFICENT BEAN PATCH !!! “