The more things change......

Posted by Brook on May 15, 2008 at 11:53am in Urban and community gardening

On the growing spinach in Kentucky thread, John, with his tongue so far in his cheek it's a wonder he could speak at all, said:

>Is that why they grow hemp (cough cough) in corn fields in appalachia, for the 'pot likker'?<

Pot growers do, traditionally, grow their weed inside cornfields. Before the days of helicopter patrols and drug-sniffing dogs, that was one way of hiding the real cash crop.

But they didn't invent that. Not by a long shot. In Kentucky journals going back to at least the 1780s, it's recorded that vegetable patches were grown inside the cornfields. This kept the crops hidden, so that passersby would not steal the veggies.

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Permalink Reply by Penelope on May 15, 2008 at 11:57am: Isn't that an issue with the front yard gardeners? I'm going to plant summer squash right out on the strip between the sidewalk and street and see what happens. See if kids notice and throw them around, or if someone steals them to actually eat, or if they die of carbon monoxide poisoning, or if they grow at all in that hard soil that supports some grass and dandelions (which I love)...now that my son moved his old cars and parts out of my garage, i found two bags of composted manure I forgot I had. Like discovering a gold nugget in the gold pan . . .; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Brook on May 15, 2008 at 12:06pm: While it may be an issue, in general, with front yarders, I can't see it ever being a problem with summer squash. When the zukes and crooknecks come in, the real problem is getting rid of them.

Ah, haaaaaaa! The zucchini bandito strikes again; leaving a present in the back of your unlocked car!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Penelope on May 15, 2008 at 1:15pm: That's why I'm going to try zucchini in the front, because they're dispensable and I won't get too angry if strange things happen to them.; ▶ Reply to This