I think peas have caused more family fights that any other nationwide vegetable. (Nationwide excludes orka, and similar veggies)

When I was a kid I didn't think I liked them, now they are among my favorite veggies. I think it was that we always had them canned, not frozen.

I grew up hating peas - but peas were either those really horrible canned peas served at the grade school cafeteria, or frozen peas which weren't much better. The first time I tasted fresh peas, I must have been in my 20's and I was shocked at how good they were.

In fact, I think my mother pretty much always served frozen or canned vegetables. My southern grandmothers served fresh vegetables but they were cooked all day with ham hocks. I Liked most of them - but not peas.

texaskitty111 said:I think peas have caused more family fights that any other nationwide vegetable. (Nationwide excludes orka, and similar veggies)

I would have said "broccoli" -- can't really understand not liking peas OR broccoli myself, though...

My mom pretty much always served canned vegetables, the only fresh ones I remember having as a kid are corn on the cob and tomatoes. (Although to be fair, until I was in junior high or so there were no "supermarkets" nearby, just the corner grocery -- and they probably didn't have much in the way of fresh produce.) Now that I think about it, that could be the reason I learned to grow my own fresh veggies!

My niece who went to chef's school got me a bottle of seasoned sea salt for Christmas, it's brand name is Olde Thompson "Everything Salt". I put it on many things so far and it's been really good on everything I've tried, but I put it on some peas with a bit of butter the other night, and I think they were the best peas I have ever eaten. Great on chicken too.

I remember being forced to eat peas and limas by the cafeteria nuns. They both just rolled my stomach. There I would be all by myself until I finished them. So I would put a forkful in my mouth and chew as little as possible, then when they weren't looking I would spit them in a napkin. Cleaned my plate and they let me go to my class. I must have been in maybe first or second grade. Dratted Penguins.

I like a lot of peas, black-eyed and purple-hull for example, but never cared for English peas and still don't. Baby lima beans are fine, and "regular" size lima beans are OK if they are spiced up a bit. Some spices make them all better, at least to me. I love Cajun and Creole food, so like a lot of spices.

Humm, I love both peas and Lima beans!

Let's hear it for those good ole BUTTERBEANS!

Way better than lima beans.

I was talking to a friend about Summer Squash today so now I am all revved up to start lots and lots of varieties. Two years ago I grew a nice assortment of different summer squash. But I had to fuss so much over them as they were in pots that last year I simply bought one of those 6 packs of common green zucchini seedlings and just planted them in ground. More or less ignored them. Got plenty of fruits. Then too late in the year for starting seeds I wished I had planted more types.

So this spring really going to plant all my favorites and some new for me varieties also.

Hey, did everyone notice the really cool new Tomato Lovers badge Dave recently created? Here is the thread in Site Talk Forum about how it came to be.

The thread "Microbadge Suggestions for a Specific Garden Related Addiction" in Site Talk forum

Jen told me about it today. Thanks for bringing it up here too.

Yesterday and Thursday I uncovered my one planted row at the farm and pulled out the broccoli, cauliflower and brussels sprouts. The cabbage and lettuce were fine, as were the few turnips. I weeded the row and replanted with root veggies and some kale and spinach. I meant to do some chard but I forgot to take the seeds with me. Covered the row back up and hoping for rain tomorrow. I have no idea if any of it will come up but I am trying to get a jump on the garden veggies for market come April 1.

And I saw some blossoms on my fava beans!

Today I potted up my brassicas that I started in the soil blocks since it will be a couple more weeks before I can get them planted out in the garden.

My lettuce plugs are doing pretty good. I planted three 288 plug trays. I will plant three more in a couple of weeks. We sell a lot of lettuce at market and it's an easy crop, plus, it always looks so pretty, the reds, chartreuse, and greens, deer tongues, butterheads and frilly leaves!

Arlene, I thought you said you weren't going to sell at market this year -- or did I just dream that?

You have a lot of lettuce planted, so I guess you ARE going to

Well, David kept saying he wanted to go, and I do like planting, more than we can ever use...then he had dental issues so now we're gonna use market $$ to pay for his dental work. so, one more year.

The kale and lettuce I planted a week ago has come up nicely. I have it in my middle school classroom. The students can't wait to eat it!

Back when I was teaching I would start my potting plants at school because I had a nice Southern exposure window. Of course I let the kids plant some too, to take home.

Tom, what kind of stove do you heat your place with and how many square feet are you heating? What are the walls made of. My son wanted to get one of those pellet stoves. Claimed, rightly so, it was cheaper than fuel oil (he lived in Fairbanks, Alaska) since they don't have natural gas up there. Ridiculous in a place that desparetely needs it. My MIL's fuel bill runs almost $1000 per month in the coldest months.

I have a small Sears wood burner with fire brick lining. It's really not very large, measures about about 3 ft. high, and 20 inches wide, and deep. It have a newer natural gas furnace that is one of those that's supposed to be 99. something % efficient as a back up. Last year I had to use it on those windy -22 degree days to suppliment the wood heater, but this winter I didn't need it yet, nor any previous winter. It's always about 72 to 75 degrees in here when it's burning at full force. I have a bi level, and the upper level is where I live, don't use the lower level much the upper level is 1200 Sq. feet, and the lower level is 1100 Sq. feet. The lower level stays at about 50 degrees. If it get's colder down there I put the furnace fan on to move some heat down there. On days when the sun shines I have to keep the fire very low, or it gets too hot. This house if very well insulated though, I should mention.