Learning from Dad

My dad has taught me a lot about life when i was growing up. He taught me about the hardships of the men and women of the frontier days. He taught me that we shouldn't take the luxurious items we have today for granted. He taught me that not everything in life was about comfort but about survival. In his point of view everything we have today could be gone tomorrow. If we took away our cars, electricity, and running water how would we get by? If their were no supermarkets how would we find food? My dad would go out and hunt deer or squirrel to cook for dinner. I remember once when he brought a squirrel home. He had me hold it while he skinned it. I was little and remember thinking how disgusting it was. When he would prepare it he'd ask me to take a bite. I would always refuse the offer and it would seem to make him a little angry at me. He would look at me and say, well you'd eat it if you were hungry enough. I didn't know why he was angry but overtime came to understand.

My dad has always been interested in wild plants. He has studied them quite a bit. He would take me out into the woods and show me which ones were good to eat. Poke Salad was among my favorites. My dad would gather it up by handfuls and bring it home to cook. It's really good when eaten with eggs. Dad also showed me how to make a certain type of organic tea called sassafras. He would take some of the bark and boil it in water. It had a red color and wasn't too bad tasting. He also told us about a plant called wood sorrel. It's a sour tasting plant with a clover like look. Sort of like a heart shaped clover with a purplish underside. Another one was called lambs quarters. It was a diamond shaped plant with wavy looking leaves. In the autumn it looks kind of reddish brown. The underside of the plant looks as if it has been dusted with white powder. In tasting, it tastes much like the spinach plant. Dad was also interested in home remedies. He told me about the benefit of having an aloe vera plant. How the juice from the insides would help to ease the pain of burns. Also about how oatmeal could be used to relieve the itching of poison ivy.

I always remember my dad having antiques around the house. He has an old wooden stove that he used to keep warm throughout the winter. My step-mom would cook on what is called a Dutch Oven. I always thought it was unique to cook in such a way. Its so different from the stoves we use now. He had an antique kettle he used to boil water to make tea. He also had an old grinder that was used to grind coffee beans. He showed me how to bake a potato on hot coals and that you could fry potatoes on the wooden stove. It took longer than on the stoves we use but it was fun to try. My dad's food didn't taste that bad either. It was actually quite good. He taught us about how to prepare foods and seal it away in jars in case of hard times. Food such as soup, beans, and even some meat. To him everything could be preserved if you took the time in doing it.

My dad grew up with 9 siblings in his family. They were poor and didn't have much money to buy the things that we have now. To make money they would hoe peanuts or pick cotton in the fields. He told me of times when they had nothing to eat but beans and potatoes. They lived in a really small house and sometimes the boys in the family had to sleep outside. Sometimes my grandma had to wash their clothes by hand. She even made their own soap. I knew it wasn't easy for my dad growing up. They had to do whatever it took to survive. That's what I believe is so unique about him. He's learned a lot about the lessons in life. Its always good to listen to someone older and wiser. You can always find out something that you never knew before. I know I have and I hope that you have as well.