I didn’t mind being raised on a farm too much except for one thing. I hated working in the tobacco. For some years many of the farmers in our community raised tobacco, so daddy got into raising it. It was so very much hard work. We had to hand plant the small plants which we grew from a home made hotbed. After planting, these had to be watered, cultivated and kept free of worms until harvest time. Then, in addition to this, every plant had to be suckered and topped. This meant hours and hours in the tobacco patch….and you are not even half done — and it is HOT! AND STICKY AND BUGGY!
At a certain time (right around the time school started) it was harvesting time. We had to pick off the dried leaves from the bottom of the plants and the stalk would be cut down with a machete. These would be handed to a person who would put about 8 stalks on a tobacco stick. The end of the tobacco stick had a sharp pointed metal thing to accommodate the stalks entry onto the stick. These sticks, filled with tobacco stalks, would be picked up by tractor and wagon. The person loading had to load in a certain way. The next step was to haul them to the barn to be hung on drying racks. This was hard work, for a full tobacco stick was heavy.
After a period of time the tobacco was dried, the leaves turn a rich brown color and the leaves have to be picked from the stalks. This was the part I hated most because of the mess — The tobacco was brought into the kitchen and stripping began. Everyone helped and stripping went straight through until it was done. This usually took two weeks. During tobacco stripping time, Mother used to make Divinity candy for us. I think she felt sorry for us. We always had eggs and walnuts, so the only other ingredient was sugar. It was a wonderful treat for little expense. The kitchen had to be cleaned top to bottom after the tobacco was taken out to the barn to the press, for there was dust everywhere!After that, the tobacco had to be put in a press in the barn, and then taken to market.
In my freshman year of high school, It was my day to stay home from school and help with the tobacco harvest. This was the day the freshmen were to be initiated. We had to wear overalls, and carry a milk bucket. I was devastated that my parents expected me to miss this wonderful event at school. My sister, Lolly, feeling my distress came to the rescue and volunteered to stay home in my place and I did get to go to my freshman initiation. I will never forget this unselfish act.
Pete Sommerer says
When I stayed with Grandpa and Grandma and we did tobacco, my job was to pick off tobacco worms and stomp them. The only bad part was at that time in my life I did not wear shoes!
Lloyd Jr. says
That time of your life? I bet you’re not wearing shoes right now.
Danny Sommerer says
Lolly probably had a test she wanted to miss that day A.Naomi. Ha Ha
Cleo says
Naomi you told this so well. I don’t think you left out 1 step of it.In the summertime when we had to go out and sucker and worm the tobacco plants, was a very hellish time. You would work hard in the tobacco field all day and at night when you should sleep you would have night mares and couldn’t relax and sleep. Sometime I would go out in the hall where the boxes of clothes were suppose to be stored and I would sleep on a pile of old close. I don’t know why but maybe I was afraid someone would kick me out of bed from all the tossing and turning. I know this was a bad time for me when I was smaller. We didn’t always do tobacco in the kitchen. It was usually done in one room which kept the mess from being all over the house. I liked it best when we did it in the front room,the one to the west. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had 3 brothers who would come on here and talk about raising tobacco
Lloyd Jr. says
I’m just a poor Lutheran school teacher. If I had any money I’d buy Uncle Vernon an iPad. I don’t know what type of excuse Uncle Mahlon and Uncle Lloyd have.
Julie Baker says
ya but I know Lutherans are good at fundraising!! hahaha
Naomi Vetter says
I have a question. Is an iPad easier to use (for the elderly) than a computer? How much does an iPad cost and then how much would it cost to use the provider connection to operate it?
Julie Baker says
yes they are fool proof. Ryan my son n law has one. For our aunts and uncles the most basic would be more than enough ( they donnt need to worry about expand ability just to access the internet and to get to the family web site. When Bena’s computer poops out she getting one.!!! They have android models too …not just Ipad. They run around 250.00 to 300.00. I want one!!As far as the the provider goes…there is always the free wifi at mcdonals if you dont want a monthly bill or perhaps one of your neighbors has a strong signal on their wireless and you could suck off theirs!!!haha