The Gentleman Farmer

No, that's not a snake in my hand, it's a string bean. Last year a friend and neighbor brought over a handful of these beans for me to try. They turned out to be delicious. It turns out that these things are called "Chinese Long Beans" and they grow from 14" to 30" inches long. One day he came over and gave me a small bag of beans from his previous crop. Couldn't figure out what I was going to do with them , but we do have a long 52' wall behind our pool which has been decorated each year with pots of geraniums. The pots rest on soil between the wall and our fence. Good place to plant the beans and let them climb on strings attached to the fence. Then I got a real wild idea, dump the flowers and plant vegetables in the pots.

Well off to Walmart I went, bought cherry tomatoes, yellow tomatoes, peppers, and butternut squash. Never gave any thought to the fact that I had to water the hell out of the pots that dry out every other day. Then my brother tells me I have to fertilize them all summer. I suddenly realized that I was turning into a farmer. ........I like the term "Gentleman Farmer."
Any way the venture is proving to be very rewarding. Each night we've been enjoying salads with our own cherry and yellow tomatoes, peppers and have accompanied our meals with those big long string beans.

I've got five of these big Butternut Squash beauties growing on a 24' vine spreading out from just one little pot....can't believe it. It's been an interesting experience, this "farm" of ours. I stroll around the pool to inspect in the morning and evening to see if the chipmunks have left me any ripe cherry tomatoes for my daily picking. The little bastards are eating well this year. I've been joking with my family that if this pot garden starts producing any more I'm going to build a little stand in front of the house and recoup my investment.

This morning I received an email from my brother reminding me that I complain too much about leading an "old fart's" dull life. He's taken on the task of spicing up my life. This past month he talked me into going to an outdoor concert (Beatles Tribute) in Simsbury. Had a great time especially with the good company, wine and Kentucky Fried Chicken. He's also talked me into blowing the moth balls out of my wallet and buying tickets to a Michael Buble concert in December. Sorry about all those complaining posts Pete, I guess with a little outside help I can still be rejuvenated.