Family History
Growing food: honoring the past and planning for a better future
Ms Diane's Family
Being raised by Christian Grandparents, my Mom, Aunties, Uncles, was in those days a very good living.
If anyone has ever had the joy of being raised by God fearing parents, you know what that was all about. I was born in Chicago, Illinois in the early 50's out of 9 children. I had the pleasure of being raised in Summerville, South Carolina. That was the good life. We had a good up bringing during those days, but life was hard. I have the joy of living with my Auntie and my Uncle in the south and often times I would go across the creek and stay with my Granddaddy, during those days my Grandmother had dementia and I was not fortunate to learn from her wisdom.
On the other hand, I had my Mom, Aunties, Uncles and my Granddaddy to teach me things that helped me to be who I am today. Bring raised in South Carolina in the 60's, I had to learn a lot. How to plant food, pick corn from the stalks, feed the hogs, shuck corn and feed the chickens. Back in those days we did have a corn shucker, but planting was my favorite. During those days gardening was work, but it was a time of peace and fun.
If anyone has ever had the joy of being raised by God fearing parents, you know what that was all about. I was born in Chicago, Illinois in the early 50's out of 9 children. I had the pleasure of being raised in Summerville, South Carolina. That was the good life. We had a good up bringing during those days, but life was hard. I have the joy of living with my Auntie and my Uncle in the south and often times I would go across the creek and stay with my Granddaddy, during those days my Grandmother had dementia and I was not fortunate to learn from her wisdom.
On the other hand, I had my Mom, Aunties, Uncles and my Granddaddy to teach me things that helped me to be who I am today. Bring raised in South Carolina in the 60's, I had to learn a lot. How to plant food, pick corn from the stalks, feed the hogs, shuck corn and feed the chickens. Back in those days we did have a corn shucker, but planting was my favorite. During those days gardening was work, but it was a time of peace and fun.
There were other things to do as well, chores, school, homework and yard work, my cousin and I we found time to have fun and church was what we looked for every week. I remember all the good times being raised in the south, I also live in the North as well.
The things I liked doing was helping my Auntie out in her garden, she taught me a lot, she was a planter. She planted okra, pole beans (string beans),corn, tomatoes, collard greens, mustard greens, cabbage, cucumbers, squash, and much more. Whatever we ate she planted it. Then my granddaddy raised the chickens, the hogs and he made sure they were good and fat before we had them for supper.
Those were the days. I could have lived in the south forever, unfortunately I had to return to the north and help my Mom with my other siblings. I tried to return to the south as often as I could. I wish I had more time to write a book about my life, but that will have to come at a later day. Gardening was my lifestyle, anyone can plant a seed, but it's the fingers tips that places the seeds in the right spot, the fingers tips that spreads the dirt with the right motion, the fingers tips that talks to the seed with love. Then once all that is done, It's God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit that gives the rain, sunlight and the blessings so that you may have a harvest so blessed there will be an abundance to share. Therefore; pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
And with these words, Jesus Christ spoke and said, in St. John 16:33 it reads, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
Diane C. Small
The things I liked doing was helping my Auntie out in her garden, she taught me a lot, she was a planter. She planted okra, pole beans (string beans),corn, tomatoes, collard greens, mustard greens, cabbage, cucumbers, squash, and much more. Whatever we ate she planted it. Then my granddaddy raised the chickens, the hogs and he made sure they were good and fat before we had them for supper.
Those were the days. I could have lived in the south forever, unfortunately I had to return to the north and help my Mom with my other siblings. I tried to return to the south as often as I could. I wish I had more time to write a book about my life, but that will have to come at a later day. Gardening was my lifestyle, anyone can plant a seed, but it's the fingers tips that places the seeds in the right spot, the fingers tips that spreads the dirt with the right motion, the fingers tips that talks to the seed with love. Then once all that is done, It's God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit that gives the rain, sunlight and the blessings so that you may have a harvest so blessed there will be an abundance to share. Therefore; pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
And with these words, Jesus Christ spoke and said, in St. John 16:33 it reads, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
Diane C. Small
The Family
